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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for February 2022

Technology and Open Government: Maximizing Participation and Transparency

Technology and Open Government: Maximizing Participation and Transparency

February 28, 2022  by  Oskar Rey
Category:  Information Technology ,  Open Public Meetings Act ,  Public Participation

Obtaining a broad spectrum of public participation in local government meetings can be challenging. This blog looks at a few examples of the innovative tools and approaches Washington agencies are using. 

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Manufactured Home Parks as a Local Source of Affordable Housing: A Case Study

Manufactured Home Parks as a Local Source of Affordable Housing: A Case Study

February 24, 2022  by  Justin Sharer ,  John Dickson
Category:  Housing

Manufactured homes can be an affordable option for many families and individuals. This blog looks at a study conducted by the City of Kent as it researched existing manufactured home parks throughout the city and how best to support these.

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Resolving Financial Conflicts of Interest: Is Abstaining from Voting Enough?

Resolving Financial Conflicts of Interest: Is Abstaining from Voting Enough?

February 22, 2022  by  Sarah Doar
Category:  Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

When a governing body votes on contracts, it's important that the individual members not have a conflict of interest in it being awarded to a specific firm. Is it enough for an individual to abstain from voting or should the governing body avoid any chance a conflict may arise?

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New Resources Help Local Governments Reduce Climate Impacts, Build Resilient Communities

New Resources Help Local Governments Reduce Climate Impacts, Build Resilient Communities

February 17, 2022  by  Lisa Pool
Category:  MRSC News and Updates ,  Climate Change

All across Washington State local governments are wondering how they can better prepare their communities for the negative impacts of climate change. Now, we are offering more tools and resources to push these efforts forward.

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Historic Infrastructure Funding Opportunities Open to Local Governments

Historic Infrastructure Funding Opportunities Open to Local Governments

February 14, 2022  by  Eric Lowell
Category:  Public Works Finance ,  Federal Funding

Building a Better America invests $400 billion over five years to support major transportation and infrastructure projects nationwide. Local governments are eligible for funding, including for several competitive grant programs, and should begin the planning process now. 

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Capital Facilities Planning: If There’s No Math, You’re Not Doing It Right

Capital Facilities Planning: If There’s No Math, You’re Not Doing It Right

February 10, 2022  by  Ryan Walters
Category:  Guest Author ,  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management

Guest author Ryan Walters suggests that capital facilities planning is as much about building new facilities as it is about accounting for the substantial expense of maintaining that infrastructure in the future.

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Knowing Your Roles: City and Town Governments

Knowing Your Roles: City and Town Governments

February 7, 2022  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  Administrative and Elected Officials

Conflicts in city and town governments between the executive and the legislative branches can be the result of confusion as to these roles and their responsibilities. This blog offers an overview of division of power between these two branches.

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State Puts WA Cares on Hold for Now

State Puts WA Cares on Hold for Now

February 1, 2022  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Compensation ,  New Legislation and Regulations

With new legislation, the WA Cares long-term care insurance program (and the premiums employers were to collect from employees) has been put on hold. This blog looks at the steps local government employers should take at this time.

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