Eight things we learned at City Action Days 2026

City Action Days came early this year, and city officials were more than ready to get a jump on all the action happening at the state Capitol. More than 300 attendees came together January 21-22 to discuss the latest legislative news and hottest issues with lawmakers, AWC staff, and each other. Here are a few of the top takeaways from this year’s event.

1. City leaders get things done. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: City officials drive innovation and find solutions. “You are so creative at problem-solving,” AWC Government Relations Director Candice Bock told the audience. “What you’re able to accomplish in your communities with limited staff and limited resources is amazing.”
2. Serving your city is no easy task. In his address, Gov. Bob Ferguson thanked the audience for their work, especially during last fall’s historic flooding, and acknowledged the difficulties of serving as a city official. “People tell me, ‘Governor, you have a hard job.’ I say, ‘The harder jobs are the offices that are closest to the people, and that’s often local government,’” he said.
3. Stories are powerful. By engaging with your state decision-makers and advocating on behalf of your city, you can make a real difference in your community and across the state. It’s especially important to share stories with lawmakers about the potential impacts of proposed legislation on your community. “They’ll use that story,” Bock said. “They’ll repeat that in a floor speech. They’ll share that in a caucus meeting.”
4. Stories backed up by data are even more powerful. AWC provides a variety of data and resources cities can reference in their conversations with legislators. Turning those facts and figures into an easy-to-understand visual such as a table or chart can be particularly impactful. “When in doubt, table it out,” AWC Legislative Policy Analyst Emma Shepard said in a breakout session on using data to bolster your city’s work.
5. Public safety funding remains a challenge. Qualifying for the two new public safety funding mechanisms under HB 2015 has been challenging for cities. Gail Stone, HB 2015 program manager with the Criminal Justice Training Commission, asked applicants to remain patient. “We’re very close to having jurisdictions qualify,” she said. “It’s a rigorous application, and we know that, but we’re working to make it clearer and easier to do.”
6. City leaders also have a voice in the other Washington. Angelina Panettieri, legislative director, information technology and communications, federal advocacy, for the National League of Cities, encouraged audience members to engage with their lawmakers at the federal level as well. “Local governments have a degree of access unlike any other,” she said. “Your delegates are more likely to open their doors to you than to almost anybody else.”
7. The state’s budget woes aren’t going away. Lawmakers opened the legislative session facing a $2.3 billion budget shortfall. K.D. Chapman-See, director of the Office of Financial Management, explained that Gov. Ferguson had to make some difficult decisions as he developed his supplemental budget proposals. As potential solutions are discussed and debated, Washington cities are asking the Legislature to protect state-shared revenues such as liquor profits and cannabis excise tax sharing. “Our message is: Preserve these. Legislators, as you look to balance your budget, don’t take from here,” said Bock.
8. City officials love their cities. At this year’s New Elected Officials Breakfast, attendees discussed why their cities mean so much to them. From Battle Ground’s antique shops to Dupont’s rich history to Lynnwood’s popular mall, these recently elected or appointed officials were proud to share the unique attributes of their cities—and in doing so reminded everyone why they do the work they do.

Watch the video below to hear AWC's Director of Government Relations Candice Bock talk about the event's palpable energy and impact, while city councilmembers Laura Bustamante of Medina, Ted Weinberg of Mercer Island, and Betsy Wilkerson of Spokane share their perspectives on the conference's valuable networking and advocacy opportunities.