Real Briefings
City Council Committees
Ferndale's Public Works and Utilities Committee met for a brief 30-minute session to consider a single item: a consulting contract with Transpo Group USA to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. The committee unanimously approved placing the $99,800 contract on the consent agenda for full council approval. Public Works Director Kevin Renz explained that the plan is required to access future federal Safe Streets for All grant funding, with the federal government providing $80,000 of the total cost and the city contributing a $20,000 local match. The Safety Action Plan will analyze five years of crash data (2020-2024), identify high-risk locations, and develop prioritized safety improvement projects. Crucially, completion of this plan will position Ferndale to compete for substantial federal implementation grants, particularly for the long-discussed Portal Way corridor reconstruction project. The committee also received a brief construction update on the new city hall project, which is preparing for its first floor concrete pour next Thursday.
**Safe Streets for All Consulting Contract** - **Action:** Unanimously approved for consent agenda placement (3-0) - **Contract Amount:** $99,800 with Transpo Group USA, Inc. - **Funding:** $80,0…
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**Safe Streets for All Program Requirements**
Public Works Director Kevin Renz explained that while Whatcom County has a general safety action plan through the Whatcom Council of Governments, federal Safe Streets for All grants require city-specific plans. The Ferndale-specific plan will analyze local crash data, identify high-injury and high-risk network areas, and develop targeted safety improvements.
**Grant Strategy and Future Funding Access**
Mayor Hansen emphasized the strategic importance of this planning investment, noting that c…
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**Councilmember Herb Porter:** Strongly supportive, viewing traffic safety improvements as inherently beneficial and noting the excellent federal cost-share ratio.
**Councilmember Robert Pinkley:** Expressed interest in ensuring electric bicycle safety issues are addressed, though staff noted this falls under separate state legislation currently in process.
**Mayor Greg Hansen:** Highlight…
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**Councilmember Porter, on traffic safety:**
"It's something that's anything having to do with traffic, you know, mitigation and how to avoid accidents and stuff is a good thing."
**Mayor Hansen, on funding strategy:**
"This opens up a whole pot of money for larger road construction projects at the federal level, that's simply not even available to us until we complete this plan."
**Mayor Hansen, on P…
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- Contract proceeds to consent agenda for full council approval at next Monday's meeting - Safety Action Plan development begins immediately upon contract execution - Completion target: December 31, 2026 - Public enga…
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Following this meeting, Ferndale is positioned to execute a federal grant-funded safety planning contract that will unlock access to substantial federal implementation grants. The city moved from having only access to Whatc…
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# Safe Streets for All Action Plan: Ferndale Positions for Federal Funding
## Meeting Overview
The Ferndale City Council Committees convened on Wednesday, March 11th, 2026, with only the Public Works & Utilities Committee meeting as scheduled, after the Planning & Land Use and Finance & Administration committees were cancelled. The brief 15-minute session, chaired by Councilmember Herb Porter, focused on a single but significant agenda item: authorizing a consulting contract that would position Ferndale to compete for substantial federal transportation safety funding.
With Mayor Greg Hansen presiding over the start of the meeting before handing control to Committee Chair Porter, the gathering included Councilmembers Porter, Pinkley, and Hawkinson, along with Public Works Director Kevin Renz. The atmosphere was efficient and collegial, with Porter noting the cold weather and hoping "everyone's keeping warm" before diving into what he characterized as "just one little item" — though one that could unlock significant federal resources for the city.
The meeting represented the kind of routine yet consequential municipal business that often flies under the public radar despite its potential long-term impact. By approving a $99,800 contract with Transpo Group USA to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan, the council positioned Ferndale to access future federal Safe Streets for All grants that could fund major infrastructure improvements along the heavily-traveled Portal Way corridor.
## The Safe Streets for All Action Plan Contract
Public Works Director Kevin Renz presented the consulting contract with Transpo Group USA, carefully correcting Committee Chair Porter's suggestion that the plan was "another component" of the city's comprehensive plan. "Not quite a component of the Comprehensive Plan," Renz clarified, "but the Safe Streets for All…
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### Meeting Overview
The City of Ferndale Public Works and Utilities Committee met on March 11, 2026, chaired by Councilmember Porter. The single agenda item focused on approving a consulting contract with Transpo Group USA for developing a Safe Streets for All Action Plan, a federally-funded traffic safety initiative.
### Key Terms and Concepts
**Safe Streets for All (SS4A):** A federal program that provides funding to cities for developing safety action plans and implementing road safety improvements to reduce traffic crashes and fatalities.
**Safety Action Plan:** A comprehensive document that analyzes local crash data, identifies high-risk areas, and creates a prioritized list of safety improvement projects to reduce traffic injuries and deaths.
**High Injury Network (HIN):** Maps that identify roads and intersections with the highest concentration of serious traffic crashes, helping prioritize where safety improvements are most needed.
**Crash Modification Factors:** Research-based data that shows how much specific safety improvements (like better lighting or crosswalks) can reduce the likelihood of crashes.
**Federal Match Requirements:** The requirement for local governments to contribute their own funding to supplement federal grants—in this case, $20,000 local match for $80,000 federal funding.
**Request for Qualifications (RFQ):** A competitive process where the city asks consulting firms to submit their credentials and experience to be selected for a project.
**Transpo Group USA:** The consulting firm selected to develop Ferndale's safety action plan, chosen for their experience with transportation planning and previous work on the city's comprehensive plan.
**Public Dashboard:** An interactive online tool that will allow residents to view crash data, report safety concerns, and track the progress of safety improvement projects.
### Key People at This Meeting
| Name | Role / Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Herb Porter | Councilmember, Public Works & Utilities Committee Chair |
| Greg Hansen | Mayor |
| Kevin Renz | Public Works Director |
| Robert Pinkley | Councilmember, Committee Vice Chair |
| Ali Hawkinson | Councilmember, Committee Membe…
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