Do you have a good idea for some tourism-related activities? We are now accepting applications for our Hotel-Motel Grant Program!
This program uses funds collected when people stay at local hotels, motels or RV parks to help encourage additional tourism in Ferndale.
Funding from the program may be used, directly by local jurisdictions, or indirectly through a convention and visitors bureau or destination marketing organization, for the marketing and operations of special events and festivals and to support the operations and capital expenditures of tourism-related facilities owned by nonprofit organizations described under section 501(c)(3) and section 501(c)(6) of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended.
The Hotel-Motel Grant Program is managed by the Deputy City Clerk, and recommendations on funding are made by the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee to the City Council, which has final say over allocation of funding.
Please send all completed applications and any questions to Deputy City Clerk Sherry DeJong by email here.
Note – the application has been updated from previous years to reduce the paperwork burden, please read through the new requirements if you are a returning applicant.
Usually this week is when our team would be out doing utility shutoffs due to nonpayment. However, in light of COVID-19, we have suspended late payments and shutoffs for the Feb. 28th and April 30th bills. Making a payment today, even a partial payment, can ensure that the bill does not become unmanageable as we gradually return to normal operations.
If you need financial assistance with your utility bill, the Ferndale Community Service Cooperative has set up a fund to help residents. More details are available here: http://ferndalecsc.org/
This Friday starting at 7:45pm, graduating Seniors will parade through downtown Ferndale on their way to the graduation celebration at Ferndale High School. This parade is organized by the Senior Class Parent group in consultation with the City of Ferndale, the Ferndale Police Department and the Ferndale School District.
Participants will line up in the Pioneer Parking lot, and overflowing to the Phillip 66 ballfields, at 7:30pm before making their way to Main Street and continuing on through to Ferndale High School.
All participants are advised to practice social distancing during this time and should remain in their vehicles. Practice 6’ separation from other families, and wear masks when such distancing is impractical. Volunteers will be there to help facilitate. Students may drive themselves, have a parent or other driver, and/or may ride together with no more than four people to a car, as per Washington State Phase II requirements.
All vehicles and occupants must follow existing traffic regulations, including observing traffic signals and lights, yielding to pedestrians, wearing seatbelts, observing posted speed limits, and avoiding stoppage during the parade route. Be aware that businesses will still be operating including pick up services for restaurants.
Family and community members are invited to come out and cheer our Seniors on along the parade route. Spectators will need to stay on the sidewalks, not enter the roadway to greet the participants, and should not stop traffic for photos.
Prior to the parade, graduates and their families are encouraged to grab a bite to eat from one of Ferndale’s great restaurants downtown, either dine in or take out.
For those traveling through the City during this time, please utilize alternative routes if possible and obey all traffic direction provided.
After the recent billing irregularities, there was a clear need for the City to follow up with more communication with our utility customers. To that end, utility customers received this “ALL WATER” mailer pictured above recently.
Usually utility mailers are inserted into a billing but the City felt it necessary to put it in the public’s hands as soon as possible so it has arrived on its own. The next utility billing is not until June 30th.
Whatcom Unified Command (WUC), the community’s multi-jurisdictional response to COVID-19 locally, has begun distribution of more than 100,000 single-use face masks to area businesses. The free, disposable masks, as well as some durable masks, are meant to help businesses meet state guidelines as they prepare for re-opening. WUC is partnering with local Chambers of Commerce, Downtown Bellingham Partnership and other organizations to distribute masks to businesses opening in Phase 2.
Whatcom County has moved into Phase 2 of the State’s Safe Start plan. In Phase 1, essential businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies remained open; Phase 2 allows additional businesses to reopen. The masks provided by WUC are intended to serve as an initial supply for businesses, for staff and customers without masks, while businesses establish their own purchasing process for future supplies. These single-use masks will help businesses comply with both the State requirement and the Whatcom County directive.
According to information released by the Governor’s office: “Beginning June 8, all employees will be required to wear a cloth facial covering, except when working alone in an office, vehicle, or at a job site, or when the job has no in-person interaction. Employers must provide cloth facial coverings to employees, unless their exposure dictates a higher level of protection under the Department of Labor and Industries’ safety and health rules and guidance. Refer to Coronavirus Facial Covering and Mask Requirements for additional details. Employees may choose to wear their own facial coverings at work, provided it meets the minimum requirements.”
Whatcom Unified Command is also providing 20,000 KN95 masks to medical and dental offices within Whatcom County, as well as 80,000 procedural masks. This is in response to the donation of masks to WUC by many dental and medical offices at the onset of COVID-19. Providing the offices with this initial supply of masks allows them to open in Phase 2, while then establishing their own supply chain.
Two of WUC’s objectives are to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to support the most vulnerable members of our community. To that end, WUC has also purchased 10,000 durable cloth face coverings for vulnerable populations locally. These masks are being distributed via direct service providers, such as SeaMar Community Health Centers, the Opportunity Council and others.
In Phase 2 of Safe Start Washington, people may gather in groups of five or less. Physical distancing and use of masks, as well as hand washing, sanitizing, and remaining home while ill, are still recommended by the Whatcom County Health Department (WCHD). For more information on resources for businesses and other community groups, visit the state website on resources and recommendations.
WUC continues to accept homemade cloth masks donated via designated ballot boxes. Donated masks are sanitized and distributed to essential businesses. To find out more or to donate, contact WUC Logistics, via WUC_Donations@co.whatcom.wa.us.
This June, the City of Ferndale will be partnering with the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) to streamline our business license process. Resident and non-resident general business licenses will apply directly with the DOR allowing applicants to easily apply for licenses in multiple cities.
The city will still review individual business licenses for compliance with city code and regulations and retain the license fees but the application process will be handled by the DOR.
Co-located/space rental business licenses, manufacturing and industrial business licenses are not part of this transition and will still be handled by the City.
As this transition occurs, the City will not be accepting new applications after June 12, 2020 for general business licenses.
Following this transition, all applications will be applied for and reviewed through the Department of Revenue beginning June 25, 2020 with the exceptions that were stated above.
If you have any questions, please contact the Finance Department at (360) 685-2386. For details on the Business License portal with the Department of Revenue, access their website here.
In the coming weeks, the new City Well will begin supplying groundwater to the Ferndale water system. This well, drilled in 2017, taps a fresh aquifer located over a 1,000 feet below the surface and will provide approximately a quarter of the City’s water supply.
The new well is completed in a separate aquifer than the current supply and will result in some changes to the taste of City water. There are many factors that influence the flavor of City water, not the least of which is your own personal preferences. No matter the taste, the City will ensure the water is safe and reliable.
The City is currently designing the expansion the Water Treatment Plant which is scheduled to be completed in 2021. When that project is completed, the well will provide a larger percentage of the City’s water.
“As we enter the summer months, I am thrilled to see this vital resource come online for the City,” said Mayor Greg Hansen. “That said, water is still a precious resource and we need everyone to practice good conservation this summer.”
Starting May 29th, the Ferndale Municipal Court will hold court for the first time since Gov. Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order went into effect. New sanitization and social distancing protocols will be in effect and participants will be required to wear a face covering. Those who arrive without face coverings will be provided one by the court.
“Justice is an essential function and I am relieved to be able to resume this important work,” said Judge Mark Kaiman. “We will be taking the steps necessary to move forward in a safe and responsible way.” Ferndale Municipal Court deals with cases relating to non-traffic and traffic infractions, criminal misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors.
Ferndale Municipal Court is held on Friday mornings at the City Annex, located at 5694 Second Ave, Ferndale.
Hearings that were scheduled for March 20th through April 24th are being rescheduled in the order they were originally received. For questions about a specific hearing, please contact the Court Clerk at 360.384.2827, or by email at info@ferndalecourts.org.
This week is National Public Works week and here at the City of Ferndale, we are so thankful for our hardworking team of public works professionals.
They deliver safe, clean drinking water to over 14,00 residents, maintain and repair hundreds of miles of road, sidewalk and utilities and protect us from rising flood waters. They help build our transportation infrastructure, and maintain our parks and playgrounds.
Everywhere you go in Ferndale, you can see their hard work in action. Please join us in giving them a heartfelt thank you for all they do on behalf of our community.
