skip navigation
MRSC logo

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC

Have a Research Question?

Ask MRSC
About Our Blog Our Authors

MRSC Insight Blog


Posts for Guest Author

Strengthening Local Economies Through Economic Development Planning

September 30, 2026  by  Leonard Bauer
Category:  Guest Author ,  Economic Development

Local economic development planning helps to strengthen businesses, expand the tax base, diversify the economy, and reduce disparities. To maximize results, coordinate local plans with neighboring jurisdictions, regional organizations, and regional plans.

Read more

Finding Our North Star: Skagit County’s Call to Action on Housing

September 21, 2026  by  Ryan Walters
Category:  Guest Author ,  Housing ,  Homelessness ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Can Washington’s housing crisis be solved when cities act together? Under the North Star initiative, Skagit County and its largest cities want to boost regional housing by adopting recommended development measures and tools, such as 'by-right' permitting.

Read more

Why Good Leaders Must Also Be Good Followers

September 14, 2026  by  Deborah Knight
Category:  Guest Author ,  Leadership and Management

What makes a good leader? The ability to simply direct others? Or is it about knowing when to also step aside? In local government, better outcomes depend on people throughout the agency sharing responsibility for the mission, regardless of what role they find themselves in. 

Read more

How Regional Collaboration Can Help Local Governments Rethink Capacity and Deliver Climate Action

September 8, 2026  by  Ria Bhatnagar
Category:  Guest Author ,  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Climate and Sustainability ,  Interlocal Cooperation

Limited staff time and a lack of technical expertise can present challenges for local governments trying to translate climate-related policies into action, particularly for agencies with no dedicated climate staff. However, regional collaborations can help move projects forward.

Read more

From Local Strain to Regional Solutions: The Benefits of Metropolitan Park Districts

August 17, 2026  by  Ross Hoover
Category:  Guest Author ,  Annexation ,  Parks and Recreation Finance ,  Special Districts

While the importance of parks is well-understood, rising costs, strained funding, and aging assets widen the gap between what communities expect and what agencies can sustainably deliver. A Metropolitan Park District can offer stable funding for the needs of a growing community.

Read more

Before the First Planning Session: Laying the Foundation for Successful Strategic Planning

July 9, 2026  by  Una McAlinden
Category:  Guest Author ,  Leadership and Management

Successful strategic planning involves forethought and planning regarding who should be involved in the process and where the organization stands at present, as well as an acknowledgment of why the organization feels the need to undertake the process at present. 

Read more

4 smiling young professionals standing arm in arm

Culture by Design, Not Accident: The Hidden Driver of Performance

May 28, 2026  by  Julie T. Underwood
Category:  Guest Author ,  Administration and Management

What makes a good, or even great, work culture? Building it requires developing a clear vision, identifying strengths and gaps in the workplace, creating an action plan, and ensuring that psychological safety is always present for employees.

Read more

Not a Fan Zone? Not a Problem! How Any City Can Celebrate the FIFA World Cup 26™

May 26, 2026  by  Jillian Henze
Category:  Guest Author ,  Tourism ,  World Cup 2026 ,  Special Events

The small city of Waitsburg offers one example of how cities and towns in Washington can celebrate this year's World Cup™—and be prepared for a potential uptick in tourism locally—without being an official Fan Zone or Host City.  

Read more

Your Comp Plan Is Not Your Strategic Plan: Here's Why That Matters

May 18, 2026  by  Una McAlinden
Category:  Guest Author ,  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management

Your agency has just finished a comprehensive plan, so it doesn't need a strategic plan, right? Not so fast, those two plans answer fundamentally different questions and neither should be used as a substitute for the other.

Read more

Point of Order and Appeal Are the Heart of Democracy

April 13, 2026  by  Ann G. Macfarlane
Category:  Guest Author ,  Legislative Body

What are the motions of Point of Order and Appeal in Robert’s Rules of Order, and how (or why) would a member of a council, commission, or board use these motions during a meeting of the governing body?

Read more

Public Defense Standards Are Changing: Selecting and Contracting for Public Defense Services

March 9, 2026  by  Drew T. Pollom
Category:  Guest Author ,  Courts and Criminal Justice System

In 2024, the State Bar Association adopted revised standards related to public defense services. A 2025 Supreme Court interim order also addressed these standards. Since the standards now differ, how should a local government contract for public defense services?

Read more

Dangerous Waste Management Program Guidance and Compliance Tips

February 12, 2026  by  Julie Nicoll ,  Stacy Fox
Category:  Guest Author ,  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Hazardous Materials and Substances

Dangerous waste compliance programs are often overlooked by government agencies. Learn about the basics of a dangerous waste management program, including waste designation, preparing for an inspection, and compliance tips.

Read more

Got Waste? What to Know About the New System for Annual Dangerous Waste Reports Due March 1

January 28, 2026  by  Stacy Fox ,  Julie Nicoll
Category:  Guest Author ,  Environmental Laws and Regulations ,  Hazardous Materials and Substances

Beginning March 1, annual dangerous waste reports must be submitted on a new online platform. Learn how these changes will impact dangerous waste reporting and recordkeeping for your public agency.

Read more

Floor Area Ratio: What It Is and How Local Governments Can Use It

December 3, 2025  by  Noal Leonetti ,  Abby Newbold
Category:  Guest Author ,  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Housing ,  Transportation and Land Use

Regulations addressing floor area ratio (FAR) can help cities build density and give developers more options. Passed in 2025, HB 1491 requires certain cities use FAR when setting density standards near high-capacity transit stations for rail and/or bus.

Read more

Best Foot Forward: How the State Supports Improved Pedestrian Safety

October 22, 2025  by  Lisa Pool ,  Briana Weisgerber
Category:  Guest Author ,  Cycling and Walking ,  Streets and Sidewalks ,  Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Looking to make your local roads safer for people biking and walking? Washington State offers a variety of resources, including grant programs, to support projects that create safer roads, from speed management strategies to the construction of better crosswalks. 

Read more

Eliminating Email Overwhelm: Practical Strategies for Real People

September 24, 2025  by  Kristina Cerise
Category:  Guest Author ,  Technology Use Policies

We all deal with too much email: from mailing lists we have subscribed to as well as those we have not. What are some quick and easy ways to handle email volume while also making sure we are responding to those critical items? 

Read more

Building Your Bench: Succession Planning the Lake Stevens Way

September 3, 2025  by  Anya Warrington
Category:  Guest Author ,  Administration and Management

The City of Lake Stevens has been using an innovative approach to retain and support staff as part of long-term, holistic succession planning program, including offering employees short-term opportunities in leadership roles and launching a bootcamp for future leaders. 

Read more

Public Defense Standards Are Changing: Part 2

August 28, 2025  by  Oskar Rey ,  Drew T. Pollom
Category:  Guest Author ,  Courts and Criminal Justice System ,  Court Decisions and AGO Opinions

In 2024, the Washington State Bar Association adopted revised standards related to caseload limits and other elements of public defense service. A recent state supreme court interim order impacts these standards. What do local governments need to know moving forward?

Read more

Changing Course: Using Robert’s Rules to Alter a Prior Action

July 9, 2025  by  Ann G. Macfarlane
Category:  Guest Author ,  Legislative Body

When and how can a governing body change course on a prior action? Robert's Rules of Order offers governing bodies options for changing a previous motion or decision. Elected officials should understand these options and how to use them correctly.

Read more

2025 Legislation Promotes the Development of Childcare Facilities

June 12, 2025  by  Lisa Pool ,  Barbara Rosen ,  Maria Tobin
Category:  Guest Author ,  Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management ,  Development Regulations and Zoning ,  Inclusive Communities ,  New Legislation and Regulations

One bill from the 2025 legislative session requires certain localities to update their local codes and make it easier for childcare facilities to be sited in a variety of zones. Another requires local governments remove minimum parking standards for these and other facilities. 

Read more

LOAD MORE