March 12, 2025

Small City Connectors: Bringing city leaders together
April 3 | Raymond
May 29 | Dayton
May 30 | Chewelah
June 11 | Granger
Small cities and towns face unique challenges as they work to provide essential services and programs to their residents. AWC’s Small City Connectors offer city and town leaders and staff a valuable opportunity to connect over a meal, share experiences, and exchange insights on serving their communities effectively. AWC staff will provide program updates, share resources for small cities, and answer questions from attendees. Register today!

Healthy Worksite Summit is underway! Congrats to our 2025 WellCities
Nearly 300 attendees from across the state are gathered in Lynnwood for the Healthy Worksite Summit—presented by the AWC Employee Benefit Trust—to network and discover how to create healthy workplaces where employees are connected and thriving. Tomorrow we celebrate the 2025 WellCities! This year, 123 Trust members met employee health promotion quality standards to earn WellCity recognition—and a 2% discount on their 2026 medical premiums! Learn more about how your city can become a WellCity.

Register for AWC's Annual Conference
June 24-27 | Kennewick
Are you registered for the 2025 AWC Annual Conference? Take a sneak peek at the session lineup and learn about scholarship opportunities! If you plan to attend or exhibit at the conference, be sure to check out our new Annual Conference social media kit to find easy graphics and sample messaging you can share to encourage your colleagues to join you. Register now!

Parking preemption bill continues to advance—Act now!
The House Local Government Committee will hear SB 5184 this Friday morning at 10:30 am. The bill contains wide ranging restrictions on the ability of cities over 20,000 in population to manage parking. Any city council can adopt these policies now, but the proposal would instead allow developers to make that decision in every city this bill impacts. Please, at a minimum, sign in as opposed before 9:30 am Friday morning—signing up to testify would be especially impactful right now. Learn more.

Legislative session: Week 9 moving & shaking
With more than half of the 105-day session behind us, we are looking at a smaller list of bills still moving through the process and a shifting focus to budgets and revenue. Things are moving fast today, March 12, because of an important cutoff deadline—bills must be voted out of their house of origin by 5 pm to live on this session. To catch the latest legislative news for cities throughout the 2025 session, join our Friday City Action Calls for updates from AWC's Advocacy team. This Friday’s call will be especially important, as we’ll have information to report on the outcome of this week’s floor action. You can also check our Bill Hot Sheet for a high-level look at bills most important to cities, and check on the status of specific bills using AWC’s bill tracker.

Are you passionate about strong cities? Apply to serve on the AWC Board of Directors
The AWC Nominating Committee is calling for applications for the AWC Board of Directors. Open positions include odd-numbered districts, as well as Districts 4 and 6, and two at-large positions for cities with populations greater than 5,000. Visit the Nominating Committee page to read its first report, see which district positions are open, and learn about Board responsibilities and qualifications. Learn more at an informal Q&A with AWC CEO Deanna Dawson and Board members on March 27. Register now and apply by April 14.

Other news & resources

Legislative mid-session update: Which bills are moving forward and how they could impact cities? Listen to this 20-minute episode of CityVoice Podcast to hear about the status of key priorities. More

Get involved! AWC seeks two senior city staff members with expertise in transportation and engineering to serve on the WSDOT Local Programs Bridge Replacement Advisory Committee (BRAC). Apply by March 19. More

Reach out to your senators today and tell them to oppose HB 1380—Litigation is not the solution to public camping. More

It’s Civic Learning Week! Tune in to the National Forum—Many voices, one nation—online on Thursday, March 13, and find events across the country. More

Commerce seeks feedback by March 20 on draft language in climate planning rulemaking. More

Submit comments on proposed changes to water system plan requirements by April 11. More

The JLARC lodging tax reporting system is open for reporting 2024 lodging tax expenditures. Due May 16. More

Office of Public Defense grant funds are still available on a rolling basis for cities under 200,000 in the SPAR program to help with Blake impacts. The funds expire at the end of the state’s fiscal year, so act now before June 30, 2025. 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

Update to model business license threshold finalized for adoption by January 1, 2026. More

Interested in interlocal agreements? MRSC’s new page compiles a wealth of information and guidance on how Washington local governments can collaborate efficiently under state law. More

NLC update on elective pay tax credits for clean energy projects: What cities need to know. More

Celebrating Washington Women
In honor of Women’s History Month, here’s a look back to some of the inspiring and influential women who have shaped our state’s history—and who are shaping it today.

Did you know the road to women’s suffrage began in Washington state? Learn how activists Mary and Ellen Olney set in motion the nationwide victory for women’s suffrage. More
Bertha Knight Landes served as the first female mayor of a major American city, leading the City of Seattle through a series of bold reforms in the 1920s. More
Before Julia Butler Hansen became one of the most powerful female legislators in Washington state history, she served on the Cathlamet Town Council from 1937-1946. More
Check out this Instagram reel showcasing just a few of the many women leaders who are making history in Washington cities today!

AWC trainings & events

AWC: City Action Calls (city members only) | Fridays during session | Online

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

AWC: Elected Officials Essentials webinar series | Multiple dates | Online

March 26 | Understanding municipal revenues
May 14 | Community budget engagement
September 10 | Understanding Washington’s ethics laws
November 12 | Comprehending quasi-judicial hearings

AWC: Q&A session: Running for the AWC Board of Directors | March 27 | Online

Trust: Planning for reductions in force | March 27 | Online

AWC: Small City Connectors | Multiple dates | Multiple locations

April 3 | Raymond
May 29 | Dayton
May 30 | Chewelah
June 11 | Granger

RMSA: Police negligence: Review of cases & trends | April 17 | Online

AWC: Labor Relations Institute | May 7-9 | Yakima

D&A: Supervisor training | Multiple dates | Multiple locations

AWC: 2025 Annual Conference | June 24-27 | Kennewick

Other trainings & events

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

MRSC: Digging into public works fundamentals | March 27 | Vancouver, WA

MRSC: Public Records Act basics and more (virtual workshops) | April 10 & April 30 | Online

MRSC (with AWC & WSAC): Climate Action Peer Network meeting | April 17 | Online

State Archives: Records management workshops | Multiple dates | Online

NLC: Webinars and events | Multiple dates | Online

Looking to fill a key position? JobNet is a great place to recruit new talent. Post your job openings on AWC JobNet today.

Featured jobs:
Town of Steilacoom | Police Sergeant
City of Yakima | City Engineer
City of Marysville | Director, Utilities & Maintenance Services