Fewer Teens May End Up in Adult Courts

August 20, 2018 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Courts, Criminal Justice and Corrections

Signed into law this March, SB 6160 reduces the number of criminal offenses under which youth defendants aged 16- to 17-years-old can be automatically sent to adult court to have their cases tried. 

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Banning Plastic Straws and Utensils

August 16, 2018 by Flannary Collins
Category: Environmental Policy , Environmental Management

Is the era of plastic over in Seattle? Managing Attorney Flannary Collins looks at the city's, and other jurisdictions, attempts to ban various products made of plastic, from straws to bags to food-service ware.  

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Is Your Utility Rate Study Talking to Your Asset Management Strategy?

August 13, 2018 by FCS GROUP
Category: Finance Advisor , Asset Management

Using asset management to inform your utility financial plan and rate strategy improves the accuracy of forecasts and facilitates better investment in infrastructure. This blog post offers an overview of the ways an agency can start aligning asset management and rate studies. 

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2018 Primary Election Ballot Measure Results

August 9, 2018 by Steve Hawley
Category: Elections

This blog post looks at the issues that stood out in the 2018 primary elections. 

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Paid Family Medical Leave Payments Start in 2019

August 6, 2018 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Leave Policies

Beginning in 2019, Washington local governments will need to collect paid family and medical leave payments from their employees.

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Land Use and Nuisances Legislative Update

August 1, 2018 by Oskar Rey
Category: Automobile Nuisances , Property Nuisances , Homelessness

In this blog post, Legal Consultant Oskar Rey looks at several bills passed in the last legislative session that address land use, nuisance, and code enforcement issues.

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Answers to Common Election Season Questions

July 26, 2018 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Elections

This blog post addresses election-related questions MRSC consultants often field from elected officials and local government employees — such as use of public facilites for political campaigns — and offers additional resources. 

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2019 Budget Suggestions is Here – 75th Anniversary Edition!

July 25, 2018 by Toni Nelson
Category: Budgets and Budgeting

Our annual Budget Suggestions publication is here! Read about new legislation and proposed initiatives, core revenues and budget hearings, per capita shared revenue distributions, and more! Plus, to commemorate our 75th anniversary edition, take a look back in time at the original 1944 Budget Suggestions.

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Do We Have to Obey the Mayor?

July 23, 2018 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Legislative Body , Council-Commission Advisor

Under Robert's Rules of Order and common parliamentary law the presiding officer of a governing body has certain rights — but so too do councilmembers, county commissioners, and directors of special districts — and no one has the authority to dominate the group.

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The Janus SCOTUS Decision: More Questions Than Answers

July 19, 2018 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Court Decisions, AGO Opinions and Regulations , Collective Bargaining

MRSC Legal Consultant Linda Gallagher looks at the recent US Supreme Court ruling in Janus v. AFSCME and provides some advice to local govenments in Washington State to ensure they are operating in compliance with the new requirements.

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Cities and Towns Must Update General Business License Ordinances ASAP!

July 16, 2018 by Toni Nelson
Category: Licensing and Regulation , Business Licenses and Taxes

The final model business license ordinance has been released. All current BLS partner cities must adopt its provisions by October 17, and all other cities and towns with general business license requirements must adopt the model provisions by January 1.

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Action Outside a Public Meeting, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

July 13, 2018 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Open Public Meetings Act

This blog reviews some of the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and what can go wrong if those requirements are not met (Hint:a lot). 

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Longtime Legal Staff Jim Doherty Retires from MRSC after 25 Years

July 11, 2018 by Jim Doherty
Category:

Current Legal Manager and longtime MRSC staffmember, Jim Doherty, is retiring after providing guidance to local governments for 25 years. 

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Lynn Nordby Says Goodbye to MRSC

July 6, 2018 by Lynn Nordby
Category:

Public Policy and Management Consultant Lynn Nordby will be retiring from MRSC this month. 

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The Strong Roots of Community

July 5, 2018 by Lynn Nordby
Category: Inclusive Communities

Real leadership is shown when someone can build a narrative of shared responsibility and values, argues Public Policy and Management Consultant Lynn Nordby.

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Safe, Convenient Drug Disposal Coming Soon to Your Neighborhood

July 2, 2018 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Human, Health and Community Services

ESHB 1047, or the Secure Drug Take-Back Act will bring a system of secure drug drop sites in every city and town across Washington for collection of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medicines by 2020. 

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Agency Size Can Influence PRA Penalties

July 2, 2018 by Foster Pepper
Category: Open Government Advisor , Public Records Act

The Washington Court of Appeals recently ruled that the Superior Court is permitted to consider a municipality's size when setting penalties under the Public Records Act (PRA).

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Some Muni Bonds Lose Tax Exemption

June 29, 2018 by Lynn Nordby
Category: Debt

An obscure provision in the 2017 Tax Cut & Jobs Act all but eliminated an important municipal finance tool known as advance refunding. This blog post looks at the potential implications.

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Food Truck Laws and Regulations

June 26, 2018 by Oskar Rey
Category: Licensing and Regulation , Business Licenses and Taxes

This post sorts through applicable food truck laws and regulations and cite examples of approaches taken by Washington municipalities that regulate food trucks in their jurisdictions. 

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The Culverts Case: An Overview and Potential Implications for Local Governments

June 20, 2018 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Land Use Administration

This blog takes a look at the Culverts Case and potential implications for local governments in Washington State.

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