Note: Some of the information on this archival Web page may no longer be current.
Focus - October 1998
Inquiry of the Week
This week's "Inquiry of the Week":
May a hearing examiner be appointed to serve as the building code board of appeals?
[Previous inquiries of the week]
Sample Vehicle Impound Ordinances
The Seattle City Council passed an ordinance (Seattle Council Bill No. 112327) to implement the 1998 state legislation (Chapter 203, Laws of 1998) authorizing the impoundment of vehicles operated by drivers with suspended or revoked licenses. more ...
We also have a copy of Island County's recent traffic code amendments relating to "Impoundment of Vehicles Driven by Suspended/Revoked Drivers."
New Budget Web Page
Take a look at our new Budget Web page. It includes a set of frequently asked questions, 1999 city and county budget calendars, and links to several on-line budget documents.
Progress Report on Statewide Salmon Recovery Strategy
The Joint Natural Resources Cabinet has produced its first working draft of a statewide salmon recovery strategy, "Extinction is Not an Option." The working draft represents a dynamic, evolving document that the Joint Natural Resources Canbinet will continue to build upon and improve. It is inviting review and feedback.
Important Notice - Implicit Price Deflator has been Lowered
The Implicit Price Deflator (IPD) for Personal Consumption Expenditures, as published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce has been lowered. This means that the projection MRSC offered in Budget Suggestions for 1999 is too high. The new IPD index number for July 1997 is 111.86 and for July 1998 is 112.81. This means the percent change will be 0.85% rather than the 1.3% we originally forecast. Please factor this change in your plans for increasing your property tax for 1999. more...
Focus on Public Hearings
In Public Hearings - When and How to Hold Them, Robert Meinig, MRSC Legal Consultant, discusses what is legally required for public hearings, with an emphasis on quasi-judicial hearings, and summarizes basic hearing procedures.
Focus on 1998 Bid Law Changes
In 1998 Bid Law Changes - New Bid Law Flow Charts, John Carpita, MRSC Public Works Consultant, briefly summarizes recent amendments to state laws relating to exemptions from competitive bidding procedures. Two "quick reference" flow charts are also included.
Water Rights
Glenn K. Rice, Assistant City Manager of Yakima, discusses the complex issue of water rights in Washington State in "Demand Continues for Water Rights" (from Municipal Research News, September 1998).
Heads Up
Rich Yukubousky, MRSC's Executive Director, offers a brief overview of interesting new trends and developments affecting local governments (from Municipal Research News, September 1998):
Selected New MRSC Library Materials
Browse through a selected list of new MRSC Library materials (listed by subject). The list includes new library books, videos, articles, government publications, and more.
Jefferson County's Youth Yellow Pages
The "Youth Yellow Pages" on Jefferson County's Web site gives both parents and young adults an easy-to-access source of information about community services, resources and activities available to preteens, teens, young adults, and their families.
Telecommunications Revenue
Do you know how much revenue your city or county earns from its telecommunications leases, such as placement of antennas on publicly-owned water towers, buildings, or vacant public land? Take a look at how Greensboro, N.C. tabulates their telecom revenue. Policymakers should be aware of revenue considerations when setting policies impacting the leasing of public land to telecommunications providers.
Web Sightings - Transportation "Links"
Add these informative transportation links to your "Favorite Places" or "Bookmarks" collection:
- U.S. Department of Transportation's Intelligent
Transportation Systems Web Site - Focuses on the use of computer and communications
technologies to address challenges in surface transportation.
- Washington
State Department of Transportation's Local Agency Guidelines Manual -
Provides local agencies with statewide policies and standards to follow when
using Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) funds.
-
Washington State Department of Transportation's Page on the Federal Transportation
Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) - TEA-21 authorizes highway, highway
safety, transit and other surface transportation programs for the next 6 years
and builds on the initiatives established in the Intermodal Surface Transportation
Efficiency Act of 1991.
- Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE)
- Information on ITE Journal, publications, standards, jobs, RFPs and more.
- Transportation Research Board - Includes publications, databases, links, and a search feature.
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