The following is provided courtesy of Ferndale City Administrator Greg Young regarding the Ferndale City Council meeting agenda for the regular meeting scheduled for 6pm, Monday, May 21st.
Greetings All
We will begin Monday night at 5PM for a Study Session centered on the financial needs of our Water and Wastewater Funds. We have recently completed an update to our Utility Capital Improvement Plan and with the impending rebuild of our Wastewater Plant as well as the future Deep Well Program, there is a need to look at the long-term financial needs of these funds and the resulting rate structure needed to support these utilities into the future.
Central to these discussions will be a critical policy decision – that is, to what extent do we want to fund our annual capital improvements with cash flow from rates verses the issuance of long-term debt whose annual debt service would come from rate revenue.
AdvertisementClick for more information
AdvertisementClick for more information
It should be noted that it is our intention to fund the wastewater treatment plant rebuild with long-term debt – it would be impossible to pay cash (approximately $30 million) and in all probability, our Deep Well Program will also be financed through long-term debt. In these two instances, we will need to revise utility rates to pay for this debt service.
With this said, there are also other annual capital improvements that will need to be completed to keep the water and sewer system in good order. It is these on-going annual capital improvements that will need to be paid for either through cash flow or additional debt. Thus, the need for us to begin the discussion on future utility rates and your preference on how we pay for these improvements.
Following this Study Session, we will begin the regular meeting with the Consent Agenda. The unique items are as follows:
• Biosolids Removal Contract – Each year we remove biosolids (dredge our sewer lagoons). In anticipation of our Wastewater Treatment Plant rebuild beginning next year, we are going to do additional dredging so we have sufficient lagoon capacity since some of the lagoons will be taken off line during construction.
AdvertisementClick for more information
AdvertisementClick for more information
• Resolution for Skate Park Grant Application – The awarding agency requires that all grant applications have formal approval by the City Council.
• Claims Agent Designation Resolution – We are required to formally designate certain individuals as authorized to accept legal paperwork on behalf of the City.
Following the Consent Agenda, our PW Capital Projects Manager, Katy Radder, will update the Council on the status of our 2018 projects. As has been the case for many years, we have many projects in various stages of completion and Katy will be able to bring you up to date.
After this, our next agenda item is a Public Hearing regarding the need to condemn (obtain) a piece of property for our Washington Street Project. As you are aware, the ownership of this strip of land is being questioned and while this process unfolds, we are moving to get “possession and use” of the property so as to not delay our project.
AdvertisementClick for more information
AdvertisementClick for more information
The next item is an ordinance regarding the temporary housing of individuals and families by religious organizations. While this type of activity has historically been performed by churches and other religious organizations, we are needing to formally recognize this activity and establish the responsibility of the City to inspect for basic life safety aspects.
The last item is a proposed resolution supporting the safe ownership and use of firearms. With issues related to gun safety recently in the news, I understand the resolution’s purpose to be the promotion of gun safety awareness.
Well, that is all for now – see you all at 5PM for the Monday night Study Session.
The public is encouraged to attend City Council meetings. They are held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month at 6pm in the City Hall Annex in the Council Chambers at 5694 2nd Avenue.