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MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for October 2024

Executive Director Tracy Burrows Sails Off Into a New Adventure

October 30, 2024  by  Tracy Burrows
Category:  MRSC News and Updates

MRSC says goodbye to Executive Director Tracy Burrows, who led the organization for more than a decade.

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How Cities and Towns Acquire Legal Services

October 28, 2024  by  Linda Gallagher
Category:  City and Town Officials

Cities and towns all need legal services for many reasons. What are the options for selecting and retaining city or town attorneys, as well as the roles of the council and the mayor or city/town manager in this process?

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Local Government Initiatives for Green Buildings in Washington: Policies, Codes, and Incentives

October 23, 2024  by  Inonge Mubita
Category:  Guest Author ,  Climate and Sustainability

In Washington, the buildings sector is the state's second-biggest carbon polluter behind transportation, accounting for more than a quarter of statewide greenhouse gas emissions. How are local governments encouraging the development of green buildings to reduce emissions locally?

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A group of elected officials assume their seats at the dais

Managing Unexpected Post-Elections Issues

October 21, 2024  by  MRSC Insight
Category:  Elections and Voting

From ties to contested results, unusual and unexpected situations can arise during the election process. Fortunately, state law offers solutions for such situations.

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man reviews judicial records in front of a computer

I’m Not Judging You: Handling Public Records Requests Related to the Courts

October 16, 2024  by  Sarah Doar
Category:  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions ,  Public Records Act

Requests for public records related to a court sometimes make their way to a city or county that has a relationship with that court. Is the city or county obligated to respond to such requests under the Public Records Act, and if so, how should they proceed?

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Indoor of a green building under construction

Advancing Green Buildings: Washington’s Clean Buildings Law and Green Building Practices Local Governments Can Adopt - Part 1

October 14, 2024  by  Inonge Mubita
Category:  Guest Author ,  Climate and Sustainability

Since residential and commercial buildings account for 27% of statewide greenhouse gas emissions in Washington State, many local governments are implementing green building programs as part of a larger effort to reduce emissions and build healthier local communities.  

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2 women apply for a permit at a counter

Tips for Timely and Predictable Local Government Permitting

October 9, 2024  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Land Use Administration

Timely, predictable, and transparent permit processes are key to achieving local economic, housing, and environmental protection goals, and help build trust in government. Such processes can be improved in a number of ways, from jargon-free documents to ongoing staff training.

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Public Records Puzzles: When the Request Is Coming from Inside the House!

October 7, 2024  by  Steve Gross
Category:  Public Records Act

Elected officials and staff from local governments need agency records to do their jobs, but sometimes they want them for personal reasons. How can agencies manage both of these types of requests under the Public Records Act and other state laws?

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Tax-Exempt Entities: New Source of Funding Available for Clean Energy Projects

October 2, 2024  by  Alison Benge ,  Stacey Crawshaw-Lewis
Category:  Guest Author ,  Climate and Sustainability ,  Federal Funding

Local governments that undertook clean energy projects may be able to recoup some project costs through clean energy federal tax credits. Thanks to 2022 federal legislation, these credits are now available to certain tax-exempt entities as direct, elective payments. 

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