July 3, 2024

AWC’s offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
We hope you all have a happy and safe holiday.

U.S. Supreme Court reverses public camping cases, Grants Pass and Martin
In the final days of its term, the U.S. Supreme Court decided a case that jurisdictions across the country were watching—Johnson v. Grants Pass, a case about regulating camping in public. The sole question before the Court was, “Does the enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping on public property constitute ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ prohibited by the Eighth Amendment?” In a 6-3 opinion, the Court held that it did not. Read more about the ruling and what it means for cities.

Listening session: Public defense standards
July 17 | Online
Interested in learning more about the new proposed public defense standards? AWC is hosting an online listening session for city members to share information on the proposed standards and the Washington Supreme Court’s process for considering them. There will also be an opportunity to discuss the impacts on cities and the work AWC is doing with the Court and Legislature related to the proposal. Register now. Note: This event is exclusively for AWC city members.

Deadline to join newest opioid settlement with Kroger is August 12
The Attorney General’s Office recently sent eligible cities participation forms for the latest opioid settlement with Kroger and strongly encourages eligible cities to sign on to the settlement. Cities will also receive communications from the settlement administrator soon. The deadline to complete the forms is short—August 12.

Wenatcheephoto2024 Register now for AWC’s Municipal Budgeting and Fiscal Management Workshop
August 1-2 | Wenatchee
This popular AWC annual workshop is designed for those new to the budgeting process as well as those with plenty of experience. Brush up on the basics of budgeting, explore ways to engage your residents, and get your challenging budget questions answered. Participants will hear from finance and budget experts and learn from their peers through a variety of general and breakout sessions. Join us this year at a new location in the City of Wenatchee. Register now.

stella-grizont-photo Approaching difficult conversations—with Stella Grizont
AWC recently visited with Stella Grizont—a world-renowned positive psychology expert, executive coach, and one of our featured speakers at Annual Conference—to hear her advice on navigating difficult conversations around conflict. Times may be divisive, but by learning to stay neutral and curious, we as leaders can still connect with our communities and help them flourish. Watch this brief video for more insights.

Other news & resources

AWC working to identify sustainable revenue source for city transportation needs. More

State publishes 2023-2024 population numbers: Cities see a 1.25% growth in population. More

Reminder: Contribute your city’s data to AWC’s 2024 Tax and User Fee Survey by July 10. More

MRSC offers more strategies for handling hate speech during public comment. More

Tell your congressmembers to sign on to support bipartisan rail safety legislation now. 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

The JLARC Public Records Reporting System deadline for reporting 2023 data has been extended to August 16. Cities with records expenses greater than $100,000 must report. More

More than $91 million in capital financing is available for multifamily rental projects from the state Housing Trust Fund and the federal HOME and National Housing Trust Fund programs. Apply by September 18. More

State seeks grant and loan applications for freight rail capital projects. Apply by September 25. 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

Is your community ready for a wildfire? Learn how to develop a community wildfire protection plan. More

0624ArticleMayorProfileCleElum Growth margin
Cityvision magazine recently sat down for a conversation with AWC Board member and Cle Elum Mayor Matthew Lundh. Check out the interview to hear Mayor Lundh’s ideas on the importance of local leaders relying on each other and leveraging available resources to better plan for the future.

AWC trainings & events

AWC: Listening session: Public defense standards | July 17 | Online

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

Trust: 2024 Benefit Forums | August dates | Multiple locations

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

NLC: Supreme Court review for local governments | July 8 | Online

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

Tacoma Sister Cities: Washington State Sister Cities Committee Leadership Summit | July 16 | Olympia

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

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