skip navigation
MRSC logo

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC

MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for August 2023

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.

Read more

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.

Read more

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.

Read more

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 ,  Parks and Recreation Facilities ,  Ballot Measures ,  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.

Read more

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? 

Read more

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:  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Emergency Management ,  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.

Read more

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 and Sustainability ,  Environmental Laws and Regulations

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. 

Read more