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January 20th 2026 - City Council Survey

This week's City Council meeting will start at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and will be hybrid with remote participation via Microsoft Teams and in-person participation at Council Chambers. See the following information if you're interested in participating: Participation Instructions for City Council Meetings

Ferndale City Council actions have major impacts on our community. Yet participating in our government isn’t always easy. I am committed to seeking out your input because I firmly believe your voice adds value. Please read my current position and let me know if you agree, disagree, or have a better idea. It is essential that you know that my position can be influenced by your responses. I will combine this information with all other information available to me (public comments at the Council meeting, City Staff input, etc.) before I make my final decision. Thank you!

Ryan O'Larey - Ferndale City Council Position 5

A few ground rules before you get started:

1. Be kind, be respectful, be honest, and be concise.
2. Do not participate if you are a Ferndale City Council member.
3. I will not express an opinion for quasi-judicial issues (for legal reasons).
4. Survey responses may be subject to FOIA requests, but will otherwise remain anonymous.
1.I live: (Select the best option for your situation.)(Required.)
2.Unified Fee Schedule Update (LINK starting on pg 14):

What is it?
The City establishes fees for different services, activities, or things like rentals of facilities. At least once per year these are updated. Staff has recommended reducing "return check fees" by $15 because the bank that the City is using no longer charges a fee to the City if a check that is paid to the city bounces. The City is retaining their portion of the fee as they still spend staff time dealing with a bounced check. Staff is recommending allowing third party security instead of requiring the use of off-duty Ferndale police for large gatherings and implementing a $500 refundable deposit for large gatherings that serve alcohol at public facilities to reduce or recover damages at these events. Finally, fingerprinting fees have been added for firearms dealers as required by the State, and the school district fingerprint fees have been removed because they are utilizing their own fingerprinting process.

Why vote to approve?
It makes sense to pass along the savings to customers related to the bank no longer charging fees for bounced checks. Large gatherings that have had alcohol served have resulted in too-frequent damages, and this new refundable deposit should help deter those issues. Finally, the fingerprinting update is required by the state and elective by the School District.

Why vote to reject?
You could argue that the City should remove their bounced check fee as well, or you could argue for a higher or lower deposit related to large parties. You could argue off-duty police should be used instead of allowing security guards. Since this is a conglomeration of updates it's possible that you may have issues with any part of it.

My current position:
I find these changes to be rational and reasonable. I am therefore in favor of approval.
3.Do you have any comments for me on these or any other topics? I'm happy to hear from you and only request that you keep your comments respectful. Your opinions matter! Thanks.

You can also email the City Council by using this link: CityCouncil@cityofferndale.org
4.Some of you get this survey via email, and others have accessed this survey via a link. If you're already signed up to receive this survey via email, go ahead and skip this question. If you did not receive a survey via email, but would like to receive future surveys via email, please add your contact information below. I strongly suggest doing this so that you will automatically receive the survey rather than having to search it out. An additional benefit to signing up is that you will receive an after-Council email that summarizes the Council vote(s) and survey responses. If you have signed up but did not receive this survey in your email, please let me know (and also check to see if it went to your junk/spam inbox).