Council approves up to $15,000 trial for July 4 parade safety measures; debate focuses on logistics and business impacts

At its May 26 meeting the Enumclaw City Council approved an amended motion to appropriate up to $15,000 for additional parade safety measures on a trial basis for the July 4 parade.

Council member Martineau presented a funding request developed with the chamber and event planning staff after a logistics meeting with Enumclaw Police Department and other departments. The request described an estimated barricade rental cost of $8,000 per parade with the remainder of the requested funding to hire additional staffing to staff staging areas and the parade route. “The request is for funding of safety of $15,000 per parade, which includes $8,000 to go towards temporary barriers ... and the balance ... to hire additional staffing,” Martineau said.

Staff explained initial vendor outreach yielded a $16,000 quote that was reduced roughly in half under government pricing; staff also noted the deployment requires several crew days and the parade route would likely remain closed during that time. Councilors raised concerns about lost downtown parking during deployment, the need to coordinate timing with a cruise on July 3, and business impacts from reduced parking. Councilors proposed less‑extensive options such as concentrated barricades at key intersections with supplemental personnel as a possible lower‑cost approach.

Council amended the original request to authorize up to $15,000 for the July 4 parade on a trial basis with administration, police and the chamber to determine specific measures. The amendment passed; the final vote on the motion passed 5 to 1. City staff will coordinate logistics with the chamber, police and public works, deploy temporary measures for the trial, and return to council with an after‑action report to evaluate December deployment needs and long‑term options (renting vs. purchasing barricades).