June 10, 2024

Celebrating livable, loveable cities
AWC staff are looking forward to Annual Conference in Vancouver next week, where we will be celebrating our love for cities and towns with the theme of Livable, loveable cities. I hope you’ll join us at our session on June 21 for an update on federal and state advocacy co-presented with our colleagues from National League of Cities.

With the 2024 session fully behind us, we are looking ahead to 2025. AWC’s Legislative Priorities Committee started work in May, considering issues for AWC’s 2025 legislative agenda. The Committee will make its final recommendations to the Board in September. We appreciate the members who have already shared suggestions with us. For those who haven’t yet, if you have ideas for legislative proposals that you would like the Committee to consider, please send them to us as soon as possible. The Committee will be meeting during Annual Conference.

Summer is a great time to connect with your local legislators. Take them for a tour of your community, show them some of your key projects, and educate them on your city’s priorities. It’s the perfect time to build relationships and show off your livable, lovable city!

Candice Bock
Government Relations Director

Updating AWC’s Statement of Policy
The Statement of Policy is AWC’s foundational policy guidance document. It serves as the basis for our legislative work and speaks to the core of AWC’s policy positions. AWC’s current Statement of Policy was adopted by the full membership in 2020, and our bylaws call for it to be reviewed every four years. The Statement of Policy Committee met this spring to propose updates to the document. The Committee’s 2024 recommended update will be considered for adoption by the AWC membership at the June 20 Business Meeting, in conjunction with Annual Conference. More

Supreme Court announces comment period for new public defense standards
On June 5, the Washington Supreme Court En Banc Administrative Conference approved the recommended timeline for a public comment period on the new public defense standards ending on October 31, 2024. The Supreme Court Rules Committee also recommended scheduling two public meetings—one prior to October 31, and the second after October 31. AWC plans to comment and will host a listening session for cities in July. Details to come. More

New sign-on for eligible cities for opioid settlement with Kroger
All eligible cities and counties agreed to the Johnson & Johnson settlement by the May 11 deadline. Cities and counties will receive the full $61.67 million available under the settlement in a one-time payment by June 17. The settlement administrator will send information on the latest opioid settlement with Kroger to eligible cities, and the settlement participation process is expected to open by June 14. If all eligible cities and counties join, the settlement payment will be $47.5 million payable over 11 years. More

Complete the Tax and User Fee Survey by June 19
The AWC Tax and User Fee Survey (TUFS) is now open for data entry. The survey covers municipal taxes and fees, planning and development fees, and utility rates. TUFS is not only a data-gathering effort, it’s also a data-sharing tool. Cities can access the reported data for free and use it for utility rate-setting, benchmarking, policy discussions, and more. Check out what your city reported in 2022, take the time to complete the survey, then come back to see what your city peers reported when we release the data. Complete the survey on time for a chance to win a prize! More

Comment on OSHA’s proposed Emergency Response Standard by July 22
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has extended the deadline to July 22 to submit comments on its proposed Emergency Response Standard (previously known as the Fire Brigade Standard). Any federal rule change would require Washington to rewrite its own firefighter standards to comply with the new federal rule. The rule could have impacts on costs of recordkeeping and reporting, training, equipment maintenance, and health standards for city fire departments of all sizes, including volunteer departments. Please review the proposed rule and let OSHA know how it would impact your city’s emergency services. More

Legislative initiative fact sheets now available
In this year’s legislative session, we saw the introduction of six initiatives to the Legislature, an unusually high number. Of those initiatives, three are moving forward to the ballot box in November’s general election to be decided by voters. If passed, each initiative will have direct or indirect implications for Washington’s cities. While AWC does not take a position on ballot measures, we provide factual information on the potential impacts to our members. We encourage you to learn more about each of the initiatives and what they could mean for your city. Read initiative fact sheets.

Check out AWC’s State of the Cities reports
AWC regularly publishes reports on topics important to cities. AWC’s State of the Cities research reports reflect the fiscal conditions, policy issues, and service challenges of the 281 cities in Washington state and communicate the links between the health of cities and the health of the state. These eight research reports present a comprehensive analysis of the current conditions that impact our cities and towns and the challenges and solutions cities anticipate in the future. Access the reports.

Deadline to establish different permit timelines under SB 5290 looms. This bill has generated more than the usual amount of questions, so AWC is sharing more information to shed light into the darkness of statutory interpretation. More

The JLARC Public Records Reporting System is open through July 1 for reporting 2023 data. AWC uses this data to advocate for cities in the Legislature. More

Prepare to comply with new public works prompt payment requirements. City public works departments should be aware of SB 6192, which takes effect on June 6. More

Expanded city authority to use automated traffic safety cameras takes effect in June. HB 2384 has implications for existing and new city traffic safety camera programs. More

What the Hazardous Substance Designation of PFAS chemicals means for local governments. The Environmental Protection Agency recently released two new rules for regulating “forever chemicals,” with potentially significant implications for city water systems. More

More HR bills going into effect July 1. Get a refresher on two HR bills going into effect July 1: HB 1905, which expands the Equal Pay & Opportunity Act, and HB 2467, which makes WA Cares Fund benefits portable. More

Potential updates to model business license minimum threshold. Picking up on work that began last summer, a work group of cities is considering updates to the business license minimum threshold for out-of-city businesses that cities were required to adopt by January 1, 2019. More

NLC hosting webinar “Understanding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program” Friday June 14. Register now for this free webinar that will explain how to obtain student loan relief from the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Register now.

Register now for the AWC Municipal Budgeting and Fiscal Management Workshop on August 1-2. Brush up on the basics of budgeting, explore ways to engage your residents, and get your challenging budget questions answered. This year’s workshop will be held in a new location – Wenatchee. Register now.

Work is underway on AWC’s 2025 legislative agenda
AWC’s Legislative Priorities Committee has begun meeting to vet issues for consideration in AWC’s 2025 legislative agenda. The Committee will conclude its work in early September and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors for adoption later that month. Do you have an idea or issue that you would like the Committee to consider for 2025? If so, let Carl Schroeder know as soon as possible.

Make plans to attend AWC’s Candidate Forum
September 12 | Tacoma
City elected officials and staff are invited to a forum to hear from candidates for the offices of Governor, Attorney General, and Commissioner of Public Lands. Don't miss this excellent opportunity to learn more about each candidate’s vision for our state, as well as how they see cities and the state working together to benefit all of Washington’s residents. Former Governor Christine Gregoire will join us for a lunchtime presentation about leading in difficult times and encouraging civil discourse and engagement. Register now.

wacities.org/Advocacy | Legislative issues
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