The CityVoice Podcast

In this episode of the CityVoice Podcast, AWC's advocate team: Candice Bock, Carl Schroeder, Steven Ellis, and Derrick Nunnally, unpack the twists and turns that shaped the 2026 legislative session in Olympia. Hear them discuss the bills that died, some that are still progressing, and others that came out of nowhere — as well as the lessons learned from this session and what they portend for next year. 

AWC Deputy Director of Government Relations Carl Schroeder leads a look at several bills on housing and homelessness and their potential impacts on Washington cities and towns. He covers SB 6026/HB 2480, which would require cities to allow housing in commercial and mixed use zones as well as limit first-floor retail authority. He also discusses HB 2266/SB 6069 on STEP supportive, transitional, and emergency housing and details the practical considerations of HB 2489, which would affect cities' ability to enforce ordinances limiting activities such as camping on public property. 

Listen as Candice Bock, Carl Schroeder, Steven Ellis, and Derrick Nunnally of AWC's Government Relations team share their priorities, predictions, and prescriptions for the upcoming 2026 Washington state legislative session. Get the early buzz from the Capitol, find out what each of our advocates is working on, and walk away with some practical tips for surviving the accelerated pace of a short 60-day session.

In our first episode of 2026, Government Relations Advocate Derrick Nunnally and Policy Analyst Emma Shepard discuss AWC's latest research report, State of the Cities: Behavioral health—Supporting vulnerable populations in our communities. They cover key takeaways, give examples of how cities are working to expand services, and explain how cities and legislators can use this report to develop a common language and shared vision for behavioral health support at the local level. 

AWC's Government Relations Team has identified its top four city legislative priorities for the 2026 session: indigent defense, transportation, housing supply, and shared revenues. Listen as Government Relations Director Candice Bock unpacks each of these four issues with Deputy Director Carl Schroeder and legislative advocates Derrick Nunnally and Steven Ellis. Learn about the selection process and each priority's potential impacts for cities, and get tips developing your city's own legislative agenda and connecting with your state legislators.

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As fall approaches, AWC's Government Relations Team is well underway in adopting priorities and planning for Washington state's 2026 Legislative Session. In this episode of the CityVoice Podcast, Director of Government Relations Candice Bock and Deputy Director Carl Schroeder are joined by legislative advocates Derrick Nunnally and Steven Ellis to share their insights on making the most of the interim. Listen as they share tangible steps that city officials can take right now to lay the groundwork for a successful session. 

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. 

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 Senate transportation budgets.

With the budget reconciliation process around the corner, Bock and Schroeder urge local Washington elected officials to contact their legislators...

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 cap to account for inflation and population growth.

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 cities. 

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!

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 salaries and workers’ compensation, and hear an update on recruitment at cities.

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.

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.

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. 

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 moving forward.

AWC members can access Salary and Benefit Survey data here.

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.

Join a discussion with AWC's Government Relations Director, Candice Bock, and AWC's Deputy Government Relations Director, Carl Schroeder, as they talk about:

You can view AWC's legislative priorities on AWC's website: 2025 City Legislative Priorities

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?

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.

All about planning for your city’s future with the GMA.

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.

Two cities — Tumwater and Richland — are demonstrating economic revival by embracing the past.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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 legislative session.  

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 Stephanie and Kristi about their experience in the program, how the Academy works, and how interested city employees can apply.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Waitsburg is the only city in the state still operating under the terms of its original charter, adopted in 1881—eight years before the Washington Territory was granted statehood. The classification also explains its motto: One of a kind. Waitsburg has modernized in important ways, and these days, visitors flock there less for its history, and more for its proximity to outdoor recreation and Walla Walla wine country, its bustling foodie scene, and small-town charm.

From the repeal of Prohibition to the rise of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging—charting AWC's advocacy for cities and the issues that have mattered most over nine decades. Read this timeline complete with images and historical information telling the story of nearly a century of city innovation through changing times.

Beyond the contributions of diverse groups are the remarkable accomplishments of individuals. AWC DEIB Consultant Benita Horn introduces us to a few lesser-known, yet no less fascinating, figures from Washington’s storied past. Don’t miss the audio content included with this story, as told by the author herself.

State-granted authority to make local decisions is as important as ever. It’s vital that cities understand and continue to advocate for home rule. To help preserve local decision-making authority, cities must effectively communicate its importance and history.