May 8, 2024
Clerks Week and Public Service Recognition Week | May 5-11
A heartfelt thank you to our municipal clerks—and to all our public servants in cities all over the state! Your work is often tireless but should never be thankless. Over long hours and through complex situations you ensure the people in our cities get what they need to live, work, play, and thrive. In fact, we know city staff are working harder than ever. In 2001 each city staff member was serving 80 residents. In 2022, that number had grown to 110 residents per city staff. So—for all the many, many things you do—AWC thanks you.
To learn more about our city workforce, check out AWC’s new State of the Cities: Municipal workforce report. For ideas on how to celebrate Public Service Recognition Week, read this blog post from the Partnership for Public Service.
2024 Annual Conference: Line up for the Parade of Flags!
June 18-21 | Vancouver, WA
Join us for our ever-popular Parade of Flags to kick off the AWC Annual Conference in Vancouver! The parade unites our cities and celebrates all the unique qualities that make Washington’s cities great. If your city doesn’t have a flag but wants to participate, please contact Gina Abram. If your city has a flag and wants to join the parade, we need two things from you:
- By June 11: Contact Gina Abram to reserve your spot and designate a flagbearer from your city.
- Flags must arrive at AWC by June 14. We encourage you to use Priority Mail to ensure timely arrival. Mail your flag to AWC at: 1076 Franklin St. SE, Olympia, WA 98501-1346
Don’t forget to register for Annual Conference. If it’s your first time joining us, check out our First-Time Attendee Scholarships for newly elected officials and first-time attendees. Scholarship funds are limited, and preference will be given to cities with demonstrated financial need.
Send your city's voting delegates to the AWC Business Meeting
Mark your calendar for AWC's Business Meeting on Thursday, June 20. This important meeting takes place in Vancouver in conjunction with our Annual Conference. Your city can designate up to three delegates to vote on candidates for the Board of Directors. To designate your delegates, complete the voting delegate form by 5 pm on June 13. Contact Betsy Hildreth with any questions.
Apply for the Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute
The Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute (WA-CELI) is an exciting new immersive training program that will provide small teams of city elected officials with the collaborative leadership skills needed to tackle real-world challenges facing our cities and towns. Over the course of four months, teams will learn and practice a broad range of strategies to embrace differing viewpoints and build consensus to maximize success. Team applications are due by May 17.
Finance 101 for elected officials 
May 16 | Online
Join us for the next webinar in our Elected Officials Essentials training series to learn the fundamentals of the municipal budgeting process. Explore the basics of budgeting and key elements of city finance. Find out where the money comes from and where the money goes, learn your responsibilities as an elected official in fiduciary accountability, and discover how city staff can best support newly elected officials. Register now.
Get involved! Apply to serve on an AWC committee, state board, or advisory committee
AWC is currently recruiting city officials and select staff to serve on numerous AWC committees, state boards, and advisory committees. View all opportunities or click on individual committees below for details. Apply by May 13.
State boards and advisory committees:
- Bridge Replacement Advisory Committee (senior staff member)
- Citizens Committee on Pipeline Safety (city elected official)
- Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (city representative)
- Public Health Advisory Board (city elected official or senior staff member)
- Public Works Board (public works director)
- Puget Sound Partnership Ecosystem Coordinating Board (city elected official)
- Select Committee on Pension Policy (city manager or finance director)
- Shorelines Hearings Board (city elected officials and senior staff)
- Washington State Board of Health (city elected official)
- Washington State Enhanced 911 Advisory Committee (city elected official or senior staff member)
- Transportation Improvement Board (city planning director)
Other news & resources
Know of someone retiring? Honor them with AWC’s civic service recognition. More
AWC 2024 Salary and Benefit Survey deadline extended to May 17. Contribute your city's data to this important tool today! More
May is Mental Health Month—Download the WA Health Care Authority (HCA) toolkit with resources and strategies to support your community’s mental health. More
Department of Commerce invites public input on study of community impacts of rural clean energy projects development. More
Navigating Social Media as a Local Leader—a webinar recap from NLC (log-in or page registration required). More
Attorney General’s Office announces new opioid settlement with Kroger for $47.5 million. The deadline for the recent Johnson & Johnson opioid settlement is May 11. More
Help improve the Safe Medication Return program: Complete this awareness and use survey by May 15 to provide input on the program, advocated for by AWC. More
Submit your city’s required annual reporting on 2023 lodging tax expenditures by May 17 to the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee (JLARC) lodging tax reporting system. More
Department of Commerce funding is available to law enforcement agencies for vehicle pursuit technology. Apply by May 27. 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
Check out the results of a new performance audit on civil asset forfeiture, which found that police agencies in Washington are following the law in seizing property suspected of being involved in a crime and offers recommendations for local law enforcement departments to improve transparency. More
How to run a council meeting: Best practices from experts at Jurassic Parliament
As anyone who has attempted to facilitate a council meeting with any complexity knows—it’s anything but simple. Ann Macfarlane of Jurassic Parliament shares some tips on how to transform your city council meetings.
AWC trainings & events
RMSA: Public Records Act—What you need to know | May 14 | Online
AWC: Elected Officials Essentials webinar series | 2024 dates | Online
- May 16: Finance 101
- September 12: Social media 101
- October 17: Tribal government relations 101
- November 7: Human resources 101
AWC: Annual Conference | June 18-21 | Vancouver, WA
When you register for Annual Conference, be sure to also register for the special FEMA session on June 21, offering an overview of senior officials’ role in the National Incident Management System. To attend this free session, select it during the conference registration process.
Other trainings & events
NLC: Communicating effectively about race and equity | May 9 – June 27 (Thursdays) | Online
Jurassic Parliament: Mastering public comment and public hearings | May 9 | Online
Ruckelshaus: Housing security workshop: Coordinated pathways and person-centered navigation | May 14 | Online
MRSC: Successfully managing change in the workplace | May 16 | Online
Good Group Decisions: How to prevent and manage conflict in groups | May 22 | Online
MRSC: Resources for implementing the new HB 1181 climate requirements | May 23 | Online
RCAC: Cyber Security for Utilities: Protect your utility’s computer network from cyber-threats. Multiple dates | Online
MRSC: Implementing apprentice utilization requirements (AUR Series – Part 2) | May 30 | Online
State Archives: Records management workshops | Multiple dates | Online
State Archives: Escape room records management training | On-demand
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:
City of Monroe | Assistant Finance Director
City of Moses Lake | Senior Planner
AWC | Health Promotion Coordinator
AWC’s mission is to serve our members through advocacy, education, and services.
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