R-E-S-P-E-C-T

February 19, 2014 by Lynn Nordby
Category: Leadership

With the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl win this year, much has been written about the successful coaching style of Pete Carroll. Indeed, from a leadership perspective, there are few, if any, better examples of effective leadership than...

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Be Cautious Before Disposing of a Public Record

February 12, 2014 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Public Records Act

Recently, a former city official entered a plea for “injuring public records.” Accepting the plea, the judge stated “You will likely never be a city manager again.” What’s that all about?

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Utility Latecomer Agreement Statutes Change on July 1, 2014

February 10, 2014 by John W. Carpita, PE
Category: Finance

In 2013, the Legislature passed ESHB 1717, which, among other things, modified chapter 35.91 RCW in several key areas for sewer and water facility latecomer...

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Can You Hear Me Now? Reaching Out to Engage Increasingly Diverse Communities

February 6, 2014 by Sue Enger
Category: Public Participation

According to the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Planning Association, “when it comes to effective communication … the ‘general public’ doesn’t exist.”  Rather than...

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The $15 Minimum Wage - An Issue with Momentum

February 5, 2014 by Flannary Collins
Category: Minimum Wage

Some of the current fervor for a $15 minimum wage can be traced to the City of SeaTac, which made national headlines after a majority of its voters approved a citizen’s initiative to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour for employees working for specified transportation and hospitality employers in the city. (See the city's web page on the new law.) A...

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Musings on Local Government and Governance

February 1, 2014 by Jim McEntire
Category: Legislative Body , Council-Commission Advisor

I've lived in many states and metropolitan areas throughout our country; some small, some large, some rural, some urban ... but nowhere with a system of local governance as fragmented as that of Washington State. Fragmented or integrated really doesn't matter in my view — neither is better or worse — local government remains closest to the people no matter what the structure. But...

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What Every Project Needs to Succeed

February 1, 2014 by Eric Svaren
Category: Leadership , HR Advisor

At a large public institution, a high-profile team is on the verge of implosion. Morale is abysmal. The team has broken into factions. Because this team deals with the most complicated, high stakes situations in the institution, the team's problems have pushed people's level of stress through the roof. Gossip is rampant. People are afraid of being attacked. Some team members won't talk to one...

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