City authorizes up to $15,000 trial funding for July 4 parade safety measures

The Enumclaw City Council approved up to $15,000 in trial funding for safety measures to be used at the July 4 parade.

Councilmember Marano introduced staff notes from a meeting with Enumclaw Police Department, event planners and the Chamber of Commerce and said the request stemmed from growing parade attendance and limited police capacity. She described the request as "for funding of safety of $15,000 per parade, which includes $8,000 to go towards temporary barriers" and additional staffing (speaker 4).

Staff explained rental estimates: an initial quote near $16,000 for barricades was reduced under government contract pricing, and rental would include delivery and setup. Staff emphasized logistical constraints including storage, deployment time (three to four days), and the potential need for overtime or early morning deployment. Councilmember 13 warned that downtown businesses could be affected if parking stalls are used for barricade placement and urged detailed logistics and communication with businesses before July 4.

Council debated alternatives (targeted barricades at high‑risk intersections, increased staffing rather than full-route barricades) and then moved to amend an original motion that sought funding for two parades. The amendment reduced the request to an up-to-$15,000 trial for the July 4 parade, with administration, police and the Chamber to decide specific measures. The amendment passed; the final motion passed by voice vote with a recorded statement in the transcript that the motion passed 5 to 1.

Administration will coordinate deployment with the Chamber and police, and report back following the trial to assess effectiveness and whether to fund December or future parades.