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MRSC FOCUS › Focus Archive

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Focus Archive - July 2006

Please note that Focus section links were valid at the time of their original posting. However, since Web sites and addresses change frequently, we cannot guarantee that all links will remain operative.

Effecting Change: Avoiding the Pitfalls (July 26)
What is it that causes even the simplest organizational changes to inspire anger, pessimism, and resistance and how can organizations create successful, lasting change? More from The Police Chief.

Web Sightings - Community Festivals and Fairs (July 26)
We've selected a few community festivals, fairs and events for you to check out this summer:

Statewide Resources

Selected August Events

Selected September Events

Links to Various City Festivals and Calendars of Events

Smart Growth Illustrated (July 26)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's "Smart Growth Illustrated" Web site provides visual examples of smart growth principals as they have been applied in 20 communities around the country.

Draft Washington Transportation Plan Released for Comment (July 26)
The Washington State Transportation Commission released the Draft Washington Transportation Plan Update on July 20, beginning a 45-day comment period to gather feedback on the plan. More from WSDOT News.

Hospitals in Hurricane Katrina - Lessons Learned (July 26)
A new report from the Urban Institute, Hospitals in Hurricane Katrina: Challenges Facing Custodial Institutions in a Disaster (Adobe Acrobat Document 285kb), explores what happened in New Orleans–area hospitals during and after Hurricane Katrina including lessons learned.

Seattle Projects Top AIA Awards for Green, Affordable Housing (July 26)
Three of the eight winners of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) 2006 "Show You're Green" awards were built in Seattle. The winners were recognized for incorporating green elements in aesthetically excellent, affordable designs. More from the AIA.

AWC Recognizes Winning Cities (July 26)
The Association of Washington Cities recently announced its 2006 Municipal Achievement, Diversity Champion and WellCity award winners. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Preparing for a Pandemic Infulenza (July 26)
A new report from the National Governors Association (NGA), Preparing for a Pandemic Influenza: A Primer for Governors and Senior State Officials, outlines four key principles to guide policymakers in shaping their pandemic response plans. More from the NGA.

Telecommuting Hits the Road (July 26)
Internet access on buses and subways can turn car-centric commuters into mass transit riders — if the technology works. More from Governing.

Wagering on Wi-Fi (July 26)
Will municipal Wi-FI’s current growing pains give way to ubiquitous coverage, or will the wireless boom fall back to earth? More from Federal Computer Week.

New NACo-sponsored Guide Helps Counties Deal with Wild Fires (July 26)
To help counties protect their communities from the threat of wildfires, the National Associatin of County Officials (NACo) joined the International Code Council, International Association of Fire Chiefs, and others to produce the 2006 Wildland Urban Interface Community Planning Tool Kit CD. More from NACo's County News.

Teams, Individuals, and Rewards (July 18)
Why should we expect more cooperation and teamwork in our organizations when most of the rewards and recognition go to individuals? More from Management Insights.

Warning: eVoting Ahead (July 18)
From local election officials to ordinary citizens, there’s angst in the air over the security of electronic ballots. More from Governing.

Skagit County Launches GIS Crime Map (July 18)
Skagit County's new GIS technology-based crime map allows law enforcement personnel and citizens to access area crime statistics online. More from Government Technology.

2006 Telecom Bill Rewrite Tramples Local Governments (July 18)
The Senate Commerce Committee has approved its version of the 2006 telecommunications rewrite, which would have significant implications for counties and other local governments. More from NACo's County News.

N-DEx: The National Information Sharing Imperative (July 18)
Information sharing has become a mission critical component of today's public safety mandate. More from The Police Chief.

DHS Updates Emergency Preparedness Web Site (July 18)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Ready Campaign launched an updated version of its Web site to educate Americans about the simple steps they should take to be ready for a variety of emergencies. More from Government Technology.

Along the Tracks: A Tale of Transit Development (July 18)
Light rail has the potential to transform the transportation habits of hundreds of thousands of users. More from The Next American City.

Katrina Cottages (July 18)
Rising from the ruins of Katrina, new cottage prototypes revolutionize the concept of affordable housing and embody a movement to rebuild the character of Gulf Coast towns. More from Cottage Living.

Management - Don’t Ask (July 18)
The more thoroughly you measure the depths of any problem, the bigger that problem will appear to be. More from Governing.

Prevention Programs Extinguish Fire Risk (July 18)
Each year, more people move further away from cities and into areas known as the "wildland/urban interface," increasing the potential threat from wildfires. More from American City & County.

Budget Suggestions for 2007 (July 18)
MRSC's Budget Suggestions for 2007 (Adobe Acrobat Document 362kb) is now available.

Official Population Figures Released by OFM (July 13)
The April 1, 2006 population figures (Adobe Acrobat Document104kb), used for distribution of state-shared revenues, have been released by the Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM).

Moving to Performance-Based Management (July 13)
By creating learning environments in which performance measures are regularly reviewed and discussed, organizations can improve the rapidity of learning and decision making, improve performance, and facilitate broader cultural change. More from Government Finance Review (Adobe Acrobat Document4mb).

Extreme Makeover (July 13)
After transforming its downtown into a residential mecca, Vancouver, BC, is trying to find the right balance between condos and commerce. More from Governing.

Putting Democracy Front & Center (July 13)
New tools and techniques for visualization, impact analysis, scenario planning, and citizen engagement allow individuals to exert a powerful influence on the planning process and final outcomes. More from Planning Magazine.

Property Tax Favoritism (July 13)
Property tax regimes and land-use schemes that do not consider — and that effectively hinder — denser development may be obsolete policy, avoiding new realities and favoring a lifestyle possible for fewer of our citizens. More from Governing.

Transit-Oriented Development's Role in Enhancing Affordability (July 13)
The true costs associated with suburban living - especially transportation costs - are bringing more people into the cities. More from Smart Growth Online.

The Local Wi-Fi Bet (July 13)
Despite criticism, many cities are betting big on broadband. More from C/NET News.

Smart City - Encouraging Creativity By Design (July 13)
How can the design of physical space and public policy encourage creativity and high performance? Places and policies that encourage creativity is the subject of this week's Smart City radio show.

Born Digital (July 13)
A handful of states, including Washington, are beginning to focus on the need to preserve digital documents. More from Governing.

Information Technology - The One-Two Punch (July 13)
The challenge of making government information readily available to employees and the public while maintaining its security continues to present a conundrum for the public sector. More from American City & County.

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