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Focus - June 1997
MRSC WELCOMES COUNTIES
The Municipal Research & Services Center (MRSC) will begin providing services to Washington's 39 counties starting July 1, 1997. Substitute Senate Bill 5521, passed during the recently concluded legislative session, authorizes the Municipal Research Council to contract for the provision of research services to counties and appropriates $625,000 (from the counties' share of the liquor excise tax) for the 1997-99 biennium to fund the new program.
Legislation to create and fund this program, initially sponsored by Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, has long been supported by the Municipal Research Council, the Washington State Association of Counties, and the Association of Washington Cities. Cities and counties will now share in the costs of MRSC services such as inquiries, publications, library services and maintenance of our Web site.
MRSC remains committed to providing top quality, timely responses to city requests for assistance. Services to cities will not be diminished in any way. Our goal now will be to provide the same high quality services to counties.
We think that the addition of the counties to MRSC's service responsibilities will result in both improved and more cost effective services to cities and towns. Additional staff resources will give us more depth and expertise to serve you, our document collection will become more comprehensive, and our Web site even more information packed. Please join us in welcoming the counties to MRSC.
EXPLORING THE 'NET
Searching the Internet for local government information can yield rich rewards or be a frustrating experience. Sometimes your searches produce thousands of document "hits," many of which are irrelevant, and other times, you find just the right thing. Carol Tobin, MRSC Public Policy Consultant & Librarian, shares a few research hints and tips to help you separate the proverbial "wheat" from the "chaff."
WEB SIGHTINGS
These sites are packed with tips, tools, tricks, and the know-how you need to search the Web: Netsearcher's Ultimate Cheat Sheet (PC Magazine Web site); Scout Toolkit (Internet Scout Project, Computer Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison); and Search Engine Guides and Tutorials (Calafia Consulting Web site).
INTERNET USE POLICIES AND E-MAIL RETENTION
To protect against litigation, local governments need to be proactive in developing policies for employee use of e-mail (including e-mail retention) and the Internet. Isabel Safora, Senior Port Counsel, Port of Seattle, reviews the legal issues and provides guidelines for policy development.
RESERVE YOUR NAME ON THE WEB
Even if you do not have plans for a Web site in the near future, you may want to reserve a domain name that contains your city or county name.
HEADS UP
This quarter's column shares some interesting statistics on two generations at opposite ends of the age spectrum - the baby boomers and Generation Y. We also share more "success stories" - featuring creative ways in which local governments are trying to save money.
NEW FIREWORKS LEGISLATION
New fireworks legislation will produce a few changes but no explosions thanks to the Governor's partial veto.
MTO UPDATE
The Department of Licensing has, effective May 4, updated the Model Traffic Ordinance (MTO) in Chapter 308-330 WAC. The update adds new statutes to those already part of the MTO. See the Washington State Register, Issue 97-10 (WSR 97-10-068).
BELLINGHAM CURFEW ORDINANCE HELD UNCONSTITUTIONAL
On June 2, Division One of the Washington State Court of Appeals held that Bellingham's juvenile curfew ordinance "infringes on minors' fundamental freedom of movement and expression and is not narrowly tailored to address the problem of juvenile crime." State v. J.D., DOB 5-22-79, No. 367897-8-1 (June 2, 1997). The court also decided that the ordinance is unconstitutionally vague. Under the Bellingham ordinance, minors 15 years old or younger are prohibited from being in any public area of the city's central business district between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Minors in certain specified situations are exempt from the curfew. It is not known at this time whether Bellingham is considering appealing the court's decision.
The court's decision clearly calls into question the constitutional validity of the curfew and parental responsibility ordinances that have been enacted by many cities and towns in the state. If your city or town has enacted a curfew or parental responsibility ordinance, MRSC recommends that your city or town attorney be consulted concerning the impact of this decision.
SUPREME COURT RULES ON ADULT ENTERTAINMENT
On May 1st the state supreme court issued its long awaited ruling (Ino Ino v. Bellevue, 131 Wn.2d) on the restrictive Bellevue adult cabaret ordinance (Ch. 5.08, Bellevue Municipal Code).
The court upheld the ordinance's four foot distance rule for "table dances" and "couch dances," the eight foot distance rule for stage-performed nude dances, and the minimum lighting requirements. It struck down the ordinance's fourteen-day waiting period for the issuance of an adult cabaret operator license. The opinion is lengthy, as is the dissent by Justice Sanders.