The notion of a downtown pavilion is nothing new in Enumclaw city circles, having swirled about in various iterations for many years.

Now, it’s back.

With an eye toward developing the block fronting Cole Street, bordered by Stevenson and Initial avenues, the development of a pavilion is now officially part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s six-year plan.

The city has promoted and fielded a variety of proposals through the years, some so ambitious as to suggest a multi-story building with retail space at ground level and upscale living on upper floors. The one constant has been an inability to make finances work.

The city went so far as to pay for a study in 2018, conducted by BHS Consultants. That work “outlined a logical concept for a downtown park/pavilion,” according to an Aug. 23 memo from Parks Director Michelle Larson to Mayor Jan Molinaro and members of the Enumclaw City Council.

That memo came in conjunction with a formal resolution, passed by the Council on the 23rd, that included pavilion development as part of the Parks Department’s six-year Capital Improvement Plan.

The decision to revive pavilion talks came to life in July and quickly resulted in formation of a task force charged with studying options. Making up that group were Larson and three members of the City Council (Hoke Overland, Anthony Wright and Corrie Koopman-Frazier).

The Council-approved resolution notes several things: that pavilion costs would be approximately $1.3 million to $1.5 million; that the task force is charged with identifying potential funding sources; that the city’s Park Board has already given its blessing for such an undertaking; and that the City Council “will commit to the continued planning and development of the facility.”

The city has consistently noted that developing the downtown block would generate additional interest in downtown as a whole while also extending the “core area” a block or two. Last week’s resolution states the Council’s belief that “a downtown pavilion would enhance the downtown and vitality and quality of the city benefitting the public health, safety and welfare.”

The block in question is now home to city-owned buildings housing Arts Alive! and the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce. Most of the block is used for public parking but also includes a public restroom and a piece of public art.

In other action during their Aug. 23 session, members of the Enumclaw City Council:

• Authorized a change in the years-old agreement with the King Council Library District. Specifically, the agenda item revised the geographic boundaries governed by the lease, taking out the parking lot that borders the library building.

The city owns all the land making up the block the library sits on. In early 2012, after city voters approved annexation of the city library into the KCLS, the two entities approved a lease agreement. The lease included not only the library building, but the parking lot wedged between the library building and Railroad Avenue.

The parking lot was the result of a Local Improvement District formed in 1983, a move that resulted in commercial property owners paying for the construction. The lot serves the off-street parking requirements of properties zoned Central Business District. The parking lot was built before the library building.

Current conditions prompted the change in the lease agreement, which was approved by the library district. Specifically, the city has approved a joint use agreement with Thunder Dome Car Museum that will turn vacant land adjacent to the library into additional paved parking. The move will require modifications to a portion of the existing Railroad Street parking lot as well as the removal of several trees.

• Passed, on its first reading, the “Gabrielson Addition Preliminary Plat.” The item will require a second vote for full passage, expected to come Sept. 13.

The proposal is to subdivide 3.85 acres of land into 15 single-family residential lots (with an existing home retained). The acreage fronts Roosevelt Avenue, situated east of Boyle Street and west of Farrelly Street. The subdivision, if approved, would be accessed from Roosevelt Avenue and, additionally, from a new street connecting to the future Rosenbauer Lane Subdivision to the west.

• Were reminded of several upcoming community events: the citywide clean-up known as “Beautify Enumclaw” takes place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 11 (all interested in participating should meet at the Chamber of Commerce parking lot); also on Sept. 11 will be a “Balloon Glow” at the Enumclaw Expo Center; and from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 12, there will be a “Getting Back to our Future” event, also at the Expo Center.

• Were told that City Hall offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 6, in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Also, that the monthly “Coffee With the Mayor” event is planned for the following day, Sept. 7, at 9 a.m. in City Hall. Molinaro hosts the monthly sessions to meet with the public.