Note: Some of the information on this archival Web page may no longer be current.
Focus - November 1998
Inquiry of the Week
This week's "Inquiry of the Week":
What factors can a city consider when setting water utility rates?
[Previous inquiries of the week]
Server Busy Problem Resolved
November 5, 1998. We have now resolved the problem with the "Server busy" message you have frequently been receiving when attempting to search the WAC, RCW, municipal codes, and other databases on the MRSC Web site. The problem was due to a change Folio made to the architecture of its Web software in April 1998, but they have corrected this problem with the most recent release of the software. We thank you for your patience while we resolved this problem, and we apologize for the frustration and inconvenience this may have caused you over the past few months.
Initiative 200 Passes - Public Hiring and Procurement Affected
I-200 will take effect 30 days after the election and applies to all local governments, including counties, cities, and towns (full text of Initiative 200). I-200 prohibits "preferential treatment" based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment, education, and contracting. The Washington State Attorney General's Office has prepared an issue paper discussing the potential impacts of I-200 on public employment and public contracting. A media advisory and summary of the issue paper are also available. MRSC suggests that counties, cities, and towns review their hiring policies, including civil service, and their procurement policies in light of I-200. MRSC is serving as a clearinghouse for information on the effects of I-200 on local governments. Please share information from your jurisdiction with us. Stay tuned to MRSC's Web site for updates on this topic.
New Commissioner Handbook
MRSC's latest publication, New Commissioner Handbook, is now available. This handbook was developed for newly elected county commissioners in the state of Washington. This publication is available in Adobe Acrobat format. You will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader 3.0 installed on your computer to view or download it. The Reader is free, and may be downloaded from the Adobe Web site.
Internet Tax Freedom Act
The Internet Tax Freedom Act was signed by President Clinton (as part of the budget bill) on October 21, 1998. It establishes an Internet tax moratorium, which prohibits state and local governments from imposing taxes on Internet access charges, and is in effect from October 1, 1998 until October 21, 2001. The law also creates a temporary commission to study the taxation of Internet commerce. More information is available on the Internet Tax Freedom Act Home Page, provided by Congressman Christopher Cox.
Counties/Cities 457 Deferred Compensation Plans
By January 1, 1999 all county and city sponsored Internal Revenue Code Section 457 Deferred Compensation Plans must be amended to meet the requirements of the Small Business Jobs Protection Act of 1996. If the plans do not meet these requirements, they will be considered ineligible and government employers will be liable for the amount of income taxes that should have been withheld and the employees will be liable for the payment of income taxes on vested amounts deferred under the plans. An excellent article, written by a Washingon D.C. pension-tax attorney, on the necessary changes is available on-line at http://www.erols.com/cvcalhoun/ria21.html. Thanks to David Jamieson, Island County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, for contributing this item.
Flooding Season is Here
Each year floods in Washington State destroy property, displace people, and threaten lives. State and local governments spend millions of dollars on flood preparation and clean-up. MRSC has compiled information on flood plain management, flood warning programs, and flood preparedness and response in Washington State.
Sammamish - Washington's Next New City
On November 3, voters approved the incorporation of the new city of Sammamish in King County. The new city has about 38,372 residents and covers 21.5 square miles on the Lake Sammamish plateau between Redmond and Issaquah. Council elections will be held in February (primary) and April. The likely incorporation date is August 31, 1999. Sammamish will be Washington's 279th city.
Compilation on Financial Policies
Take a look at our new compilation on local government financial policies. It includes policies from various Washington city budget documents and from the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting Practice.
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."
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 Cabinet will continue to build upon and improve. It is inviting review and feedback. more...
Federal Way's Online Zoning Maps
The city of Federal Way offers a set of online zoning maps on their Web site. Visitors simply point and click on an image map of the city to zoom in to view a more detailed map with descriptions of area zoning designations.
Web Sightings - Planning
Here are some of the places to start when seeking planning information:
- Cyburbia.org - Internet Resources for the built environment - This comprehensive directory of over 7,200 sites relevant to planning, architecture and related professions continues to be one of our favorites.
- American Planning Association - The APA's Web site includes many planning research topics, such as the Growing Smart project and neighborhood collaborative planning, as well as Jobs Online and much more.
- California Land Use Planning Information Network - This information service addresses land use and planning in California, including plans, zoning ordinances and more.
- Growth Management Program, Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development - Find information on the Growth Management Hearings Board, short course on local planning, and other topics.
- Planning Commissioners Journal Planners Web - Another useful site, including the journal and a lot of additional planning-related information.
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.
Sign Our Guestbook
If you haven't had a chance to sign our guestbook yet, please take a minute to say hello and tell us what you think of our Web site. We appreciate the feedback and rely on your opinions to guide us in making improvements to this site.
Get MRSC Web Site Updates by E-mail
You can get a monthly e-mail notifying you of selected updates to MRSC's Web site by subscribing to the mrscweb mailing list (listserv). Simply type: subscribe mrscweb your name in the body of the message, and press "send" (leave the subject line blank). You may have your name removed from the list at any time by following the directions in the welcome message you will receive after subscribing.
Unlike most listservs, mrscweb is not a discussion list to which all subscribers may post messages, but a free subscription to a monthly notice updating you on major changes and additions to the MRSC Web site. If you have questions about this listserv, please contact Terri Sanders, MRSC Information Services Technician, at tsanders@mrsc.org.