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Focus - January 2003

		Guard, Reserve Mobilizations Affecting Cities (January 28) Guard, Air National Guard, Coast Guard and the reserve branches of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines have been called to active duty in preparation for an attack against Iraq. Cities across the nation will be affected as the National Guard and Reserves continue their mobilization. More from NLC's Nation's Cities Weekly.
		Care of Family Members (January 28) Changes have been made both to the state law providing for family leave and to the regulations implementing that law. The amendments, which expand the availability of the leave for the care of children and other family members, went into effect earlier this month. More...
		New WSAC Web Site (January 28) The Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) has remodeled its web site. The new site will include bill lists in key areas. The first lists will focus on tax related proposals and bills of general fiscal and administrative concern. A "Mandate Watch" list will also debut soon.
		U.S. Supreme Court Rules Pierce County Highway Data Exempt from Discovery (January 28) A unanimous Supreme Court ruled January 14 that traffic accident information, compiled or collected by state and local agencies for use in the federal Hazard Elimination Program, is both exempt from discovery and from use in federal and state court proceedings for damages. More...
		Operating Reserves Essential to Fiscal Health (January 28) A municipality's fiscal policies should include a plan for maintaining reserves. Operating reserves (or fund balance) are a prudent fiscal management tool and an important credit factor in the analysis of financial flexibility. More from American City & County.
		Workshops to Instruct Building Professionals How to Protect Soil and Water (January 28) The Washington Organic Recycling Council is offering seven training workshops throughout the Puget Sound to train those who work with home, commercial or industrial construction projects to implement soil protection and restoration measures recommended in the newly released Western Washington Stormwater Management Manual.
		Curfew Ordinance Held Unconstitutional (January 23) The state supreme court today ruled in a 5-4 decision that Sumner's curfew ordinance is unconstitutionally vague, because "it does not provide 'ascertainable standards for locating the line between innocent and unlawful behavior'." The court noted that "it may be difficult for a city to draft a curfew ordinance that is not unconstitutionally vague." See also the concurring and dissenting opinions.
		Boomers and Seniors in the Suburbs (January 22) A new Brookings Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy report, "Boomers and Seniors in the Suburbs: Aging Patterns in Census 2000," confirms that a maturing suburban population is ushering in a new era for suburbia, presenting both opportunities and challenges for local communities.
		Track State Regulations Affecting Cities and Counties (January 22) On our "Recent Regulations of Interest to City, Town and County Officials from the Washington State Register" page you can view summaries of proposed, adopted, or emergency regulations, with links, from recent issues of the State Register that we believe will be of interest to cities and counties. You may also search the complete text of recent issues of the State Register (1997 - present) or use the index to the register.
		Local Government 101 - Is it Policy or Administration? (January 22) MRSC receives many questions concerning policy versus administrative roles of local officials. Lack of clarity or agreement about this issue is one of the most common sources of conflict between local officials. In "Is it Policy or Administration?" we try, through examples, to answer this age-old question.
		Last Mile for Fiber Optic Networks through City Sewers (January 22) CityNet Telecommunications is using their technology to string fiber optic cable through the existing sewer system pipes in the downtown areas of several US cities. If your city is considering installation of fiber in heavily used areas, this option may prove financially feasible and cause less road degradation.
		Code of the West (January 22) Chelan County's "Code of the West" (27 KB)cautions would-be rural property owners that life in the country is different from life in the city and offers information to help them make an informed decision about purchasing land outside the boundaries of incorporated cities.
		Mean Streets 2002 (January 22) The Surface Transportation Policy Project's "Mean Streets 2002" (496 KB) report is the latest study in a series that looks at the perils facing pedestrians and argues that states aren't spending enough to fix the problem. The new study ranks per capita deaths and spending by metro area for the first time.
		Web Sightings - 2002 (January 22) In case you missed them, here's a look back at 2002's Web Sightings: Critical Areas and Best Available Science Police and Law Enforcement Fire Services Fleet Management Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Preserving Agricultural Lands Personnel Management Economic Development Low Impact Development Indian Gaming
		DOE Proposes New Water Quality Standards (January 13) The Department of Ecology (DOE) has filed a major revision to the water quality standards rule initiating the formal rulemaking process. This is the first major change to the federally required standards in 10 years. The public comment period will run through March 7, 2003. Eight workshops and hearings (128 KB) are scheduled around the state beginning Monday, January 27 through Thursday, February 6, 2003.
		EPA Issues Instructions to Help Community Water Systems Comply with Bioterrorism Law (January 13) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is providing local governments with final "Instructions to Assist Community Water Systems in Complying with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002" (239 KB). Related information can be found on EPA's Water Infrastructure Security Web site.
		State Legal Holidays for 2003 (January 13) Here are Washington State's legal holidays for 2003. MRSC follows the state holiday schedule, and our office will be closed these days. Counties, cities and towns are not required to follow this holiday schedule.
		Economic Development Leadership Training (January 13) The Washington Economic Development Association (WEDA) is offering an Economic Development Leadership Training Workshop for newly elected officials, board members and community stakeholders, Wednesday February 12, 2003, in Olympia. You can register online.
		Best Practices - 2003 NACo Achievement Awards (January 13) The beginning of 2003 marks Achievement Awards season! The National Association of Counties (NACo) encourages you to submit your county's Best Practices for 2002, especially in the field of Community and Economic Development. Here is the 2003 application form.
		Local Government 101 - Public Records Disclosure (January 13) All city and county records are available for review by the public, unless they are specifically exempted or prohibited from disclosure by the state statutes. More from MRSC's Winter 2002 Newsletter.
		IRS Launches Newsletter for Government Entities (January 8) The IRS has launched a new electronic "Federal, State and Local Government Newsletter" designed to help government entities understand and comply with federal tax laws. The quarterly newsletter will provide current information on tax and benefit issues for public employers.
		Comparative Budget Data Available on LGFRS (January 8) The State Auditor's Office maintains the Local Government Finance Reporting System (LGFRS). The LGFRS allows you to create customized reports using detailed historical revenue and expenditure data for virtually all Washington State counties and cities.
		Urban Forestry - Free Software Available (January 8) Local governments looking for an inexpensive way to monitor their tree inventories can tip their hats to Springfield, Mo. The city's parks department has developed an automated tree inventory system that is available to any community for free. More from American City and County's Web site.
		Hunger, Homelessness on the Rise According to Conference of Mayors (January 8) Hunger and homelessness are on the rise in major U.S. cities according to the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Conference of Mayors. The organization has released the results of a 25-city survey () that indicate a significant shortage of shelter and emergency food assistance.
		U.S. Cities and Counties in Cautious Courtships (January 8) Indianapolis, Indiana, did it. Nashville, Tennessee, did it. Now Louisville, Kentucky, is about to consolidate its municipal government with that of surrounding Jefferson County, while other U.S. local governments watch for hints on how to achieve desired unions of their own. More from Forbes.com.
		Planning for Smart Growth: 2002 State of the States (January 8) Smart growth measures are most successful in states where planning statutes have been modernized. An American Planning Association report, Planning for Smart Growth: 2002 State of the States, tracks each state's level of success.
		Local Government 101 - The Open Public Meetings Act (January 8) The basic requirement of the Washington Open Public Meetings Act (chapter 42.30 RCW), with few exceptions, is that all meetings of "governing bodies" of "public agencies," including "subagencies," must be open to the public. More From MRSC's Winter 2002 Newsletter.