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Posts by Steve Gross

Supreme Court Issues First Opinions On Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

January 18, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Personnel Policies , Operating Policies , COVID-19

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily stopped the implementation and enforcement of a federal rule calling for large U.S. employers to require employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Making Local Government Holiday Observances More Inclusive

November 18, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Inclusive Communities

The upcoming holiday season offers municipalities a great opportunity to tie their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts into holiday observances so that everyone feels part of the celebration.

Use Of Public Facilities for Campaign Elections - 2021 General Election Edition

September 27, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Elections

Local governments have many questions involving how, when, and in what context public facilities can be used during campaign season. This blog covers some common questions, from political buttons and signs to what (exactly) counts as a public facility.

Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What?

September 7, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Utilities - Billing and Collection , COVID-19

With the expiration of Governor Inslee's moratorium on utility shutoff drawing near, local governments are wondering what comes next.

Face Coverings and Vaccine Requirements: Where Things Stand as of August 23, 2021

August 24, 2021 by Sarah Doar , Steve Gross
Category: Operating Policies , COVID-19

This blog covers the latest state-issued face mask requirements, new vaccination requirements for education/childcare staff (including youth parks and recreation programs), and clarifications to existing provisions such as vaccine requirements for law enforcement and contractors.

Legislation Aimed at Counties Impacts Coroners, Operational Continuity

August 9, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Emergency Management , New Legislation and Regulations , Administrative and Elected Officials-County

This blog offers an overview of two recent bills that affect county officers: ESHB 1326 and EHB 1271.

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

Setting the Agenda: Less Control, More Cooperation

April 26, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Legislative Body

This blog looks at best practices on setting public meeting agendas for cities, towns, counties, or special purpose districts.

Vacancies in Elected Office – Questions and Answers (Part 2)

March 11, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Legislative Body

This two-part blog series looks at vacancies of elected office. Part Two covers questions related to filling a vacant elected position.

Vacancies in Elected Office – Questions and Answers (Part 1)

March 8, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Legislative Body

This two-part blog series looks at vacancies of elected office. Part One covers questions related to how (and when) an elected position becomes vacant.

Ethics Codes for Local Governments, Part 2: Processing Complaints, Imposing Discipline

February 3, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

Part Two of this series on local ethics codes reviews items in a code that help when dealing with a possible violation.

Ethics Codes for Local Governments, Part 1: Considerations, Scope, and Applicability

February 1, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

Part One of this two-part blog series looks at why a local government would want to adopt an ethics code, who the code could apply to, and what behavior the code might cover.

Making Local Government Holiday Observances More Inclusive

November 16, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Inclusive Communities

This blog looks at how municipalities can tie their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts into winter holiday observances.

New Economic Development Tool Promotes Clean Energy, Resilience Improvements (Part 1)

November 2, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Strategies and Programs

This blog summarizes the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience (C-PACER) program, which offers resources for qualifying energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and resiliency improvements for buildings.

What’s New for Washington Cyclists in 2020?

September 21, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Cycling and Walking

This blog post provides an overview of two pieces of legislation related to bicycling: SSB 5723, from 2019, and SSB 6208, from 2020.

COVID-19: Where Things Stand as of September 3, 2020

September 4, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Elections , Open Public Meetings Act , Utilities - Billing and Collection , Public Records Act , COVID-19

This blog post provides an overview of recent state (and some federal) actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Election Season Rules – Does COVID-19 Change the Game?

August 10, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Elections , COVID-19

Can an employee post a political sign in their home office? Should elected officials take part in PSA's? This blog explores how standard rules governing what government resources can and cannot be used for during campaign season, and how these rules apply during the pandemic.

COVID-19: Where Things Stand as of August 3, 2020

August 3, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Utilities - Billing and Collection , Public Records Act , COVID-19

This blog post provides an overview of the governor's and the legislature's most recent actions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Washington.

2020 Legislative Update — The Big List

July 21, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: New Legislation and Regulations

MRSC has compiled a list of new legislation from the recent 2020 Regular Session, with special attention paid to those bills that impact Washington local governments.

COVID-19: Where Things Stand as of July 2, 2020

July 3, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Utilities - Billing and Collection , Public Records Act , COVID-19

At the beginning of July, a number of waivers and proclamations expired, were renewed, or were amended. Here are some of the highlights for local governments, including Proclamation 20-28.6 allowing limited in-person meetings for jurisdictions in Phase 3.

COVID-19 Facial Coverings — What’s Required?

June 30, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: COVID-19

This blog post summarizes the rules as of July 24, 2020 related to wearing face masks in public as outlined in Order 20-03.1, Proclamation 20-25.7, and the Safe Start Guide.

2020 Legislative Update on Firearms Regulations

June 29, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: New Legislation and Regulations

This post summarizes recent legislation related to firearms regulation in Washington State.

COVID-19: Where Things Stand as of June 1, 2020

June 2, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Utilities - Billing and Collection , Public Records Act , COVID-19

This blog post provides an update on recent legislative actions taken in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Washington, including summaries of new developments and resources.

Planning for the Expiration of the State's PRA and OPMA Waivers

May 28, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Public Records Act , COVID-19

This blog provides agencies with options for planning for their upcoming meetings, and it discusses how the eventual expiration of the state's OPMA and the PRA waivers may affect agency operations.

COVID-19: Where Things Stand as of May 6, 2020

May 6, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Utilities - Billing and Collection , Public Records Act , COVID-19

This blog post provides an overview of the the governor's and the legislature's actions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Washington, including summarizing recent developments and resources.

Essential Services and Workers During the COVID-19 Emergency

March 26, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Operating Policies , COVID-19

This blog provides guidance on who can be considered an essential infrastructure worker and what is essential construction work during the COVID-19 emergency.

New Ruling Provides Guidance on “Specific Intelligence”

February 24, 2020 by Steve Gross
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Public Records Act

This blog discusses the recent ruling in West v. City of Tacoma, which addresses what an agency needs to prove when it claims the Public Records Act’s exemption for “specific intelligence information."