New Options for Creating Fire and Metro Park Districts

July 31, 2017 by Lynn Nordby
Category: New Legislation and Regulations , Special Districts

The 2017 legislative session yielded new options for establishing a fire and/or metro park district. Consultant Lynn Nordby looks at these changes. 

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New Legislation Impacts Purchasing, Contracting

July 26, 2017 by Judy Isaac
Category: Purchasing and Contracting , New Legislation and Regulations

Purchasing and contracting procedures for Washington local governments changed on July 23, 2017.  Public Works Consultant Judy Isaac reviews the changes. 

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New Public Records Data Reporting Requirement

July 24, 2017 by Jim Doherty
Category: Public Records Act , New Legislation and Regulations

2017 was a big year for the PRA, with the legislature making several high-profile changes to the law. In this blog post, MRSC Legal Manager Jim Doherty discusses one change that may come as a surprise to many agencies: the new public records data reporting requirement. 

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New Open Government Training Requirements for Public Records Officers

July 21, 2017 by Brooke Frickleton
Category: Public Records Act , New Legislation and Regulations , Guest Author

Earlier this year, the legislature made a number of changes to the Public Records Act (PRA). One key update is that the PRA and records retention training currently required for PROs must now include training on electronic documents and improving technology information systems. In this blog post, MRSC Legal Extern Brooke Frickleton outlines this new requirement.

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Building for Bicycles: Safe Roads & Recreational Use Immunity

July 19, 2017 by Nick Quijas
Category: Cycling and Walking , Guest Author

Here in Washington, bicycles are being increasingly recognized and appreciated as a legitimate and important transportation option. In this blog post, MRSC Legal Intern Nick Quijas explores some of the ways in which local governments will be affected by increasing growth in bike transportation. 

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Critical Areas: The Importance (and Difficulty) of Knowing Where They Are

July 18, 2017 by Greg Wessel
Category: Critical Areas , Guest Author

Regulated critical areas vary from place to place but in some cases, a jurisdiction’s knowledge of its critical areas may be based on outdated or incomplete information. Guest author Greg Wessel looks at some steps jurisdictions can take to address this problem. 

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Top Picks: Citizen Engagement Tools, Impacts of Shrinking Retail, Telecommuting Update

July 14, 2017 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Strategies and Programs , Public Participation , Planning

Policy consultant Byron Katsuyama identifies some of the emerging issues and innovations that local government leaders should be aware of.

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New Law on Restraining Dogs

July 10, 2017 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Animal Control , New Legislation and Regulations

In this blog post, Paul Sullivan provides an overview of a new law adopted by the legislature that regulates the tethering of dogs. The new law goes into effect on July 23, 2017. 

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When is a Development Application Ready for Review?

July 6, 2017 by Steve Butler
Category: Development Regulations and Zoning

Once a jurisdiction determines that a planning-related application is complete it has 120-days to  make a decision on that proposal. But what makes an application complete? MRSC Planning Consultant Steve Butler reviews the options. 

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