Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing (March 29)
A recent report from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, Why Not in Our Community? – Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing, (541kb) describes recent trends in regulatory barriers to affordable housing and reviews recent efforts by states and local communities to reduce regulatory barriers.

ADA Guide for Small Towns (March 29)
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Guide for Small Towns presents an informal overview of some basic ADA requirements and provides cost- effective tips on how small towns can comply with the ADA.

FirstGov for Kids (March 29)
The Federal Citizen Information Center’s FirstGov for Kids Web site offers links to federal kids' sites along with some of the best kids' sites from other organizations all grouped by subject.

Free Application can Help First Responders Identify Chemicals (March 29)
The National Library of Medicine has created software for handhelds to help first responders when they arrive at a hazardous-material incident, such as a chemical spill. More from Government Computer News.

How to Use Parliamentary Procedure (March 29)
The National Association of Parliamentarians' Web site offers some basic "How To" information on key elements of parliamentary procedure.

Robert's Rules for Small Assemblies (March 29)
The bible of organizational procedure has some modifications that make it much more effective for small meetings or assemblies. More from Practicing Planner.

Court Cases Victories for Municipalities (March 29)
Municipalities scored victories in two recent Supreme Court decisions focusing on search and seizure rules and whether individuals and companies can receive monetary damages when local governments deny wireless towers. More from Nation’s Cities Weekly.

Smart City - The Preservation of Place and Memory (March 29)
One of the powerful ties that bind is history, particularly as it is reflected in the places we build and preserve. This week’s Smart City™ radio show guests talk about how communities can capture and preserve their histories.

Emission Control: Do We have a Problem? (March 29)
Fleet managers can stop worrying. Adapting diesel-powered trucks to comply with tighter emission rules is cheaper and easier than expected. More from American City & County.

Weekly Drought Update (March 24)
No, the drought isn't over, say officials with the state Department of Ecology (DOE). Despite rain and snow, Washington is still parched. More from DOE.

Higher Density Development – Myth and Fact (March 23)
A recent publication from the Urban Land Institute, Higher Density Development – Myth and Fact (1165kb), examines the myths surrounding higher-density development and offers counter arguments to help reduce the many barriers such developments face.

Smart City - Downtown Revitalization and the Arts (March 23)
The latest Smart City™ radio features interviews with the authors of two recently released studies that offer provocative new perspectives on downtown revitalization and the arts.

USERRA Employer Notice Requirement (March 23)
As of March 10, 2005, employers are required to provide employees entitled to Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)-governed health care continuation rights with a notice of their rights, benefits, and obligations. More from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Bush to Cities: Drop Dead! (March 23)
If proposed cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development go through, it could be 1975 all over again. More from Metropolis Magazine.

Updated Local Government General Records Retention Schedules (March 23)
A January, 2005 update to the Local Government General Records Retention Schedules is now available on the Washington Secretary of State’s Web site.

2005 Top 10 Best U.S. Walking Cities (March 23)
An American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) study reveals the top ten walker-friendly cities in the country. More from APMA.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Affordable Housing Measures (March 23)
After developing a series of recommendations for reducing regulatory barriers to affordable housing, taskforces in Burlington, Vermont; Columbus, Ohio; and Dallas, Texas established mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of these measures. More from Breakthroughs.

Information and Market-Based Community Development (March 23)
Two complementary papers from the Metropolitan Policy Program's Urban Markets Initiative, examine the role of information resources in spurring markets and creating investment strategies to boost urban neighborhoods. More from Brookings.

Community Development Block Grant Awards Announced (March 23)
The Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) recently awarded more than $6.6 million in Community Development Block Grants to 12 cities, towns and counties in the state. More from CTED.

PTI Announces 2004 Solutions Award winners (March 23)
The Public Technology Institute (PTI) recently announced the winners of its 2004 Solutions Awards, recognizing local governments for improving service delivery through their use of technology. More from NACo’s County News.

City Prevails On U.S. Supreme Court Cell Tower Case (March 23)
On March 22nd the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Section 1983 damages (which include attorney fees) are not available to those who challenge a local government's decision to deny a permit for installation or operation of a cell tower. The case is City of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA v. Abrams. For further information, contact Jim Doherty at MRSC.

Continuation of Health Insurance Coverage under USERRA (March 23)
The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 (see Section 201), enacted by Congress in December 2004, extends the period for which an employee covered by USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act) may elect to continue employer-sponsored health insurance coverage from 18 months to 24 months.

Drought Emergency Declared (March 18)
On March 10, 2005, Governor Christine Gregoire authorized the Department of Ecology (DOE) to declare a drought emergency. For more information, see MRSC's Water Conservation Web page, DOE's 2005 Drought Emergency Web page, and the Governor's press release.

How Do You Deal with a Proposal for a New Wal-Mart Supercenter? (March 15)
Should you or should you not support the location of a Wal-Mart store in or near your community? This is a question that has been asked and answered by some 3,000 communities in the United States since Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart in 1962. More from Public Management.

Report - Restoring Trust in Government (March 15)
A recent report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, Restoring Trust in Government: The Potential of Digital Citizen Participation (3253kb), presents three case studies of how government organizations are using technology to enhance citizen engagement and participation.

Community Cable Cookbook (March 15)
The Center for Digital Democracy's "Community Cable Cookbook - A Citizen's Guide to Cable Franchise Negotiations," lists the key components of a successful cable franchise, with excerpts from various franchise agreements around the country.

Traffic, Economy Top City Concerns (March 15)
Transportation congestion, rising health care costs, uncertain economic development programs, and inadequate housing are at the top of the list of issues facing America’s city officials, according to a new survey released by the National League of Cities. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Emergency Response and Narrow Streets (March 15)
The Local Government Commission has prepared two new fact sheets summarizing solutions that make narrower streets associated with "smart growth" developments safe for emergency responders as well as residents.

Tools for Community Conversations - Citizen's Academy (March 15)
Every community and jurisdiction faces the challenge of explaining what it does and how in terms citizens can understand. One way to do this is through a citizen’s academy. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

2005 Report Card – Nation's Infrastructure Crumbling (March 15)
Our nation's infrastructure has shown little to no improvement since receiving a collective D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in 2001. More from ASCE.

Smart City - Opportunities for Aging Industrial Cities (March 15)
The steady decline of manufacturing jobs has hit some U.S. cities especially hard. But some cities are fighting back. The latest Smart City™ radio show features a discussion about the challenges and opportunities facing America's older manufacturing cities.

Mapping ROI for Geospatial Projects (March 15)
Local government IT managers can find significant return on investment (ROI) for geospatial projects if they look in the right places. More from American City & County.

When Disaster Strikes (March 15)
During an emergency, work management software allows local governments to focus on recovery efforts, knowing that costs are being documented for later reimbursement. More from American City & County.

Turning Around Downtown (March 09)
A recent report from the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, Turning Around Downtown: Twelve Steps to Revitalization (365kb), outlines twelve fundamental steps for a downtown turnaround plan.

Smart City - The Creative City Movement (March 09)
The creative city movement, which has caught the attention of mayors, economic developers, and cultural planners worldwide, is the subject of this week’s Smart City™ radio show.

Genius of the European Town Square (March 09)
One of the greatest inventions of the European city, indeed one could not conceive of most European cities without it, is the central town square or market place. More from International Making Cities Livable.

Local Government Webmasters Meeting (March 09)
We have a full agenda for our next local government Webmasters meeting to be held on Thursday May 26 in Seattle. Topics include use of the Web in emergency management, audio and video streaming of council meetings, adding photographs to your site, and intranet-based HR systems. All Washington local government employees are welcome to attend.

NACo’s Grants Clearinghouse makes Finding Money Easier (March 09)
The National Association of County Officials (NACo) has developed a Grants Clearinghouse to streamline and simplify the grant-seeking process for member counties. More from NACo’s County News.

Privatization - A Balancing Act (March 09)
Contracting out services can benefit the bottom line, but not always. The trick is to figure out when it does and doesn’t. More from Governing.

Cash Management Technology in State and Local Governments (March 09)
How does your government compare to other governments in its use of technologies such as Internet payments, credit cards, electronic data interchange, kiosks, and automatic bank debits? More from the Government Finance Officers Association (324kb).

2004 Digital Cities Survey Report (March 09)
The 2004 Digital Cities Survey Report (829kb) issued by NLC and the Center for Digital Government highlights recent trends and the progress made by cities and towns in the transition to digital government. More from Government Technology.

Barrier-Free IT (March 09)
Making state and local government Web sites accessible to people with disabilities is less a matter of dollars than sensitivity. More from Governing.

Telecom Companies Fighting Competition from Municipalities (March 09)
Telephone and cable TV companies have been flexing their political and financial muscle at the state level, arguing that government has no business getting into their business. More from Forbes.

Cities and Counties in the News (March)
Here are the latest news clippings from around the state highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments:

• Eastside Transit: Is Blend Best? (Seattle Times, March 31, 2005)
• City Sticks Toe in Wireless Water (Federal Way Mirror, March 30, 2005)
• Bellevue Trims City Hall Project (Seattle Times, March 26, 2005)
• Shoreline Cottages: Too Close for Comfort? (Seattle Times, March 24, 2005)
• New Redmond Sign Rule Approved (Seattle Times, March 24, 2005)
• Supreme Court Decision to Help Cities Block New Cellphone Towers (Seattle Times, March 23, 2005)
• Council Makes Major Move in Plans for Redevelopment (Seattle Times, March 23, 2005)
• Bellevue Police Earn National Accreditation (Seattle Times, March 22, 2005)
• Nickels Unveils Plan to Build up Southeast Seattle (Seattle Post Intelligencer, March 22, 2005)
• Foes of Wal-Mart Criticize City's Plans to Deal with Traffic Increase (Skagit Valley Herald, March 22, 2005)
• Council Approves Fire Study (Skagit Valley Herald, March 22, 2005)
• Summer Drought Begins Now, City Cautions (Bainbridge Island Review, March 19, 2005)
• Fed. Way: Searching for Itself (Seattle Times, March 16, 2005)
• Sultan could be Locked Out of New County Jail (Seattle Times, March 16, 2005)
• Rural Liaison Hopes to "Get Beyond the Anger" (Seattle Times, March 15, 2005)
• City Looks to Turn Garbage to Energy (Tacoma News Tribune, March 14, 2005)
• Cash-Strapped Town could Fall Off the Map (Everett Herald, March 13, 2005)
• Other Snohomish County Towns also in Trouble (Everett Herald, March 13, 2005)
• Seattle Takes Steps to Save, Store Water (Seattle Times, March 10, 2005)
• Panel Oks Increase in Building Height Limit (Everett Herald, March 10, 2005)
• Cities Clustering Development Near Centers of Transportation (Seattle Post Intelligencer, March 9, 2005)
• City Sees Signs of Drop in Visual Clutter (Seattle Times, March 9, 2005)
• Did County Misread Law on Parkland? (Seattle Times, March 9, 2005)
• City Wants Prostitute-Free Zone (Tacoma News Tribune, March 9, 2005)
• Seattle City Council Approves Tax Break for more Low-Rent Apartments (Seattle Post Intelligencer, March 8, 2005)
• Arlington City Council Oks Growth (Everett Herald, March 8, 2005)
• Got a Fine to Pay? Local Courts have a Good Deal for You (Skagit Valley Herald, March 8, 2005)
• Public Airs Views on PFD Funding Ideas (The Olympian, March 8, 2004)
• Public Projects often Drive Out Small Businesses (Seattle Post Intelligencer, March 7, 2005)
• Safety, Noise Spur Scooter Law (Seattle Times, March 2, 2005)
• Fway may Say Hi to Wi-Fi (Federal Way Mirror, March 2, 2005)
• West Richland Considers Ordinance Banning Card Rooms (Tri-City Herald, March 1, 2005)

Technical Guide – Low Impact Development (March 01)
The Puget Sound Action Team along with Washington State University Pierce County Extension is now offering comprehensive and new information in their Low Impact Development Technical Guidance Manual for Puget Sound.

Web Sightings - Community Policing (March 01)
Is community policing the right approach for your city? Learn more with these community policing Web resources.:

• MRSC Web page on Community Policing
• Community Policing Consortium - A partnership of five of the leading police organizations in the United States. The Consortium's Electronic Library contains an extensive collection of the latest in community policing literature.
• COPS (Office of Community Oriented Policing Services) - The U.S. Department of Justice's community oriented policing site includes topical information, funding and grant information, publications, news, and training opportunities.
• The Community Policing Index - Includes links to national, regional, and local community policing resources.
• Community Policing Pages - Resource pages started by Dr. Robert C. Trojanowicz, an influential force in the community policing movement.
• Policing.com - "Headquarters" for community policing, includes forum, articles, training opportunities, and links to other useful Web sites.
• Washington State Institute for Community-Oriented Policing - Located at Washington State University – Spokane, WSICOP is a joint effort of WSU, the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission and serves as the vehicle for statewide implementation of community policing.

Selected Community Policing Programs of Washington Local Governments:

• Brier, Community Policing
• Sequim Police Department, Community Policing Page
• Snohomish County Community Policing Newsletters
• Sumner, Community Policing in Sumner
• Tukwila Police, Community Oriented Policing
• Vancouver Police Department, Community Policing
• Yakima Police Department, Community Programs
• Yakima County Sheriff, Community Policing

Smart City - Using Nature to Make Lovable Places (March 01)
Preserving the natural environment depends increasingly on what happens in cities. The latest Smart City™ radio show features a discussion about the impact of cities on nature and vice versa.

Information Technology - Spreading out Costs (March 01)
Local government chief financial officers and information technology executives who decide to invest in technology should consider financing, rather than making their purchases with cash. More from American City & County.

City Succeeds in Applying Performance Measurement Data (March 01)
Performance measurement is more than a data-collection and reporting exercise; it's the analysis of the data that truly makes it a tool for continuous service improvement. More from the International City/County Management Association.

The Public Health Roots of Zoning (March 01)
Legal, historical, and policy rationales support the modernization of zoning and land use policies that allow sensible mixes of land uses. Mixed land uses make walking an attractive alternative to driving and support a more physically active and healthy citizenry. More from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine(188kb).

Child Exploitation Units Apprehend Online Predators (March 01)
To combat the problem of online predators, counties have launched child exploitation units that seek out the offenders by having detectives purport to be teenagers online. More from NACo’s County News.

Job Sprawl and the Spatial Mismatch between Blacks and Jobs (March 01)
New research from the Brookings Institution strongly suggests that job sprawl—low-density, geographically spread-out patterns of employment growth—exacerbates the racial employment divide in America. More from Brookings.

Public Art Displays Carry Legal Risks (March 01)
Several laws apply to city-sponsored art exhibits. Knowing the basics of these laws can prevent costly litigation. More from American City & County.

A First Look at the Census’s Gated Community Data (March 01)
A new report from the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech, Security versus Status? A First Look at the Census’s Gated Community Data (209kb), examines the Census' "Gated Community" data and discusses the myths and realities surrounding gated communities.

Denver Voters Gallop to Smart Growth (March 01)
Denver residents love light rail. And in a metropolitan region expected to add one million more people within 20 years, they want more of it. More from the Michigan Land Use Institute.