MRSC Insight Blog

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MRSC Insight Blog

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Legislative Changes in 2021 for Public Works Contracting

July 22, 2021 by Judy Isaac
Category: Purchasing and Contracting , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog covers several new laws and amendments made to existing laws that relate to public works contracting.

State Legislature Expands Municipal Authority to Provide Broadband, but to What Extent?

July 19, 2021 by Oskar Rey
Category: Telecommunications , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog provides an overview of recent legislation meant to expand the availability of municipally supplied broadband in Washington.

MRSC Tackles Big Challenges Through Its Local Climate Response Project

July 15, 2021 by Tracy Burrows
Category: Climate Change , MRSC News and Updates

MRSC is launching the Local Climate Response Project this month to help local governments protect the health and economic vitality of their communities.

An Overview of New Personnel-Related Bills Adopted in the 2021 Regular Legislative Session

July 12, 2021 by Flannary Collins
Category: Personnel Policies , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog provides an overview of leave-related bills as well as a new state holiday passed during the 2021 regular legislative session.

2021: New Election Laws

July 8, 2021 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog summarizes five new laws relating to elections from the 2021 legislative session.

Byron Katsuyama Retires: Thanks for the Privilege of Serving Washington Local Governments for 43 Years

July 6, 2021 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: MRSC News and Updates

After a long and fruitful career at MRSC, Public Policy Consultant Byron Katsuyama is retiring.

Washington State Reopening: Where Things Stand as of June 30, 2021

July 1, 2021 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: COVID-19

The much-anticipated reopening of the state has begun. Here is an overview of guidance surrounding public meetings, physical distancing requirements, masks, and more.

Changing Your Zoning Code to Accommodate Housing and Shelters for the Homeless

June 29, 2021 by Steve Butler
Category: Development Regulations and Zoning , Homelessness

This blog provides and overview and guidance regarding E2SHB 1220, which encourages local governments to take active steps to accommodate transitional housing, emergency shelters, and similar facilities via zoning and regulatory updates.

COVID-19: Where Things Stand as of June 24, 2021

June 24, 2021 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Utilities - Billing and Collection , Operating Policies , COVID-19

Washington is just days away from the much-anticipated June 30 reopening, and the state is in the process of updating many of its guidance documents. This blog post sets forth our understanding of where things stand now and what things may look like starting June 30.

MRSC Welcomes New Public Policy Consultant Lisa Pool

June 24, 2021 by Lisa Pool
Category: MRSC News and Updates

Formerly a senior planner with the City of Bellingham, Lisa Pool has joined MRSC as the new Public Policy Consultant.

Holding Two Public Offices: The Doctrine of Incompatible Offices

June 21, 2021 by MRSC Insight
Category: Incompatible Offices

This blog looks at how to determine if a person can hold two public offices simultaneously.

Historic Bill Focuses on Wildfire Prevention, Forest Reclamation

June 17, 2021 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Forests and Trees , Emergency Management , Fire Protection

This blog looks at 2SHB 1168, which will increase spending on wildland fire prevention and response activities by $125 million over the next two years and up to $328 million by 2027.

Recent Developments in Washington Public Records — June 2021

June 14, 2021 by Sarah Doar
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Public Records Act , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog reviews recent developments in the law that impacts the disclosure of public records.

Employee Bonuses and the COVID-19 Pandemic

June 10, 2021 by Oskar Rey
Category: Compensation , COVID-19

This blog considers whether local governments may give bonuses to employees for working through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington Local Governments Tackle Reopening Plans

June 7, 2021 by Tracy Burrows
Category: Personnel Policies , Operating Policies , COVID-19

This blog focuses on reopening plans for Washington State local governments as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes.

Vaccine Incentive Policies in the Local Government Workplace

June 3, 2021 by Flannary Collins
Category: Operating Policies , COVID-19

This blog looks at considerations around vaccine incentive policies in the local government workplace.

Election Season Tips & Reminders

June 1, 2021 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Elections

This blog highlights some of MRSC’s guidance about participating in elections — as a candidate, a local government employee, or an observer.

Face Masks in the Local Government Workplace

May 26, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Operating Policies , COVID-19

This blog post discusses the latest COVID-19 facial covering requirements for local government employers, employees, and visitors, in light of new guidance regarding face masks for fully vaccinated individuals.

Face Masks and In-Person Public Meetings

May 24, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , COVID-19

This blog offers an overview of the current face mask requirements, including for fully vaccinated individuals, for in-person public meeting components during the latest phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expanding Olympia’s Residential Building Capacity Under HB 1923

May 20, 2021 by Joyce Phillips
Category: Housing , Guest Author

This blog, the second in a two-part series on how finding missing middle housing can expand affordable housing options, will focus on how Olympia used state-based legislation, E2SHB 1923 and SHB 2343, to encourage the development of more missing middle housing in the city.