The CityVoice Podcast

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.