OLYMPIA – More than 350 city officials from across Washington are converging on Olympia Tuesday and Wednesday for City Action Days, an annual conference of the Association of Washington Cities. Mayors, councilmembers, and other officials will collectively urge state legislators to support city priority issues and maintain support of critical city revenues and programs.

Conference attendees are asking state policymakers to support the following seven priorities:

1. Adopt a comprehensive set of transportation policies that provide robust new resources and local options
2. Fully fund the Public Works Trust Fund
3. Create a tax increment financing (TIF) option for cities
4. Preserve city fiscal health with secure funding sources
5. Support statewide medication assisted treatment (MAT) services in city and regional jails by providing local flexibility
6. Advance a watershed-based strategic plan to address local fish-blocking culverts along with state culverts
7. Continue to pursue new resources and policies to increase affordable housing both at the state and local level.

“Cities are the governments closest to the people,” said Peter King, AWC CEO. “That’s why it’s imperative that state legislators listen to Washington’s mayors, councilmembers and other city representatives, embrace their stories, and partner to address these critical issues.”

City Action Days begins on Tuesday, January 28. Governor Jay Inslee is scheduled to address attendees on Tuesday afternoon. All conference general sessions will take place at the Hotel RL Olympia.

The complete schedule is available on the AWC website

AWC serves its members through advocacy, education, and services. Founded in 1933, AWC is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan corporation that represents Washington's cities and towns before the state legislature, the state executive branch, and with regulatory agencies. AWC also provides training, data and publications, and programs such as the AWC Employee Benefit Trust, AWC Risk Management Service Agency, AWC Workers’ Comp Retro Program, AWC Drug and Alcohol Consortium, and AWC GIS Consortium.

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Members of the media are invited to attend conference general sessions on January 28 and 29. However, due to space constraints, breakout sessions are reserved for conference attendees. The evening reception is for conference attendees and invited guests. All members of the media are required to check in and get a badge at the AWC Registration Kiosk.

Media contact:
Brian Daskam
Communications Manager
briand@awcnet.org
(360) 753-4137