June 5, 2024

Annual Conference offers something for everyone
June 18-21 | Vancouver, WA
Don’t miss out when more than 400 city leaders convene in Vancouver for this year’s AWC Annual Conference. Learn about emerging issues, hear inspiring speakers, and most importantly, build partnerships with colleagues from across the state who share your passion for local governance. Still on the fence? Check out our conference schedule for speakers and events, including special session tracks geared toward small cities, newly elected officials, mayors, and earning your Certificate of Municipal Leadership. Register today. We’ll see you in Vancouver!

Learn about proposed updates to AWC’s Statement of Policy
June 10 | Online
AWC’s foundational policy document, the Statement of Policy, is being updated. AWC is hosting an informational meeting on June 10 at noon for city members to learn more about the document and the proposed update. The Statement of Policy, which must be reviewed every four years, was last updated in 2020. This year's proposed update was developed by a diverse committee of city officials and will be voted on by the full membership at the AWC Business Meeting on June 20. Learn more.

student-collage-x3 Support tomorrow’s leaders: Donate to the CQC scholarship fund
Have you heard about the three outstanding student leaders who are receiving $3,000 scholarships from the AWC Center for Quality Communities (CQC)? These students will impress and inspire you with their dedication to community and civic leadership. Learn more about them and come meet them in person at Annual Conference at the CQC fundraising luncheon on Thursday, June 20. Hear the students discuss the role of community in youth leadership, share what they love most about their cities, then transition into a panel discussion on youth advisory councils. And please donate what you can to support future scholarships—your gift today supports our civic leaders of tomorrow.

vancouverwaterfront On the move: Mobile tours at Annual Conference
We have five exciting mobile tours at Annual Conference, each highlighting municipal innovations around Vancouver. Be sure to check them out—and bring comfortable walking shoes!

Chelsea Anderson Memorial Play Station: Discover how Vancouver is building a welcoming community through inclusive parks.
Interstate Bridge replacement: Learn about the state Department of Transportation's investment and innovations in the replacement of the 100+ year-old Interstate Bridge across the Columbia River.
Urban revitalization: Experience Vancouver’s vibrant waterfront development and hear about the process and partnerships that have created it.
Vancouver homelessness response: Tour Vancouver’s downtown Safe Stay Community and Safe Park locations to explore how the city is helping community members transition out of homelessness.
Comcast Lift Zone: Visit the Vancouver Boys & Girls Club to see an example of how cities can work with Comcast to expand digital equity.

See the full conference schedule for more details.

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.

Other news & resources

Final call: Contribute your city’s data to AWC’s 2024 Salary and Benefit Survey by Friday, June 7. More

Deadline approaching: Know someone retiring from public service? Nominate them for AWC’s civic service recognition by June 7. More

New sign-on for opioid settlement with Kroger: Eligible cities should receive information from the settlement administrator soon. More

Reminder: June 11 is the deadline to register your city for the Parade of Flags at Annual Conference. Flags must arrive at AWC by June 14. More

The Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC) is accepting session proposals for the 2024 IACC Conference; share this call within your network and submit your proposal by June 14. 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

Apply by July 8 for the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program. More

The Federal Highway Administration’s 2024 Rail Crossing Safety Program is open, offering funding to help eliminate potential risks at railway-highway crossings. Apply by July 15. More

San Juan County is one of the first local governments in the nation to try out a 32-hour workweek—read how the pilot program is going six months in. More

The Legislature passed a number of laws this year to help strengthen our state’s election systems. Read summaries of six of these new laws from MRSC. More

ballotbox Do you know the PDC guidelines on elections activity for city officials?
Elected officials and city staff should understand Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) guidelines before participating in any elections activities, including taking a position on a ballot measure or endorsing a candidate for political office. Read AWC’s summary of these guidelines to find some common examples of activities city officials may and may not do.

AWC trainings & events

Annual-Conference-countdown-2-75 AWC: 2024 Annual Conference | June 18-21 | Vancouver, WA
We’re just two weeks out from Annual Conference! Remember to check out the conference scholarships that are available for first-time attendees, small cities, and others on a limited training budget!

AWC: Municipal Budgeting and Fiscal Management Workshop | August 1-2 | Wenatchee

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

AWC: Candidate Forum | September 12 | Tacoma

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

September 18: Social media 101
October 17: Tribal government relations 101
November 7: Human resources 101

Other trainings & events

MRSC: Legislative update on 2024 public records bills | June 13 | Online

MRSC: Digging into public works fundamentals | June 25 | Yakima

MRSC: Addressing housing displacement in your comprehensive plan update | June 27 | Online

Commerce: 2024 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) General Purpose Grant application webinar | July 10 | Online

State Archives: Records management workshops | Multiple dates | Online

NLC: Webinars and events | Multiple dates | Online

NLC: 2024 City Summit | November 13-16 | Tampa Bay, FL

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