With just two weeks left in Washington state's legislative session, AWC's Deputy Director of Government Relations Carl Schroeder looks at between-session strategies that city and town leaders can use to strengthen relationships and secure support for their communities' priorities. Communication, coalition-building, and inviting state legislators into local budget processes are all methods of building bridges to future success in Olympia. Download the Strong cities advocacy guide , see why sessio...
Apr 18, 2025•10 min•Ep. 100
AWC Director of Government Relations Candice Bock unpacks the Washington State Legislature's 2025 budget proposals with Deputy Director Carl Schroeder. In a new twist, the Legislature is rolling out budget proposals in installments instead of by chamber. Bock and Schroeder talk about the potential gains and losses of this year's operating budget proposals for Washington cities, particularly in the areas of public safety and the Public Works Assistance Account. They also compare the House and Sen...
Mar 28, 2025•20 min•Ep. 98
Following the house of origin cutoff, AWC Director of Government Relations Candice Bock and General Counsel Sheila Gall look at which bills are still making their way through the Washington State Legislature. Bock and Gall cover HB 2015 and SB 5775, which address public safety funding. They also discuss the Washington state revenue forecast, with a projected budget shortfall of $12-$15 billion, and look at legislative proposals designed to close that gap, including revising the 1% property tax c...
Mar 21, 2025•11 min•Ep. 97
In this episode, AWC lobbyist (and former journalist) Derrick Nunnally talks with AWC Director of Government Relations Candice Bock and Deputy Director Carl Schroeder about the status of bills making their way through the Washington Legislature at the midpoint of the 2025 legislative session. With the policy and fiscal cutoffs reached, Bock and Schroeder look at the remaining bills on public safety, homelessness, recycling, and more—and the potential impacts those bills could have on Washington ...
Mar 10, 2025•20 min•Ep. 96
In our third episode covering AWC’s 2025 State of the Cities report, we chat with Brianna Morin, AWC Legislative Policy Analyst, about the current state of city roads and infrastructure. We delve into funding challenges, PFAS issues, and ways city leaders can engage on public works matters. Additionally, we discuss innovative funding ideas under consideration by the Legislature, such as a road usage charge and a retail delivery fee. If your city has roads or pipes, this episode is a must! Read A...
Mar 03, 2025•20 min•Ep. 95
AWC first released a State of the Cities report back in 2005, with the goal of providing a view of the conditions and issues cities face in Washington. In early 2025, AWC published the most recent edition of the report. In this episode of the CityVoice Podcast, we sit down with Matt Doumit, AWC Legislative & Policy Analyst, to discuss the state of city workforces in Washington. We discuss the changing demands cities have for city workers, get an overview of city workforce cost drivers like s...
Feb 13, 2025•19 min•Ep. 94
AWC first released a State of the Cities report back in 2005 with the goal of providing a view of the conditions and issues cities face in Washington. In early 2025, AWC published the most recent edition of the report. In this episode, we sit down with Sheila Gall, AWC’s Legal Counsel, to discuss the state of city finances in Washington. We discuss the 1% property tax cap, the fiscal tools cities have to fund government services, and how cities have weathered the past few years. Read AWC's State...
Jan 25, 2025•17 min•Ep. 93
In part two of two of our webinar series on the AWC City Conditions Survey, we sit down with Carl Schroeder, AWC's Deputy Director of Government Relations, to discuss how cities are addressing the issues of transportation, housing, and climate. Read a summary of findings from the City Conditions Survey here . Read AWC's Homelessness & Housing Toolkit for Cities here . Read AWC's report on city infrastructure here ....
Jan 18, 2025•22 min•Ep. 92
AWC conducts an annual City Conditions Survey to gather information on the condition of cities and towns in our state. The survey covers a wide range of topics including finance, housing, public safety, infrastructure, and more. In part 1 or a two-part podcast, we sit down with Candice Bock, AWC's Director of Government Relations, to talk through how Washington cities are faring in the areas of finance and public safety. Read a summary of findings from the City Conditions Survey here ....
Jan 10, 2025•20 min•Ep. 91
Join Matt Doumit, AWC Policy Analyst, for an insightful discussion on AWC’s Salary and Benefit Survey. Since its inception in 1952, this survey has been the most comprehensive resource for understanding the salaries and benefits of city and county employees across Washington. In this episode, you’ll explore the survey’s rich history, discover the significant changes public employees have experienced over the years, and learn about the latest developments designed to benefit your jurisdiction mov...
Dec 12, 2024•15 min•Ep. 90
Every two years, AWC conducts the Tax and User Fee Survey, also known as ‘TUFS’. Join Brianna Morin, AWC Policy Analyst & TUFS Lead, for an engaging discussion on TUFS and how your community can leverage this valuable data. AWC members can access TUFS data here .
Dec 03, 2024•20 min•Ep. 89
Join a discussion with AWC's Government Relations Director, Candice Bock, and AWC's Deputy Government Relations Director, Carl Schroeder, as they talk about: AWC's legislative priorities for 2025; Tips for city leaders wanting to get involved in the legislative process; and What life is like as a lobbyist on the Hill. You can view AWC's legislative priorities on AWC's website: 2025 City Legislative Priorities...
Nov 15, 2024•35 min•Ep. 88
We sit down with AWC Government Relations Advocate Brandy DeLange to discuss the state of the transportation budget and some of the sustainable funding challenges in this area. With several possible new sources on the discussion table, could online shopping mean the end of potholes?
Aug 12, 2024•13 min•Ep. 85
AWC CEO Deanna Dawson recently sat down with Betsy Wilkerson, AWC President and Spokane Council President, to reflect on her past year as AWC President and share lessons and insights she’s gained through public service. You’ll hear talk of planes, trains, and automobiles—all part of the story of this leader who’s always on the move! Please join us in thanking President Wilkerson for her contributions and service to all 281 Washington cities and towns as our 2023-2024 AWC President.
Jun 12, 2024•21 min•Ep. 84
All about planning for your city’s future with the GMA.
Jun 10, 2024•7 min•Ep. 83
Tacoma’s deputy mayor John Hines plans to circumnavigate the city on foot, reshaping public perceptions and inspiring civic pride, one block at a time.
Jun 10, 2024•5 min•Ep. 82
Two cities — Tumwater and Richland — are demonstrating economic revival by embracing the past.
Jun 10, 2024•22 min•Ep. 81
As our celebration of Women’s History Month wraps up, don’t miss this engaging interview with Deanna Dawson, AWC’s first woman CEO, as she discusses her path to city service, what motivates her work, and the challenges and rewards of being a woman in a leadership position.
Mar 27, 2024•29 min•Ep. 80
The City of Pullman’s new mayor reflects on how losing an election made him better at governing, by Allyson Meyer and featuring Francis Benjamin’s reflections on winning one of the most competitive City of Pullman mayoral races in decades.
Mar 18, 2024•5 min•Ep. 79
A newly elected Mukilteo councilmember embraces the art of doorbelling—and promoting diversity through continual community outreach—as hallmarks of good leadership, by Allyson Meyer, and featuring Mukilteo Councilmember Jason Moon.
Mar 18, 2024•5 min•Ep. 78
AWC’s new board members model the shared experiences and leadership skills that make rural communities strong, by Sarah Chase Shaw shares the reflections of At Large small city representatives Marla Keethler of White Salmon and Dee Roberts of Raymond.
Mar 18, 2024•16 min•Ep. 77
Today’s CityVoice Podcast is all about the state budget. 2024 is a short 60-day session and a supplemental budget year, but there is still a lot to explore as AWC Government Relations Director Candice Bock sits down with AWC General Counsel Sheila Gall to discuss the state budget process, legislative budget proposals, and how these may impact cities moving forward.
Feb 23, 2024•19 min•Ep. 76
We sat down with AWC’s Government Relations Deputy Director, Carl Schroeder to learn more about the current landscape after the big 2023 “Housing 1.0” session—and find out what’s on Carl’s radar for this session, including hopes and concerns around land use and growth management, the potential for dedicated revenue to support housing for the lowest income levels, and how members can stay informed and support housing policy efforts.
Jan 29, 2024•18 min•Ep. 75
AWC lobbyist Lindsey Hueer, and Legislative Policy Analyst, Katherine Walton discuss the new State of the Cities report , The communities we serve: Evolving public safety & criminal justice services. The landscape of public safety and criminal justice has changed, and the role of cities continues to evolve. Join us to learn more about the innovative work cities are doing to address their residents’ needs, as well as shifting expectations, resources, and how it all applies to this year’s legi...
Jan 12, 2024•27 min•Ep. 74
This month, we had two great guests for AWC's bi-monthly newsletter HR Insights. AWC Government Relations Director Candice Bock sat down with Stephanie Lucash, Deputy City Manager at Kenmore, and Kristi Rowland, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer at Renton. In addition to their duties at their respective cities, both are involved with the NW Women's Leadership Academy, a professional training program that aims to train the next generation of women and non-binary city leaders. We talked to Steph...
Dec 14, 2023•34 min•Ep. 73
When the City of Sumner founded its Sumner University community outreach program more than two decades ago, the goal was to give residents a better understanding of how local government works via a series of classroom sessions and behind-the-scenes tours of city facilities. As Sumner’s community engagement process evolves, the city is focused on increasing touchpoints and taking city initiatives directly to residents.
Dec 12, 2023•5 min•Ep. 72
Over the summers of 2021 and 2022, the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) partnered with the Washington Recreation & Park Association (WRPA) and AWC to create and administer a $12 million funding program for local parks and recreation initiatives designed to help children and youth reengage with nature, learning, and peers after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is their story.
Dec 12, 2023•7 min•Ep. 71
With the Medical Lake fire and aftermath still top-of-mind, Mayor Terri Cooper and her team share ideas and advice based on their experiences. Wildfire is a reality in a warming climate, they say, and lessons learned from one disaster can help deter another by activating a community’s resilience and preparedness.
Dec 12, 2023•16 min•Ep. 70
The Department of Labor & Industries plays an important role in regulating workplaces, providing industrial insurance, and enforcing labor laws and Director Joel Sacks has been at the helm of the agency since 2013. HR Insights sat down with Director Sacks to talk about his tenure at L&I, the newly announced 2024 workers’ compensation rates, and important issues facing cities and their workforces.
Oct 11, 2023•29 min•Ep. 69
In this episode of the CityVoice Podcast, we sit down with our hard-working lobbyists to learn more about this year’s four highest legislative priorities, how the priorities were developed, and what we’re expecting for the upcoming session—plus a controversial opinion on candy corn. Don’t miss this dive into the 2024 issues that matter to cities.
Oct 09, 2023•23 min•Ep. 68
