“People Power Creates A Vibrant City” - Melanie
Safety, Belonging, and Well-Being
Our Challenge
It’s been a tough year for everyone. Challenging times remind us of the interconnectedness between public health, social justice, and economic opportunity. Incidents of hate and discrimination are on the rise. Structural racism punctuates inequalities for our black and brown residents and business owners. Our nation is more polarized than ever.
Our Path Forward
Our path forward is to remain faithful to Ferndale’s values of inclusiveness, diversity, and welcoming. Our differences are what makes our community so unique: Ferndale is a place where you can be who you are. I will continue to create opportunities and remove barriers for the marginalized and address injustices.
My Focus Areas
Inclusive and Compassionate City
Hate has no home in Ferndale. Our community values support creating fairness that leads to access to opportunity for everyone. I remain intentional in elevating diversity, equity, and inclusion. I remain focused on the city council’s anti-racism initiatives. Ferndale is working to advance racial equity by dismantling systemic racism. We will counter antisemitism and support anti-discrimination for the LGBTQ community.
Replace Lead Water Lines
Ferndale’s goal is to make our homes healthier. We know over 3,000 homes have lead lines, plumbing, fixtures, and fittings that contain lead. In 2021, the city begins to replace lead lines following state guidelines. I supported a $10M revolving loan to help the city do more replacements annually than the state mandates.
Progressive Police & Fire Departments
Guided by the city’s Antiracism Declaration, our Police and Fire Departments are committed to improving organizational culture, policies, and practices. Furthermore, the FPD has been proactively leading reform by implementing 21st Century Policing Principles and by achieving prestigious accreditation that continues to strengthen transparency, accountability, and professionalism throughout the department. Ferndale will support our police department and advance progressive policing reforms at the same time.
Accessibility
An inclusive city means it is built with accessibility in mind for people with disabilities. Ferndale has made progress on making our sidewalks accessible and barrier-free, but there is more to do. I will continue learning and supporting the goal to make Ferndale accessible to everyone.
Climate Resilience
Our Challenge
A prosperous and resilient community needs to address impacts from a changing climate. Our region will become hotter. More heavy rainfalls continue to flood homeowners’ basements. As a small city, we joined a global network for municipalities committed to aligning with the Paris Agreement to keep the world average temperature from rising 2℃ by 2050. For a small city like Ferndale, this undertaking is no small task. It requires rethinking what’s possible.
Our Path Forward
Our community has always been an environmental leader. As mayor, I set a vision for our community to reduce its carbon footprint - a decades-long process to achieve. We are doing our part locally to have a global impact on reducing climate change. Let’s continue making strategic investments, sustainable development, and social justice that improves our environment and transition our local economy to a greener one.
My Focus Areas
Climate Action Plan & Master Plan
The first step in reducing carbon for the city is completing a greenhouse gas inventory. This data helps us understand the city’s carbon output in major sectors (transportation, buildings, waste, etc.). Next, the city will develop a community-driven climate action plan to identify strategies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in each sector. The city completed its GHG inventory in March 2021 and will start the climate action planning and master plan update process in the summer of 2021.
Green Infrastructure
One of the best ways to make our infrastructure more just, less vulnerable, and climate-resilient, is to “Go Green”. Examples include increasing tree canopies, adding bioswales to help with stormwater runoff on our streets and corridors, and reducing impervious pavement while supporting parks and open spaces.
Energy Efficiency
We’re a city of old buildings. The city is doing its part to reduce energy costs in our municipal buildings. Many of our buildings are over 80 years old and require upgrades. The City council invested in a facilities inventory assessment to better understand our needs moving forward.
Variety of Housing Options
Our Challenge
Ferndale is a fantastic place to live, and as such, many people hope to call it home. While this is a good thing, the higher demand for homes can’t keep up with the available supply. This pushes up housing prices and rental rates. Meanwhile, state policies, like the uncapping of property tax, price new homebuyers out of the market. Simply put: it’s harder for new-start families, working professionals, students, seniors, and service workers to find attainable housing choices. Ferndale is not alone in addressing the affordable housing crisis. It is a nationwide problem.
Our Path Forward
Housing affects every aspect of life in Ferndale. It’s critical for our community’s sustainability, wellbeing, and local economy. The city has engaged with partners from the state, county, nonprofits, banks, and developers to help us welcome more new residents by encouraging a diversity of new homes at various price points. I championed the Affordable and Inclusive Housing Plan, so the city can better understand our challenges and opportunities. As a result, we’ve identified community-supported strategies to help us better understand how to allocate city dollars --your taxes-- effectively.
My Focus Areas
More Housing Types
Decades ago, developers stopped making multi-family homes and small walk-up apartments in Ferndale. It’s time to change that. I will continue to encourage new housing that supports the walkable urban living that we all love in Ferndale. I will also continue to support housing policies and investments that address the need for more housing units, accessible housing options for a range of age groups and abilities, and housing at various price points.
Housing Incentives
Ferndale needs to put its money where its mouth is and fund projects that include affordable housing. The market will not deliver this on its own; the city must be an active partner. We will continue leveraging appropriate, affordable housing incentives for projects that align with the city’s housing goals.
Housing Trust Fund
Our community prioritized the exploration of establishing a Housing Trust Fund to build a stable source of revenue dedicated to affordable homes. This tool helps cities like Ferndale fund the construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of rental homes and for homeownership for extremely low- and very low-income families. In 2021, the city will begin exploring how best to form a fund.
Strengthen Our Local Economy
Our Challenge
Every day I’m inspired by our business community. More of our small merchants have survived the pandemic than expected. Their adaptability, creativity and resilience as well as our community rising up to “shop local” helped them survive. Yet, many have closed. The businesses that have survived are not out of the woods just yet. And vacant storefronts need to be refilled.
Our Path Forward
People make Downtown Ferndale a vibrant, thriving place. Our merchants provide unique experiences and offer cool and comfortable hangouts that make Downtown Ferndale one-of-a-kind. But it will take all of us, working together to foster a social and equitable recovery. I will continue to support innovative ways of working and partnering that lead to the restoration of our local economy.
My Focus Areas
Staying Safe
Pandemic safety remains a major focus. I supported new outdoor dining areas, including igloos, new PATIO Zones that support our bars and restaurants, and more open space to hang out at the “Grassy Knoll”. We will continue to invest in programs, services and amenities that encourage business and personal safety.
Places for People
Public spaces are essential for our health, social life, and are an important part of our economic recovery. From pocket parks to the library courtyard, to benches, alleys, and hangouts, people love to gather at special places throughout our Downtown. These experiences reflect Ferndale’s community-based culture and help to make the city unique. What’s more, is that public spaces are an important part of our economic recovery. I will continue to support projects and investments that elevate our sense of place.
Small Business Recovery and Expansion
All of our small businesses have been impacted by the pandemic. In response, to better serve our business community, the City, Downtown Development Authority, and the South Oakland Area Regional Chamber of Commerce have partnered in new ways that better leverage talent, resources, and networks. We need to keep this going and adjust when necessary. I will continue uplifting entrepreneurship, encouraging start-ups and expansions, and listening to what our business community needs to thrive.
Medium to Large Sized Manufacturing
The pandemic impacted Ferndale’s medium and large manufacturers in different ways than small businesses. Employee retention, professional development, wage changes, transportation, and housing are on the minds of our larger businesses. As mayor, I will continue convening the Mayor's Business Council to uncover new business to business opportunities, building new partnerships, and responding to business needs.
Transportation Freedom
Our Challenge
Street design and transportation technology are rapidly changing - sometimes faster than cities can implement. Furthermore, reliable and efficient transit remains underinvested in this region, making it harder for our residents to get where they need to go without a car.
Our Path Forward
Multiple means of mobility and transportation options give us the freedom to choose how we travel. Our infrastructure —our streets and sidewalks, and transit determines how well the city serves our community members. I will continue to leverage opportunities and partnerships that will help Ferndale remain ahead of the curve.
My Focus Areas
Safe & Accessible Streets
We now know that building streets primarily for car travel creates unsafe and inequitable roads. Ferndale has been a leader in undoing streets designed only for autos by slowing down traffic on our side streets and making it safer for families to walk and bike with their kids.
Woodward Moves
For over a decade, Ferndale residents and business owners have shared with me how unsafe they feel walking and biking on Woodward. The sidewalks are crowded; there are no bike lanes; and we need to find safe, new expedient ways to cross Woodward. We can and must do better!
Recently, hundreds of Ferndale residents engaged with the city to improve safety through the Woodward Moves improvement project. In 2022, MDOT is resurfacing Woodward Avenue from 8- to 10mile - currently planned for April to November. In March, Ferndale and Pleasant Ridge applied for a $3.9M SEMCOG Transportation Alternatives Program grant to help pay for these safety upgrades. I will continue to be a vocal champion for a complete, vibrant, multimodal corridor that is safer, more equitable, and accessible for all users.
Join me in making Woodward Avenue work for everyone!
Equitable Transit Access
People want more options to get around than just car travel. Our region has underinvested in building an equitable, accessible, and modern transit system, which has made the wait for and riding the bus more difficult. I will continue being a voice for regional transit investment. I will continue advocating for improving our bus infrastructure (stops, shelters, signage, safety) so that Ferndale residents have more freedom to get where they’re going.
Preparing for New Mobility
I smile every time I watch a family pass by on bikes, or a teenager skateboarding down the street or looking in awe at those one-wheelers. It’s these moments that fuel my passion for better street design. New micro-mobility options, including bike share, car-sharing, and ride-sharing, are now widespread. From e-scooters to package deliveries to curbside pickups, I keep myself appraised of what’s happening, but also what’s coming in the future (Drone deliveries?!?). I will continue to work with our business community through the Downtown Development Authority, the County, and regional partners to leverage emerging opportunities.
Maintain Quality Services
Our Challenge
The city council and staff continue to adeptly navigate financial disruptions caused by the pandemic, disinvestment by the state, revenue sharing reductions, and the overall brokenness of Headlee/ Prop A. We had to spend city dollars to respond and recover from the pandemic, while a fee-for-service or user revenue programs, like our parks and rec youth programs and parking revenue, took a hit. So there’s still a lot of work to do.
Our Path Forward
Ferndale residents and our businesses expect high-quality city services that make living and working here enjoyable. The city remains strategic in using every tax dollar and looking ahead through our three-year budget to manage risks, avoid surprises and make investments that the community desires. Ferndale is a well-run and stable city that residents and businesses have come to depend on and I aim to make it even better!
My Focus Areas
Feb 2020: Learning about the major and costly repairs needed to the Kulick Center boiler.
Priority Based Budgeting
Reading and interpreting city budgets shouldn’t be difficult. As councilwoman, I supported making the process more transparent, clear, and easy to read using plain language. Now our community members can see how much a program or service costs and what value it provides its residents.
Facility Assessment and Enhancements
Ferndale’s municipal buildings are showing their age. Many need significant upgrades to meet the expectations of modern community amenities. Some no longer serve the needs of the community or our city workforce; some have been cobbled together over the years with duct tape and good intentions; and some, like the Kulick Center, require expensive updates (a new boiler) that we simply can’t keep kicking down the road. In order to better understand these challenges, I supported the facility management study to determine the energy inefficiencies of our municipal buildings. I’m excited to work with city council and our residents to determine how to best use city dollars to make these improvements.
American Recovery Act Funds
Ferndale anticipates receiving $1.5 to $2M in federal funds to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. We will need to explore how best to allocate these funds in our programs and services where revenues declined. My interest is to shore up lost revenue while determining areas to invest in that improve public health outcomes.