January 22, 2025

statecapitalaerial150 Legislative session: Week 2 at a glance
Week 2 of the legislative session brings a flurry of bills being introduced and scheduled for hearings. Some of the hot issues already shaping up are public safety funding and housing. Catch these top headlines from AWC’s Legislative Bulletin:

The much-discussed $100 million for law enforcement bill gains a hearing. More
AWC priority to address local public safety needs via state-shared revenues gets a bill number. More
View the weekly Bill Hot Sheet. More

To keep up on the latest legislative news for cities, subscribe to receive the Legislative Bulletin each week throughout session.

Deadline approaching: CQC scholarship nominations due Jan. 27
Time is running out to submit nominations for the AWC Center for Quality Communities (CQC) scholarship! Don’t miss this chance to spotlight a civic-minded student leader from your city. Visit the CQC website to find all the details on how to nominate students. Up to three $3,000 scholarships may be awarded in Spring 2025. City nominations are due to the CQC by January 27. Questions? Email the CQC.

Exploring the conditions of Washington cities with Carl Schroeder
In Part 2 of our podcast series on the AWC City Conditions Survey, we sit down with Carl Schroeder, AWC's Deputy Director of Government Relations, to discuss how cities are addressing the issues of transportation, housing, and climate. Listen now. (Never miss an episode again. Subscribe to the CityVoice Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.)

Add your project to the 2025-27 Public Works Board infrastructure pipeline
The Public Works Board maintains a list of local projects seeking funding from the Public Works Assistance Account to understand and track the “infrastructure project pipeline” across Washington. Complete this brief survey to provide the Public Works Board with information on your city’s known projects ready for construction within the next two to four years.

goldenapple150 Apply for the 2025 Golden Apple Award
Does your workplace health program deserve special recognition? The Golden Apple Award recognizes public and private employers across Washington state who demonstrate real commitment to their employees’ overall well-being. Award recipients are recognized annually during the Healthy Worksite Summit. The deadline is February 7— apply today! Questions? Contact the AWC Trust.

Other news & resources

Are you familiar with AWC’s 2025 City Legislative Priorities? Learn about them in this Cityvision one-pager. More

Celebrate the Public Works Board’s 40th Anniversary! If you’re in Olympia on January 30, stop by the State Treasurer’s office between 4-7 pm to celebrate with PWB members, staff, and legislators. RSVP here.

New grant available to adopt automated permit software for residential solar projects. Commerce is hosting a pre-application webinar on January 23 at 2 pm. More

City member exclusive: Join AWC lobbyists for City Action Calls at 12:30 pm each Friday during session for the latest legislative updates and Q&A. Register each week. More

Get involved: Apply by February 6 to serve on an AWC committee, state board, or council. More

Apply by February 28 for AWC’s new grant for energy audits of city-owned buildings. More

The JLARC lodging tax reporting system is now open for reporting 2024 lodging tax expenditures—due May 16. More

The JLARC public records reporting system is open for 2024 data. Cities that meet the $100,000 reporting threshold or that intend to report voluntarily have until July 1 to report. More

Watch this AWC video to learn how to navigate the Washington State Legislature’s website. More

Can AI support good government? Some pilot programs suggest yes. More

The right to assemble: Responding to protests, spontaneous gatherings, and counterdemonstrations. More

Newly updated! Exploring Washington's Cities & Towns
Cities are the governments closest to the people. Efficient and effective city governments are the foundation for vibrant communities and economic opportunities. But why does it matter to you? Use this high-level quick read to learn how cities in Washington function. You'll discover how cities budget, how city funds are used, what city governments do, and what city employees do, all interspersed with facts and figures that illustrate the breadth of work that cities do every day to make their communities shine. Read it now.

AWC trainings & events

AWC: Mayors Exchange | January 24 | Olympia

AWC: ROC the house: Mobile home park solutions | February 5 | Online

AWC: 2025 City Action Days | February 19-20 | Lacey

AWC: Elected Officials Essentials Forum | February 28 | Tacoma

Trust: Healthy Worksite Summit | March 12-13 | Lynnwood

Other trainings & events

MRSC: Good faith efforts and penalties in apprentice utilization | January 28 | Online

MRSC: Design review—Tips and recommended practices | February 12 | Online

CRAB: 2025 Road Design Conference | March 19-21 | Chelan

State Archives: Records management workshops | Multiple dates | Online

NLC: Congressional City Conference 2025 | March 10-12 | Washington, D.C.

Check out this quick video to see how AWC JobNet connects you with the most qualified job seekers for public service!

Featured jobs:
City of Richland | Transportation and Development Manager
City of Ferndale | Chief of Police
AWC | Government Relations Advocate