Note: Some of the information on this archival Web page may no longer be current.
Focus - October 1999
Inquiry of the Week
This week's "Inquiry of the Week":
[Previous inquiries of the week]
Proposed Court Rule
The Washington State Supreme Court Rules Committee will be holding a closed door meeting on November 9, 1999 to consider the proposed amendment to Administrative Rules for Courts of Limited Jurisdiction (ARLJ) 5. This rule relates to the responsibilities of judges in both municipal and district courts and their relationship with local government administrators. This is your last chance to comment on this rule before possible adoption. Send any written comments directly to Justice Charles Johnson, Rules Committee Chair, Temple of Justice, PO Box 40929, Olympia, WA 98504-0929. (Please send a copy of your letter to Kathy Gerke, Association of Washington Cities). More….
Initiative 695 Resource Center
MRSC is providing a central information-sharing resource center for Initiative 695. We are providing relevant links and information developed by other organizations for your benefit. We do not take responsibility for any of the information provided, nor do we necessarily agree with any of the positions taken. More …
Initiative 695 - Local Government Impacts
MRSC reviews the impacts of Initiative 695 on city and county revenues, transportation projects and services, and future revenue increases in the latest issue of Municipal Research News. More …
Guidelines for Local Officials in Initiative 695 Campaign
There are certain restrictions in Washington State law concerning what local government officials and employees may do in regard to a campaign involving a ballot proposition. Local government officials need to be aware of these restrictions as they apply to use of public facilities, and of what rights they have as citizens to express their support or opposition to Initiative 695. For more, see Use of Public Facilities to Support or Oppose Ballot Propositions and What Can and Can't Local Government Officials and Employees Do to Support or Oppose Initiative 695.
Infrastructure Assistance Conference for Small Cities - November 3-5
On November 3-5, the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council is hosting a conference in Wenatchee for Washington cities and dealing with infrastructure needs. This will be a good opportunity for cities to meet with potential funders and explore grant and loan opportunities. The cost is $150 for the 3 days. Scholarships are still available. If you would like to learn more about infrastructure financing, and a wide variety of environmental, Economic development and public health and safety issues, please contact Michelle Harvey at AWC (360-753-4137).
Proposed Shoreline Regulations Withdrawn
In response to public comment, the Washington Department of Ecology on September 16 withdrew its proposed comprehensive overhaul of the Shoreline Management Act regulations governing local shoreline master programs. The department anticipates filing a new "Preproposal Statement of Inquiry" by the end of 1999 and proposing new amendments in 2000. The formal notice is in the Washington State Register, Issue No. 99-19.
State Regulations on Discrimination Revised
After 20 months of study, the Washington State Human Rights Commission has extensively revised its state regulations in Title 162 WAC relating to employment, sex, and disability discrimination. WSR 99-15-025. The new and amended regulations became effective on August 12, 1999. More . . .
Municipal Web Site Issues
The Internet has become an efficient and effective medium for distributing information to and collecting information from the public. Citizens now expect their local governments to provide access to current and comprehensive information via a municipal site on the World Wide Web. When a municipality creates a Web site to harness the power of the Internet, several concerns should be addressed. More …
1999 Information Technology Survey
The results of MRSC's 1999 information technology survey of Washington cities and towns are in. The survey data includes information on local government Internet access, network and mainframe operating systems, software, Y2K compliance and more. Sixty-nine percent of Washington's 277 cities and towns responded to the annual survey. More …
Heads Up
This issue of our "Heads Up" column focuses on innovative local government programs:
- Intergovernmental Cooperation
- Fostering Downtown Development
- Hometown Home Loan Program
- Communicating Disaster Safety Information
- Lime-Green Traffic Signs
Intelligent Transportation Project in Clark County
Over the last 20 years, roadway capacity on Highway 99 and I-5 North of SR500 in Clark County has been adequate to accommodate growth in traffic. However, the recent fast-paced growth in the county has consumed much of the available roadway capacity. To alleviate the growing levels of traffic congestion, Clark County's new intelligent transportation project focuses on identifying and implementing new technologies to improve performance and safety while getting the most out of the available capacity.
Reaching Volunteers on the Web
Your city or county Web site is a great place to advertise opportunities for community volunteers. You can also add an online volunteer application form. Take a look at how these communities are doing it: Kitsap County, Burien, Tukwila, Federal Way, Kirkland, Lynnwood, and Vancouver.
Marysville Adopts a Ship
We're all familiar with the successful adopt-a-park and adopt-a-highway programs. The city of Marysville has taken this concept to a new level with their participation in the U.S. Navy's Adopt-a-Ship program. More from Marysville's Web site.
Web Sightings - Community Policing
This month we feature links to Web sites with information on community policing:
- Western Regional
Institute for Community Oriented Public Safety (WRICOPS) - One of 34 university-practitioner
collaborations funded by Congress, known as Regional Community Policing Institutes.
Located at Washington State University, WRICOPS provides regional training,
develops training curriculum, and conducts on-site assessments.
- Community Policing Consortium
- A partnership of five of the leading police organizations in the United
States. These organizations play a principal role in the development of community
policing research, training and technical assistance. The Consortium's Electronic
Library contains an extensive bibliography of the latest in community
policing literature.
- Office of Community Oriented Policing
Services - The U.S. Department of Justice's community oriented policing
site includes news, grants program information, publications, promising practices
from the field, and a tools and tips page.
- National Center for Community
Policing - Michigan State University's Center for Community Policing offers
a collection of online articles including a community policing bibliography.
- Regional Community Policing Institute at Eastern Kentucky University - Offers an online training course in community policing. The self-study course includes both text and video.
New MRSC Compilations
Check out our newly updated compilations on Parking Regulations and Employee Recognition and Suggestion Award Programs.
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.
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 send an e-mail to Terri Sanders, MRSC Information Services Technician, at tsanders@mrsc.org. Include your first and last name and your e-mail address. You may also have your name removed from the list at any time, again by sending an e-mail to Terri Sanders with your request.
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.