OLYMPIA – With this year’s Municipal Excellence Awards, the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) honored five cities putting creative ideas to work for their communities.
“These winning projects highlight just a few of the innovative ways Washington’s city leaders are serving their communities—through pandemic recovery assistance, increased housing access, creative collaboration, and public health initiatives—all with an eye toward diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Deanna Dawson, AWC CEO. “AWC’s Municipal Excellence Awards recognize and celebrate these innovations, and also offer inspiration to cities around the state, showcasing successes that can be adapted and applied in other communities.”
Learn more about the four programs and five cities honored with 2022 AWC Municipal Excellence Awards:
The City of Kenmore for ARPA innovations
Kenmore is recognized for its innovative approach to distributing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The city dedicated $1 million of its $6.4 million ARPA allocation to launch a direct cash assistance program for low-income residents called Kenmore Cares. To help inform its project and funding decision-making, the city embarked on an ambitious community outreach campaign where city staff doorbelled, mailed postcards, and held citywide events at the library, senior center, community clubs, vaccine clinic, and other locations. Plus, a fun and creative online survey tool garnered widespread community input on funding priorities. Kenmore Cares successfully served hundreds of households across the city. The program incorporated diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts throughout using community listening sessions, new outreach approaches, translation services, and funds targeted to serve Kenmore’s lowest-income residents.
The City of Pasco for increasing housing access & opportunities
Pasco is recognized for its significant strides to address the growing housing crisis in Washington by increasing housing access and opportunities. After adopting its twenty-year Comprehensive Plan, city staff began utilizing a variety of local, regional, and state resources to identify practical housing policy solutions. The city adopted reforms eliminating restrictive zoning policies while increasing housing opportunities that improve mobility options. Pasco enacted code amendments increasing lot size flexibility, allowing accessory dwelling units citywide, and re-allowing missing middle housing on residentially zoned parcels. Additionally, they added density and flexibility incentives to allow more housing near public transit and facilities. Pasco utilizes community input to identify practical, innovative, and actionable steps to address the housing needs of their growing city.
The City of Port Townsend & Jefferson County for the Intergovernmental Collaborative Group
Port Townsend is recognized, along with its partner Jefferson County, for the success of their Intergovernmental Collaborative Group. The city and its local county, port, and PUD have a long history of working together, but their efforts were sometimes inefficient. When the COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges, it became clear that they needed to work better together. They ultimately formed a new Intergovernmental Collaborative Group (ICG) composed of 16 elected officials from all four agencies. They gathered community groups and focused on six local priorities, then adopted an action plan using community guidance and CARES Act funding. The ICG has evolved to tackle a range of other issues, including economic development and climate change. The ICG has helped set the table for multi-sector collaboration and success through difficult times.
The Cities of Walla Walla & College Place for the Walla Walla Valley Blue Zones Project
Finally, Walla Walla and College Place are recognized for the Walla Walla Valley Blue Zones Project (BZP), a community-led, evidence-based public health initiative that is improving health outcomes throughout the valley. The two cities joined forces after a community site visit indicated a need to invest in community well-being. Meeting and survey data helped inform the BZP’s strategic implementation plan, which takes a policy, systems, and environmental approach to helping the community thrive by making healthy choices easier. The BZP also emphasizes health equity, working directly with community partners to engage historically under-resourced neighborhoods. The community is seeing vast enhancements to community pride and social connectedness, traction on policies and programs, and increased awareness of health and well-being.
AWC’s Municipal Excellence Awards recognize innovative city projects that significantly improve the quality of life for their communities. The competition is open each year to any Washington city or town. Projects will be recognized at AWC’s Annual Conference in Vancouver later this month.
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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. AWC is governed by a 25-member Board of Directors of mayors, councilmembers, and city managers from across the state.