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MRSC FOCUS › MRSC Focus - December 1997
 

Note: Some of the information on this archival Web page may no longer be current.

Focus - December 1997

INQUIRY OF THE WEEK

Out with the old...in with the new! Happy New Year! This week's "Inquiry of the Week":

REFERENDUM 47 - THE GOOD, NOT SO GOOD AND UGLY

Now that we've got it, what do we do with it? "It" refers to property tax reform recently approved by more than 60 percent of Washington's voters. Carol Belas, Kitsap County Assessor, gives us the good, not so good, and ugly of implementing Referendum 47.

BEFORE YOU ISSUE AN EXCAVATION PERMIT . . .

Before issuing a sewer or other excavation permit, local government officials should take note of a recent court of appeals decision, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community v. Island County, 87 Wn. App. 552, 942 P.2d 1034 (August, 1997), regarding the protection of Indian archaeological sites under the Indian Graves and Records Act (IGRA).

NEW RECORDS RETENTION SCHEDULE - FAQS

The new local government records retention schedule adopted by the Washington Local Records Committee is now in effect. Get the answers to several frequently asked questions about the new records regulations including FAQs on audio tapes and meeting minutes.

WEB SIGHTINGS - TELECOMMUTING

Curious about telecommuting? There's a wealth of information on the Web from general guidelines to programs and policies implemented by state and local governments. Thanks to Carol Greene, Local Government Personnel Institute Director at AWC, for sharing her favorite telecommuting information sites with us.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & RIGHT-OF-WAY COMPENSATION

Much debate and confusion surround the issue of compensation that local governments can or should receive from telecommunications companies for the use of the rights-of-way. The statutes are ambiguous, in part due to technological advances not yet addressed by the legislature. For instance, should the transmission of voice data be treated or taxed any differently than the transmission of other data? This issue will be addressed in the upcoming legislative session. Stay tuned. The stakes are high and the telecommunications companies are making a strong push for legislation favoring their interests. AWC is following this issue closely - contact Victoria Lincoln for an update regarding legislative activity.

For telecommunications information such as sample ordinances, leases, franchise agreements, FCC documents, and articles, check out MRSC's telecommunications Web page

CHALLENGED WITH REDEVELOPING CONTAMINATED PROPERTIES?

States, local governments and tribes are invited to apply for National Brownfields Assessment Demonstration pilot monies from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Brownfields are underutilized industrial sites where contamination has complicated property expansion, redevelopment or sale. Project proposals must meet federal guidelines. Deadlines for applications are December 15, 1997, and March 23, 1998. EPA expects to fund 100 projects this fiscal year; each project is funded up to $200,000.

A federal brownfields tax incentive and other federal programs may also assist in brownfields redevelopment. See the EPA Brownfields Homepage for more information.

MRSC WEB SITE SEARCH TIPS

You may search the MRSC Web site in two ways: (1) by using the "search" button appearing at the top and bottom of each page which allows you to enter a keyword or phrase to search all documents on the site with the exception of our separate legal databases (RCW, WAC and municipal codes); or (2) by searching the separate legal databases (look for the link to "Searchable Databases - RCW, WAC, Municipal Codes" in the left-hand column of our home page). You can search the legal databases either by keyword or through a table of contents. If you are looking for a particular title, chapter or section, use the following patterns for your search string:

For a title: "Title 25 WAC"
For a chapter: "Chapter 25-12 WAC"
For a section: "WAC 25-12-010"

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