 Refresh your OPMA and PRA training requirements
Under the Open Government Trainings Act, all members of governing bodies must complete training on the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), Public Records Act (PRA), and records retention within 90 days of taking the oath of office or assuming duties (RCW 42.30.205). Refresher training is also required every four years. For those seeking initial training or a refresher, AWC and MRSC have two eLearnings available on these topics that meet the requirements for elected officials: OPMA and PRA.
2019 Legislative Priority video – Culverts
Watch this video where AWC's Carl Schroeder breaks down the issue of fish-blocking culverts, one of cities' legislative priorities this year. Find out who has partnered with AWC on this effort, and gain insight into what's involved with a comprehensive approach to unblocking statewide culverts.
Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) of the APA Washington Chapter
CPAT provides the assistance of professional planners and other specialists to articulate visions, solve problems, or resolve issues for communities that lack planning resources. The objectives of CPAT are to connect plans and actions, identify local and regional resources for sustainable planning, and advance the American Planning Association’s (APA) principles. Learn more about APA Washington's CPAT program, how you can participate, and how to create a partnership.
 Thanks to you, we’re flush with photos
After our call for submissions, we received hundreds of photos from cities across Washington. Thank you for your generous response! We can’t wait to get these designed, printed, and ready to show you at an upcoming event.
Apply to join the Mayors' Institute on Affordable Housing and Health
April 2-3 | Detroit, Michigan
NLC and NeighborWorks America invite cities to apply to be a part of this upcoming mayors’ institute to advance city-level strategies to generate sustainable solutions. The goal of this convening is to help mayors identify and advance practical solutions to housing affordability by engaging their community in the design and development of housing and health initiatives. Deadline is February 4.
 Apply to win an AWC Municipal Excellence Award!
AWC's Municipal Excellence Awards recognize innovative city projects across the state. Your city's project or program could win an award and gain recognition from other cities throughout Washington. Short on time? Fret not! We've streamlined the process this year to make applying easier than ever. Simply tell us in 400 words: What makes your project award winning? You can find examples of past winners and entries on our website. Apply now! Deadline is March 8.
Catch the highlights from Monday's Legislative Bulletin:
2019 Legislative Session starts off with a fast pace
The first week of session came and went in a flash and packed a whirlwind of activity in five days. In last week's issue, we suggested that hearing schedules looked pretty light for the first week, but a flurry of hearings were added as the Legislature jumpstarted their workload. Check out this week's View from the Hill to get a feel for how the first week kicked off.
- Public works small works roster bill to be heard. More
- Washington infrastructure receives "C" grade. More
- Secretary of State officially certifies I-976. More
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 More free job postings in 2019!
Back by popular demand, we have renewed this exclusive member benefit in 2019.
City members: 5 free job postings
Check your inbox for last week’s email with your discount codes for free postings and
be sure to activate your codes so you can start using your free postings today.
Associate Members (public agency): 3 free job postings
Once your membership is renewed, we’ll send your discount code the following month.
AWC JobNet. Great jobs. Strong candidates. Low cost.
City of Snoqualmie | Assistant City Attorney
City of Richland | Economic Development Manager
AWC | Administrative Assistant II
What you need to know about volunteers in public organizations
February 20 | webinar
Volunteers present unique L&I challenges. Explore who is a volunteer and who is not, including elected officials, board members, and commissioners. Learn to correctly report volunteer hours and what liabilities exist if they are not covered by L&I. Register now.
WA Paid Family & Medical Leave webinar 
March 6 | Webinar
The Employment Security Department (ESD) has begun collecting premiums in accordance with the new Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave law, and benefits will become available to employees in 2020. Catch part two of our webinar series covering the latest information from the state on this new law. Those who registered for part one of this series (October 10) recently received an email invitation to join part two at no additional charge.
Demystifying wetland and in-water permitting in Washington State
February 28 | Shoreline
Attend this workshop to learn how to identify which environmental laws apply to which wetland and water, including the statutory foundations and agencies of jurisdiction. Find out how to put together a permitting application that minimizes delay and ensures a timely review. Discover common errors in permit applications and how to address challenging situations encountered in the field through case studies.
Main Street Now Conference
March 25-27 | Seattle
Join your peers at this national conference for local leaders looking to advance economic opportunity in downtowns and commercial districts. The Main Street Now Conference showcases implementable best practices, time-tested solutions, and innovative ideas from a national network of experts. AWC members are eligible for a special civic leaders discounted registration rate.
PNW Highway-Rail Conference
April 23-24 | Vancouver
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and BNSF Railway Company invite you to this free conference focused on the transportation industry. Hear from speakers on rail and highway topics and network with others in the rail and highway industries from federal, state, and private sectors. |
