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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for January 2025

A Local Government’s Role in Regulating Battery Energy Storage Systems

January 29, 2025  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Climate and Sustainability ,  Development Regulations and Zoning

With the growing use of battery energy storage systems (BESS), more public and private operators will want to locate these systems in Washington. What can cities and counties learn from Sumner, Arlington, and other early adopters of BESS regulations?

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Slow Down, You Go Too Fast: Traffic Camera Use By Local Government

January 28, 2025  by  Harry Boesche
Category:  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Recent changes to state law have expanded the ability of local governments to use traffic cameras for a variety of infractions related to vehicle use. Before implementing their use, a local government should fully understand where they may be employed, and for what purpose.

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Battery Energy Storage Systems – Coming Soon to Your Community?

January 22, 2025  by  Steve Butler
Category:  Climate and Sustainability ,  Development Regulations and Zoning

Battery energy storage systems offer new ways to store electrical power, and their modular nature means they can be configured to meet many uses. Local governments should determine how to incorporate such facilities into their existing land use codes and regulations.

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Reducing Local Street Speed Limits in Bellevue: Safety Starts on Your Street – Part 2

January 21, 2025  by  John Murphy
Category:  Guest Author ,  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Following a multiyear, iterative process, the City of Bellevue lowered the default speed limit on city streets to 20 mph. How did planning staff work with the city council and other departments to coordinate such a huge effort, and what advice would they offer to others?

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Can AI Support Good Government? Some Pilot Programs Suggest Yes

January 15, 2025  by  Leah LaCivita
Category:  Information Technology ,  Artificial Intelligence

State and local governments in Washington State and elsewhere are using AI to manage traffic control, improve emergency response, analyze law enforcement training, model foot traffic, prevent homelessness, and detect wildfires, among other things. 

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Reducing Local Street Speed Limits in Bellevue: Safety Starts on Your Street – Part 1

January 13, 2025  by  John Murphy
Category:  Guest Author ,  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Partly in response to concerns about speeding, Bellevue lowered the default speed limit on city streets to 20 mph, but only after a three-year process that included laying the groundwork and running pilot programs to test the efficacy of lower speed limits on public safety.

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The Basics of Fire Benefit Charges

January 8, 2025  by  Eric Lowell
Category:  Fire Protection ,  Property Taxes

Fire benefit charges allow fire protection districts and regional fire authorities to impose fees for providing fire protection services to local residences and businesses, but ultimate approval of such fees depends on local voters, and the process can be complicated.

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The Right to Assemble: Responding to Protests, Spontaneous Gatherings, and Counterdemonstrations

January 6, 2025  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  Legislative Body ,  Public Participation

Under the First Amendment, an individual has the right to peaceably assemble and free expression, and some exercise these rights in outdoor public places and gatherings. How can local governments both protect the public's First Amendment rights as well as ensure public safety?

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