Residents urge action after pedestrian killed at Cole and Stevenson intersection

Several residents urged the Enumclaw City Council on June 22 to take immediate and longer‑term steps to improve pedestrian safety at the Cole and Stevenson intersection after a pedestrian died in January.

A resident who identified themself only as a local community member told the council the person struck in January had since died and asked for updates on project timing and pedestrian funding. "We would still wish to have an update regarding how we're moving forward on the Stevenson–Cole area," the resident said, asking the council to pursue pedestrian funding and interim measures.

John, introduced by the prior speaker, described his concern as a longtime community member and military veteran and urged enforcement and physical safety measures. "So please put in the lights, put in the signs 25 miles an hour, and take people's cars away and do something, please," he said, urging targeted speed enforcement and other actions to stop dangerous driving.

Nora Tackenboge, a city resident since the 1990s, said the intersection lacks adequate signage and suggested low‑cost, interim visibility tools such as handheld flags. "I just hope that Eileen's death wasn't in vain," Tackenboge said, naming the person who died.

Cindy Proctor, a longtime Enumclaw resident, told the council she has repeatedly raised safety concerns in neighborhood corridors and asked city staff to reconsider previously denied traffic‑calming requests on Trella and Melody lanes. Proctor cited frequent stop‑sign violations, limited sight lines caused in part by on‑street parking and missing ADA curb ramps, and said those conditions raise the risk to children, pedestrians and people using mobility devices. "It's only a matter of time before there's another liability there," she said.

Council members did not take formal action during the public‑comment period. Mayor noted the comments and the meeting proceeded to committee and staff reports. The concerns raised will be available to council and staff for follow up in committee and upcoming agenda items; residents asked for both short‑term visibility measures and longer‑term engineering or funding solutions.

The council's public‑safety committee report later in the meeting noted a pending e‑motorcycle ordinance and a department education push for e‑bikes; councilmember Shorten also said the police department will pursue enforcement and that block camera updates will be operational by mid‑July.