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Home My WebLink Aboutord2026-013Whatcom County COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Agenda Bill Master Report File Number: AB2026-143 File ID: AB2026-143 Version: 1 Status: Adopted File Created: 01/30/2026 Entered by: MMiterko@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Finance Division File Type: Ordinance Assigned to: Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Final Action: 03/24/2026 Agenda Date: 03/24/2026 Enactment #: ORD 2026-013 Related Files: Primary Contact Email: atan@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Ordinance establishing the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund and establishing an initial budget for the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: Ordinance establishing the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund to account for revenues and expenditures related to the needed improvements of the Ferndale Senior Activity Center including building assessments for siding, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. The Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund seeks an initial budget of $200,000 as described in Exhibit A. Please see attached. HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: 02/10/2026 Council Aye: 7 Nay: 0 02/24/2026 Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Aye: 7 Nay: 0 Action: Sent To: INTRODUCED Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler RECOMMENDED TO HOLD IN COMMITTEE Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler Whatcom County Page t Printed on 312512026 Agenda Bill Master Report Continued (AB2026-143) 02/24/2026 Council Aye 7 Nay 0 03/24/2026 Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Aye: 7 Nay: 0 03/24/2026 Council Aye: 7 Nay: 0 HELD IN COMMITTEE Council Finance and Administrative Services Committee Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler ADOPTED Boyle, Buchanan, Elenbaas, Galloway, Rienstra, Scanlon, and Stremler Attachments: Proposed Ordinance, Notice of Action Proposed on 2.10.2026 Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 3/25/2026 PROPOSED BY: EXECUTIVE INTRODUCED: FEBRUARY 10, 2026 ORDINANCE NO. 2026-013 ESTABLISHING THE FERNDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER IMPROVEMENTS FUND AND INITIAL BUDGET WHEREAS, a core service of the Whatcom County Parks Department is maintaining and repairing senior activity center facilities; and WHEREAS, the Ferndale Senior Activity Center is part of the Parks Department's portfolio of properties providing critical programming and services to the area's senior citizen population serving nearly 10,000 visitors annually; and WHEREAS, extensive portions of the building's 50-year-old original siding are exhibiting rot and decay; and WHEREAS, due to the age of the building's infrastructure, the building needs to be evaluated for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning long-term solutions; and WHEREAS, funding is needed to conduct building assessments, develop design plans, and establish a project scope to inform further phases; and WHEREAS, funding is available in the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) II Fund; and WHEREAS, Section 6.80 of the Whatcom County Home Rule Charter allows for project -based capital budget appropriation ordinances that lapse when the project has been completed or abandoned or when no expenditure or encumbrance has been made for three (3) years. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that a new fund is hereby established effective immediately, titled the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund. This fund shall be used to account for the revenues and expenditures related to the needed improvements for the Ferndale Senior Activity Center; and BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the Whatcom County Council that the Ferndale Senior Activity Center Improvements Fund is approved with an initial project budget of $200,000 as described in Exhibit A. ADOPTED this 24th day of March 'C Y CO ATTEST:, �O �1 "Arc. . v 'r o •, C� COTy � • Cathy Halka,;q�nlihxeCCo�n�i) f •°°qs -- �p . yiNG .° APPROVED AS TO FORM: B. Waldron by email/AT 1/30/26 Civil Deputy Prosecutor , 2026 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON Kayle6 Galloway, Council Chair WHATCOM COUNTY EXECUTIVE WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON &X45�14 st*A� Satpal Sid ku, County Executive (X) Approved ( ) Denied Date Signed: 2 EXHIBIT Supplemental Budget Request Status: Pending Parks & Recreation Supp'l ID t 5347 Fund Cost Center Originator. Rod Lamb Expenditure Type: One -Time Year 2 2026 Add'I FTE ❑ Add'I Space ❑ Priority 1 Name of Request: Ferndale Senior Activity Center Building Repairs Department Head Signature (Required on Hard Copy Submission) Date Costs: I Object 6190 6630 7190 8397,S.32412401 Request Total la. Description of request: Object Description Direct billing rate Professional services Other miscellaneous Transfers in Amount Requested $25.000 $166, 500 $8, 500 ($200,000) $0 The Ferndale Senior Activity Center provides a vital service to the aging population of Ferndale and surrounding rural areas of the county. W hatcom County owns the building while the City of Ferndale owns the land upon which the building sits. A core service of the Parks Department is maintaining and repairing Senior Activity Center facilities. Parks is requesting $200,000 in funding for a project -based budget to fund investigative analysis and identify restoration alternatives to several areas of the exterior shell of the building. This investigation will be performed by licensed engineer or architect to determine a cost effective, and durable long-term fix to the 50-year old structure. In addition to repairs to the building envelope, strategies for upgrading the current heating, and ventilation system with a high -efficiency heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system will also be identified. This project is a high -departmental priority and is identified on the current Seven -Year Capital Improvement Plan (ORD2024-058). This request also provides anticipated direct billing cost for Park staff to administer the project and must be charged directly to the project. lb_ Primary customers: The primary customers of this effort are the nearly 10,000 visitors that use the center annually. The Ferndale Senior Activity Center provides critical programming and services to the area's senior citizen population. 2. Problem to be solved: Extensive portions of the original siding are exhibiting rot and decay. The siding system as a whole is at the end of its functional 50-year service lifespan and needs replacing_ Parks is solely responsible for preserving the structure, ensuring that it continues to provide a safe and welcoming environment for visitors, community partners, and park staff. This project will identify the required restoration strategies, and develop detailed restoration plans and specifications necessary for cost estimating, regulatory permitting, bidding and ultimately construction. 3a. Options /Advantages: Parks previously, explored completing the required building repairs however, exploratory efforts by the department's maintenance staff revealed that building decay extended beyond routine maintenance and building repairs that are routine and commonly performed with available maintenance staff resources. And the anticipated restoration required would be more efficiently, and cost effectively by a private building restoration contractor. Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Rpr: Rpr Snppl Regular Supplemental Budget Request Status: Pending Parks & Recreation Supp'l ID T 5347 _I Fund 3241 Cost Center 32412401 Originator: Rod Lamb 3b. Cost savings: This effort does not include cost savings; however, Parks has initiated discussions with the City of Ferndale to explore potential cost sharing arrangement once an estimate of construction costs has been completed. 4a. Outcomes: Outcomes of this effort will be identifying a preferred restoration strategy, developing detailed project plans, specifications and cost estimates. Additionally, this effort will secure all required regulatory permit approvals. The actual renovation effort is likely to occur in 2027, and a separate budget request for construction will be submitted for Council consideration at a later date_ 4b. Measures: The final measure of project success will include completing detailed project plans and specifications, estimating renovation costs, and securing regulatory permit approvals necessary to begin the building renovation effort. 5a. Other Departments/Agencies: Yes, Parks has communicated with the City of Ferndale (Mayor Hansen) to invite engagement concerning restoration planning and specifications and to ensure plans satisfy applicable building and energy codes. Parks has requested that the City consider contributing to funding a portion of restoration costs following development of design specifications. 5b. Name the person in charge of implementation and what they are responsible for. Rod Lamb, Design & Development Manager 6. Funding Source: REET 1 - Requesting to establish a project based budget Companion Supplemental 5354. Wednesday, Juuuarc 14, 2026 Rpt Rpt Suppl Regular