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News

Ferndale Bans Recreational Fires

Effective immediately, the City of Ferndale is following the recommendation of Whatcom County Fire District #7 and moving to a Level 2 Fire Ban that prohibits all outdoor burning within Ferndale city limits, including yard debris fires, land clearing, and recreational fires. This has been deemed a necessary safety precaution due to continued high temperatures and dry vegetation within the city.

http://www.whatcomcounty.us/381/Fire-Marshal

The Northwest Clean Air Agency has also issued a Stage 2 Air Quality Burn Ban due to the presence of persistent wildfire smoke in our region.

Wildfire smoke prompts air quality burn ban in Island, Skagit, Whatcom counties

Propane and natural gas fire pits and barbecues and charcoal barbecues are still allowed to be used for cooking, provided solid wood is not being burned. However, care should be exercised in the disposal of charcoal and ashes. Charcoal and ash should be discarded in a metal container and dowsed with water. The container must be kept 10 feet from any structures, trees, or other combustible materials.

Violations of these burn restrictions can result in criminal charges and a minimum fine of $250.

September 10, 2020

City Issues Stage 2 Burn Ban

September 10, 2020

September 10, 2020

Effective immediately, the City of Ferndale is following the recommendation of Whatcom County Fire District #7 and moving to a Level 2 Fire Ban that prohibits all outdoor burning within Ferndale city limits, including yard debris fires, land clearing, and recreational fires. This has been deemed a necessary safety precaution due to continued high temperatures and dry vegetation within the city.

http://www.whatcomcounty.us/381/Fire-Marshal

The Northwest Clean Air Agency has also issued a Stage 2 Air Quality Burn Ban due to the presence of persistent wildfire smoke in our region.

https://nwcleanairwa.gov/?wpdmdl=6826

Propane and natural gas fire pits and barbecues and charcoal barbecues are still allowed to be used for cooking, provided solid wood is not being burned. However, care should be exercised in the disposal of charcoal and ashes. Charcoal and ash should be discarded in a metal container and dowsed with water. The container must be kept 10 feet from any structures, trees, or other combustible materials.

Violations of these burn restrictions can result in criminal charges and a minimum fine of $250.

September 10, 2020

Countywide Partnership Secures over $230,000 for Ferndale Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

city hall sign

The City of Ferndale, in collaboration with Whatcom County, other local cities and the Port of Bellingham has secured over $230,000 for 29 businesses in Ferndale. These resources are part of the Whatcom REstart grants, where local jurisidictions pooled their federal funds from the CARES act passed in the initial outbreak of COVID-19.

Grant applications were received from every city and town in Whatcom County, and an intentional effort was made to ensure that the recipients were also representative of the county by geography and industry.

Approximately $440,000 was allocated to businesses in unincorporated Whatcom County. A full list of the recipients and the amounts awarded will be made available on the Whatcom ReStart webpage.

“We are a resilient community. When we get knocked down, we don’t complain, we get back up and try again,” said Ferndale Mayor Greg Hansen. “With these resources, I believe our businesses can come back after this crisis better and stronger than before.”

The grants are only eligible to cover specific expenses. The list of eligible expenses is limited by conditions under which CARES Act funds are distributed. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to: rent, ordinary loan payments, employee wages and benefits, typical operating costs and COVID-19-related public health measures.

“We’ve only been able to fund about 40%of the applicants, and that’s frustrating, because we see so many businesses and their employees impacted by this crisis,” said Gina Stark, Economic Development Project Manager at the Regional Economic Partnership. “We hope that those of you who we were not able to assist at this time will continue to adapt and to make things work.”

In addition to these business and economic response efforts, CARES Act funding has also been dedicated to support the public emergency response, food and housing security, childcare services, and services and facilities to those living unsheltered.

September 10, 2020

Ferndale Street Striping Scheduled for Sept. 11th-12th

City of Ferndale and Whatcom County Public Works will be striping the streets in the Ferndale area Friday Sept. 11th and Saturday Sept. 12th from 6:30am to 3:00pm. Signs and cones will be utilized to keep drivers out of the wet paint and No Parking signs will be going up in various locations in order to maintain access to paint areas.

The fresh coats of paint that crews apply during spring, summer and fall months will make it easier for drivers to see the road when the winter rains return.

What can drivers do to avoid the wet paint?

Drivers can protect their car from damage by keeping an eye out for striping crews and avoiding lane changes on freshly painted lines.

  • Watch for “wet paint” warning signs and warning trucks, and avoid following too closely.
  • Avoid crossing or driving on freshly painted lines.
  • Do not go around cones or weave in and out of your lane of travel.

What can I do if I get striping paint on my vehicle?

The paint is engineered to last however, it is water-based, drivers may have about one hour to wash it off with soap, water and a high-pressure hose. The sooner it is scrubbed, the easier it will be to remove.

For more information, call Ferndale Public Works at 360-384-4006.

September 9, 2020

Notice Traffic Revisions and Possible Delays: Thursday, September 10, 2020 and Friday, September 11, 2020, 7am to 7pm

Notice Traffic Revisions and Possible Delays: Thursday, September 10, 2020 and Friday, September 11, 2020, 7am to 7pm

Heather Drive, between Sunshine Drive and Diamond Lane

Drivers should expect delays and consider alternative routes as Heather Drive, between Sunshine Drive and Diamond Lane will closed on Thursday, September 10, 2020 and Friday, September 11, 2020 between the hours of 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Westbound traffic will be detoured via Shannon Avenue to Pine Drive to Sunshine Drive to Heather Drive. Eastbound traffic will be detoured Sunshine Drive to Pine Drive to Shannon Avenue to Heather Drive.

Flaggers will be on-site directing traffic. This work is to complete improvements associated with a private development project. Road will remain open during nonworking hours.

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

September 9, 2020

City Council Remote Meeting Notice – September 8, 2020

The City Council meeting at 5:00 p.m.  (Note the time change from the regular starting time of 6:00 p.m.) on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams, with staff and Councilmembers accessing the meeting from individual locations This complies with Governor Jay Inslee’s Proclamation 20-28, as extended through October 1, 2020.

This is still an open public meeting as defined by the Open Public Meetings Act. The City will be using Microsoft Teams to livestream the council meeting. Members of the public do not need to download anything to view the proceedings. To join the meeting, click here.

Included in Monday’s meeting is a Public Hearing regarding an extension for the Catalyst Program. Members of the public may provide comment during the public hearing by one of the following methods:

  1. Email Community Development Director Haylie Miller prior to the meeting. (hayliemiller@cityofferndale.org)
  2. Phone in when the Mayor announces the opening of the public hearing. 360-685-2385
  3. In-person at 6594 Second Avenue. In-person attendance will be limited to 5 members of the public.

 The meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 8.

Members of the public who wish to submit comments on items not on the agenda are encouraged to submit written comments to City Clerk Susan Duncan by emailing susanduncan@cityofferndale.org. Comments received prior to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 8 will be read during the public comment period of the meeting and included in the meeting record. For more details on submitting public comments for a remote meeting click here.

September 4, 2020

City Statement on the passing of former Mayor Gerald “Jerry” Landcastle

The City is deeply saddened to learn that former Ferndale mayor Jerry Landcastle has passed away earlier this week. Mr. Landcastle served as Ferndale’s mayor from 2003 to 2007. He oversaw the completion of the Centennial Riverwalk park and while Mayor, he did the detailed work updating our city code and financial processes to help us transition from a small rural community to the growing city we are today. He cared deeply about Ferndale and brought that passion to city hall. Never one to mince words, he was a straight shooter and we deeply appreciate his service to our community and as a veteran, his service to our nation.

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/surprise-az/gerald-landcastle-9341876

September 3, 2020