Council authorizes up to $15,000 trial for July 4 parade safety; discusses barriers and logistics

Enumclaw City Council amended an original proposal to fund parade safety and authorized up to $15,000 for the July 4 parade on a trial basis. The funding is to be used for additional traffic safety improvements and security measures as determined by city administration, the police department and the Chamber of Commerce.

Council member Martineau introduced a request following a meeting with Enumclaw Police Department (EPD), event planning staff and the Chamber, saying the city is facing staffing constraints and a higher-event calendar this summer. "The request is for funding of safety of $15,000 per parade, which includes $8,000 to go towards temporary barriers," Martineau said, explaining that the $8,000 per parade is the estimated rental cost for barricades, with the balance meant to hire additional staffing to manage staging and keep spectators inside barriers.

Staff explained the logistics of deploying 2,000 linear feet of barricades per side (staff cited a 4,000 linear feet figure for the quoted route), noted a government contract rate that reduced initial pricing, and warned the deployment would likely require a 3–4 day process that could close parts of Cole Street for set-up and takedown. "That means you're likely going to have to deploy the barricades either late that night after the cruise is finished or early Saturday morning prior to the parade," staff said, noting trade-offs with other events and possible overtime costs.

Council members weighed rental versus purchase, plastic versus aluminum panels, business impacts from lost parking stalls, and where barricades could be placed to protect intersections while minimizing downtown disruption. One council member suggested using barricades only at key intersections with care to allow float and semi-trailer turning radii. The council agreed on a trial approach for the July 4 parade and to reassess before the December holiday parade.

The amended motion to appropriate up to $15,000 for the July 4 parade passed on a recorded voice vote; the final tally recorded in discussion was 5 in favor and 1 opposed. Staff will proceed to work with the Chamber and EPD to finalize a logistical plan for deployment and to obtain detailed quotes and staging timelines.