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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for March 2017

Growing Cities: How Local Governments Can Promote Urban Farming and Community Gardens

March 30, 2017  by  Jill Dvorkin
Category:  Programs

With spring and warmer weather right around the corner (crossing fingers, here), it’s time to start planning and planting our vegetable gardens. This blog post will explore ways that local governments are helping to promote urban and community gardens and farms, and what more could be done to bolster the locally-grown food supply. 

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Using Citizen Academies to Educate and Engage your Citizenry

March 27, 2017  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Public Participation

Citizens academies offer constituents the opportunity to learn about different aspects of local government functions via a one-time or a series of presentations. This blog looks at a few examples of citizens academies, both within and outside of Washington State.

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Paid Sick Leave and Initiative 1433

March 27, 2017  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Leave Policies

Initiative 1433, approved by the voters in November 2016, sets the minimum wage for most employees (currently $11.00 per hour). But the initiative does more than that. Starting January 1, 2018, every employer in the state, including local governments, will be required to provide its employees with paid sick leave. This blog post will explore how this new requirement will affect local governments in Washington State. 

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Legislature Considers PRA-related Bills

March 20, 2017  by  Nancy Krier
Category:  Guest Author ,  Public Records Act ,  New Legislation and Regulations

In the 2017 regular session, the Washington State Legislature is considering several bills that could impact the Public Records Act. This blog post highlights several that have the possibility of being far-reaching if enacted.  

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Washington Local Governments Launch Mobile Apps

March 15, 2017  by  Byron Katsuyama
Category:  Information Technology

This post looks at Washington local governments apps that deliver news and services to constituents in a mobile-friendly format.

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What Can Local Governments Do About Drones

March 10, 2017  by  Robert Sepler
Category:  Licensing and Regulation

Wondering what the latest is regarding drones? This blog post provides a quick overview of what local governments in Washington can and cannot do to regulate drone use in their jurisdiction.

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