Ferndale has major issues left by the past three administrations.
While the new pavement on Main Street and Second Avenue may look nice, it does nothing to solve traffic congestion. The highest priority should be to fix and finish the Second Avenue project by completing the Thornton-Railroad crossing, improving access to Interstate 5 for families living on the hill.
For 20 years I've worked to improve our city. I've served on the planning commission and the city council, own a small downtown business, and I've run for office several times - my campaigns were financed 95 percent from my personal savings. In contrast, Mayor Gary Jensen has received more political contributions from outside sources than any other mayoral candidate in Ferndale history. Sixty percent of Jensen's campaign dollars come from developers, some from outside Whatcom County, and at least one based in Canada. Is this election only for large-scale developers, or all of the citizens of Ferndale? Only the voters can answer that question.
In the past decade we have seen many retail developments pop up along the I-5 corridor. My vision for Ferndale is something different. The natural beauty of Ferndale and the surrounding area is our best asset. It should be both preserved and enhanced to the benefit of Ferndale residents. Hundreds of thousands of tourists pass through our area every year. We need to create a reason for them to stop.
To that end I've supported the building of a large indoor aquatic center, proposed by a local non-profit group, which will provide part-time jobs for our youth and a safe, healthy, fun place for all. The aquatic center represents an alternative for generating revenue without sacrificing our landscape. Such an opportunity should be harnessed as an economic engine, promoting tourism while enhancing the quality of life we enjoy. The Sierra Club has endorsed me as the best choice to move Ferndale toward a prosperous, sustainable future.
After four years of unprecedented borrowing and spending, we see no solutions to our most pressing problems: traffic, unemployment, higher water and sewer rates, and taxes. Borrowing $18 million without voter approval is wrong. We've nearly exhausted the city's credit limit funding large capital projects, leaving little emergency resources and limiting future options.
Mayor Jensen promised "no new taxes," but the latest budget increases city fees, including water/sewer/garbage, storm water rates and building permits while neglecting parks, road repair, trails, sidewalks, senior meals and the food bank. The mayor says future city budgets will balance because there will be a "robust recovery in 2014." His wishful thinking is a dangerous basis upon which to justify his massive borrowing.
These difficult economic times require creativity, honesty and wisdom from city hall. Ferndale needs a fresh approach from a mayor who values transparency and is open to the possibility that the best ideas often come from ordinary citizens. As a councilman I've witnessed Mayor Jensen's rush to implement decisions, and the resulting unnecessary waste of precious taxpayer dollars. The temporary library in Pioneer Park cost $1.2 million. The mayor has effectively forced the library to be built twice in his single-minded quest for a new 19,000-square-foot police station.
The Bellingham Herald called our mayor "efficient" and "courageous." Why is the mayor promoting heavy retail development at I-5 and Main when it was rejected six years ago due to the obvious negative traffic impacts? Grandview and Slater have been zoned for heavy retail. I will not sacrifice future generations by indebting them to questionable projects which are not well thought out. I will propose a resolution preventing any new borrowing greater than $1 million without a vote of the citizens.
I've spoken with hundreds of our citizens who own businesses, citizens in every neighborhood, and those who live in the areas surrounding Ferndale. I'm always searching for innovative ideas that will improve our community. When we seek out the brain power, skills, and energy of our community, we create common-sense solutions and a community working together for common interests.
The choice before the voters has never been more clear: I ask you to "Vote for Zimm" so together we can build on what's best about Ferndale.
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Lloyd Zimmerman is a candidate for Ferndale mayor. The general election is Nov. 8. For more information go online to bellinghamherald.com/elections. You can follow the Whatcom election conversation on Twitter at #Whatcomvote.
