The CityVoice Podcast
by Association of Washington Cities
A production of the Association of Washington Cities, the CityVoice Podcast delivers news, tips, and insights on the issues affecting Washington state’s 281 cities and towns. Subscribe through wacities.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Episodes
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CityVoice - S08E05: City legislative priorities for 2027
The AWC Government Relations team is back with a look at the 2027 City Legislative Priorities (suggested by our members and formally adopted by our Board) that will drive our advocacy efforts during Washington state's upcoming legislative session. Candice Bock, Carl Schroeder, Steven Ellis, and...
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CityVoice - S08E04: Legislative session home stretch
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...
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CityVoice - S08E03: Housing and homelessness bills
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…
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CityVoice - S08E02: 2026 Legislative session preview
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...
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CityVoice - S08E01: State of the cities: Behavioral health
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...
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CityVoice - S07E11: AWC's 2026 Legislative Priorities
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...
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CityVoice - S07E10: Three actions cities should take now
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...
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CityVoice - S07E09: Advocating for your city outside legislative session with Carl Schroeder
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,...
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CityVoice - S07E08: Operations and transportation budget proposals with Candice Bock and Carl Schroeder
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…
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CityVoice - S07E07: Public safety and revenue updates with Candice Bock and Sheila Gall
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...
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CityVoice - S07E06: Mid-session status update with Candice Bock, Carl Schroeder, and Derrick Nunally
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.…
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CityVoice - S07E05: State of the Cities: Inspecting city roads and infrastructure with Brianna Morin
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....
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CityVoice - S07E04: State of the Cities - Discussing the state of the city workforce with Matt Doumit
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...
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CityVoice - S07E03: State of the Cities - A look at city finances in Washington with Sheila Gall
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...
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CityVoice - S07E02: Exploring the condition of Washington cities - Part 2 with Carl Schroeder
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...
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CityVoice - S07E01: Exploring the condition of Washington cities - Part 1 with Candice Bock
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…
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CityVoice - S06E15: Dive into the AWC Salary and Benefit Survey
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,...
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CityVoice - S06E14: Discover the power of TUFS
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.
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CityVoice - S06E13: Let's talk about 2025 legislative priorities
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...
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CityVoice - S06E12: Could online shopping mean the end of potholes?
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?
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CityVoice - S06E11: An interview with AWC President Betsy Wilkerson
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...
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CityVoice - S06E10: Cityvision Summer 2024 - Today, Tomorrow
All about planning for your city’s future with the GMA.
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CityVoice - S06E09: Cityvision Summer 2024 - Walking the talk
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.
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CityVoice - S06E08: Cityvision Summer 2024 - Back to the future
Two cities — Tumwater and Richland — are demonstrating economic revival by embracing the past.
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CityVoice - S06E07: AWC CEO Deanna Dawson on women in leadership
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.
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CityVoice - S06E06: Cityvision Spring 2024 - Win cycle
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.
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CityVoice - S06E05: Cityvision Spring 2024 - Connecting beyond campaign mode
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.
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CityVoice - S06E04: Cityvision Spring 2024 - A tale of two small cities
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.
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CityVoice - S06E03: All the buzz on state budgets
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,...
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CityVoice - S06E02: Housing policy update for the 2024 legislative session
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…
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CityVoice - S06E01: The shifting landscape of public safety and criminal justice
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…
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CityVoice - S05E19: An interview with NW Women’s Leadership Academy
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...
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CityVoice - S05E18: Cityvision Winter 2023 - Talking ‘bout an evolution: The City of Sumner models resiliency by adapting its community outreach to better meet the needs of its residents
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...
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CityVoice - S05E17: Cityvision Winter 2023 - Supporting youth, building community: SEEK funding boosts local recreation and future leaders
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...
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CityVoice - S05E16: Cityvision Winter 2023 - Trial by fire: The City of Medical Lake models response, recovery, and resilience in the aftermath of a natural disaster
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...
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CityVoice - S05E15: HR Insights: A conversation with L&I Director Joel Sacks
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…
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CityVoice - S05E14: 2024 Legislative priorities
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…
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CityVoice - S05E13: Cityvision Fall 2023 - Chartered territory: Waitsburg
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…
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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:...
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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...
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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...
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CityVoice - S05E02: HR Field Notes: Summit Law’s Kristin Anger on “Annual Holiday Party Pitfalls”
Before Thanksgiving we had the chance to sit down with Summit Law Group attorney Kristin Anger. Kristin specializes in labor & employment law and has been a regular at AWC events and trainings. In the spirit of the holiday season, this month’s interview focuses on “Annual Holiday Party Pitfalls”…
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CityVoice - S05E01:Three lobbyists discuss five legislative priorities
Your city advocates Candice, Carl, and Brandy delve into the recently adopted 2023 City Legislative Priorities. You’ll hear their take on what to expect in the upcoming legislative session along with information about the Blake decision, vehicle pursuits, infrastructure funding, housing...
About this show
A production of the Association of Washington Cities, the CityVoice Podcast delivers news, tips, and insights on the issues affecting Washington state’s 281 cities and towns. Subscribe through wacities.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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Association of Washington Cities
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