City of Ferndale

What City of Ferndale does

The City of Ferndale is a home-rule municipal government in Oakland County, Michigan, founded in 1927 and serving residents, businesses, and visitors within its city limits plus adjacent jurisdictions for selected services. It delivers the standard portfolio of municipal functions through dedicated departments: Police (MACP-accredited), Fire/EMS (serving Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, and Royal Oak Township from two fire stations), Public Works (water and sewer, streets, sidewalks, parks), Parks and Recreation, the Permit Center, Water Billing, Parking, and Special Events. The Department of Public Works maintains roughly 80 linear miles of water and sewer lines, 75 miles of streets, 2,500 catch basins, 10,000 street signs, 16 signalized intersections, 140 acres of parkland, 150 miles of sidewalks, and serves approximately 10,000 water, sewer, and solid waste customers.

Underlying technology consists of integrated third-party platforms rather than proprietary systems. Residents interact with the city through SeeClickFix for non-emergency issue reporting, the Neptune My360 consumer portal for water-usage data, BS&A Online for utility billing, FivePoint Payments for parking and bill payments, ParkFerndale for parking permits and tickets, ArcGIS for the Crime Map and zoning, Amilia for parks-and-recreation registration, SeamlessDocs for service-request forms, and Patronicity/MEDC for crowdfunding community projects such as the Harding Rink Rollout. The City Phone Tree was updated in June 2026 to add a dedicated customer service line (Ext. 111).

Revenue is generated through property taxes, recurring utility billing (with a 2.8% card service fee, a $35 returned-check fee, and a $100-per-cycle obsolete-meter surcharge), one-time permits and licenses (business registration, building, sign, liquor), transaction-based parking fees and tickets, annual dog licenses ($10.50–$33 with senior discounts), parking-structure rentals such as the Bike Room at The dot ($12/month or $30/year), and intergovernmental arrangements. Distribution is direct-to-consumer across in-person service at City Hall (Monday–Thursday 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.), online self-service portals, phone, and community programs. The city is governed by a Mayor (Raylon Leaks-May) and City Council (currently with Mayor Pro Tem Nushawna Williams and newly sworn-in Councilmember Nina LaSalle) under a council-manager form, with Joseph Gacioch serving as City Manager and an estimated 101–250 employees.

Name

City of Ferndale

Legal name

City of Ferndale, Michigan

Website

https://ferndalemi.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

City of Ferndale is a home-rule Michigan municipality delivering police, fire/EMS, public works, water/sewer utilities, parks and recreation, permitting, parking, and waste services to residents, businesses, and adjacent jurisdictions through City Hall, digital portals, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Refuse Systems (4953), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Planning, Zoning, Permitting & Code Enforcement (BPAIACAE), Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Municipal services
• Public safety
• Water utilities
• Waste management
• Parks recreation

Headquarters

HQ city

Ferndale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax Revenue: Property taxes collected from residents and businesses within the city limits. Residents can learn about and pay property taxes through the City's services.
2. Utility Billing: Water bills administered through the Water Billing Department. Bills can be paid online, by phone, by mail, or in person. Water service registration and final water bill requests are handled through online forms.
3. Permits and Licenses: Revenue from business registrations, building permits, sign permits, liquor licenses, and other municipal approvals through the Permit Center.
4. Parking: Revenue from parking permits, parking tickets, and the ParkFerndale system including The dot parking structure.
5. Dog Licenses: Annual dog licenses available from Oakland County, with rates of $10.50 for spayed/neutered dogs and $18 for unspayed/unneutered dogs through June 1, increasing to $33 after June 1. Senior citizen discounts available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The City of Ferndale is a municipal government that delivers essential public services to residents, businesses, and adjacent communities, including police and fire/EMS protection, water and sewer utilities, public works infrastructure maintenance, garbage and recycling collection, parks and recreation programming, permitting and inspections, parking services, and community transportation. The city also operates permit services, special events coordination, sustainability programs (including ICLEI Race to Zero), and economic development support through the Downtown Development Authority.

Product overview

The City of Ferndale operates a comprehensive suite of municipal services delivered through its official government website. The city's service portfolio is organized as a collection of integrated core services rather than a unified product platform. Key service areas include: Water Billing and Public Works (managed through Neptune My360 portal and BS&A Online); Parking and Transportation (including ParkFerndale system and SMART transit); Garbage, Recycling, and Waste Removal (serviced through Car Trucking and SOCRRA); Parks and Recreation (parks, splash pads, programs); Public Safety (Police with MACP Accreditation, Fire/EMS); Permits and Inspections (for construction and development); and Community Programs (Sustainability, Special Events, Business Support). Residents interact with services through multiple channels including the website, SeeClickFix for issue reporting, FivePoint Payments for billing, and the city's phone system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Billing Services The Water Billing Department administers all water accounts within the city. Residents can locate and pay water bills online through the BS&A Online utilities portal, by phone, by mail, or in person at City Hall. The department handles account registration, final readings for moving, and payment plan arrangements.
• Parking Services The city operates parking permit programs, parking ticket payment processing, and the ParkFerndale system. Business owners and staff can obtain discounted parking permits. The city also operates a parking structure called 'The dot' with secure and temperature-controlled bike storage available via monthly or yearly rental.
• Garbage, Recycling, and Waste Removal Citywide garbage collection is serviced by Car Trucking and recycling through SOCRRA. Residential pickup occurs weekly Monday through Friday. Special recycling programs include motor oil, batteries, and concrete recycling at the DPW Yard.
• Parks and Recreation
• Police Services The Ferndale Police Department provides law enforcement services including traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, and community policing. The department has received MACP Accreditation and partners with Common Ground for crisis services.
• Fire and Emergency Services Ferndale Fire provides fire rescue and EMS services to Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, and Royal Oak Township from two fire stations (Fire Station 1 at 1635 Livernois Ave. and Fire Station 2 at 1070 E. Nine Mile Rd).
• Permits and Inspections The Permit Center handles building permits, rezoning, sign permits, liquor licenses, and other approvals needed for construction and development projects within the city.
• Public Works The Department of Public Works delivers services including park maintenance, streets and parking lot maintenance, water and sewer service, and snow removal. The department maintains over 80 linear miles of water and sewer lines, 75 linear miles of streets, 2,500 catch basins, 10,000 street signs, 16 signalized intersections, 140 acres of parkland, and 150 linear miles of sidewalks for approximately 10,000 water, sewer, and solid waste customers.
• Ride SMART Community Transportation Community transportation service for seniors, people with disabilities, and those with limited transportation access. Transportation is provided within a five-mile radius of Ferndale with vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts.
• SeeClickFix Issue Reporting An online system for residents to report non-emergency issues including overgrown grass and weeds, abandoned vehicles, parks maintenance requests, potholes, rodents, tree concerns, sanitation issues, blighted property, and traffic signs/signals.
• Sustainability Initiatives The city offers sustainability programs including a Compost Drop-Off Program, Planned Natural Landscaping, and participation in the ICLEI Race to Zero initiative for carbon neutrality.
• Special Events The Special Events Department serves as the central point of contact for those interested in holding special events in the city, including festivals, celebrations, and community gatherings.
• Business Registration and Support Services for business owners including business registration, permits, incentives and resources, the Match on Main grant program administered jointly with MEDC MiPlace, and the Guide to Development documentation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Police accreditation through Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) - one of only 29 agencies in Michigan out of 600+ to achieve this distinction
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for the Harding Rink Rollout crowdfunding campaign to transform the Harding Park skating rink. MEDC's Patronicity platform is being used for the $62,500 fundraising goal. This is a grant-fueled partnership to create a modern, fully accessible inline skating rink.
• Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2021Ferndale joined GARE to advance racial equity in city operations, including reviewing recruiting, hiring, retention policies and developing a racial equity policy using Michigan Department of Civil Rights racial equity toolkit.
• Common GroundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2021Partnership between Ferndale Police Department and Oakland County's leading crisis services agency, made possible by a SAMHSA Follow-up Expansion Grant. Officers are trained to identify individuals needing crisis intervention, with Common Ground providing follow-up care, substance abuse treatment, and mental health support.
• Oakland CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2021Partnership for COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Kulick Community Center, providing Pfizer vaccines by appointment. Oakland County provided vaccine doses and coordination; Ferndale provided the venue and local outreach.
• ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2021Ferndale joined ICLEI150 Race to Zero initiative through the Climate Action Planning cohort. ICLEI provides technical assistance on climate action, helping Ferndale progress toward carbon neutrality goals and access expertise and resources for climate planning.
• Southeast Oakland County Resource Recovery Association (SOCRRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSOCRRA provides recycling services for Ferndale. They also partner for yard waste pickup program and household hazardous waste collection. SOCRRA's Waste Wizard tool provides uniform recycling guidelines for all 12 member communities.
• Car TruckingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party contractor providing citywide garbage collection services for all residential areas on a weekly schedule (Monday through Friday).
• SMART BusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional transportation provider for rides outside Ferndale SMART Transportation boundaries. Oakland County partnered with SMART Bus for accessible transportation to and from COVID-19 vaccine appointments.
• Downtown Development Authority (DDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit agency focusing on business investment, retention, and redevelopment in Ferndale's Downtown district. Co-administers Match on Main grant program with MEDC MiPlace.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• City of Berkley, Michigan: Small Oakland County city operating with the same council-manager model and the same service taxonomy — police, fire, DPW, water, recreation, and permits — serving a comparable residential/commercial base.
• City of Hazel Park, Michigan: Directly adjacent small Oakland County city providing the same municipal services to a similar demographic base; operates its own DPW, water billing, parks, and public safety functions.
• City of Clawson, Michigan: Small Oakland County city with a near-identical municipal service profile and population scale; useful peer for benchmarking operating costs, DPW efficiency, and resident-service digitization.
• City of Royal Oak, Michigan: Adjacent Oakland County municipality of comparable size and service mix (police, fire, DPW, water, parks, permits). Operates under a similar council-manager structure with overlapping customer demographics and is the most direct operational peer in the region.
• City of Oak Park, Michigan: Oakland County municipality of similar size and demographic profile delivering the same core municipal services — public safety, public works, water, parks, and permitting — with comparable digital-resident-service adoption.
• City of Madison Heights, Michigan: Neighboring Oakland County city with similar population size, comparable industrial/commercial mix, and a nearly identical municipal service portfolio (public safety, DPW, water billing, parks, permits).
• City of Pleasant Ridge, Michigan: Oakland County municipality that already contracts fire/EMS services from Ferndale — making it both a customer and the smallest-scale direct operational peer in the region.

Broad incumbents

• Oakland County Government: County-level government that provides shared services to Ferndale (animal control, vaccine clinics, health services) and other Oakland County municipalities; operates at a much larger scale with overlapping capability in public health, environmental quality, and community development.
• State of Michigan — Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE): State-level environmental and infrastructure regulator that administers air, water, and solid waste programs; comparable as the broader public-administration environmental-quality incumbent governing Ferndale's compliance obligations.

Others

• SOCRRA (Southeast Oakland County Resource Recovery Authority): 12-member inter-municipal authority providing Ferndale's recycling services; comparable as a regional shared-services entity rather than a direct competitor, and a key operational partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CityOfFerndale

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Ferndale