The legislative session began with Senate Democrats controlling the reins for the first time in five years. Foremost on legislators’ agenda was how they would meet their K-12 funding obligations and pass a stalled capital budget along with solutions to the Hirst and Foster water resources court cases that created growth planning uncertainties. As it turned out, the deadlock on the capital budget/water issues were resolved mid-session and ultimately, the state’s continuing strong economy provided the opportunity to craft an operating budget that seems to finally address the longstanding issues around K-12 funding. This was all done absent adoption of new state revenue sources.

AWC understood the new Democratic majority in the Senate would likely mean progress on key issues like increased homelessness and mental health funding. Additionally, the new majority could lead to policy challenges in a number of areas that were not on the radar of the recent Republican majority. Foremost among these for cities were items related to increased benefits for public safety personnel and voting rights laws that would affect how some communities organized city council elections. Measures addressing these items were hotly debated and in the end, some of the added personnel benefits were addressed and a new Voting Rights Act was passed.

What characterized the session was also what didn’t pass or get enacted. Most new mandates and all proposed preemptions of local authority didn’t advance. One thing that we had anticipated as likely to pass – but didn’t – was a state-mandated approach to siting small cell telecommunications facilities. They were considered but in the end, not enacted.

Another issue that received significant public interest was the attempt by the Legislature to define its obligations under the Public Records Act and how they are similar and different from laws governing local governments, the Governor, and state agencies. In the end, their adopted version was vetoed by the Governor and legislators will spend the remainder of 2018 sorting through ideas for next session. AWC sent a letter asking to be involved in the discussions.

Legislative session recap

When the 2018 legislative session began, AWC’s goals were to come away with:

• Shared revenues intact;
• Few (if any) new unfunded mandates;
• New resources to help tackle homelessness and chemical dependency issues on our streets; and
• Help expanding economic development and affordable housing opportunities in cities large and small.

In this first non-overtime session in many years, our goals were generally achieved and 2018 priorities mostly addressed. We were able to do this for several reasons.

• First, the state’s overall economy is strong and thrives mainly in cities. Most legislators recognize that and refrained from “messing with success.”
• Second, our priorities matched or at least weren’t contradictory to legislators’ in either party or chamber. Yes, there were times when we didn’t agree or get all we hoped for, but those times were thankfully few and far between.
• Third, and perhaps most important, there are a growing number of former city elected officials serving primarily in the House and they know and remember what it takes to keep cities strong and viable. They talk with their city officials, us and one another. Along with some former county officials also serving, they strategized with AWC and the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) to make it clear to their fellow legislators that helping cities stay strong is a necessity. They are a force to be reckoned with. You’ll hear more about them in the coming weeks and months.

Looking ahead in preparation for the 2019 session

Over the next several months, AWC will work on finding out what matters most to you and how we can help support strong cities across the state. As in past years, we’ll prepare an agenda and strategies aimed at advocating for cities to remain strong and provide the tools to do so. We’ll work to fend off bills and ideas that erode local control and resources and continue to ask for and rely upon your efforts at home to keep your legislators, community, and media outlets aware of your needs.

Key opportunities to participate in the development of our 2019 Legislative agenda are as follows:

Spring

• Survey membership asking for key items to address in the next session and seek interest in serving on AWC’s 2019/20 Legislative Committee.
• Call for nominations of legislators deserving of award recognition as AWC City Champions during the 2018 session.
• AWC President and Vice President appoint a 40-50 member Legislative Priorities Committee and schedule a meeting to begin the months-long process of developing priorities.
• Prepare and distribute a legislative candidate questionnaire sharing key issues of interest to all those filing for the August primary. Answers will be posted on AWC’s website and city officials are encouraged to use the questions during conversations with prospective legislators.

Summer

• AWC Annual Conference in Yakima in June, during which there will be issue area workshops, a Board of Directors election and meeting, and presentation of AWC City Champion and Advocacy All-Star Awards.
• Legislative committee/subcommittees meet and prepare legislative priority recommendations for AWC Board consideration.

Fall/Winter

• AWC Board retreat and meeting to consider and adopt 2019 priorities
• AWC Regional Meetings around the state to discuss legislative priorities and what matters in your communities.
• AWC Legislative Committee meets to fine tune 2019 priorities after regional meeting input and November election outcomes.
• AWC Board finalizes priorities and strategies in advance of the session beginning in January.

Thank you!

On behalf of our AWC Team, I’d like to thank the countless city officials who helped make this a successful legislative session. Your engagement, support, questioning of our positions and approaches all helped us in representing the city perspectives.