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Ferndale examines police and fire facility options and pension ballot's budget impact
Summary
Council and staff discussed site analyses and phased options for a public safety headquarters, potential grant and outside‑service costs, and a ballot proposal intended to change pension governance with projected savings starting in later fiscal years.
City staff told the council they will update site programming and cost analysis for a potential public safety headquarters and explore multiple locations and phased approaches rather than a single configuration.
"We did spend about $28,500 on the original programming study, but that study only looked at the feasibility of one particular location," the city manager said, adding that staff propose going out to RFP for new design work and that phasing will be an important takeaway. Council members and staff discussed budgeting for grant pursuit: the presentation factored in outside grant assistance at about $75 per hour with a $6,200 allocation factored for the next three years.
Fire leadership described operational coverage, mutual aid arrangements and capital equipment needs. The fire chief said Ferndale provides all‑hazards services to Ferndale and contracted services to Pleasant Ridge and Royal Oak Township, and that the department is pursuing several grants and equipment purchases, including an ambulance partially offset by CDBG funds (about $150,000 awarded). "We will be receiving it this fall, but we did just get the news that we did get approved for a $150,000 of CDBG funds to offset the cost of that ambulance," the chief said.
Staff also raised a voter‑approved ballot measure planned for August that would allow the city to govern police and fire pension arrangements through ordinance, which the manager said could lower pension costs in later years. "Moving to a system where we can govern the police and fire pension through ordinance would allow us greater flexibility," the manager said; staff projected up to a 50% reduction in retiree pension costs in years beyond FY27 depending on adoption and market conditions.
Council received the presentations; no final facility decision was made. Staff said comments and direction from the workshop will be used to refine budget allocations and procurement steps for design, phasing and grants.
