Mayor's Message

Plan for your Pets if Disaster Occurs 

Enumclaw has the potential for several severe disasters to affect our community. Earthquake, lahar, fire to name some of the major ones to consider. Planning for these emergencies for your family should be top of mind and when making these plans also consider the pets in your household.

Consider a microchip for identification purposes along with a pet recovery service. If needed, it will assist in reuniting with your pet in case they are displaced during a disaster. Make sure these microchip records are updated on a regular basis.

Have at the ready with your family emergency supplies, a To – Go Bag. It should be portable, waterproof and filled with emergency supplies and provisions that can be accessed if evacuation is necessary. Include containers of a week’s supply of food, any medications your pet needs, and water. It is also important to have a backup leash, collar and ID tag.

Have in your To-Go bag an updated photo, all necessary information on your pet, a description, proof of ownership, veterinary contact information and medical records.

Most important part of planning is to never leave your pet behind. Most evacuations only last a few days, but in some cases you are not allowed to return to your home quickly. Always have a collar on your pet and travel with a sturdy carrier. 

Keep calm during these emergencies as it will relieve stress on you and your pet. Be prepared for both your family and your pet.

City of Enumclaw asking voters for bond to build new community center

Proposition will appear on the April 23, 2024, special election ballot

The city is asking voters for a bond to fund a new multigenerational community center that will provide a safe environment for children, teens, young families, and seniors to connect with friends and access programs and services.

The city is growing with young families joining longtime residents, and the community center will offer sports and learning opportunities, space for community events, art performances and festivals, and a new senior center. The city’s senior population has outgrown the current senior center building built in 1927, which is now in need of major repairs that exceed the value of the building.

The city cannot finance the community center entirely through its general fund without making significant cuts to other city services, such as police, fire, planning, parks, streets, and sidewalks. Most community centers are funded through voter-approved bonds.

The bond requires a 60 percent supermajority plus a voter-turnout requirement known as “validation” – meaning 40 percent of ballots from last year’s general election must be returned for the measure to take effect. If the ballot return threshold is not met, the measure will not take effect, regardless of how many votes it gets, because not enough people turned out to vote. This means voter turnout matters.

If voters approve the bond, it will help the city leverage state grants and private donations to further reduce the cost for taxpayers. This includes a $1 million state grant the city has applied for in addition to another $3.35 million in city funds and grants identified for the project. This funding is contingent on the bond passing.

The bond is projected to cost $0.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value and would cost the owner of a $500,000 home $12.50 per month or $150 per year.

Learn more at www.cityofenumclaw.net.

Enumclaw Community Center

The senior center building is almost 100 years old and there is not enough space to expand the current building to accommodate the growing needs of the city’s senior population.

? The building was not built to serve as a community center.

? The kitchen is not adequate to provide meals in a safe manner.

? The estimated cost to renovate the building exceeds the value of the building.

The bond seeks to provide an investment for the community that will serve our current and growing needs for all generations.

Bond for community center requires 60 percent supermajority plus voter-turnout requirement
 If approved, bond would help city leverage state grants to further reduce cost for taxpayers 

Enumclaw, Wash. – The city is asking voters for a bond to build a new multigenerational community center that will provide a safe environment for children, teens, young families, and seniors to connect with friends and access programs and services. The bond needs a 60 percent supermajority to pass plus it must “validate” to take effect.

The validation requirement means that 40 percent of ballots from last year’s general election must be returned for the measure to take effect. If that threshold is not met, it won’t matter if the measure passes with 60 percent of the vote. The measure will not take effect because not enough people turned out to vote.

In other words, voter turnout matters.

If voters approve the bond, it will help the city leverage state grants and private donations to further reduce the cost for taxpayers. This includes a $1 million state grant the city has applied for in addition to another $3.35 million in city funds and grants identified for the project. This funding is contingent on the bond passing.

The bond will appear on the April 23, 2024, special election ballot.

Why is the city asking for a bond?
 The city is growing with young families joining longtime residents, and the community center will offer sports and learning opportunities, space for community events, art performances and festivals, and a new senior center.

The city cannot finance the community center entirely through its general fund without making significant cuts to other city services, such as police, fire, planning, parks, streets, and sidewalks. Most community centers are funded through voter-approved bonds.

The community center will also be home to a new senior center. The city’s senior population has outgrown the current senior center building, which isn’t big enough for seniors to exercise safely, attend classes or enjoy meals together. The current building was built almost 100 years ago and was never intended to serve as a community center. The building needs major repairs and the estimated cost to renovate the building exceeds the value of the building.

The bond is projected to cost $0.30 per $1,000 of assessed property value and would cost the owner of a $500,000 home $12.50 per month or $150 per year.

Learn more at www.cityofenumclaw.net.

###

The Mountain Starts Here! The city of Enumclaw, Wash., population 13,000 is the gateway to Mount Rainier National Park located less than an hour south of Seattle. Enumclaw is a full-service city providing police, planning, economic development, parks, and some utilities. The city’s vision is to keep residents for generations by caring for youth, adults and seniors through excellent public service and programs. Enumclaw operates on a balanced budget and has passed all independent audits by the state. 

To learn more about the proposed community center, please visit our website (https://www.cityofenumclaw.net/604/Proposed-Community-Center).