AWC Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee forwards recommendations to the AWC Bylaws
The AWC Board of Directors created the Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee in June 2023 to conduct a thoughtful process to evaluate the districts of the AWC Board. The committee was comprised of 14 city/town elected officials representing each AWC Board district.
The AWC Bylaws provide guidance by setting forth how AWC is governed and establishing qualifications and rights of voting members and representation on the AWC Board of Directors. The Bylaws also provide for the AWC Board to review the size, make-up, and structure of the Board at least once every five years through the Bylaws Review Committee.
The Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee met throughout 2024 to review and evaluate the structure and districts of the AWC Board. The process included opportunities for member feedback at an online session in May 2024 and at district meetings last fall. Read more about the committee’s work and membership below.
At its final meeting on January 29, 2025, the Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee took action to recommend two bylaws amendments related to the Secretary and Ex officio (Washington City/County Management Association (WCMA)) positions of the AWC Board:
- Secretary
- Sec. 3.2 removing references to the first year the Secretary no longer held the dual positions of Secretary and district representative, and
- Sec. 4.8 and 3.6 updating the process by which the Secretary is nominated by the AWC Board, then elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting to make it consistent with the elected process for Vice President and President.
- Ex officio positions
- Sec. 3.3 requiring the Ex officio (WCMA) representatives to be a current appointed official in a city, and
- Sec. 3.2. and 3.3.3 allowing WCMA flexibility to appoint a qualified member to serve a one-year term if the WCMA President or Past President is unable to serve.
On February 20, 2025, the AWC Board of Directors took action to recommend passage of the amendments put forth by the Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee.
- Memo from the Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee about proposed amendments to the Bylaws
- AWC Bylaws, adopted June 22, 2023
Any member wishing to propose an amendment to the bylaws must do so at least 24 hours prior to the Annual Meeting in writing via the form linked below. Any member proposing an amendment must be present at the Annual Meeting, in person or remotely, in order to move their amendment and speak to it. The Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 4 to 5:45 pm, in Kennewick, in conjunction with the Annual Conference.
Per the Bylaws, proposed amendments must be submitted 24 hours prior to the meeting. To make an amendment, complete the amendment form below.
AWC Bylaws proposed amendment form
Background on the AWC Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee
The AWC Board of Directors charged the Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee to work within the following parameters:
- Preserve strengths of the Board composition by ensuring representation from cities across the state, of a variety of sizes.
- Evaluate whether to modify existing structure, or whether there is a need for a wholesale change in districts and seats.
- Strive for geographically equitable representation of 281 cities and towns.
- Strive to work within the framework of current Board size (25 members or less).
- Utilize an equity lens to evaluate different scenarios before a decision is made.
The ad hoc committee met throughout 2024 to review data related to board composition and update the criteria for evaluating board districts. A membership listening session was held on May 2 to inform the members about committee considerations and seek input and the membership was provided updates at the 2024 Annual Meeting. The ad hoc committee and AWC staff then met with members throughout the state at district meetings in fall 2024.
In addition to the recommended amendments to the AWC Bylaws, noted above, the ad hoc committee also recommended the AWC Board move the City of Newcastle from District 13 to District 7. The AWC Board took action to move the city to District 7 on February 20, 2025.
Committee membership
The following members were appointed to the 2024-2025 Ad Hoc Bylaws Review Committee.
- District 1: Cristella Kaminskas, Mayor, Liberty Lake
- District 2: Jillian Henze, Councilmember, Waitsburg
- District 3: Matthew Schuh, Councilmember, Bridgeport
- District 4: Nancy Goodloe, Councilmember, Ellensburg
- District 5: Anne McEnerny-Ogle, Mayor, Vancouver
- District 6: Julie Door, Councilmember, Puyallup
- District 7: Angela Birney, Mayor, Redmond
- District 8: Brett Gailey, Mayor, Lake Stevens
- District 9: Betsy Wilkerson, Council President, Spokane (Chair)
- District 10: John Hines, Deputy Mayor, Tacoma
- District 11: Dan Strauss, Councilmember, Seattle
- District 12: Julie Struck, Mayor, South Bend
- District 13: Dana Ralph, Mayor, Kent
- District 14: Paul Cocke, Councilmember, Sedro-Woolley
Recruitment for the Bylaws Review Committee was open fall 2023. Appointments were made in January 2024.
Questions?
Alicia Seegers Martinelli or Betsy Hildreth
(360) 753-4137