MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Steve Gross

People practice kung fu in small Seattle park

Shared Spaces – Tips to Balance Use of Public Facilities

November 18, 2024 by Steve Gross
Category: Parks and Recreation Facilities , Inclusive Communities

Public facilities are, by their nature, open to the public. But agencies should consider some ground rules to make sure anyone using those facilities treats other users with courtesy. Here are some things to consider.

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?

The Distinction between ‘Legal’ and ‘Ethical’ Behavior

July 9, 2024 by Steve Gross
Category: Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

Government officials and staff are scrutinized more closely than the general public. The public expects them to act both legally and ethically. What is the difference and how can agencies provide (and enforce) clear expectations?

A candidate forum with three candidates and a moderator in front of an audience

Supporting/Opposing Ballot Measures and Candidates

May 20, 2024 by Steve Gross
Category: Ballot Measures , Running for Office

Election season raises many questions for local government staff and elected officials, especially when it comes to ballot measures and candidates running for office. What are the rules for supporting or opposing an issue or a candidate, and how do these apply?

Two people in a meeting play with cell phones instead of paying attention to the meeting

Advice for Taking Electronic Gadgets to Meetings: Use Them, Don’t Abuse Them!

April 22, 2024 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Public Records Act , Legislative Body

Using electronic devices during meetings can help you manage the meeting efficiently and reduce paperwork, but they also have the potential to create additional public records and their use could violate Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act.

Window cleaner using a squeegee to wash a window

Sunshine Week — It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint

March 11, 2024 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Public Records Act

During National Sunshine Week, often the focus is on what government agencies are doing wrong when it comes to transparency. While there is always room for improvement, it’s good to recognize the work that local governments are doing right to maintain and improve transparency.

Volunteer drops off food at a church based food pantry

Best Practices When Contracting With Faith-Based Organizations

January 22, 2024 by Steve Gross
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Health and Human Services

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, local agencies may want to review their contracting policies with respect to faith-based organizations. But, in the words of Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “Don’t Panic!”

Utility trucked parked on sidewalk with a road sign noting that utility work is being done

A Compendium of 2023 Utilities Legislation

November 13, 2023 by Steve Gross
Category: Environmental Laws and Regulations , Utilities , New Legislation and Regulations

It was a mixed bag for utility legislation in 2023. There are some new obligations for utilities, but certain non-project and project actions are now categorically exempt from SEPA review.

Close up of newspaper with headline, "Changes coming in 2023."

County-Focused Bills from the 2022-2023 Legislative Session

July 24, 2023 by Steve Gross
Category: County Officials , Forms of Government-County , New Legislation and Regulations

The 2023 legislative session saw a number of bills that specifically impact counties, including amending the process to appoint members to a salary commission in noncharter counties and removing the deadline by which counties may choose to join the Voluntary Stewardship Program.

A dog laying on the floor while several people are working in desks nearby

Pets in the Workplace — “Stay” or “Go to your Crate?”

June 5, 2023 by Steve Gross
Category: Personnel Policies

Unlike the requirement to accommodate service animals (and sometimes support animals), local government agencies do not have to allow pets in the office. Some people love the idea, others loathe it. Whether you allow them or not, you should have a clear pet policy.

Emergency Powers in Washington State, Post COVID-19

April 3, 2023 by Steve Gross
Category: COVID-19 , Emergency Management

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.

A male conference attendee choosing dessert from a table

But What About Me? Ethics for Local Public Employees

February 13, 2023 by Steve Gross
Category: Ethics and Conflicts of Interest

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.

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

January 3, 2023 by Steve Gross
Category: Drug Possession and Use

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.

Care and Feeding of Your Library Collection Policy

November 7, 2022 by Steve Gross , Tamara R. Meredith
Category: Guest Author , Leadership and Management

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.

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

September 12, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Legislative 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.

Transportation Network Companies: New Legislation Addresses Long-Standing Issues

July 27, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Licensing and Regulation

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.

HB 1329: Answers to Your OPMA Questions

May 19, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , New Legislation and Regulations

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.

Revisiting C-PACER Two Years Later (Part 2)

May 5, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Economic Development

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.

New Recording and Disclosure Requirements for Certain Law Enforcement Interrogations

March 7, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Law Enforcement Records Disclosure

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.

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

January 18, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: COVID-19 , Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Operating Policies , Personnel Policies

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.

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