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Council approves up to $15,000 trial for July 4 parade safety after staff logistics briefing
Summary
After staff and Chamber representatives outlined barricade and staffing needs for larger summer events, the council amended and approved up to $15,000 in city funding as a trial for July 4 parade safety; council emphasized logistics, business impacts and a limited pilot approach.
Enumclaw — The City Council on May 26 approved up to $15,000 for a trial safety deployment at the July 4 parade after hearing staff briefings on barricade rental and staffing needs tied to anticipated higher attendance.
Councilmember Martineau introduced the request, saying the working group with police, event planning staff, city shops and the Chamber sought professional safety infrastructure as parades have grown. Martineau described the ask as "$15,000 per parade, which includes $8,000 to go towards temporary barriers to put up, and the balance of the 15 for each parade is to hire additional staffing." The council debated whether to fund both the July 4 and the December holiday parade or to trial funding for July 4 only.
Staff told the council they obtained a government-pricing revision that reduced initial rental estimates and that a full deployment could require about 4,000 linear feet of barricade (2,000 feet per side) depending on chosen placement. Staff warned deployment and removal require staging time and coordination with other downtown events: "It would be about a 3 to 4 day process," staff said, noting the need to close or stage parts of the route during setup and take down.
Council members expressed concern about lost parking for downtown businesses, contractor availability on a major holiday weekend and potential costs of overtime for staff. One council member recommended a scaled approach — barricades at key intersections combined with increased event staff — as a less disruptive option.
The original motion proposing funding for both parades was amended on the floor to appropriate up to $15,000 for the July 4 parade on a trial basis, with administration, police and the Chamber to determine the specific measures. The amendment passed, then the final motion passed on a 5–1 voice vote. Council instructed staff to proceed with logistical planning and to return with a report after the July 4 trial to inform decisions for subsequent events.
Next steps: administration, police and the Chamber will coordinate deployment plans, obtain final rental quotes (including plastic vs. aluminum options), and report back to council after the July 4 trial.
