Friends & Neighbors:
I hope this post finds you well, and that 2021 is a kinder & gentler year for us all. 2020 was a challenging year to begin my role as a city council member, to say the least. Weird fact: I’ve only attended 6 meetings in person!
I made a commitment when I ran to increase transparency, communication, and accountability. As part of that effort, this post includes a link to my voting record on regular agenda items: http://bit.ly/voterecord2020 It’s worth noting that many times votes are unanimous due to the solid process of due diligence staff & council performs leading up our meetings.
Additionally, I’d like to update you on some of the issues I committed to:
✓ 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 & 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: I committed to personally improve communication through social media platforms, but I believe structural communication still needs improvement. We have implemented some changes to public notice for major projects that should help provide increased awareness. Finally, Melanie Piana, Mayor, City of Ferndale & I are collaborating on ways to improve communication, such as newsletters & email notifications.
✓ 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗮 ‘𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱’ 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Progress on this was made when we adopted our Community Affordability & Inclusive Housing Action Plan this year. Part of the plan that I find most applicable to my goal includes the Local Housing Trust and Home Rehabilitation Assistance. Find more information on this here: http://bit.ly/affordableferndale
✓ 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘆 & 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆: We passed a resolution against the municipal use of anticoagulant rodenticide- a poison that has proved counterproductive to our rat elimination goals by killing predators and pets. We will be implementing new methods of municipal rodent control in 2021, using proactive methods that do not rely on poisoning. We also approved funding for compactor enclosures to help increase accountability in proper waste disposal downtown, and a pilot program for downtown waste composting and recovery (potential cost savings & environmental benefit).
✓ 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗥𝗢𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: approved in 2019, we changed out our streetlights to LEDs. Yearly savings from energy efficiency is $161,078.42, with the payback period for conversion at 2.2 years. The immediate savings will replenish the general fund at a 90/10 split - 90% replenishing the capital fund and 10% seeding a Revolving Energy Fund. The Revolving Energy Fund will be used for future green investments.
Some things were delayed/deferred due to the pandemic, but I’m proud of what we have accomplished in a tumultuous year. Here's hoping that 2021 will bring further opportunity for Ferndale to grow & thrive.
Thank you all for providing me the opportunity to serve!
PS- I'll be distributing this letter to homes in the following weeks for those who don't have Facebook, and it will include important city contact numbers and council meeting dates. A copy of the letter is here: https://drive.google.com/.../1F9eWyyJzt6mvu6ClZet.../view...
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