MRSC Insight Blog

About Our Blog Our Authors

MRSC Insight Blog

Posts by Steve Gross

HB 1329: Answers to Your OPMA Questions

May 19, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , New Legislation and Regulations

MRSC has gotten a lot of questions from local governments about HB 1329 and how it impacts remote public meetings, public comment, adjournment, and more. This blog addresses some common concerns.

Revisiting C-PACER Two Years Later (Part 2)

May 5, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Strategies and Programs

In 2020, Washington counties were offered the chance to adopt a C-PACER program that would encourage capital improvements for commercial properties in order to increase water and energy efficiency. This blog follows up on program implementation two years later.

OPMA/PRA Emergency Proclamation Will Expire June 1

May 2, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Public Records Act , COVID-19

Pandemic-related restrictions on public meetings and the processing of public records will no longer be in effect this coming June, per the newly released Proclamation 20-28.16.

New Recording and Disclosure Requirements for Certain Law Enforcement Interrogations

March 7, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Law Enforcement Records Disclosure

Beginning this year, law enforcement agencies in Washington now must meet new recording requirements for certain interrogations as well as new retention requirements for digital records.

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. Following the decision, OSHA withdrew the proposed rule.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."