MRSC In Focus

NLC's Cities 101

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Cities 101 is a public resource developed by the National League of Cities (NLC) to introduce and explain municipal government in the United States.

'Constraints Management' Breaks Down Barriers to Efficiency

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Government efficiency initiatives come and go. But Utah has had continued success with one in particular. More from Governing.

Idea Center - Minneapolis Uses Foursquare to Share Tips with Citizens

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

The city aims to promote its services and programs with people who check-in around the city. More from Governing.

Federal Pipeline Safety Technical Assistance Grants

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has recently announced the availability of technical assistance grants. Local government jurisdictions concerned about pipeline safety issues should consider applying. MRSC legal consultant Jim Doherty can discuss with you the types of projects previously funded by such grants.

A Decade of Living Dangerously

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

The fiscal challenges facing local governments won't go away soon. Here's why that's a good thing. More from Governing.

Why Every City Should be Planting Rain Gardens

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Today, everyone from water authorities to home gardeners are looking to absorb rain where it falls, eschewing traditional treatment plants and underground sewerage tunnels that effectively neutralize runoff, but don’t do much else. More from The Atlantic Cities.

Interactive Map Shows Local Job Strength by Sector

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

The Urban Institute's MetroTrends research team has created an interactive map that reveals the relative employment strength in 16 job sectors for the nation’s top 100 metropolitan areas. More from The Urban Institute.

EPA Releases New Tool with Information about Water Pollution Across the U.S.

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the release of a new tool that provides the public with important information about pollutants that are released into local waterways. More from EPA.

Green Building Megatrends for 2012

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Dubbed "the godfather of green," Jerry Yudelson discusses 10 trends bound for growth in the months ahead. More from Builder Magazine.

The Plastic Bag Ban: A Battle of Socio-Economic Policy

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

This latest skirmish shows how localities, not the feds, are driving eco-policy. More from Governing.

In the Future, Urban Bikers Go Faster than Cars

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 PDT

Cities around the world are considering radical new speed limits on cars -- slowing down in the name of progress. More from Salon.

Finance Advisor - Using GFOA's New Financial Management Assessment Tool to Improve Performance

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:10:00 PDT

In this month's Finance Advisor column, Mike Bailey, Finance Director, City of Redmond, describes the Government Finance Officers Association's (GFOA) new financial management self-assessment tool that invites users to test their own financial management practices against public sector financial management best practices.

HR Advisor - Social Media in Hiring: Minimizing Legal Risks

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:12:00 PDT

In this month's HR Advisor Column, Sofia D'Almeida Mabee, Employment Attorney, Summit Law Group, offers advice on minimizing risks associated with using social media sites as a source of information about job applicants during the hiring process.

Council Commission Advisor - City Budget Woes: RESET "deja vu all over again"

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:10:00 PDT

In this month's Council/Commission Advisor column, Carl Neu, President of Neu and Company and Director of the Center for the Future of Local Governance™, argues that the "good old days" pre- 2008 are gone, irretrievable, and no longer useful in creating the solutions to the challenges we face, and that opportunities to move forward can be found in three phrases: Bold Leadership, New Balance, and New Normal.

Planning Advisor - Providing for Usable Open Space for Multifamily Developments

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:20:00 PDT

In this month's Planning Advisor column, Bob Bengford, AICP, MAKERS, examines the goals and benefits, notable challenges, and lessons learned in providing on-site open space for multifamily developments, including a comparison of how a few Washington cities regulate this type of open space.

Open Government Advisor - Public Records Act (PRA) Case Law Update: 2009 — 2010

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 00:00:00 PDT

In this month's Open Government Advisor column, Ramsey Ramerman, Assistant City Attorney, City of Everett, discusses “reverse” third-party PRA claims and reviews recent PRA case law.

What's New

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 PDT

Visit MRSC’s new page, Local Government Ballot Measures for November 2011 General Election, for a comprehensive look at Washington state local election trends and results.