Just a reminder, no City Council meeting tonight in honor of Independence Day. The next council meeting will be July 16th at 6pm in the City Annex.
Just a reminder, no City Council meeting tonight in honor of Independence Day. The next council meeting will be July 16th at 6pm in the City Annex.
Councilmember Cathy Watson Receives Advanced Certificate of Municipal LeadershipThis month, the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) awarded Councilmember Cathy Watson an Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership in recognition of her service, leadership and educational achievements. The program recognizes, “Mayors and councilmembers who continue to strive for excellence by attending conferences and trainings, serving their community, and further developing leadership skills.”
Watson, who has been on the City Council since 2012, serves as the Chairperson of the Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) Board of Directors, is the council liaison to the Ferndale Arts Commission and Ferndale Senior Center, and volunteers with a number of community organizations including the Ferndale Auxillary Communication Service and teaching school children robotics at the Ferndale Library.
“Every member of Council works hard to ensure we keep up with latest rules, regulations, and best practices, and this AWC program has a been a wonderful way to set learning and leadership goals for myself,” said Watson.
City officials receive the Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership after earning 60 credits AWC trainings and demonstrating community service.
| City Council Agenda Follow-Up
May 21, 2018 |
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| STUDY SESSION: Capital Project Funding | INFO ONLY |
| CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL | |
| PUBLIC COMMENT | INFO ONLY |
| CONSENT AGENDA
Councilmember Taylor moved, and Councilmember G. Hansen seconded, to approve the consent agenda. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. |
APPROVED
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| CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE | INFO ONLY |
| PUBLIC HEARING: Washington Street Condemnation Ordinance
The Washington Street Improvement Project (Main Street to Vista Drive) is part of the City’s 6-Year Transportation Improvement Program. Funding for this project has been secured, and a contract has been awarded for the work. Although the City has made a good faith effort to acquire the necessary right-of-way interests for the subject parcel, a final agreement has not been reached. In order to construct the project and meet the City’s financial and contractual obligation for completion of the project, it is necessary to obtain clear property rights. Time is of the essence, and the only alternative available for acquisition of clear property rights needed for the construction of the project may be by eminent domain. Councilmember Watson moved, and Councilmember K. Hansen seconded, to approve the agenda bill. MOTION CARRIED 6-1, Councilmember Taylor opposed. |
APPROVED |
| ORDINANCE: Overnight Housing in Religious Facilities
Washington State has recognized that religious institutions have played an important role in assisting the homeless or near-homeless. In 1992 the state adopted RCW 19.27.042 allowing local jurisdictions to opt in to allow certain exemptions from building codes for deficiencies that would not be a threat to human life, health, or safety, in order to allow churches to temporarily house homeless persons. This ordinance modifies FMC 15.04 to reference RCW 35A.21.360 and RWC 19.27, allowing the City to authorize religious institutions to temporarily house the homeless or near-homeless, and places restrictions and requirements on the institutions. This item was referred back to the Planning & Land Use Committee at the last meeting. Changes have been made to the original ordinance to clarify that the City’s proposed code change is based upon the language of the applicable RCW and is intended to provide additional clarity for the City and church groups, where the City retains its responsibility to identify reasonable life-safety measures for the temporary housing of homeless and near-homeless people. Additionally, the 10-day limitation was removed. Councilmember Watson moved, and Councilmember G. Hansen seconded, to approve the agenda bill. MOTION CARRIED 6-0, Councilmember Kennedy abstaining. |
APPROVED |
| RESOLUTION: Gun Safety Awareness Day
A proposal was brought to the Finance & Administration Committee by Councilmember Kate Hansen to promote gun & firearms awareness during the weekend of June 1 -3, and to declare June 2nd “Wear Orange for Gun Safety Day.” Councilmember K. Hansen moved, and Councilmember Watson seconded, to approve the agenda bill. Councilmember Taylor moved, and Councilmember G. Hansen seconded, to amend the motion to add language to the first “Whereas,” citing the source of the information. On the amendment: MOTION CARRIED 5-2, Councilmembers Olson & Kennedy opposed. On the main, amended motion: MOTION CARRIED 5-2, Councilmembers Olson & Kennedy opposed.
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APPROVED AS AMENDED
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| MAYOR REPORTS/COMMENTS
Information only. COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS Information only. |
INFO ONLY |
| ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. |
| City Council Agenda Follow-Up
May 7, 2018 |
|
| CALL TO ORDER/FLAG SALUTE/ROLL CALL | |
| PUBLIC COMMENT | INFO ONLY |
| CONSENT AGENDA
Councilmember Watson moved, and Councilmember G. Hansen seconded, to approve the consent agenda. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. |
APPROVED
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| PROCLAMATION: Teacher Appreciation Week | INFO ONLY |
| PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS UPDATE | INFO ONLY |
| PUBLIC HEARING: Public Storage Uses Ordinance
In November of 2017, Council adopted a six-month moratorium on the acceptance of new storage use applications within the General Business Zone. The moratorium was established based on concerns that the proliferation of these uses could impact long-range employment projections in the General Business Zone and beyond. Adoption of the zoning text amendment removes the need for the moratorium, as it creates new definitions to better describe the variety of uses for the storage units, requires that life-safety measures be put in place based on the proposed range of uses when an application is submitted, and adopts regulations to push personal storage uses further from the right of way so that other uses such as businesses can be placed in closer proximity to the street. Councilmember Watson moved, and Councilmember Xczar seconded, to approve the agenda bill. MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
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APPROVED |
| ORDINANCE: Overnight Housing in Religious Facilities
Washington State has recognized that religious institutions have played an important role in assisting the homeless or near-homeless. In 1992 the state adopted RCW 19.27.042 allowing local jurisdictions to opt in to allow certain exemptions from building codes for deficiencies that would not be a threat to human life, health, or safety, in order to allow churches to temporarily house homeless persons. This ordinance modifies FMC 15.04 to reference RCW 35A.21.360 and RWC 19.27, allowing the City to authorize religious institutions to temporarily house the homeless or near-homeless, and places restrictions and requirements on the institutions. Councilmember Kennedy moved, and Councilmember Watson seconded, to send the item back to the Planning & Land Use Committee. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. |
SENT BACK TO COMMITTEE |
| ORDINANCE: Development Standards & Trails Standards Revisions
The Development Standards were updated in 2017, and since then staff have identified some minor areas that need clarification. These amendments implement revisions and also include Standard Detail drawings for curb, speed table, and trail construction. Councilmember Watson moved, and Councilmember Olson seconded, to approve the agenda bill with the following amendment to Chapter 19:25.030(F): “All required performance bond securities will remain IN THEIR ORIGINAL AMOUNT until final project approval and/or maintenance bond security acceptance.” MOTION CARRIED 7-0.
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APPROVED AS AMENDED |
| INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: Water System Intertie
The City currently relies on two water production wells, the Douglas Well and the Shop Well. The design and capacity of the current well system is adequate for current City production needs; however, the system lacks necessary redundancy. The City’s comprehensive water planning documents identified an emergency intertie to address this deficiency. This interlocal agreement with the City of Bellingham sets the terms by which an emergency intertie would be implemented. Councilmember Watson moved, and Councilmember Kennedy seconded, to approve the agenda bill. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. |
APPROVED |
| ORDINANCE: FMC Modifications – Park Impact Fees
FMC 15.60 is the code chapter that provides a basis for park impact fees, dedication of land in lieu of paying impact fees, and other procedural steps related to those fees. The chapter was originally crafted in the early 2000’s and still reflects many of the park-related philosophies in place at that time, including the City’s policy of seeking land dedication as a first option. The modifications tie FMC 15.60 more closely to the Parks Plan, recreating the chapter as a vehicle to implement the Parks Plan rather than as an independent but related regulatory tool. Councilmember G. Hansen moved, and Councilmember Taylor seconded, to approve the agenda bill. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. |
APPROVED |
| RESOLUTION: Residential Targeted Areas
The resolution sets the date for a Public Hearing regarding the potential to offer local developers tax incentives allowed by State law for the construction of multi-family housing in selected areas of the City. With recent changes to State law, this program that was previously only available to larger jurisdictions can now be offered in Ferndale. The hope is that due to these property tax deferrals, housing units will be constructed that would not otherwise be financially feasible. The Public Hearing date is June 18, 2018. Councilmember Kennedy moved, and Councilmember Taylor seconded, to approve the agenda bill with a modification to the map to include all residential property on Second Avenue. MOTION CARRIED 7-0. |
APPROVED AS AMENDED |
| EXECUTIVE SESSION: RCW 42.30.110(i)
Council adjourned to Executive Session at 7:09. Regular session resumed at 7:29 |
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| MAYOR REPORTS/COMMENTS
Information only. COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMENTS Information only. |
INFO ONLY |
| ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. |
Golden Eagle Doug Pederson
City of Ferndale
Mayoral Proclamation
WHEREAS, Douglas Irvin Pederson grew up in the City of Ferndale and graduated from Ferndale High School; and
WHEREAS, he served as the head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles starting in 2016; and
WHEREAS, the Eagles went 13-3 in the regular season and made it to Super Bowl LII,
WHEREAS, they defeated the Patriots 41-33, winning Super Bowl LII; and
WHEREAS, Coach Doug Pederson’s leadership was essential to that victory;
NOW THEREFORE, I, Jon Mutchler, Mayor of the City of Ferndale, do hereby proclaim the Tuesday, February 6th, 2018 as:
in the City of Ferndale, Washington in recognition of his achievements.
Congratulations to Councilmember Cathy Watson who was just elected chairwoman of the Whatcom Transportation Authority – WTA Board of Directors. The City appreciates your work on behalf of all Ferndale public transit users.
This Wednesday, the City Council, Mayor and City Staff gathered for a daylong retreat to set their priorities for the coming year. Council selected liaisons for community groups, assigned committee members and participated in a goal setting exercise called “Must/Should/Could”.
As part of this exercise, they identified top priorities and then winnowed them down to things they “Must Do”, “Should Do” and “Could Do” with the understanding that not all of these projects will be completed in two years, but progress will be made towards these goals.
City staff will then use this list of prioritize to shape their work for the year and guide the 2019 budget process. You can find 2016’s list by clicking here and previous year’s Must/Should/Could by clicking here. See below for current lists, committee and liaison assignments.
For more information, please contact Communications Officer Riley Sweeney at (360) 685-2353 or by clicking here.
2018 Council Retreat “Must” List
“Should” List
“Could” List
Ferndale City Councilmembers Cathy Watson, Kate Hansen and Fred Kennedy were sworn in by City Clerk Susan Duncan at the first council meeting of the year last night. Councilmembers are elected to four year terms, you can find more details about the City Council including agendas, minutes and contact information, by clicking here.
After several years of our old web interface, it was time for a complete overhaul of our web presence. Here are some of the highlights of our new and improved site:
If you see something broken on our site or can’t find what you need, please email Communications Officer Riley Sweeney by clicking here.