Seeing is Believing - CIP Interactive Map Applications

June 27, 2014 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Tools for Planners

I’m going to take a wild guess and speculate that most local governments do not see long lines of citizens outside of their city halls or county courthouses anxiously waiting to read the latest updates to their capital...

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Update (Correction) on New Laws that Affect City/Town Annexations

June 26, 2014 by Bob Meinig
Category: Annexation

In my June 10 blog post, New Laws that Affect City/Town Annexations, I discussed the implications of 2013 legislation, SSB 5444, which amended RCW 84.40.175 to eliminate the requirement that county assessors annually value tax-exempt government-owned properties. I interpreted the practical result of this legislation as being that government-owned property will no longer count towards the 100...

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The Greening of Main Street

June 16, 2014 by Carol Tobin
Category: Development Types

There is increasing evidence that green development on main streets and in downtowns has a positive influence on urban vitality. A 2014 report heightened interest in sustainable, green development on older main streets as well as in developing downtowns.

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New Laws that Affect City/Town Annexations

June 10, 2014 by Bob Meinig
Category: Annexation

Washington cities and towns should be aware of legislation from 2013 and 2014 affecting notice of annexation and the valuation of publicly owned property.

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Off With His Head!

June 5, 2014 by Lynn Nordby
Category: Leadership

Should you fire a person who makes a mistake? Perhaps it depends, but this article argues that exposing and correcting the mistake fits right into the Lean management cycle and provides an opportunity to improve.

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OFM Defines "Undue Hardship" for Newly Required Unpaid Holidays

June 4, 2014 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Leave Policies

Chapter 168, Laws of 2014, which goes into effect on June 12, entitles state and local government employees "to two unpaid holidays per calendar year for a reason of faith or conscience or an organized activity conducted under the auspices of a religious denomination, church, or religious organization." The Office of Financial Management (OFM) was given ...

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Strategic Fiscal Management - Avoiding the Next Fiscal Cliff: Do's and Don'ts

June 1, 2014 by Stan Finkelstein
Category: Budgets and Budgeting , Council-Commission Advisor

During the past five years, many counties and cities have struggled with shrinking resources, rising health care and energy costs and a citizenry clamoring for their governments to sustain and enhance services. The question often arises as to whether local officials could have initiated strategies prior to the start of the "great recession" that would have enabled them to better maintain revenues...

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