June 19, 2024

AC24livephoto Live from Annual Conference!
June 18-21 | Vancouver, WA
More than 450 attendees representing over 130 cities and towns are gathered in Vancouver, Washington, this week for AWC's Annual Conference. This year’s theme is Livable, Loveable Cities and city leaders and partners are here to network, share challenges and solutions, and find ideas and inspiration to take back home. Hot topics include civic health, creative place-making, economic development, state and federal advocacy, affordable housing, disaster response, digital equity, and more. For those in attendance, download our conference app to find the schedule, session materials, exhibitor information, and more.

Juneteenth2024 Happy Juneteenth
As we kick off Annual Conference, we are also excited to be celebrating Juneteenth! This important holiday is woven into many conference events today, including the Parade of Flags, led by AWC President Betsy Wilkerson carrying the Juneteenth flag. Attendees can join sessions today exploring the history of Juneteenth, how cities are celebrating the holiday, and the importance of inclusion and belonging. And to top off the day, we’re hosting a special after-hours Juneteenth Reception. Join us if you're at the conference!

Check out updated AWC Business Meeting materials—including the Nominating Committee’s final report
Don't miss AWC's Business Meeting at 4 pm on Thursday, June 20. The agenda includes AWC Board elections, consideration of the proposed update to AWC's Statement of Policy and proposed amendments, and a State of the Association update from your AWC CEO. Check out the Nominating Committee's final report to see Board candidates advanced by the Committee and read the candidate statements. Not registered for Annual Conference? You can still attend the meeting, either in person or online—find the meeting link and related info on the Business Meeting homepage.

student-collage-x3 Meet the AWC Center for Quality Communities scholarship recipients
Join us at the at the AWC Center for Quality Communities (CQC) fundraising luncheon on Thursday, June 20, to meet the three outstanding student leaders who are receiving $3,000 scholarships from the CQC. Hear these impressive and inspiring young leaders 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. Please donate what you can to support future scholarships—your gift today supports our civic leaders of tomorrow.

Follow us on social media during Annual Conference!
Annual Conference is live and bustling in Vancouver! If you are unable to be here with us in person, keep up with the latest happenings and highlights by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter). For those here at the conference, share your photos and thoughts with the tag #WAcities2024. You can also download our conference app to find the schedule, session materials, exhibitor information, and more — right at your fingertips.

Other news & resources

Deadline extended: Contribute your city’s data to AWC’s 2024 Tax and User Fee Survey by June 26. More

Apply by June 28 for Public Works Board construction and pre-construction funding for fiscal year 2025. More

The JLARC Public Records Reporting System is open through July 1 for reporting 2023 data. More

Attend the Washington Climate Action Peer Network’s quarterly online meeting on July 18—a forum for local government staff working on climate-related issues to share best practices and learn new approaches. More

Comment on OSHA’s proposed Emergency Response Standard by July 22—the rule could impact city fire departments of all sizes. More

Deadline to establish different permit timelines under SB 5290 is approaching—this bill has generated many questions, so AWC is sharing more information and clarification. More

The extreme weather grant created by HB 1012 last legislative session is now open for applications from local governments to support response activities during extreme weather events. More

How nature-based solutions and green infrastructure are helping cities meet their climate action goals. More

Can our city use REET funds for that? MRSC has answers. More

How U.S. cities are using federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to tackle housing affordability. More

CityVisionSummer24150 Future perfect: Cities planning for a better tomorrow, and building upon the past
The summer issue of Cityvision magazine is out! Check out these stories of how Washington’s cities—large and small—are envisioning their future with intentionality and imagination. Whether planning for growth or enriching economic strategies, cities are leading the charge.

AWC trainings & events

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

Trust: 2024 Benefit Forums | August dates | Multiple locations

D&A: Supervisor training | September 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

EPA: Building resilience and adapting to climate change for drinking water and wastewater utilities | June 25 | Bellevue

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

MRSC: How to recognize and respond to First Amendment “audits” | July 16 | Online

Grant Writing USA: Grant Writing Training | Vancouver, WA | July 18-19

State Archives: Records management workshops | Multiple dates | Online

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

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 Lynden | Fire Chief
City of Richland | Power Operations Manager
City of Bothell | Technology Program Manager