Most Uses of Lodging Tax Revenues are Preserved (May 20)
With the passage of ESHB 1253, all the current allowed uses of lodging tax funds have been preserved except one—lodging tax funds may no longer be spent on capital expenditures for tourism-related facilities owned by nonprofit organizations. More from MRSC Insight.
Recreational Marijuana – Initial Draft Rules Issued (May 17)
The state Liquor Control Board has just released their initial draft rules for recreational marijuana business licensing. This is the first look we have at the framework which is in the process of being drafted and adopted. The Liquor Control Board welcomes your comments. The draft rules will be released for formal comment later.
Disqualification: Keeping Unqualified Persons off the Ballot (May 16)
The candidate filing period for this year’s election will be over this Friday, May 17. One would hope that those who file for an elective office are qualified for that office, if they were to be elected. But what if they aren’t qualified? What then?
More from MRSC Insight.
Livability 2.0 (May 17)
How social trends, transportation technology, and a new planning paradigm can create more livable cities. More from Planning.
Candidate Information Resources (May 17)
MRSC has created a webpage especially for local government elective office candidates.
Update on MRSC’s Strategic Planning Process (May 15)
Last fall, MRSC began work on the development of a three- to five-year strategic plan for our organization. More from MRSC Insight.
Coding a Better Government (May 17)
Can government be run like the Internet, permissionless and open? Coder and activist Jennifer Pahlka believes it can -- and that apps, built quickly and cheaply, are a powerful new way to connect citizens to their governments -- and their neighbors. More from TED Talks.
New Public Procurement Laws Approved in 2013 Legislative Session (May 15)
Mike Purdy has posted on his Public Contracting Blog a great summary of laws passed in the 2013 Legislative Session that impact public works contracting and purchasing.
Website Supports Sustainability Initiatives at Local Level (May 17)
GreenTowns is a new network of 15,000
sustainable communities that connects and celebrates local green initiatives and the people supporting them.
Compare Cities, Streets and Other Shapes With This Cartographic Mixing Machine (May 17)
Measurement is alright, but nothing expresses a geographic comparison like putting two objects next to each other. More from The Atlantic Cities.
Where Americans Want To Live (May 17)
A new report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI), America In 2013, underscores the influence that growing demographic groups – in particular Generation Y, African Americans, and Latinos – will have on reshaping urban growth patterns by spurring more development of compact, mixed-use communities with reliable transit service. More from ULI.