MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Byron Katsuyama

Byron Katsuyama Retires: Thanks for the Privilege of Serving Washington Local Governments for 43 Years

July 6, 2021 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: MRSC News and Updates

After a long and fruitful career at MRSC, Public Policy Consultant Byron Katsuyama is retiring.

Emerging Issues Roundup: Post-Pandemic Prognostications

April 1, 2021 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Cybersecurity , Information Technology , Termination and Retirement

This blog focuses on three issues that may become more prominent for local governments as we approach the end of the COVID-19 pandemic: cybersecurity concerns, maintaining digital services, and retiring boomers.

Countering Racial Bias and Harassment Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

March 22, 2021 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: COVID-19 , Inclusive Communities

This blog post looks at how local governments can counter racial bias and harassment that's arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strategies for Managing Difficult Public Meetings and Hearings

December 3, 2020 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Legislative Body , Public Participation

This blog offers some steps you can take before, during, and after difficult public meetings and public hearings to make them less stressful and more productive for everyone.

Promising Practices for Washington Local Governments: October 2020

October 29, 2020 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Strategies and Programs , Law Enforcement

This post highlights promising practices in revitalizing downtown cores, reimagining the functions of law enforcement, and paperless approval processes.

Farewell to MRSC’s Public Policy Consultant and Finance Analyst, Laura Crandall

October 21, 2020 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: MRSC News and Updates

Best wishes to Laura Crandall, MRSC's former Public Policy Consultant and Finance Analyst, as she begins a new chapter with Seattle University.

Continuity of Operations During the COVID-19 Emergency

March 27, 2020 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: COVID-19 , Emergency Management

This article discusses measures that local governments have taken or may want to consider taking to ensure the continuity of their operations as they respond to COVID-19, including governance and management, remote work, website communications, employee support, and more.

Promising Practices for Local Governments: Combating Elder Neglect, Short-Term Vacation Rental Compliance, Reducing Recidivism

December 19, 2019 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Courts and Criminal Justice System , Tourism , Health and Human Services

This post highlights promising practices for combating elder neglect, increasing compliance with short-term vacation rental regulations, and transitioning newly released inmates back into the community.

Want Better Teamwork? Take More Breaks

September 16, 2019 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Performance Management-Measurement

A recent study suggests that team members in problem-solving groups need time alone as well as face-to-face meetings to get the best possible group results.

Promising Practices: Police (and Beyond) Drone Programs

June 20, 2019 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Law Enforcement

This post highlights promising practices in the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for law enforcement and other purposes.

Winter Weather Shelter Programs for the Homeless

December 11, 2018 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Homelessness

This blog looks at winter weather shelter programs in Washington State. These programs offer temporary housing for homeless persons when weather conditions pose a substantial threat to life or health.

Retaining Institutional Knowledge in the Wake of the Silver Tsunami

June 18, 2018 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Management

This blog focuses on the potential loss of institutional knowledge that the silver tsunami may leave in its wake, and some ways your organization may be able to capture and retain this valuable knowledge.

Washington Local Governments Launch Mobile Apps

March 15, 2017 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Information Technology

This post looks at Washington local governments apps that deliver news and services to constituents in a mobile-friendly format.

The Gorillas in the Room

February 14, 2017 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Emergency Management , Health and Human Services

What does the Cascadia megaquake, the growing opioid crisis, and the lack of affordable housing all share in common? They can all be classified as "gorillas" in the room: big, overwhelming, and not about to go anywhere anytime soon.

Regulating Uber, Lyft, and Other Transportation Network Companies

September 7, 2016 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Planning , Business Licenses and Taxes

Cities and counties in Washington have begun to regulate "transportation network companies" such as Uber and Lyft, and some jurisdictions have taken a more regional approach.

Emerging Issue Update: Police Body Cameras

June 29, 2015 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Law Enforcement

A roundup of the latest news and information, including a few sample policies, we have been gathering on the emerging issue of body-worn cameras.

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.

More Sage Advice for Councils and Commissions

April 22, 2013 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Legislative Body

MRSC has been fortunate to have so many generous Council/Commission, HR, Finance, Planning, and Open Government Advisors over the years who have been willing to share their time and expertise writing columns filled with insightful analysis and sage advice for Washington local government officials and...

Who Says You Can’t Fight City Hall?

March 6, 2013 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Public Participation

We have all heard the expression, "You can't fight city hall." But many citizens can and do regularly participate in their local government and are able to have real impacts on the outcomes of policy debates.

A Simple Technique for Improving Council Decision Making

November 5, 2012 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Legislative Body

One of the things that has always fascinated me as a student and observer of local government has been the process that local legislative bodies use to discuss, debate, and formulate policy decisions. To my mind, much of what constitutes “good government” is a direct consequence of an open, fair, and effective legislative decision-making process. The open and fair parts are regulated by state...

Do We Have Too Many Local Governments in Washington?

October 1, 2012 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Forms of Government-City , Forms of Government-County

We recently had the pleasure of meeting with some staff members from the Governments Division of the U.S. Census Bureau who were visiting the state to talk with local government officials about the 2012 Census of Governments. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts a census of all state and local government units every five years, for years ending in 2 and 7, as required by Title 13, United States Code,...

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