L-to-R: Mayor Jon Mutchler and Councilmembers Rebecca Xczar (hidden behind Mutchler), Greg Hansen, Keith Olson, Teresa Taylor, Cathy Watson, Carol Bersch and Brent Goodrich.
Here’s what you missed at this week’s city council meeting.
UPDATE: The following has been updated to reflect how the city modified the Municipal Fee Schedule as a result of the council meeting discussion and vote.
Attendance was high at the regular city council meeting held Monday, May 2nd. Most were there to support new SCOPE officers being sworn in and only a few got up to speak during public comment periods.
The meeting got underway with a few folks speaking to council about items not on the agenda. First was the ever-present John Robinson (aka Papa John) who provided his typical humorous comments but then got serious. He wanted council and city staff to consider their options before a pedestrian was hurt or killed while attempting to cross eastbound at Hovander Road and Main Street. Yvonne Goldsmith asked if neighbors would soon be notified about the Central Water Project that she had seen signs about.
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Click for more informationItems on the consent agenda were unanimously approved.
Police Chief Michael Knapp introduced three new volunteer S.C.O.P.E. officers, Paul Ingram, Dennis Ordello and Jerry Ward. Two new city employees were also introduced to the councilmembers.
Chief Knapp provided council with brief explanation of the rationale for naming the two private roads next to Walgreens and Samuel’s Furniture for two Ferndale WWII heroes. The result will be Joe Moser Lane and Dick Stone Lane. Council passed the ordinance unanimously. Plans are to have an unveiling ceremony on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend. More details will be announced at a later date.
Washington State representatives Doug Ericksen & Luanne VanWerven were on the agenda to make a presentation but instead VanWerven and Vincent Buys stepped up. They spoke to the council about obtaining funding for the Thornton Road overpass project and the changes that made it possible for Alcoa to continue operations at the Intalco Works smelter facility.
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The council voted to approve an amendment to the Ferndale Municipal Code (FMC) that better defined what a “public entity” is for the purpose of enforcing city code. The amendment was unanimously approved.
Next up was a more contentious amendment to the FMC; fees related to permitting businesses to provide outside dining on sidewalks in the downtown area. According to the FMC, related fees set last year are
- $200 for an annual encroachment permit
- $100 for staff review of the set up and
- $100 for a sidewalk dining business license ($70 to renew that license in subsequent years).
This comes to a total of $400 for the first year and $270 each year thereafter plus the business would need to obtain a $1-million liability insurance policy. City staff said the fees were extremely unpopular as they were considered too high which is why they were being brought back to council for review.
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Click for more informationThere was extensive conversation among the councilmembers ranging from the absence of details regarding related sidewalk elements businesses might put outside their storefronts (eg benches, art, flower planters) to recognizing how many businesses are already placing items out on the sidewalk during the day and bringing them inside in the evening without having to pay anything to the city.
The public was invited to speak to council as well. Cleo Callen asked council why this was even being discussed. Providing the rules for setting up on the sidewalk and requiring everything be brought inside at close of business would seem to be all that is needed. Yvonne Goldsmith asked why the city needed to nickel and dime Ferndale businesses “busting their humps” trying to help their businesses grow. This didn’t seem very “business-friendly” to her.
It was eventually moved to vote on changing the encroachment permit from $200 to $25 and only require the cost of a staff review when there were permanent changes made to the sidewalk. This passed with councilmembers Keith Olson and Brent Goodrich voting against.
The new fees required for a business to offer outside dining as a result of the vote are (updates reflected in bold and strike-out text)
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Click for more information$25Sidewalk dining no longer requires an annual encroachment permit- $100 for staff review of the set up only if there are any permanent changes and
$100 fora sidewalk dining business license is no longer required.($70 to renew that license in subsequent years).- $25 for a sidewalk dining permit.
This comes to a total of $25 $125 (assuming no permanent sidewalk fixtures) for the first year as well as still needing to obtain a $1-million liability insurance policy.
The council next discussed a request from the Public Works department to hire a project inspector. Public Works Project Manager Katy Radder explained to council how they are currently hiring contract inspectors to perform these tasks and Radder feels the results would be better with a permanent staff in place. It was determined by council this request had not yet been submitted to the City Finance Director for review and as a result there was no assigned source of funds to cover the expense. Councilmembers were unanimous in requiring this request go back to the Finance & Administration Committee for review.
The remaining items on the agenda were discussions between city staff and councilmembers regarding drafting the comprehensive plan and a continuation of a workshop on transportation engineering methods and terminology.