MRSC Insight Blog

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Six Housing and Planning Bills that Help Washington Communities Confront the Housing Crisis

August 21, 2024 by Lisa Pool
Category: Parking , Housing , New Legislation and Regulations

Contains summaries of six bills related to co-living, parking standards, building conversions, middle housing, residential building and energy codes, and manufactured housing passed during the most recent short Washington State legislative session.

Public Records Officers, Check Your Email – JLARC Needs Your Help!

August 19, 2024 by Sarah Doar
Category: Public Records Act

The Joint Legislative and Research Committee (JLARC) is requesting feedback from Public Records Officers (PROs) on a new exemption to the Public Records Act (PRA) by September 3, 2024.

A person putting a ballot into a ballot box

Managing Election-Related Issues

August 14, 2024 by MRSC Insight
Category: Elections

Challenges can arise for a local government during an election season, including those involving candidates, keeping election workers safe, keeping ballot boxes accessible and secure, and regulating temporary signage.

Building Trust: Effective Tools for Local Government

August 12, 2024 by Linda Gallagher
Category: Leadership , Inclusive Communities , Public Participation

Building trust with community members can be accomplished in many ways, and Washington local governments have implemented innovative strategies to increase transparency, build relationships with diverse communities, and demonstrate responsiveness to community needs.

Two people look on while a third presents an architectural design

Impending Deadline of January 1 to Address SB 5290’s New Development Timelines

August 7, 2024 by Steve Butler
Category: Land Use Administration , New Legislation and Regulations

Beginning in 2025, GMA-planning counties and cities must follow new state-based timelines for issuing a final decision on applications for land use review. However, localities can — up to end of this year — adjust their timelines for review (and bypass the state ones).

An employee and two supervisors during an employee disciplinary meeting

Understanding Loudermill Rights: Balancing Due Process in Employee Discipline and Best Practices

August 5, 2024 by Evan Chinn , Chloe Lee
Category: Guest Author , Termination and Retirement

Loudermill rights protect the rights of public sector employees facing disciplinary actions. Employers must hold a pre-disciplinary hearing, which safeguards the right of the employee in question and ensures transparency, accountability, and fairness in employment decisions.

The Wait is Over — 2025 Budget Suggestions Is Here!

July 31, 2024 by Eric Lowell
Category: MRSC News and Updates , Budgets and Budgeting

Do you need estimated state shared revenue for 2025? How about information on 2024 legislation impacting local government taxes? It's all available in our updated Budget Suggestions, the tool that's been helping Washington local governments plan their budgets since 1943.

Concept of use of Artificial Intelligence for work

Open the Pod Bay Doors: Navigating the Intersection of Public Records and Generative AI

July 29, 2024 by Sarah Doar
Category: Information Technology , Public Records Act

Local government employees and elected officials are increasingly exploring the use of generative AI in their day-to-day duties. The results will likely be treated as public records, but what about prompts people use to generate that result?

MRSC's 90th Anniversary Celebration: How Local Governments, Partners Helped MRSC Through Challenging Times

July 24, 2024 by Leah LaCivita
Category: MRSC News and Updates

MRSC is celebrating 90 years of providing trusted guidance to Washington local governments, but not without encountering a few bumps along the way. Thanks to the dogged support of local governments and institutional partners, we've weathered these bumps and come out stronger.

Aerial view of rural property showing graph of increasing dollar value

The Sheetz Decision: Agencies May Now Have To Show Their Work on Impact Fees

July 22, 2024 by Heidi Greenwood , Nick Morton
Category: Guest Author , Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Impact Fees

Under a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling, an agency may have to show how its impact fee calculations are related to land use interests and proportional to the impact of that development. (This blog updates and replaces one originally published in June.)

MRSC Welcomes Leonard Bauer as a Planning Consultant

July 17, 2024 by Leonard Bauer
Category: MRSC News and Updates

His college stints made him both a Cougar and a Duck at different times, but don’t let that stop you from reaching out to our newest planning consultant, Leonard Bauer, for guidance on topics ranging from the GMA to community engagement, missing middle housing, and much more.

Camping Revisited: U.S. Supreme Court Changes the Landscape of Penalizing Public Sleeping

July 15, 2024 by Harry Boesche
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Homelessness

The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson gives local governments a greater ability to enact and enforce criminal penalties for acts like public camping or sleeping, even in localities where limited local shelter space contributes to these acts.

three construction workers looking at a blueprint

Introducing MRSC’s New Small Works Roster Manual!

July 10, 2024 by Steve Hawley
Category: MRSC News and Updates , Purchasing and Contracting

Starting July 1, there are new laws for small works roster (construction) contracts under $350,000, including an option to “direct contract” under $150,000. We’ve published new guidance to explain the requirements, and public agencies will need to adopt new procedures.

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 magnifying glass against financial figures and stacks of coins

2024 Legislative Session Outcomes for Procurement and Contracting

June 26, 2024 by Josh Klika
Category: Purchasing and Contracting , New Legislation and Regulations

How will 2024 legislation impact procurement and contracting in Washington? Contractors sanctioned for violating prevailing wage laws may see additional sanctions, prompt payment provisions have been strengthened, and change orders requirements have been updated.

A person sitting in front of a computer with a bag over their head decorated with a picture of a troll

Not What You Were Expecting To Hear: More Strategies for Handling Hate Speech During Public Comment

June 25, 2024 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Inclusive Communities , Legislative Body , Public Participation

What can an agency do to minimize the harm caused by a speaker whose goal may be to disrupt a public meeting? After some high-profile zoom bombing incidents, local governments are exploring strategies such as public comment rule changes and setting expectations for speakers.

MRSC's 90th Anniversary Celebration: How Technology Shaped Organizational Efficiency from the 1970s to the Present

June 18, 2024 by Alicia Bones
Category: MRSC News and Updates

MRSC is celebrating 90 years of providing trusted guidance to Washington local governments. We started as a small office taking questions through the mail and have grown into an established nonprofit with an online presence that one user called 'government Google'.

Team works together to collect data and make a wildfire plan

Is Your Community Ready for a Wildfire?

June 17, 2024 by Guy Gifford
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change , Emergency Management , Fire Protection

Which neighborhoods are most at risk for wildfire in your community? What are the priority actions your local government should take and where should these be concentrated? Developing a community wildfire protection plan can help an agency answer these questions.

Yellow toy dump truck on dollar bills background

Can We Use REET Funds for That?

June 12, 2024 by Cheryl Grant
Category: Revenues

REET 1 or 2 tax revenue can be an important source of funds for local governments, but this revenue is restricted and can only be used for certain purposes. Confusion around what constitutes an eligible use has generated many questions for MRSC consultants over the years.

Modern, multi-unit residences on city street

The Importance of Housing to Downtown Revitalization

June 5, 2024 by Steve Butler
Category: Housing , Downtown Revitalization Series

As part of a broader strategy to revitalize its downtown, a local government can play a significant role in promoting more housing options, making downtown an inviting place to work, play, and live.

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