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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for October 2014

A Surge in Oil and Coal Transportation in the Northwest Raises Environmental Concerns

A Surge in Oil and Coal Transportation in the Northwest Raises Environmental Concerns

October 24, 2014  by  Carol Tobin
Category:  Oil and Coal

The development of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” has led to a surge in oil production in the U.S. Because the expansion of oil production has outpaced the expansion of the nation’s pipeline system, much of the new oil is moved by train. According to...

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Second Superior Court Ruling Upholds City Pot Ban, and Other Pot News

Second Superior Court Ruling Upholds City Pot Ban, and Other Pot News

October 21, 2014  by  Bob Meinig
Category:  Cannabis Regulation ,  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions

A Chelan County judge upheld Wenatchee’s moratorium on the issuance of permits for marijuana production and sales and its provision that business licenses may not be issued for activities that are unlawful under federal law.

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Emerging Issue: Police Body Cameras in Washington State

Emerging Issue: Police Body Cameras in Washington State

October 14, 2014  by  Byron Katsuyama
Category:  Law Enforcement

The recent fatal shooting of the unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, has greatly accelerated an already growing interest in the use of police body-worn cameras across the country and in several Washington communities.

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Pipeline Safety Reminder

Pipeline Safety Reminder

October 14, 2014  by  Jim Doherty
Category:  Hazardous Materials and Substances

Many of Washington's cities and counties have large-diameter transmission pipelines within their jurisdiction that transport natural gas or hazardous liquids at high pressure. This post serves as a reminder about pipeline safety issues.

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Climate Change - What is to be Done?

October 13, 2014  by  Jill Sterrett
Category:  Guest Author ,  Climate Change

Sometimes climate change seems like too much. How can we spend public funds and staff time on problems that seem so big and far away?

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Who's Your CEO - “Chief ENGAGEMENT Officer”?

October 12, 2014  by  Bob Jean
Category:  Guest Author ,  Public Participation

Coming out of the “Great Recession” these past 4 years, what percentage of all money measures submitted to voters by local governments nationwide (cities, counties, schools, etc) do you think passed?  30%?  40%? More? Less?  According to research by the International City County Management Association (ICMA), from 2010-2013 over 70% of local money referendums were approved by voters! And those initiated by direct community engagement passed by 90%!

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Residency Requirements for City Employees – Is That OK?

October 1, 2014  by  Paul Sullivan
Category:  Personnel Policies

A question we’re asked fairly often is whether a city may require that its employees reside within its jurisdiction?  The answer is that it depends on the form of government the city has and on which employees the requirement would apply to.

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