Ferndale City Council Committees

**Mayor Hansen, on Portal Way timeline:** "So now I can say right now our timeline puts us at construction this summer." **Mayor Hansen, on public criticism:** "I mean, I see the stuff on Facebook too, and it's like the city is doing nothing and it's like, oh, I hate it when people say that because I just spent 8 hours doing nothing." **Katy Radder, on project complexity:** "We only want to build it once and we want to get it right the first time, and so making sure that we understand how the two roundabouts interplay with each other, they're very close together." **Council Member Mutchler, on Seahawks resolution:** "It's more for fun than anything serious." **Mayor Hansen, on sports predictions:** "All of the sportscasters, all the people they do, every one of them has the Seahawks selected to win the Super Bowl. They said their defense is just unstoppable." **Katy Radder, on construction duration:** "More than three days, less than 300." #

## Meeting Overview The Ferndale City Council committees convened on the morning of Wednesday, January 28, 2026, for their regular monthly committee meetings at City Hall. Mayor Greg Hansen presided over what proved to be a substantive session that advanced a significant infrastructure project and celebrated an unexpected victory for the Seattle Seahawks with characteristic Pacific Northwest humor. The meeting opened at 8:00 a.m. with the Public Works & Utilities Committee, followed by a brief recess before the Finance & Administration Committee reconvened at 10:00 a.m. The Planning & Land Use Committee meeting, scheduled for 9:00 a.m., had been cancelled. Council members participated both in-person and remotely, with Mayor Hansen facilitating the proceedings alongside City Administrator Jori Burnett and department heads. ## The Portal Way I-5 Roundabout Project Takes a Major Step Forward The most significant business of the morning centered on an ordinance authorizing the use of eminent domain for the Portal Way I-5 Northbound Roundabout Project—a infrastructure improvement that has drawn persistent public attention and questions about when the city would finally address traffic congestion at this critical interchange. Project Manager Katy Radder provided a comprehensive overview of the long-awaited project, explaining that the city is now at 30% design completion and ready to move forward with right-of-way acquisition. "We're far enough along that we are now able to identify right of way that we need to purchase," Radder explained to the Public Works Committee, chaired by Councilmember Herb Porter. The project represents a substantial infrastructure investment that will replace the existing compact roundabout with a full-size, two-lane roundabout capable of handling increased traffic volume from the I-5 northbound off-ramp. The improvements also include adding a second westbound lane under the I-5 overpass, new pedestrian and bicycle facilities, upgraded lighting, and significant utility work including water line extensions and stormwater system upgrades. Mayor Hansen pressed for clarity on the timeline, asking questions that reflected the public's impatience with the project's lengthy development phase. "So we can go out and when people in the public say when the hell are you going to do something about the Portal Way exit, we can say you know what? We're well into design and we if everything goes as planned, we expect to be under construction this summer," Hansen said. Radder confirmed this timeline, explaining that the city has been conducting traffic analysis for nearly a year to ensure the improvements address the complex interaction between the two closely-spaced roundabouts. "We only want to build it once and we want to get it right the first time," she emphasized, describing how congestion in one roundabout can lock up the other. The eminent domain ordinance represents a critical procedural step, though Radder clarified that the city will still attempt to negotiate directly with property owners before resorting to condemnation proceedings. The project requires acquisition from only two property owners across three parcels—a much simpler scope than previous major projects like the Ferndale Terrace development, which involved 60 different property owners. Councilmember Robert Pinkley raised detailed questions about the process and costs of eminent domain, leading to an educational discussion about property valuation, fair market compensation, and the legal framework that protects both the city's ability to proceed with essential infrastructure and property owners' rights to fair compensation. Radder explained the formal appraisal process and noted that property owners can hire their own appraisers, with the city reimbursing up to $750 for professional review of acquisition offers. The complexity of working within Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) right-of-way also emerged as a key theme. Mayor Hansen questioned the responsibility for maintenance of improvements built within state-owned areas, prompting Radder to explain the intricate partnership between city and state agencies. "It could be argued both ways," she noted, describing how WSDOT might argue the city is responsible for improvements needed due to local growth, while the city could argue it's fixing problems originating from the state highway system. After thorough discussion, the committee unanimously approved sending the ordinance to the full City Council with a recommendation for approval. The project is funded entirely through city sources including the voter-approved Transportation Benefit District, traffic impact fees, Real Estate Excise Tax, and utility funds. ## Routine Financial Business with Educational Value The Finance & Administration Committee, also chaired by Councilmember Porter, addressed routine but important financial oversight responsibilities. The committee reviewed claims for the December 2025 open period and January 2026, with several members asking clarifying questions that provided educational value for both council members and the public. Councilmember Erin Gunter inquired about storm utility rate revenue refunds, learning from staff that these typically occur during home sales when both buyers and title companies make payments, resulting in necessary refunds to property owners. Porter asked detailed questions about various significant expenditures, including the annual $19,500 contract with the Humane Society, active shooter response equipment for the Police Department, the city's $14,334 annual membership in the Association of Washington Cities, and a $37,794 payment to Whatcom County for jail services. Finance Director Danielle Ingham and City Administrator Duncan answered each inquiry, providing transparency about the city's financial commitments. One notable item was a $15,734 payment to the State Auditor for the recently completed city audit, with the exit conference scheduled for the February 11 committee meeting during the Finance & Administration session. ## An Unexpected Seahawks Celebration The morning's most lighthearted moment came when Councilmember Jon Mutchler introduced a resolution supporting the Seattle Seahawks in their quest to win Super Bowl 60. Drawing on a template from a similar resolution passed during Mayor Gary Jensen's tenure over a decade ago, Mutchler presented a spirited proclamation that would temporarily rename Ferndale as "Hawkdale" through February 8, 2026. "It's more for fun than anything serious," Mutchler acknowledged, reading the resolution that celebrated the Seahawks' historic 14-3 season, their dominance on defense, and their victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game. The resolution praised the "12th man" fans and noted the upcoming "epic rematch" against the New England Patriots. The proposal generated good-natured discussion about whether "12Dale" might be preferable to "Hawkdale," with consensus emerging around the original name. Porter enthusiastically supported the idea, suggesting minor grammatical corrections could be made before the resolution goes to the full Council. Mayor Hansen added his own optimism, noting that "all of the sportscasters, all the people they do, every one of them has the Seahawks selected to win the Super Bowl. They said their defense is just unstoppable." However, he tempered expectations by referencing painful Seahawks history: "Let's hope it doesn't come down to a final play in the 2 yard line." The committee unanimously approved advancing the resolution to the full Council, providing a moment of community celebration and civic fun that contrasts with the more serious infrastructure and financial business that typically dominates council agendas. ## Closing & What's Ahead The committee meetings concluded on an upbeat note, with members expressing appreciation for the substantive progress on the Portal Way project and anticipation for both the Super Bowl resolution and the upcoming audit exit conference. The Portal Way eminent domain ordinance and Seahawks resolution will both appear on the February 2, 2026 City Council agenda. Administrator Burnett requested that Councilmember Gunter remain briefly after the meeting's conclusion, though the nature of that discussion was not specified in the public session. The morning's proceedings demonstrated the blend of serious governance, public accountability, and community spirit that characterizes Ferndale's municipal government, from addressing long-standing infrastructure needs to celebrating shared regional pride in the Seahawks' remarkable season.