MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Leah LaCivita

An image of 3 people at a recycling center sorting out types of recycled material

Local Governments Pursue Zero-Waste Measures

February 1, 2023 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Climate Change , Utilities

Zero-waste measures for local governments run the gamut from multi-year materials management projects to consumer education on how to recycle or compost properly. The end goals are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and responsibly manage public resources.

Local Governments Prepare for Broadband Expansion

December 19, 2022 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Telecommunications , Federal Funding

With potential new sources of funding to support the expansion of reliable broadband services, local governments across Washington are busy building partnerships, identifying un- and underserved areas, and planning equitable deployment strategies to reach all communities.

New Legislation, Guidance Targets a Green Energy Future in Washington

August 22, 2022 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Climate Change , Energy Resources and Conservation , New Legislation and Regulations

In a push to carbon neutrality, Washington State agencies and the legislature have put in place laws and mandates designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in buildings, invest in transportation alternatives, reduce waste, and expedite the approval of green energy projects.

Fire Season Brings Renewal of Certain Worker Protections, More Action, and Funding

July 6, 2022 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Administration , Emergency Management , Fire Protection

Temporary rules are in place to protect outdoor workers from excessive heat or hazardous air quality. Meanwhile, some local governments are adopting provisions of the International Wildland Urban Interface Code, and state and federal governments are boosting firefighting efforts.

Making Government Work Attractive

June 23, 2022 by Leah LaCivita , Dana Howard Botka
Category: Administration and Management

How can local governments build a strong workplace culture that engages current staff and attracts new workers? Here are some ideas, including a case study from the City of Issaquah.

Local Governments Take Innovative Approaches To Prepare For Electric Vehicles

March 17, 2022 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Climate Change , Energy Resources and Conservation

As electric vehicle use increases across Washington State, local governments are looking at ways to support, and even encourage, their use.

Pierce County Offers a Model for Distributing Pandemic-Related Assistance Funding

January 31, 2022 by Leah LaCivita
Category: COVID-19 , Revenues

With just three staff, the Pierce County’s Rental & Utility Assistance Program has distributed $59,100 in overdue rental payments and $14,800 in utility payments to needy households since late 2020. This blog looks at how the program works and what makes it successful.

More Climate-Related Legislation for 2021

October 14, 2021 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Climate Change , New Legislation and Regulations

The 2021 legislative session produced several bills on issues related to the changing climate. This blog discusses a few, including bills that focus on reducing pollution statewide, encouraging alternative fuel use, and promoting greener commuting options.

2021 Climate-Related Legislative Outcomes

September 10, 2021 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Climate Change , New Legislation and Regulations

As Washington State looks to become carbon neutral by 2050, the 2021 legislative session produced several bills that will facilitate the state's efforts.

Emergency Rule Protects Outdoor Workers from Wildfire Smoke

August 5, 2021 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Fire Protection , Operating Policies , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog provides an overview of a new rule meant to protect workers from the harms of excessive exposure to wildfire smoke.

Historic Bill Focuses on Wildfire Prevention, Forest Reclamation

June 17, 2021 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Emergency Management , Forests and Trees , Fire Protection , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog looks at 2SHB 1168, which will increase spending on wildland fire prevention and response activities by $125 million over the next two years and up to $328 million by 2027.

Caring for the Homeless Challenged by Winter Weather, COVID-19

January 25, 2021 by Leah LaCivita
Category: COVID-19 , Homelessness

This blog post looks at how local governments are providing for the homeless, despite the twin challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and winter weather.

Police, Mental Health Professionals Partner to Improve 911 Response

December 31, 2020 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Emergency Medical Services , Law Enforcement

This blog looks at the co-responder law enforcement model, which brings social service responders and mental health professionals into the 911 crisis response.

Six-County Pilot Program to Help with Eviction Backlog

November 25, 2020 by Leah LaCivita
Category: COVID-19 , Housing

This blog covers the pilot Eviction Resolution Program, a court-based approach to resolve more eviction-related cases before a landlord has the need to file an unlawful detainer action.

Micromobility Moves Forward in Washington, Despite the Pandemic

October 1, 2020 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Cycling and Walking

This blog post looks at scooter share pilots recently launched in King County and Seattle.

Advancing Racial Equity at the Local Government Level

September 24, 2020 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Inclusive Communities

This blog post offers an overview of diversity and racial equity training options that local governments may wish to implement.

Staying Ahead of Overdose Spikes

July 14, 2020 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Health and Human Services

This blog post looks at the Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program, a free tool that collects real time fatal and non-fatal opioid overdose data from ambulance teams, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies across the country.

Community Paramedicine: Filling Gaps in Healthcare

November 18, 2019 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Emergency Medical Services

This blog post looks at community paramedicine, a healthcare approach that uses emergency medical technicians to deliver basic medical services to patients, often in their own home.

Scooter Legislation Passes, Sets Stage for Statewide Expansion

August 19, 2019 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Cycling and Walking , New Legislation and Regulations

This blog post looks at ESHB 1772, which amended state regulations regarding “motorized foot scooters,” as well as the status of pilot and established electronic scooter share programs in Washington.

Firefighting in the Wildland Inter-Urban Interface

May 2, 2019 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Emergency Management , Fire Protection

This blog post looks at the most challenging type of firefighting—where wild lands meet human development—and how some Washington local governments are attempting to mitigate risk in these areas.

Two New Guides Address Dockless Vehicles

February 4, 2019 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Cycling and Walking

This blog will summarize some of the main points of agreements between new reports issued that provide guidance on regulating small, dockless shared vehicles like e-bikes and e-scooters.

A Recycling Crisis in Washington?

November 21, 2018 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Utilities

Since the beginning of the year, the costs to collect, sort, store, and ship recycled materials have risen dramatically while the market for these goods has collapsed. This blog post looks at the impact this has had on waste management efforts across the state.

Improving Performance Management in Government Through Visual Data

October 3, 2018 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Performance Management-Measurement

This blog post looks at some of the Lean-related visual tools King County uses to support its efforts at continuous improvement.

Fewer Teens May End Up in Adult Courts

August 20, 2018 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Courts and Criminal Justice System

Signed into law this March, SB 6160 reduces the number of criminal offenses under which youth defendants aged 16- to 17-years-old can be automatically sent to adult court to have their cases tried.

Safe, Convenient Drug Disposal Coming Soon to Your Neighborhood

July 2, 2018 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Health and Human Services

ESHB 1047, or the Secure Drug Take-Back Act will bring a system of secure drug drop sites in every city and town across Washington for collection of unwanted prescription and over-the-counter medicines by 2020.

Bitcoin Comes to Washington

May 22, 2018 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Utilities , Licensing and Regulation

What is cryptocurrency and why have public utility districts, cities, and counties across the state enacted ordinances and moratoriums impacting the businesses seeking to profit from "mining" cryptocurrency? This blog post looks at the complexities.

New Legislation Targets E-Bikes

April 16, 2018 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Cycling and Walking , New Legislation and Regulations

As Seattle prepares to make its dockless bike share program permanent, new legislation recently signed by Gov. Jay Inslee set statewide standards and regulations for riding using electric assist bikes (e-bikes).

Renton Builds an Inclusive City, One Step at a Time

October 18, 2017 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Inclusive Communities

After seeing a dramatic growth in its population, in particular among ethnic and cultural minorities, the city of Renton undertook an ambitious effort to ensure all constituents have equal access to city services and equal opportunity for civic engagement.

Tips for Local Governments in the Aftermath of the WannaCry Ransomware Attack

May 15, 2017 by Leah LaCivita
Category: Cybersecurity

The WannaCry cybersecurity attack is making news for worm-like behavior that allows it to spread across networks, infecting connected systems without user interaction. All it takes is for one infected user to put a whole network at risk. Here are some tips for local governments on how to combat it.

MoreHide

MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Leah LaCivita

Sample Documents

Topics

MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Leah LaCivita

Blog Archives

Email Updates