The CityVoice Podcast

CityVoice - S05E12: Cityvision Fall 2023 - Happy birthday AWC! 90 years of cities making history—together

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.

CityVoice - S05E11: Cityvision Fall 2023 - Diverse beginnings and great accomplishments

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.

CityVoice - S05E10: Cityvision Fall 2023 - Long live the home rule

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.

CityVoice - S05E09: Cityvision Fall 2023 - Feature article: Common ground

Both elected to serve Spokane, two city and county leaders from opposite ends of the political spectrum put their differences aside to model the benefits of cooperative governing.

CityVoice - S05E08: Otto Klein on 40+ years of employment law and LRI

Otto Klein, of Summit Law, sat down with AWC Government Relations Director, Candice Bock to chat about his decades of work on behalf of local governments. HR Insights shares Otto's insights about his long career, specializing in labor and employment issues, and his role in establishing AWC’s annual Labor Relations Institute conference, held in Yakima each May. 

CityVoice - S05E07: Legislative housing renovation: An update from the hill with Carl Schroeder

We are in the final inning of the 2023 legislative session. CityVoice Podcast sat down again with Deputy Government Relations Director Carl Schroeder to get the latest on the array of housing bills still moving through the Legislature. Carl talks HB 1110 (middle housing), SB 5466 (transit-oriented development), HB 1337 and SB 5235 (ADUs), and HB 1628 (REET). He shares the latest updates and expectations for where housing is headed as the session sprints to a conclusion.

CityVoice - S05E06: Voice from the hill

We’re more than half-way through the 2023 Legislative session, and just past the house-of-origin cut off. On this episode, the CityVoice Podcast talks with AWC’s Government Relations Director, Candice Bock, to get the latest (and greatest) news from the hill, including an update on some of the bills that have died—or taken on new life. Candice talks middle housing, police pursuits, and budgets too.

CityVoice - S05E05: Deep dive into city infrastructure

Washington’s infrastructure system is a complex network supporting daily life in our communities. Cities are working hard to maintain and improve the statewide system through unique and innovative approaches. This week’s episode takes a deep dive into AWC’s 2023 publication, State of the Cities: Washington’s interconnected infrastructure. We visit with the mayor of Othello and the public works directors from Pasco and Cheney—to talk about their infrastructure projects and discuss the state of infrastructure in cities throughout Washington, in a landscape of shifting climate change priorities and expanded federal support. 

CityVoice - S05E04: It’s all about housing

AWC staff sat down with Government Relations Deputy Director, Carl Schroeder to discuss the status of housing legislation and some of the complexities facing the cities of the state. We’re about halfway through the session, and have just passed the first cutoff dates, so it’s a great time to get Carl’s expertise and updates on what’s hot (and what’s not) on the topics of zoning policy, funding for more available and affordable housing, regulatory reform, and infrastructure impacts.

CityVoice - S05E03: City Conditions Survey results

We sat down with AWC Government Relations Director Candice Bock to go over AWC’s recent City Conditions Survey results. The survey asked 92 Washington cities and towns about current policy and fiscal conditions in cities. Survey findings highlight what cities are focusing on around community issues, city policy priorities, finance, housing, infrastructure, transportation, human resources, DEI, and more. Listen to this synopsis of interesting things we learned and how we’re using that data.