Residents urge Enumclaw council to act after pedestrian death at Cole and Stevenson

Residents pressed the Enumclaw City Council on June 22 to accelerate pedestrian safety work after a January crash that resulted in the death of a local resident. A speaker who said she had notified city staff described the loss and asked for an update and immediate pedestrian funding rather than waiting months.

One resident who described himself as a Navy veteran urged the council: "So please put in the lights, put in the signs 25 miles an hour, and take people's cars away and and do something, please." Several speakers said the intersection has recurring speeders, near misses with pedestrians, and that low-cost interim measures could reduce risk while longer-term engineering is planned.

Nora Tackenboge, who identified herself as a city resident, reiterated that the victim, identified in public comment as Eileen Griffith, died after a vehicle failed to stop and suggested temporary tools such as handheld red safety flags to increase driver awareness. Cindy Proctor, another longtime resident, described similar safety problems on nearby Trella and Melody lanes, noted missing or outdated ADA curb ramps forcing people into the street, and said she has video documentation of repeated violations.

Speakers asked the council for clarity on timing and funding; at least one commenter said staff told them work might not occur until January. The council received the comments during the public-comment period; no formal council motion to allocate immediate pedestrian funds was recorded during the meeting.