Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter, in his ninth year leading the small city amid a big resurgence, announced Tuesday that he's not running for re-election this November.

He revealed the decision during his State of the City address at Rust Belt Market, after highlighting years of improvements: from new businesses opening to the city's increased credit rating and a video-scoping program that he said "all but eradicated" in-home flooding from water or sewer backups.

"Serving as your mayor has been exciting, educational, meaningful, and yes, sometimes really stressful — but overall one of the most rewarding experiences I could imagine," Coulter, 59, said in his address, of which the Free Press received an advance copy. "I’ve done my best to live up to the responsibility you placed in me, and I hope I’ve made a difference."

Coulter, a Ferndale resident for 25 years, has served in the part-time position since January 2011. He said by email before the official announcement that he's leaving because "the time felt right.

"We have a great team at the city and a foundation for success for years to come, so that made the decision easier. I'm not ruling out future ways to serve, but I'm still mayor of this great city for another eight and a half months and I'm going to enjoy every last minute."

More:Don't Royal Oak my Ferndale? Progress tugs at progressive suburb

More:Ferndale's next hot spot, including brewery, could be a gutted factory

U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, D-Bloomfield Township, attended the address Tuesday and said afterward that Coulter has "certainly been an outstanding mayor" for the city, having taken office shortly after the Great Recession.

"Ferndale was hurting really badly — our whole region was, for sure," Levin said. "But the trajectory that Ferndale has been on is not something that was just a product of nature or automatic. The vibrancy of Ferndale today is the result of careful planning and patient work with all kinds of stakeholders."

Coulter's departure announcement comes after several changes to the city's top leadership: In the past year, Ferndale's city manager, police chief and Downtown Development Authority executive director have left their positions. Coulter said in his address that Fire Chief Kevin Sullivan submitted his letter of retirement last week after serving the department for 25 years, nine as chief. The police chief was replaced by Vincent Palazzolo in September.

Coulter said after his address that he considers it a "normal turnover," and that nine years is a long time for a mayor to serve. He also said in an email that "good leaders know when the time is right to allow for new people and ideas," adding:

"Police and Fire Chiefs aside, who both retired after lengthy careers with the City, I would say the former City Manager and I felt comfortable in our transitions because of our current strong position — between the staff, the elected officials, and the community, the state of our city is very strong. Ferndale is a destination city and will undoubtedly attract interest from highly talented people who will build on the successes we’ve achieved."

The southeastern Oakland County city, with a population of about 20,070, in recent years has increasingly become a destination for nightlife, dining and more. Real-estate prices have increased substantially, and several mixed-use developments recently broke ground. Construction started in February on the Development on Troy (dot), a parking structure expected to offer office space and ground-level retail.

"I know this project, and our promise to deliver more parking for the downtown, took some time," Coulter said in his address. "And I think some questioned that. But that’s actually something I’m really very proud of. One thing you can say about us in Ferndale: we know what we want. It was critical to those of us on Council that we listened to all of you, and we got a plan that was right for our community."

There's been substantial push-back in the community against plans to open a Baker College location downtown, on 9 Mile east of Woodward Avenue. That proposal is still being examined, and it received one mention in the address.

"In all our projects, from the dot to Baker College, it's critical that we make space for everyone who wants to, to be heard," Coulter said.

He described plans that Oak Park has to add a road diet and bike lanes to 9 Mile west of Ferndale, making the area more bicycle-friendly after adding bike lanes last year to Livernois Avenue in Ferndale between 9 Mile and 8 Mile. He said that Ferndale is getting the MoGo bike share program in July, and five surrounding cities are adding the service as well.

"You just download an app, get a low-cost pass, and you can rent and return bikes from any area kiosk," Coulter said.

Among highlights in recent years, Coulter cited the "complete turnaround" of a building at 965 Wanda Street, from "an uninhabitable, vacant shell" to the 100,000 square feet of industrial space housing Brass Aluminum Forging and an expansion of Valentine Distilling Company. He also mentioned a redeveloped area on 9 Mile, west of Hilton Road, that is now home to Voyager restaurant, Search Optics and Incubizo Co-Working Space.

Before he was mayor, Coulter served four terms as Oakland County commissioner, from 2002 to 2010. He works as director of external affairs at the Children's Hospital of Michigan Foundation.

Contact Robert Allen on Twitter @rallenMI or rallen@freepress.com.