MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Guest Author

Many hands in a multitude of colors surround and stretch towards the earth

Centering Equity in Climate Plans and Programs

May 17, 2023 by Helen Ippolito
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change , Inclusive Communities , Public Participation

As new legislation (HB 1181) has added equity components to the Growth Management Act, it is essential to understand what climate equity means and how it is successfully being carried out by local governments across the state.

During a meeting of a small group around a table, one of the members puts his head down on the table because he is dismayed at what is happening.

Four Bad Habits Governing Bodies Should Avoid When Meeting

April 26, 2023 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Whether it's due to heightened emotions or misunderstanding how to apply Roberts Rules, meetings of public agencies can sometimes go awry. Guest author and Parliamentarian Ann Macfarlane provides some procedural tips to governing bodies seeking more effective meetings.

Rights and Limits on Filming in Public Facilities

April 24, 2023 by Michael Incorvaia
Category: Guest Author , Court Decisions and AGO Opinions

First Amendment Audits, when a person records an interaction with a government official or staff member, can be uncomfortable at best, and possibly even veer into harassment. How can an agency ensure the safety of staff without violating the First Amendment Rights of the auditor?

Protecting Your Local Brand: Federal, State, and Local Strategies

March 20, 2023 by Michael Incorvaia
Category: Guest Author , Strategies and Programs , Tourism

Local governments wishing to trademark a logo or seal may find an uphill battle in getting federal protection, but other options exist for protecting local brands.

Integrating Best Available Science: New Tools for Land Use Planning & Emergency Management

February 22, 2023 by Tricia Sears
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change , Emergency Management

The state's Washington Geological Survey is offering new and updated resources to help local governments integrate the best available science into their land use planning and emergency management efforts.

Map of Washington State showing how frequency of days reaching a humidity index over 90 degrees might change from 2050-2079

A New Climate Planning Tool for Local Governments

January 18, 2023 by Matt Rogers
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change

The online tool, Climate Mapping for a Resilient Washington, is a compilation of the best existing climate projection information for the state and includes information on state-specific climate hazards such as reduced snowpack, sea level rise, flooding, and more.

Complete Streets Flourishing in Washington

November 30, 2022 by Celeste Gilman , Lisa Pool
Category: Guest Author , Cycling and Walking , Climate Change

Many Washington cities, towns, and counties have implemented complete streets programs to encourage safe access for all users, regardless of mode of transit. These programs vary from place to place, each meeting the specialized needs of local communities.

Care and Feeding of Your Library Collection Policy

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

Can the Mayor Take Part in Discussion?

September 28, 2022 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Forms of Government-City , Legislative Body

In many cities, the mayor also acts as the meeting chair. While Robert's Rules directs the chair of large groups of 12 or more members to refrain from taking part in a discussion (and focus on facilitating), these rules do not automatically apply to smaller groups.

Equitable Community Engagement in Comprehensive Plan Updates

September 21, 2022 by Rosie Cullen
Category: Guest Author , Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Inclusive Communities

Many local governments are updating their comprehensive plans, and in doing so, some are looking at how to develop intentional strategies that actively engage underrepresented communities in order to build a more equitable plan update in the process.

Beat the Heat with Heat Pumps

September 7, 2022 by Lou Finazzo
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change , Energy Resources and Conservation

Some local governments are turning to high-efficiency, electric-powered heat pumps as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including developing programs that incentivize homeowners to install them in their place of residence.

Natural Hazards Planning Expertise and Resources for Local Governments

August 10, 2022 by Tricia Sears , Greg Wessel
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change , Emergency Management

Because local governments focus on safety and welfare of their communities, they are the first to be called on when a natural hazard strikes. Fortunately state agencies and nonprofits can offer assistance and expertise to better mitigate risk of hazards when regulating land use.

JLARC Public Records Program Reporting Deadline Coming Up Fast

May 25, 2022 by Ashley Elliott
Category: Guest Author , Public Records Act

The JLARC Public Records Program reporting deadline is July 1. This guest blog covers major findings from the 2020 report as well as answers to frequently asked questions regarding the reporting process.

Agencies Relate Successes, Challenges to VMT Reduction

May 16, 2022 by Alon Bassok
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change , Transportation and Land Use , New Legislation and Regulations

Across the state, local governments have been looking at how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle miles traveled in their communities. This blog looks at some successful strategies and common challenges.

Understanding and Defending Against Distributed Denial of Service Attacks

May 9, 2022 by Stevens Fox
Category: Guest Author , Cybersecurity

This guest blog focuses on Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, including how to identify them, types of attacks, and some tips on protecting your mission-critical services against them.

Tapping the Power of Emerging Leaders for Climate Resilience

April 19, 2022 by Kif Scheuer , Mackenzie Bolger
Category: Guest Author , Leadership , Climate Change

CivicSpark is a service program that pairs talented young adult Fellows with local governments, state agencies, Tribes, and nonprofits to tackle climate-related projects, research, and programs. It is expanding to Washington State and accepting applications for the 2022-23 year.

Anacortes is Getting Housing Done

April 11, 2022 by Ryan Walters
Category: Guest Author , Housing

Written by guest author and Anacortes city councilmember Ryan Walters, this blog discusses how the city reworked its development codes to encourage new affordable housing developments, and how it was able to take advantage of SHB 1406 to fund these efforts.

Adverse Employment Action for Employee Social Media Use: Balancing First Amendment Rights and Governmental Efficiency

March 14, 2022 by Rachel Bender Turpin
Category: Guest Author , Social Media

Private companies can discipline or fire employees for offensive personal social media posts. However public employers cannot retaliate against their employees in the same way due to First Amendment rights to free speech. This blog shows how the courts weigh this tension.

Capital Facilities Planning: If There’s No Math, You’re Not Doing It Right

February 10, 2022 by Ryan Walters
Category: Guest Author , Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management

Guest author Ryan Walters suggests that capital facilities planning is as much about building new facilities as it is about accounting for the substantial expense of maintaining that infrastructure in the future.

State Seeks Input on Its Vehicle Miles Traveled Reduction Strategy

January 27, 2022 by Celeste Gilman
Category: Guest Author , Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Climate Change

The State of Washington is seeking input from local governments across the state as it works to establish reduction targets for local vehicle miles traveled and other proposed programs in order to meet key climate action targets.

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