April 17, 2024

Register now for AWC’s 2024 Annual Conference
June 18-21 | Vancouver, WA
Registration is open for AWC’s Annual Conference—let’s get together and celebrate our shared love of cities! With its city-focused agenda, Annual Conference offers general sessions, small city sessions, concurrent sessions, mobile tours, and networking events designed to educate and inspire. You’ll return to your community with new ideas, insights, and connections. Register now!

Municipal workforce report cover Check out AWC's new State of the Cities: Municipal workforce report
AWC recently released our first State of the Cities report focused on city HR and labor relations issues: State of the Cities: Municipal workforce—The foundation of city services. The report looks at the changing demands on cities and city workers, examines personnel-related cost-drivers, analyzes retirement and survey data related to recruitment and retention, and offers resources for cities looking to build their own team. Check it out!

EPA announces first-ever national PFAS drinking water standards
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced final rules for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), aka “forever chemicals,” in drinking water systems. The rules establish legally enforceable maximum contaminant levels for six PFAS, giving water systems until 2027 to complete required monitoring and until 2029 to implement solutions. Washington plans to adopt the new national standards, which are more rigorous than the state’s current allowable levels. Learn more and attend one of EPA’s free webinars this month.

Earth Celebrating Earth Day 2024
Earth Day has been celebrated in cities all over the country since 1970. What started as a reaction to a slew of environmental disasters has become a worldwide day to demonstrate support for environmental protection and climate action. City officials are in a unique position to effect positive change at the local level, whether through policy, planning, advocacy, or community engagement. Here are just a few ideas:

Check out MRSC's interactive map of local climate-related plans and resolutions from across the state.
Explore sustainability and resilience resources from the National League of Cities.
Discover five strategies for developing a green jobs plan in your community.
Watch for AWC’s State of the Cities: Climate report, coming this fall.

Training needs: Tell us how we can help!
Last week, we sent an email to select city staff and elected officials with a link to a brief training needs survey. AWC wants to support mayors and councilmembers in their essential work through trainings that are mobile, meaningful, and manageable. The simple survey should only take 10-15 minutes to complete, and your responses will help us plan the best possible conferences, workshops, and regional events. Check your inbox and fill it out by May 2 for a chance to win a free registration to a 2024 AWC event of your choice.

Jason Moon Get involved! Apply to serve on an AWC committee, state board or advisory committee

AWC committees:

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Cabinet (three city elected officials)
Small City Advisory Committee (city elected officials and senior staff members)

State boards and advisory committees:

Citizens Committee on Pipeline Safety (city elected official)
Public Health Advisory Board (city elected official or senior staff member)
Shorelines Hearings Board (city elected officials and senior staff)
Public Works Board (public works director)
Puget Sound Partnership Ecosystem Coordinating Board (city elected official)
State Board of Health (city elected official)
Transportation Improvement Board/Planning Director (city planning director)
E911 Advisory Committee (city elected official or senior staff member)

Other news & resources

Know any city colleagues who are retiring this year? Nominate them for the AWC Civic Service Recognition, which honors those retiring after 20 or more years of service to cities. More

Help shape AWC’s 2025 legislative agenda: Complete this survey by May 3 to share ideas for the Legislative Priorities Committee to consider. More

The 2024 AWC Salary and Benefit Survey is open through May 3. Contribute your city's data to this important tool today! More

Tell your senators: Federal PFAS legislation must include municipal liability protection from mitigation and remediation costs. More

What infrastructure goals would you like to accomplish? The Local Infrastructure Hub is offering free bootcamps to small and medium-sized cities across the country. More

Big day for NLC and municipal governments: Final Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Uniform Grants Guidance released. More

Washington State Digital Equity Plan wins approval and $15.9 million in federal funding. More

USDA opens application cycle for the Revolving Funds for Financing Water and Wastewater Projects program. Apply by May 1. More

Join the Ruckelshaus Center for a series of free online workshops to delve into the findings of a three-year project on enhancing housing security in Washington. More

WaTech’s State & Local Cybersecurity Grant Program accepting applications through May 10. More

Public Works Board opens construction and pre-construction funding cycles for fiscal year 2025; attend an application workshop and prepare to apply by June 28. More

$2 billion available through EPA’s new environmental and climate justice Community Change Grants Program. More

Group photo Collaborative effort
Working together, five North King County cities have built a solution to behavioral health crises overwhelming first responders. In 2023, the cities of Bothell, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, and Shoreline partnered to launch the Regional Crisis Response (RCR) Agency, a strike team of 13 mental health professionals pooled from across the five cities. Read this story from Cityvision digital magazine.

AWC trainings & events

D&A: Drug & alcohol supervisor training | Multiple dates | Multiple locations

AWC: Small City Connectors | Multiple dates | Multiple locations

April 24 | Napavine
May 2 | Roslyn
May 9 | Medical Lake

RMSA: Law enforcement pursuit law update | April 30 | Online

AWC: Labor Relations Institute | May 8-10 | Yakima

RMSA: Public Records Act—What you need to know | May 14 | Online

AWC: Elected Officials Essentials webinar series | 2024 dates | Online

May 16: Finance 101
September 12: Social media 101
October 17: Tribal government relations 101
November 7: Human resources 101

Other trainings & events

USDA: Investing in rural America roundtable and resource fair | April 18 | Kennewick

State Archives: What’s funny about records management? | April 19 | Online

NLC: Navigating social media as a local leader in the wake of recent SCOTUS decision | April 22 | Online

MRSC: Apprentice utilization requirements and prevailing wage reporting | April 24 | Online

NLC: Bringing lived experience to city hall: Justice-impacted local elected officials | April 25 | Online

MRSC: Public Records Act basics & more—Virtual workshop | April 30 | Online

MRSC: Preparing for the future: Small works changes and the new statewide roster | May 2 | Spokane

State Archives: Records management workshops | Multiple dates | Online

Enhance your efforts to find great talent—make JobNet part of your recruiting strategy!

Featured jobs:
City of Covington | Administrative Assistant (Full-Time)
City of Cosmopolis | Public Works Superintendent
City of Quincy | Finance Director