Enumclaw Mayor Jan Molinaro’s annual State of the City address took a different tone this year.

Molinaro always uses this opportunity to share the accomplishments city staff achieved in the past year, from the forward-facing departments like the Enumclaw police and Public Works to the folks who manage the infrastructure behind the scenes.

In past years, the mayor has always kept the message local, and his messages — even if tinged with the possibility of an economic downturn in coming years — was positive, with assurances the city will weather any coming storm.

But this year was different, and Molinaro was not shy in excoriating King County and the state of Washington for taking what he sees as more than its fair share, leaving little for Enumclaw to operate on as costs to run a local government continue to rise to an intolerable level.

“When larger communities are in favor of taxes that affect the entire county, it leaves very little left for other cities in this county to enact needed measures to improve our quality of life. When the state feels that the need for additional revenue outweighs the need for local revenue, it will only add to our community’s needs. This interference will continue for the foreseeable future, which will hamper the needs for Enumclaw,” he said on April 7. “If there’s a glimmer of light and hope, it lies with all of you, the voters, to become aware that current trends need to change if you would like to see improvements, not improvements lite… real generational improvements to this community that was once seen when Enumclaw was just beginning, when the community could see that these investments they were making were going to be inspirational to their kids and grandkids and beyond.”

Still, the majority of Molinaro’s speech was positive in highlighting how city staff continue to improve how the city runs and the services it provides for its residents. With only 50 minutes to speak, he needed to pick and choose which accomplishments to focus on.

And given physical space in the paper, the Courier-Herald has to limit itself to even more cherry-picking, but the full address can be watched at cityofenumclaw.net/CivicMedia?VID=416.

PUBLIC WORKS

It’s possible the most (seemingly) mundane of achievements is actually one of the largest in the city, thanks to the Public Works department.

New at this year’s event was a small presentation by department head P.E. Brian Spindor, who explained how Public Works allows the city to operate through its services.

According to Spindor, the city’s 12,700 residents went through 6,082 million gallons of drinking water last year, and sent out 586 million gallons of wastewater. The city has also started using an AI system for long term water main planning, construction, repair and replacement.

Additionally, the department hauled away 6,000 tons of garbage, another 1,100 tons of yard waste, and 280 tons of cardboard.

Finally, the city’s natural gas utility provided about 466,000 dekatherms to city residents and the Muckleshoot Tribe. For the layman, that amount of gas could fill up 13,660 Goodyear blimps.

Speaking of utilities, Molinaro delivered the unhappy news that this was the first year since at least 2018 that all utility rates had to increase at least a little; in years past, at least one utility rate did not have to be increased.

In 2024, the solid waste, waste water, and sewer rates went up 3%, and natural gas 5%.

Storm water utility rates went up 60%, as the city has determined that reserve capital needed to be collected for future required projects, Molinaro said.

Public Works also finished up a few projects, like the restoration of Boise Creek to help salmon and other migrating fish, re-roof the senior center, and construct a roundabout on 244th Street and Roosevelt Avenue to ease traffic.

POLICE

The Enumclaw Police Department is always busy, and last year was no different.

First, the EPD was instrumental for Enumclaw being ranked No. 9 in last year’s Safewise Safest Cities survey.

Additionally, the department started the Plateau’s first police drone program, which has helped officers with everything from surveying car crashes to locating armed suspects or car thieves.

Finally, Chief Tim Floyd received his Master’s of Public Safety degree from the University of Virginia.

PARKS AND REC

Deemed by Molinaro as the city’s “fun” department” had several achievements this year, many quite visible.

For example, the city pool is now fully renovated with a new party room and upgraded family changing rooms after a whole summer of construction.

Additionally, the playgrounds at the Flenstead and Dwight Garrett parks were upgraded, and well as the one at the Enumclaw Expo Field House.

The city’s summer camp program, Camp Commotion, was filled to bursting, with close to 500 kids participating in the weekly program. There were also close to 400 kids participating in the city’s other sports and STEM programs that run through the rest of the year.

ADMINISTRATION

Molinaro was proud to announce that the city has continued to provide funds to various nonprofits and organizations that help Plateau residents through some tough times.

To the Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation, the city granted $60,000 for the nonprofit to continue offering mental health services in local schools, and an additional $10,000 to continue its senior hot meal program.

The city also granted $20,000 to Plateau Outreach Ministries for utility vouchers and another $30,000 for rental assistance.

The Plateau Kids Network, which runs the annual Holiday Helping Hands toy and food drive, as well as other year-round programs, $10,000.

FUTURE PROJECTS

A city’s work is never done, and there are several projects Enumclaw is looking to finish this year.

This includes renovating the EPD’s jail to make the space more efficient and safer for officers; upgrade the Enumclaw Golf Course’s fire suppression system (this was actually completed this month); make improvements at the Boise Creek 6-Plex; make improvements to Warner Avenue, Stevenson Avenue, and the intersections of Marshall Avenue and Cole Street and Wells Street; improve the Enumclaw Expo Center’s parking lot stormwater capabilities; and more.