More than 450 attendees representing over 130 cities and towns across Washington recently gathered at the 2024 AWC Annual Conference in Vancouver to learn about issues critical to the success of cities. Check out the event photos and read on to hear some highlights.
The theme of this year’s conference was Livable, loveable cities—a nod to keynote speaker Peter Kageyama, who shared his ideas on harnessing the passion people feel for the places they live to help build thriving communities.
A highlight of the conference was a panel of distinguished leaders speaking to civic health and how cities are leading the way through divisive times. Sessions on infrastructure, emergency management, budgets, legal requirements, the fentanyl crisis, and a wide array of other important topics rounded out a jam-packed conference agenda. In addition to educational sessions, attendees had ample opportunities to exchange ideas and build relationships with peers.
Here are just a few of the gems mined from this year’s conference:
- Treat people with respect, even when you disagree. Choose to discuss, debate, collaborate, and work toward common ground. Debate ideas, but never disrespect the person or the institution. Opponents don’t have to be enemies, and approaching disagreements with an attitude of “I only win if you lose” doesn’t lead to good governance. To make a deal sustainable, you need to find a win-win and deliver what both sides need. Facilitate collaboration and camaraderie by creating opportunities to get to know people. In polling commissioned by AWC, an overwhelming majority of respondents (85%) said they want their local leaders to treat each other with respect and civility, and to work together to get positive results even if they have political differences.
- Don’t wait for a crisis. Plan your emergency response now. As a city leader, it’s important to understand your responsibilities in an emergency—and to do the advance work that will make your city’s crisis response as smooth and successful as possible. Take the vital steps before crisis strikes to build relationships (with key partners, stakeholders, neighboring jurisdictions, and the media), flesh out and practice your plans, finalize agreements, test your communications systems, and facilitate your access to resources.
- To build a loveable city, ask yourself, “Where’s the fun?” If something is fun for you, it’s likely fun for others as well. Take the time to bring in active and creative ‘doers’ and ‘makers’ in the community to hear their ideas. Instead of a hard “no,” provide them with a list of what needs to happen for them to get to “yes.” Encourage people to explore their communities through recreational spaces like skate parks, dog parks, pocket parks, and art displays (temporary, permanent, and/or participatory). Small is great—but don’t be afraid to swing for the fences.
- Advocacy is a year-round job. To be most effective, advocacy needs to happen year-round at both the state and federal level. Take your state and federal officials on a tour of local infrastructure, housing, or parks projects. Show them the direct impact of state and federal funds. Invite your state officials to listen in on council budget meetings and directly hear the fiscal hurdles your city faces providing essential services. Sit down one-on-one to discuss challenges and opportunities facing your city. Build relationships with your state and elected officials today to lay a foundation for partnership in the future.
- Take care of yourself, too. City leaders take on a community’s worth of stresses and challenges. Meanwhile, a recent major study found more than 40% of local officeholders said they were less willing to run for reelection or higher office because of abuse and harassment they faced while serving. Taking care of yourself—especially your own mental health—is critical to sustaining your ability to do your job well.
That’s a wrap! It was another inspiring and educational AWC Annual Conference. AWC will be here to help throughout the year, so keep up the good work, stay engaged, and thank you for all that you do to keep cities strong!
Save the date for next year’s conference, June 24-27, 2025, in Kennewick!