Ferndale unanimously names longtime city clerk Kristene Hall permanent city manager

The Ferndale City Council voted in a special session to appoint Kristene Hall as the city’s permanent city manager, approving her contract unanimously. Hall, who stepped into the interim city manager role last July when Jay Parrish took a protracted medical leave, will move from interim status to a salaried position that pays $130,582 annually after a transition period; during that transition she will earn $62.78 per hour.

Hall had served as Ferndale’s city clerk under Jay Parrish before assuming interim management responsibilities. Parrish retired in November after 19 years as city manager. At his retirement ceremony Hall praised Parrish’s tenure, saying he “always put in 100% and always ran the city with integrity, transparency, efficiency and with super-high standards.” She added her own leadership aim then: “So, as my goal, I will inspire these qualities to continue and to confirm your trust in me.”

The new appointment shifts day-to-day administration and will prompt a search for a new city clerk. Mayor Randall Cady said, “At this point, it opens the city clerk position, and we hope to have a job announcement out sometime next week.” Hall confirmed plans to move quickly on recruitment, saying she would be back in the office and “advertising and flying the (city clerk) position starting next Tuesday,” since Monday is a holiday. Hall was attending the California Cities City Managers Conference in Napa when she confirmed that the appointment would lead to hiring for the clerk post.

As city manager, Kristene Hall will carry the administrative responsibilities defined by the city ordinance, including public information, maintenance of official records, management of city personnel, risk management and insurance administration, labor relations and franchise negotiations, enforcing City Council policies, administering community grants, and supervising department heads. During the recruitment and transition, Administrative Services Director Susan Duncan will continue performing City Clerk duties, compiling and distributing twice-monthly council agendas and packets, maintaining official records, and serving as human resources manager, risk manager, and the city’s designated agent to receive claims.

Residents who want to follow municipal business can attend the Ferndale City Council regular meeting on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 6:00 pm at Ferndale City Hall, 834 Main Street. Comments on agenda items should be submitted to the City Clerk by 12:00 pm on the date of the meeting; meeting videos are recorded and available by request, with formats and access details handled through city hall.

For direct contact, City Manager Kristene Hall can be reached at Ferndale City Hall, 834 Main St., P.O. Box 1095, Ferndale, CA 95536; telephone (707) 786-4224; fax (707) 786-9314. This Ferndale is the Humboldt County municipality in California and should not be conflated with similarly named cities in other states that have separate administrations and hires.

What this means for readers is straightforward: Ferndale’s town hall leadership remains in experienced local hands, and city services should see continuity while a city clerk recruitment begins. Expect a formal job announcement for the clerk role in the coming week and continued council business at the February 18 meeting.