Association of Washington Cities, AWC
From Sunshine Review
The Association of Washington Cities is a taxpayer-funded lobbying associations in Washington. The AWC, which was incorporated as a private nonprofit 501 C(4)corporation in 1999, is approximately 98% funded with public funds. The AWC budget is over $6,000,000 a year.
The Association of Washington Cities, (AWC) exercises governmental powers under the authority of over 50 separate provisions of Washington State law, (codified as the Revised code of Washington, RCW)at virtually every level of Government. Under these laws it is responsible for legislating statewide model ordinances and policy, as well as appointing members to State Hearing boards and to dozens of policy groups. Significantly, the AWC occupies a position on par with the Washington State Auditor with respect to City Budgets, which must be filed with the AWC prior to their approval. Even the Executive is required by law to consult with the AWC. While no final determination has been issued as to whether the AWC is subject to Washington State sunshine laws as the functional equivalent of a public agency, (see Telford Test) some believe the AWC's claims to be a wholly private entity to be incompatible with Washington State precedent expressed in the rulings in both Telford and Clarke.
While the AWC does not itself legislate, it has direct influence upon legislation through its statutory mandate to adopt the model ordinance that any City must itself adopt to assess business and occupation taxes. While the AWC does not itself pass laws, the AWC organizes the concerted lobbying of cities in Washington State to influence legislation through its statutory authority to coordinate administrative functions and a highly paid platoon of lobbyists. Though the AWC does not itself adopt municipal ordinances and policies, through its extensive training programs and Newly Elected Officials Workshops the AWC exercises a pervasive effect on the application and enforcement of Law and policy at every level of municipal operation, in virtually every department of City administration. Although the AWC does not hire or retain City employees, through its duties as the fount of righteous governmental operation, the AWC zealously preaches to its choir of City officials, City Council Members, Financial Officers, Treasurers, Personnel Directors, etc. AWC training materials often feature a “Thou Shalt” theme, and the repeated use of the “Ten Commandments” by the AWC in its educational materials is very entertaining and humorous-to some reviewers. One publication of the AWC is a cartoon version of the “Ten Commandments of Municipal Leadership”(see also the “Ten Commandments of Economic Development”) Over the spectrum of municipal activities from Labor Relations to Permitting, Land Use Decision Making to Public Records Compliance, Regional Infrastructure to Economic Development, the privately incorporated AWC stands ready to serve its member Cities as the "hidden backbone" of municipal Government.
In addition to the express statutory delegation, and its employee educational seminars, the AWC exercises authority under contract from numerous public agencies, including those contained in contracts with the Puget Sound Partnership, the Washington State Department of Transportation, Washington State Department of Ecology, and the Washington State Office of Financial Management. The AWC also contracts for and/or manages the operations of the AWC Risk Management Services Agency, the AWC RMSA, and AWC Employee Benefit Trust, the AWC EBT, which provide municipal insurance services and employee benefits, respectively. Due to its private status, it is unknown exactly what assets are presently owned and controlled by the AWC.
On the whole, while the AWC's shadowy nature and lack of transparency has been criticized, it must be conceded that the interests of Washington Cities are zealously protected and advanced by the privately incorporated Association of Washington Cities, who are often represented in legal matters by counsel from Foster Pepper, PLLC. The AWC is a force to be reckoned with in Washington State Politics.
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