MRSC Insight Blog

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2023 Public Records Legislative Changes — School and Election Records

October 2, 2023 by Sarah Doar
Category: Public Records Act , New Legislation and Regulations

County election officials and school districts will be pleased to learn about new public records changes: one exempts voted ballots and another exempts the personal information of students in any records pertaining to the student.

Handling Payroll Overpayments

September 27, 2023 by Eric Lowell
Category: Accounting

What happens when an employee is accidentally paid a higher salary for several months or even several years? It could raise concerns about gift of public funds. Local governments must be careful to follow the processes outlined in the statutes when handling payroll overpayments.

New PRA Exemption Available to Protect Employee Safety

September 25, 2023 by Sarah Doar
Category: Public Records Act

New in 2023, ESHB 1533 amends the Public Records Act to exempt from disclosure certain information on employees (and dependents) who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment, or stalking or who are enrolled in the state's Address Confidentiality Program.

The Basics of Meeting Agendas

September 20, 2023 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body

For open public meetings, a comprehensive, well-prepared agenda can keep things moving while ensuring all members of the governing body are on the same page. But what should be included according to statute, who should prepare it, and what happens if it needs to be amended?

Female colleagues, one wearing a hijab, working at computer desk

New Supreme Court Ruling Clarifies Undue Hardship Standard, Makes It Harder to Prove

September 18, 2023 by Kendra Rosenberg
Category: Guest Author , Court Decisions and AGO Opinions

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled on a religious accommodation claim in the case of Gross v. DeJoy, rejecting the prior standard that employers could deny a requested accommodation if the cost would be “more than de minimis."

Two sets of hands nestled into one another holding an image of a house

How Local Governments Can Effectively Partner with Community Land Trusts

September 13, 2023 by Carson Bridges
Category: Guest Author , Housing

Local governments can tap into numerous financial, administrative, and related tools to help community land trusts kickstart affordable housing development efforts, sustain ongoing operations, or promote new development.

An architectural model of a dense area of town

2023 Planning Legislation Impacting Local Governments

September 11, 2023 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Annexation , Design , Housing , New Legislation and Regulations

Common themes among these six new planning-related bills include streamlining local project review, decreasing the planning burden on smaller communities, incentivizing annexations, and increasing housing supply throughout the state.

Close up of a hand choosing a mini wooden house from among several models offered

Building Affordable Housing Through Community Land Trusts

September 6, 2023 by Carson Bridges
Category: Guest Author , Housing

Affordable housing options developed via community land trusts offer significant community development benefits, such as stabilizing hot real estate markets, ensuring long-term tenant stability, and providing investment opportunities to can build household wealth.

A group sitting around a table reviews construction plans

2023 Legislative Updates to Modernize and Streamline Local Project Review

September 5, 2023 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Land Use Administration , New Legislation and Regulations

In 2023, SB 5290 introduced legislative tweaks to local project review to improve process predictability, including the establishment of grant and technical assistance programs to help local governments build the resources needed for timely permit processing.

Introducing Cheryl Grant, MRSC's Newest Finance Consultant

August 30, 2023 by Cheryl Grant
Category: MRSC News and Updates

MRSC welcomes Cheryl Grant onto the team as our newest finance consultant. Cheryl is excited to be working with small cities and agencies.

Smartphone on wooden table shows a whistleblower alert from an anonymous caller

Personnel Issues of Note from the 2023 Legislative Session

August 28, 2023 by Michael Incorvaia
Category: Guest Author , Compensation , Personnel Policies , New Legislation and Regulations

New state personnel laws establish protections for certain whistleblowers, amend the statutory definition of employment, modify procedures for reviewing and approving requests for partial wage replacement for unemployed workers, and update hospital staffing standards.

A notebook for meeting minutes, lies between a pen and an hourglass

Less Is More: Action Minutes Save Time, Serve the Agency Best

August 23, 2023 by MRSC Insight , Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Public meetings of a governing body can cover a variety of topics and include countless important decisions that will impact the agency and its communities. Action minutes can help the body focus on what was done during the meeting rather than what was said.

Empty outdoor public swimming pool waiting for swimmers

Ballot Measure Highlights from the August 2023 Primary Election

August 21, 2023 by Steve Hawley
Category: Annexation , Facilities , Elections , Special Districts , Property Taxes

Primary elections generally see some ballot measures succeed and some fail across the state. This past August, libraries, rec centers, and fire districts fared well, but public hospital districts saw mixed success. And, as always, levy lid lift measures achieved mixed results.

Election Season Tips and Reminders

August 16, 2023 by MRSC Insight
Category: Elections

During any election season, there are a variety of common areas that can trip up candidates, elected officials, and local government agencies and their staff — so let's review some potential problems before they happen.

A woman in a wheelchair attends a remote work meeting from home using a desktop computer.

Telecommuting in the Post-Pandemic Age and Legal Considerations

August 14, 2023 by Mike Kitson , Shirley Lou-Magnuson
Category: Guest Author , Operating Policies

In the post-pandemic age, remote work appears here to stay, but has your public agency holistically addressed telecommuting such that it realizes the benefits of the approach and avoids creating excessive legal liabilities?

Wildfire under an electrical transmission line in a forested area

State-Based Efforts, Legislation Boost Local Risk Reduction, Resiliency to Wildfires

August 8, 2023 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Emergency Management , Forests and Trees , Fire Protection , Utilities , New Legislation and Regulations

With wildfire season underway, local governments should be aware of bills passed during the 2023 Regular Legislative Session addressing wildfire events and proposed permanent rules to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke.

A thermometer showing a temperature of 100+ against a background of an urban street

New Report Outlines How to Save Lives from Extreme Heat

August 7, 2023 by Zach Kearl
Category: Climate Change , Environmental Policy and Management

Written by a guest author with the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group, local governments now have a new resource to call on for ideas on how to protect communities during extended periods of extreme heat.

Runner at the starting block on running track start line

On Your Mark, Get Set: Download 2024 Budget Suggestions!

August 2, 2023 by Eric Lowell
Category: Budgets and Budgeting

Our annual Budget Suggestions publication is now available! This document provides information on city and county budget processes, state shared revenue estimates, recent budget-related legislation, a preview of the implicit price deflator, and more.

Close up of a small cell wireless module on a utility pole against the backdrop of a city

Small Wireless Facilities: Are There Any Coverage Gaps In Your Regulations?

July 31, 2023 by Oskar Rey
Category: Telecommunications

The Federal Communications Commission's 2018 Declaratory Ruling was meant to accelerate deployment of small wireless facilities, but the ruling also restricts how local governments can regulate their installation. Here are key takeaways for agencies to avoid coverage gaps.

Several small images suggesting environmental and pollution prevention laws against the word 2023

New Legislation Related to Climate and the Natural Environment

July 27, 2023 by Lisa Pool
Category: Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Climate Change , Environmental Policy and Management , New Legislation and Regulations

In 2023, state legislators passed several bills addressing environmental concerns, including new climate elements for comprehensive planning, making impact fee revenue available for new bike and pedestrian facilities, and an optional permit process for clean energy projects.

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