Where the Bonney Lake mayor and city council have been | Carter’s Community

Okay, Laurie. You told us to go to council workshops, council and committee meetings. How can we if they have been cancelled? And where is everyone?

Okay, Laurie.  You told us to go to council workshops, council and committee meetings.  How can we if they have been cancelled? And where is everyone?

This week is the annual Association of Washington Cities (AWC) training and education conference in Tri-Cities.  It is a very structured learning environment to see what other cities are doing, find out the latest law changes, the state of the economy, specific topics of interest and a lot of networking.

What is AWC? The association was founded in 1933. It is a private, non-profit, non-partisan corporation that that represents all 281 cities and towns in the state of Washington before the state legislature, the state executive branch and regulatory agencies.  The association focuses on lobbying, training, publications and resources.  With a minimum of staff they provide technical assistance in areas such as personnel, labor-relations, energy, transportation, budgeting, planning risk management and employee wellness (more about that later).  They also manage member programs such as municipal liability, property insurance, employee drug and alcohol testing and employee benefits. Basically, their mission is to serve cities through advocacy, education and services.

So how do they do that?  My first brush with training was the new council member training.  You spend a few days at a local hotel conference center meeting fellow new city leaders to learn what you can and cannot do as an elected public official.  You know, you are now part of an elected body, not an individual.  It takes a quorum. Those directors with the degrees on the wall who are experts in their fields and their well-managed staff know their jobs. And the 10 commandments of municipal leadership, which are:

1. Create future vision

2. Develop a strategic plan

3. Build a sustainable economy for the next generation

4. Seek public/private partnerships

5. Invest in education and training

6. Promote respect

7. Demonstrate ethical behavior

8. Value history, art and culture

9. Prepare for global environment

10. Develop future leaders

This training was my first of many on my way to receiving AWC’s Certificate of Municipal Leadership (CML).  This is a continuing education program, including the annual conference that teaches council members to effectively operate within the law and develop those 10 commandments.

To receive the CML, you must earn 30 CML credits and attend at least one workshop in each of these four core areas:

1. Roles, responsibilities and legal requirements

2. Public sector resource management

3. Community planning and development

4. Effective local leadership

Once you get those 30 hours of training under your belt, then you move on to the next level, the Advanced CML.  This program recognizes mayors and council members who continue to strive for excellence in serving their communities. City officials receive the Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership after earning an additional 30 credits of CML credit and demonstrating community service. This requires attending AWC CML workshops, National League of Cities Conferences or Non-AWC.

The Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership challenges leaders to step beyond their current role as elected officials and enhance their professional development through additional community service. The community service must be at least six months in duration and completed within the last five years.

Examples of Community Service include, but are not limited to:

Board or committee positions with AWC or NLC

Board or committee chair positions with community organizations

Service on statewide commissions, committees, councils and task forces

Leadership on projects such as fundraising efforts, campaigns and major events

I completed the Advance CML in my four years on the council.  During the lean years, when city employees were on furloughs, I paid my hotel and travel myself with the city paying for the training course only.  So, contrary to rumor, this is not a fun filled time at a country club on the city dime.  It is hard work to be an elected non-partisan council member or mayor.  There are hours of reading, research and correspondence with staff preparing for each council meeting, workshop and committee meeting that leads to tough decisions, keeping those 10 commandments in mind.  The mayor is paid $800 per month and a council member gets $400 per month for many hours of work. I chose to donate most of my council pay to the many positive non-profit groups East Pierce County.  Others do the same.

Remember those city employees I was bragging about with the peanut butter and jelly food drive?  Well, they have also put together a healthy living and fitness program.  They make it fun and have won numerous WellCity Awards.  What is the reward besides being healthy, having fun, and getting to know fellow employees and their families? Their teamwork has earned the City of Bonney Lake a 2 percent premium discount on health insurance premiums.

So, there is more to being a council member or mayor than just walking in and sitting down at a meeting. At the next council meeting, I suggest you check to see if your mayor or council members have an Advanced CML.  Are the 10 commandments being met? And then thank them for all their hard work and long hours to serve our community and continuing their education.  And thank those city staff and their directors, too, while you are at it.