Enumclaw council approves $15,000 trial for July 4 parade safety

The Enumclaw City Council voted 5–1 on May 26 to approve up to $15,000 in one‑time funding to support safety measures for the July 4 parade.

Council member Martineau proposed the funding request, saying the city should cover minimum professional safety infrastructure for large events. "The request is for funding of safety of $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," Martineau said during the meeting.

Why it matters: Council and staff said parades in Enumclaw have grown and this summer’s schedule coincides with national events that will strain available security personnel. Council adopted the $15,000 figure as a trial for the July 4 parade so staff and the Chamber of Commerce can deploy, evaluate and return to council with lessons learned.

City staff and the Chamber raised logistical and community concerns during the discussion. Staff noted a single rental quote for full route barricades was initially around $16,000 but government contract pricing reduced that estimate roughly in half; staff also warned that deploying barricades for the route is labor‑intensive and may require early morning work or overtime. Councilor 13 cautioned that businesses could lose parking during deployment and urged more planning before December’s holiday parade.

Council member 3 moved to amend the original two‑parade request to fund up to $15,000 for the July 4 parade only, on a trial basis, with administration, police and the Chamber to decide the specific use of funds; the amendment passed and the amended motion carried 5–1.

What happens next: Administration, the police department and the Chamber will finalize which safety measures to deploy within the $15,000 allotment for the July 4 parade and report results back to the council after the event.