Last week, the Longview City Council held a workshop centered on mission, vision, and values—and one value took center stage: “Community First Service.” The phrase, introduced in the latest “On the Move with the City Manager” update from January 20, 2026, replaces the prior language of “Above and Beyond Customer Service,” which city officials felt didn’t fully capture the depth of their public service commitment. City Manager Jennifer Wills framed the shift as a way of reaffirming the belief that “the community is the reason we exist,” not merely the recipients of services.

“Community First Service” is intended to move beyond transactional interactions. It underscores that every decision, process, and policy should prioritize accessibility, respect, problem-solving, and long-term impact for residents, businesses, and partners. According to Wills, that means designing processes with fewer barriers, seeking solutions rather than defaulting to “no,” and considering future implications of decisions—all while maintaining legal and fiscal responsibility. She emphasized that even when answers must be constrained by policy, each interaction should still provide clarity, dignity, and opportunity to be heard.

As City Manager, Jennifer Wills noted that cultural change within city government is a gradual, intentional process marked by consistent choices, collective accountability, and shared understanding of purpose. Embedding “Community First Service” into everyday operations and culture, she said, reflects an evolving understanding that serving isn’t a duty imposed on staff—it is the staff’s essential purpose. Wills wrote that “the community is not an interruption to our work, you are our work.”

Why this matters: For Longview and its neighbors in Cowlitz County, this reframing signals a renewed commitment to responsive municipal governance. It promises a deliberate shift in how city staff engage with the public—viewing residents, local businesses, and community partners not as clients, but as collaborators and stakeholders. If city operations begin to reflect this mindset in tangible ways—simplified procedures, empathetic service, and anticipatory decisionmaking—it could restore trust and foster deeper civic engagement across the community.