skip navigation
Share this:


MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Steve Gross

A red button on a yellow box labeled emergency

Emergency Powers in Washington State, Post COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic local governments operated under a series of emergency orders, some of which drew legal challenges. As these proclamations have ended, now is a good time to look at what happened to the challenges, and how (or if) they affected emergency powers.

Read more

A male conference attendee choosing dessert from a table

But What About Me? Ethics for Local Public Employees

While state law addresses ethics for some kinds of municipal officers, these and other laws help all employees understand how to conduct day-to-day business while avoiding conflicts of interest. 

Read more

Public Safety Tools — Is a Stay Out of Drug Area Ordinance the Right Tool for You?

Public Safety Tools — Is a Stay Out of Drug Area Ordinance the Right Tool for You?

A Stay Out of Drug Area (SODA) ordinance is one way a local government can restrict the sales or use of illegal drugs in public places. However, SODA ordinances must be well-designed to avoid legal scrutiny and to ensure they do not disproportionally affect certain populations.

Read more

Care and Feeding of Your Library Collection Policy

Care and Feeding of Your Library Collection Policy

All libraries, whether they are independent districts or part of a city or town, should have both a sound collection management policy and an understanding of how to implement that policy in a way that furthers the library’s mission while reducing legal risks.

Read more

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Censuring Members of a Governing Body

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Censuring Members of a Governing Body

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling supports the ability of a governing body to censure one of its members if that person's action obstructs or hinders the body's ability to perform its day-to-day functions. 

Read more

Transportation Network Companies: New Legislation Addresses Long-Standing Issues

Transportation Network Companies: New Legislation Addresses Long-Standing Issues

ESHB 2076 creates uniform statewide regulations for Transportation Network Companies to ensure vehicles are safe and fares are transparent, but also to establish minimum per mile, minute, and trip rates for company drivers and provide them with benefits like paid sick time.

Read more

HB 1329: Answers to Your OPMA Questions

HB 1329: Answers to Your OPMA Questions

MRSC has gotten a lot of questions from local governments about HB 1329 and how it impacts remote public meetings, public comment, adjournment, and more. This blog addresses some common concerns.

Read more

Revisiting C-PACER Two Years Later (Part 2)

Revisiting C-PACER Two Years Later (Part 2)

In 2020, Washington counties were offered the chance to adopt a C-PACER program that would encourage capital improvements for commercial properties in order to increase water and energy efficiency. This blog follows up on program implementation two years later.

Read more

OPMA/PRA Emergency Proclamation Will Expire June 1

OPMA/PRA Emergency Proclamation Will Expire June 1

Pandemic-related restrictions on public meetings and the processing of public records will no longer be in effect this coming June, per the newly released Proclamation 20-28.16. 

Read more

New Recording and Disclosure Requirements for Certain Law Enforcement Interrogations

New Recording and Disclosure Requirements for Certain Law Enforcement Interrogations

Beginning this year, law enforcement agencies in Washington now must meet new recording requirements for certain interrogations as well as new retention requirements for digital records. 

Read more

Supreme Court Issues First Opinions on Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

Supreme Court Issues First Opinions on Federal COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily stopped the implementation and enforcement of a federal rule calling for large U.S. employers to require employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. Following the decision, OSHA withdrew the proposed rule.

Read more

Making Local Government Holiday Observances More Inclusive

Making Local Government Holiday Observances More Inclusive

The upcoming holiday season offers municipalities a great opportunity to tie their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts into holiday observances so that everyone feels part of the celebration.

Read more

Use Of Public Facilities for Campaign Elections - 2021 General Election Edition

Use Of Public Facilities for Campaign Elections - 2021 General Election Edition

Local governments have many questions involving how, when, and in what context public facilities can be used during campaign season. This blog covers some common questions, from political buttons and signs to what (exactly) counts as a public facility. 

Read more

Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What?

Utility Late Fee/Shutoff Moratorium Expires September 30: Now What?

With the expiration of Governor Inslee's moratorium on utility shutoff drawing near, local governments are wondering what comes next. 
 

Read more

Legislation Aimed at Counties Impacts Coroners, Operational Continuity

Legislation Aimed at Counties Impacts Coroners, Operational Continuity

This blog offers an overview of two recent bills that affect county officers: ESHB 1326 and EHB 1271.

Read more

Setting the Agenda: Less Control, More Cooperation

Setting the Agenda: Less Control, More Cooperation

This blog looks at best practices on setting public meeting agendas for cities, towns, counties, or special purpose districts. 

Read more

Ethics Codes for Local Governments, Part 2: Processing Complaints, Imposing Discipline

Ethics Codes for Local Governments, Part 2: Processing Complaints, Imposing Discipline

Part Two of this series on local ethics codes reviews items in a code that help when dealing with a possible violation. 

Read more

Ethics Codes for Local Governments, Part 1: Considerations, Scope, and Applicability

Ethics Codes for Local Governments, Part 1: Considerations, Scope, and Applicability

Part One of this two-part blog series looks at why a local government would want to adopt an ethics code, who the code could apply to, and what behavior the code might cover. 

Read more

New Economic Development Tool Promotes Clean Energy, Resilience Improvements (Part 1)

New Economic Development Tool Promotes Clean Energy, Resilience Improvements (Part 1)

This blog summarizes the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience (C-PACER) program, which offers resources for qualifying energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, and resiliency improvements for buildings.

Read more

What’s New for Washington Cyclists in 2020?

What’s New for Washington Cyclists in 2020?

This blog post provides an overview of two pieces of legislation related to bicycling: SSB 5723, from 2019, and SSB 6208, from 2020. 

Read more

LOAD MORE