Eatonville council tables tourism master plan, approves DOJ-related prefabricated buildings

The Eatonville Town Council on Jan. 5 tabled Resolution 2026-1, a proposed tourism master plan, after council members and residents raised questions about whether the CRA board reviewed the plan, how visitor counts would be measured, and who would carry out plan elements.

A council member who championed the resolution described the document as “a start” to position Eatonville to compete for tourism tax dollars and to consolidate event inventories and cultural assets. Other council members and residents asked for clearer implementation steps, an event calendar, and measurable visitor-count methodology. Multiple members suggested a workshop with the CRA and town staff to vet the proposal before a final vote.

The council voted by voice to table the resolution to a later date and directed staff to coordinate a workshop and compile inventories and a proposed measurement approach. The clerk and staff recommended assembling a single master inventory and a shared calendar to demonstrate the town’s visitor and event capacity prior to pursuing TBT funding.

Separately, the council approved by voice vote an item authorizing the town to proceed with prefabricated buildings to meet Department of Justice requirements; the motion was moved and seconded on the consent agenda and recorded as approved during the meeting.

Council members said the tourism plan could be revisited after the workshop and additional data collection; the prefabricated-buildings authorization will move forward as an administrative procurement to meet compliance obligations.