Ferndale staff outlines $32.8M combined public‑safety option; council seeks phased scenarios and funding pathways

Ferndale officials used a large portion of Saturday’s strategic workshop to review the condition of police and fire facilities and options for addressing long‑deferred maintenance.

Colleen Krizan, assistant city manager, and public safety staff described facility condition assessments that identified mechanical, plumbing and HVAC systems near end‑of‑life, undersized apparatus bays, and inadequate living and decontamination facilities at both fire stations and the police department. The 2024 public‑safety headquarters feasibility study proposed a combined building of roughly 58,000 square feet to house police operations and fire headquarters and estimated a construction cost of about $32,800,000.

Council members stressed they wanted a range of scenarios tested for the March budget workshop: a minimum‑viable investment to preserve operations, a mid‑range phased option that addresses critical health/safety needs and a longer‑term, state‑of‑the‑art buildout. Members asked staff for updated site‑programming, refined cost analyses, phasing strategies, and a clear explanation of funding options — including bonds, state/federal grants and possible public‑private partnerships. Staff flagged a pending $1.6 million state grant request intended to help cover roughly $2 million in immediate repairs at Fire Station 1; they said that grant would provide a near‑term supplement but not a 50‑year solution.

Several councilors emphasized timing and tradeoffs — whether to invest in the existing facilities or to pursue site purchase and an entirely new combined facility — noting that capital planning, grant timelines and ballot timing for potential millage or bond measures would affect what could reasonably be funded in FY2027. The city’s capital improvement plan will return to council in March for adoption; staff said they will present the revised CIP and the requested program/cost scenarios at that time.

No motion was made; council directed staff to return with the requested program matrices, cost estimates, phasing options and possible funding pathways for inclusion in the March budget workshop.