1. Start with Ferndale’s actual service boundary
Ferndale is a municipality in Whatcom County, Washington. The 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year population estimate for Ferndale is 15,999, with a margin of error of 28. It should not determine an automation design by itself. Instead, identify the geographic scope your firm actually serves: Ferndale, other parts of Whatcom County, Washington more broadly, or a combination. That boundary affects the wording of intake questions, the ownership rules for inquiries and the reports you need to distinguish a Ferndale inquiry from a broader service-area inquiry.
Recommended approach
Bring your service-area definition to the review.
