MRSC Insight Blog

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MRSC Insight Blog

Recent Posts

Treasury Issues Guidance for Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

May 13, 2021 by Eric Lowell
Category:

This blog post reviews the May 10 guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Treasury regarding how Local Fiscal Recovery Funds may be spent under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), including allowed uses, replacing lost revenues, and reporting requirements.

Public Records Act Reports Due July 1, 2021

May 10, 2021 by Sarah Doar
Category: Public Records Act

Any public agency that spends over $100,000 in activities associated with managing public records and responding to public records requests will need to file a report on these activities with the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee by July 1, 2021.

What to Consider When Waiving Retainage and Bonds

May 6, 2021 by Judy Isaac
Category: Purchasing and Contracting

This blog focuses on why (or why not) an agency might waive retainage and bonds for a public works project.

New MRSC Website Improvements Make Information Even Easier to Find

May 3, 2021 by Steve Hawley
Category: MRSC News and Updates

This blog post covers recent improvements made to our website that will make it easier for you to find the information that you are seeking.

Looking Ahead: Holding “Hybrid” Public Meetings

April 29, 2021 by Emma Diamond
Category: Legislative Body

This blog provides an overview of the hybrid public meeting model, which combines in-person and online public attendance.

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.

Cybercrime: A Hard Lesson

April 22, 2021 by Eric Lowell
Category: Cybersecurity

This blog looks at precautions a local government can take to counter vendor fraud perpetrated by cyber criminals.

Bringing the Family to Work

April 19, 2021 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Recruitment and Hiring , Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

This blog looks at nepotism and how it applies to local governments.

Local Fireworks Regulations: Timing is Everything

April 15, 2021 by MRSC Insight
Category: Licensing and Regulation

This blog covers the basics of when and how cities and counties may restrict the sale and/or use of fireworks within their boundaries.

The Lasting Impacts of Discriminatory Restrictive Covenants

April 12, 2021 by Oskar Rey
Category: Inclusive Communities

This blog looks at discriminatory restrictive covenants in county real property records and how property owners may remove or "strike" them from the record.

Disaster Zone: Emergency Operations Center Facilities

April 9, 2021 by Eric Holdeman
Category: Emergency Management

This blog reviews what an Emergency Operations Center should include to allow staff to function effectively during an emergency.

Roles and Responsibilities: Questions and Answers

April 5, 2021 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Administrative and Elected Officials , Administrative and Elected Officials-County

This blog explores frequently asked questions related to roles and responsibilities of elected officials versus local government staff.

Emerging Issues Roundup: Post-Pandemic Prognostications

April 1, 2021 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Termination and Retirement , Information Technology , Cybersecurity

This blog focuses on three issues that may become more prominent for local governments as we approach the end of the COVID-19 pandemic: cybersecurity concerns, maintaining digital services, and retiring boomers.

The Status of Drug Possession in Washington State

March 29, 2021 by Flannary Collins
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Courts and Criminal Justice System

This blog provides an overview of the recent state supreme court decision in State v. Blake, which found that Washington’s strict liability drug possession statute was unconstitutional.

COVID-19 and Local Governments: Where Things Stand as of March 22, 2021

March 22, 2021 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Utilities - Billing and Collection , COVID-19

This blog details several updates and links to new guidance from Governor Jay Inslee's office regarding the state's move into Phase 3 of the Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery plan.

Countering Racial Bias and Harassment Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

March 22, 2021 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Inclusive Communities , COVID-19

This blog post looks at how local governments can counter racial bias and harassment that's arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Troublesome Behavior: Defending Against Harassment of Public Officials and Employees

March 18, 2021 by Sarah Doar
Category: Personnel Policies , Administrative and Elected Officials , Administrative and Elected Officials-County

This blog explores strategies for dealing with members of the public who cross the line into harassing elected officials or local government staff.

American Rescue Plan Provides More Relief to Local Governments

March 17, 2021 by Eric Lowell
Category: Revenues , COVID-19

The American Rescue Plan Act ("ARP" or "ARPA") provides significant new funds for local governments, as well as an optional expansion of FFCRA leave. While we don't yet know all the logistics, this blog post provides a preliminary overview.

Disaster Zone: Lessons from Texas and Lebanon

March 15, 2021 by Eric Holdeman
Category: Emergency Management

This blog looks at the 2021 winter storm in Texas and the 2020 Beirut port explosion and asks how lessons learned from each might apply to earthquake preparedness in Washington.