The CityVoice Podcast

Association of Washington Cities
  • 5.0 (3)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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. Boost your city IQ on the go or at your desk. Get the CityVoice Podcast on wacities.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

  1. JAN 30

    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 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.    Read more about SB 6026/HB 2480 on zoning: https://wacities.org/advocacy/news/advocacy-news/2026/01/23/a-short-bill-with-significant-consequences---requiring-housing-in-commercial-zones Learn about HB 2266/SB 6069 on STEP housing: STEP housing bill returns Follow the news on HB 2489: https://wacities.org/advocacy/news/advocacy-news/2026/01/16/homeless-response-bill-emerges-to-allow-camping-in-all-public-spaces

    11 min

  2. JAN 9

    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 is working on, and walk away with some practical tips for surviving the accelerated pace of a short 60-day session.   Review our City Legislative Priorities Sign up for Friday Action Calls Subscribe to AWC's Legislative Bulletin Register to attend City Action Days, January 21-22

    16 min

  3. JAN 5

    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 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.    Download State of the Cities: Behavioral health—Supporting vulnerable populations in our communities Subscribe to AWC's Legislative Bulletin

    19 min

  4. 11/05/2025

    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 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.   For more depth: Read about AWC's four legislative priorities for 2026 Download the full 2026 AWC legislative agenda See your city's state shared revenue distributions Register for the AWC Legislative Session preview webinar on December 2

    17 min

  5. 08/22/2025

    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 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.  See why session is only the tip of the iceberg Get tips for developing your city's legislative agenda Subscribe to AWC's Legislative Bulletin

    10 min

  6. 04/18/2025

    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, coalition-building, and inviting state legislators into local budget processes are all methods of building bridges to future success in Olympia.  Download the Strong cities advocacy guide, see why session is just the tip of the iceberg, and get practical advice for year-round advocacy

    10 min

  7. 03/28/2025

    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 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 now to advocate for their cities' priorities.  Get talking points for discussing the operating budget proposals with your legislators Read a comparison of the House and Senate transportation budget proposals Read and subscribe to AWC's Legislative Bulletin

    20 min

  8. 03/21/2025

    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 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.

    11 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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. Boost your city IQ on the go or at your desk. Get the CityVoice Podcast on wacities.org or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    Association of Washington Cities
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    97
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023-2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The CityVoice Podcast