Construction of New Compact Roundabout on Portal Way Begins July 30th

Please be advised that construction of a compact roundabout at Portal Way and I-5 Northbound Exit 263 will begin on Monday, July 30, 2018. During the first couple weeks of work, drivers should expect impacts on Portal Way as crews widen the intersection. Flaggers will be on hand to direct traffic through the construction zone.

Please choose alternate routes if possible. Thank you for your patience.

The final part of this project will require that both the Northbound on and off ramps to and from Interstate 5 be closed for a period of up to 5 days starting in mid-August. During the closure period, drivers will be detoured. More information will be released next week with those closure dates.

If you have questions regarding this notice, please contact the Ferndale Public Works Department at (360) 384-4006.

July 27, 2018

Announcing the Winners of the Great Ferndale Midsummer Mystery

Congratulations to the winners of the Great Ferndale Midsummer Mystery:

1st Place – Mike, Joan, Michael, Tera and Audrey Contezac

2nd Place – Carol and Jerry Van Sambeek, Brie, Gigi and Amelie Ambler

3rd Place – Dean, Tayen, Nyla, Carolyn Withrow

4th Place – Casey Osman, Kara Helms, Karen Osman, Heyden Pinkston

5th Place – Kaden, Kathleen, Sarah and Hazel Morris

6th Place – Jon, Jamie, Jadyn and Jaclyn Denham

and of course a big thank you to all 168 participants who took the opportunity to explore our city and meet your neighbors. This adventure was made possible by the Whatcom Community Foundation as part of their #ProjectNeighborly initiative. Until next time, detectives! #FerndaleMystery

July 25, 2018

Here is the FINAL Clue for the Great Ferndale Midsummer Mystery

Here is the sixth and FINAL clue for the Great Ferndale Midsummer Mystery – running from July 1st -24th. Please turn in your scorecard by next Tuesday, July 24th. You can find all previous clues, the scorecards, rules and all the details on our cash prizes by clicking here. This project is supported by Project Neighborly, from the Whatcom Community Foundation and is part of our 2018 Summer of Fun from Ferndale Parks.

July 20, 2018

Come out for Field Games Sat. July 21st, 1pm at VanderYacht Park

Sack races! Tug-o-war! Egg toss! Water balloon fights! The City is hosting an afternoon of Field Games for all ages at VanderYacht Park, so bring clothes you can get dirty and join us for some old fashioned fun. Snacks provided – all ages and abilities welcome.

This event is part of our 2018 “Summer of Fun”. You can find out about more free recreational events by clicking here.

For questions about Field Games, please contact Recreation Coordinator Riley Sweeney at (360) 685-2353 or email him by clicking here.

July 19, 2018

Traffic Impacts at Vista Drive and Washington Street Starting July 18th, 7am-5pm

Traffic impacts continue at the intersection of Vista Drive and Washington Street. Starting July 18th from 7am-5pm, dump trucks will be making trips through that intersection, blocking traffic intermittently over the next several days. This will facilitate the installation of a new sewerline. Please follow all direction provided by traffic flaggers.

Please choose alternate routes if possible. Thank you for your patience.

If you have questions regarding this notice, please contact the Ferndale Public Works Department at (360) 384-4006.

July 18, 2018

Traffic Impacts on Vista Drive Tuesday, July 17th, 7am-Noon

There will be traffic impacts on Vista Drive this Tuesday, July 17th from 7:00am to Noon between Fourth Avenue and the Vista Drive roundabout.

To facilitate work on a waterline in the area, traffic will be reduced down to two lanes, with one lane of traffic shifting into the middle lane. Flaggers will be on hand to direct traffic, drivers are advised to use caution and obey all traffic directions.

Please choose alternate routes if possible. Thank you for your patience.

If you have questions regarding this notice, please contact the Ferndale Public Works Department at (360) 384-4006.

July 17, 2018

Burn Ban in Effect in Whatcom County

As of July 13th, 2018, a burn ban is in effect due to the dry temperatures. All land clearing and yard debris burning is discontinued at this time, recreational fires in your backyard are allowed with the following conditions:

Must only contain seasoned firewood or charcoal
Must be contained in an enclosure no larger than 3’ X 3’ across, and must be a minimum 16” high, made of cement blocks, stones, or steel.
Beach fires (where allowed) can be dug into an 8” deep pit, surrounded by 4” high enclosure of rocks.
Fires must be 25’ from structures, timber, and combustible materials.
A charged garden hose or (2) 5-gallon buckets full of water to be next to the fire.
A shovel or rake capable of stirring and extinguishing the fire to be on-site.
Recreational fires are allowed after dark, if attended by someone 16 years or older at all times.
Fires must be attended until out cold.
No burning when winds exceed 7 MPH.

Violations of these burn restrictions can result in a minimum $250.00 fine. In addition, if you have a fire that escapes or needs to be extinguished by the fire department, you may be held financially responsible for fire suppression costs, as well as be criminally charged.

July 17, 2018

Summary of July 16th, 2018 Council Meeting

You can find all related Agenda documents here

City Council Agenda Follow-Up

July 16, 2018

CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL

PUBLIC COMMENT

INFO ONLY

BREWING OVER CITY BUSINESS

Brewing Over City Business is a pilot program to increase transparency and civic participation. It is made possible by a generous donation from Woods Coffee and support from the Whatcom Community Foundation as part of the Project Neighborly initiative. First-time attendees to a Ferndale City Council meeting sign up at the beginning of the meeting to receive a free $10 Woods Coffee card. When the meeting is over, those who signed up will receive their card. Students who are attending the meeting as a class requirement are not eligible.

INFO ONLY

CONSENT AGENDA

Councilmember G. Hansen moved, and Councilmember Taylor seconded, to approve the consent agenda. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.

APPROVED

THORNTON OVERCROSSING PROJECT UPDATE

Current status: Design is 60% complete, BNSF comments are being addressed, and right-of-way acquisition and environmental permitting are underway.

Estimated timetable: Design anticipated to be completed by the end of 2018. Right-of-way acquisition and environmental permitting is expected to be completed in June 2019. Advertisement for bids to be in July 2019.

Construction pre-load is anticipated to begin in September 2019, with the expectation that it will take approximately 18 months.

Bridge & road construction is expected to begin in April 2021, and should take approximately 20 months, with completion expected by January 2023.

INFO ONLY

PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS UPDATE

Associate Planner Haylie Miller presented updates on the following private development projects:

· Taco Bell – the existing Denny’s building will be demolished and replaced with a smaller building with a drive-through. Construction is expected to begin within the next two or three months.

· LaBounty Apartments – 150 unit complex consisting of 5 buildings with 30 units each. This is a 9-acre site, located west of the existing Labounty Place Apartments. Groundbreaking is expected to be in approximately one year.

· Third Avenue Duplexes – Two duplexes, located across from Ferndale Grain. They are almost complete and ready for occupancy.

INFO ONLY

ORDINANCE: Modifications to FMC 6.02 – Animal Control Enforcement

The City has a contract with the Whatcom Humane Society for animal control services. They have informed staff that the Ferndale Municipal Code does not grant specific authority to confiscate prohibited domestic fowl such as roosters, peacocks, and guinea fowl. While those types of fowl are prohibited according to FMC 6.02.207, the existing language is insufficient to allow Animal Control to confiscate the animals if found to be in the possession of a property owner or roaming at large. The additional proposed language states that prohibited fowl are subject to confiscation, and will suffice to grant Animal Control that authority.

Councilmember Olson moved, and Councilmember Watson seconded, to approve the agenda bill.

MOTION CARRIED 6-0.

APPROVED

MAYOR REPORTS/COMMENTS

Information only.

COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS

Information only. Councilmember Olson moved, and Councilmember Kennedy seconded, to excuse Councilmember K. Hansen’s absence. MOTION CARRIED 6-0.

INFO ONLY

ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.

July 17, 2018

Looking to Volunteer? Consider Love Thy Neighborhood!

July 12, 2018

FREE Music in the Park with Sky Colony this Saturday at 6pm

The Sky Colony

Join us for a free, all ages concert July 14th at 6pm. Jump, dance, hoot and holler at the stage in Pioneer Park with Sky Colony.

The Sky Colony’s sound is a folk rock revival. They describe it as “a mixture of the call of the Cascadian wilderness and an ‘age past’, the 60’s psychedelia era. Time upon time it has been deemed unique, a sound of ‘luminous spirituality that sets a fire in the mind’.” Learn more about them by clicking here.

This event is part of our 2018 “Summer of Fun”. You can find out about more free recreational events by clicking here.

For questions about Music in the Park, please contact Recreation Coordinator Riley Sweeney at (360) 685-2353 or email him directly by clicking here.

July 12, 2018