GASB Involvement in Performance Measurement Runs into NACo Opposition (November 25)
At a Nov. 14 forum in Orlando, Fla. NACo voiced its continuing opposition to efforts by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) to issue standards or guidance on performance measurement. More from NACo's County News.

Guidelines for Maximizing Training Efforts (November 25)
In any law enforcement agency, training can be the key contributor to the nurturing and development of a professional mind-set, self-awareness, and ethical values for both individual officers and the organization as a whole. More from The Police Chief.

Homeless Camps Increase Nationwide (November 25)
In January 2007, the nation's sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons numbered 671,888, according to a report released in April by the Washington-based National Coalition for the Homeless. More from American City & County.

Help the SAO Design their New Web Site (November 25)
The Washington State Auditor’s Office (SAO) is revamping their Web site. They are asking citizens, audit clients and interested parties to to provide feedback on the usability of their existing Web site and suggestions for their new Web site.

Zoning for Affordability (November 25)
One of the ways that local governments regulate residential development is through minimum lot size requirements. More from Breakthroughs.

For Sale: 200,000-Square-Foot Box (November 25)
What happens to big-box buildings when a retailer abandons them? More from Slate.

Ten Best Planning Books - 2009 (November 25)
Planetizen recently released their eighth annual list of the ten best books in the planning field with titles covering some of the most timely issues in planning.

Hey, Big Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (November 25)
There are strong arguments to make that state and local governments need financial aid from Uncle Sam. More from Governing.

Self-Reliant Cities - Energy and the Transformation of Urban America (November 20)
Originally published in 1982, The New Rules Project is making available, as a free download, "Self-Reliant Cities" since many of its discussions are as relevant today as they were 25 years ago.

Rethinking Police Training (November 20)
Ever since the U.S. Congress passed the Safe Streets Act of 1968, which provided substantial federal assistance to local law enforcement agencies for training, basic recruit peace officer training has been a significant and ongoing issue across the country. More from The Police Chief.

Is The Mall Dead? (November 20)
With lighter wallets and heavier burdens, Americans are rethinking their conspicuous consumption. That's bad news for retailers. More from Newsweek.

Vancouver Selected to Receive Technical Assistance on Afterschool Systems (November 20)
Seven cities, including Vancouver, WA, have been selected to participate in phase two of a National League of Cities (NLC) project to improve and expand out-of-school time learning opportunities for children and youth. More from NLC.

Regional Fire Authority Implementation Guide (November 20)
In a joint venture, the Washington Fire Chiefs and the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters have developed a Regional Fire Authority (RFA) Implementation Guide (545 KB) to assist agencies in determining if an RFA is right for them and, if so, how to initiate the RFA process.

Broken Benefits Promises? (November 20)
Will public employers be able to actually afford their past promises for retiree health care? They need to conduct a formal sustainability audit. More from Governing.

Testing the Waters (November 20)
Looking to introduce a bit of innovative programming at your aquatic center? It may be time to consider the options. More from Parks & Recreation.

Smart City - Tall Buildings and Public Spaces (November 20)
This week on Smart City: Public space is important in both cities and in buildings. This week's guests include two people who are attempting to re-imagine those public spaces both inside and out.

The Unofficial Role of the Administrator (November 20)
Many mayor-council communities, looking for the benefits of professional management without the requirement of going through a formal election to change the form of government, have chosen to create a city administrator position to serve under the mayor. Lynn Nordby, MRSC Public Policy and Management Consultant, discusses the unofficial role of the city administrator in these communities. More from Public Management.

New FMLA Rules (November 20)
New rules have been adopted governing the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA); they go into effect January 16, 2009. More from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Citizen Call Center Report (November 13)
A new report from Public Technology Inc., Effective Technology and Management Practices for the Development and Implementation of Citizen Call Centers, provides an overview of the call center implementation strategies - and results - of five local governments and agencies.

No Significant Trends for County Issues this Election (November 13)
The Election Day message of change was loud and clear at the national level. Less clear were any significant trends that local governments could follow, as social issues dominated the Nov. 4 election. More from NACo's County News.

Law Enforcement Leadership Development Program (November 13)
A well-designed leadership development program helps ensure that qualified staff members are available to replace those exiting the organization. More from The Police Chief.

Community Visioning and Strategic Planning Handbook (November 13)
The National Civic League's Community Visioning and Strategic Planning Handbook lays out the framework of the successful community planning processes used by the National Civic League and others across the country.

Local Services Feel the Squeeze (November 13)
Even as states petition Congress for help with their weakening budgets, localities are worried they may be hit the hardest. More from Governing

Green Strategies Spur Rebirth of American Cities (November 13)
U.S. cities have been using green planning to spark economic development, helping create a real urban renaissance in America. With a new administration soon to arrive in Washington, these same approaches may finally start being used on a national scale. More from Environment 360.

APPA Municipal Fiber Broadband Study (November 13)
The American Public Power Association (APPA) has issued a study titled: The Municipal and Utility Guidebook to Bringing Broadband Fiber Optics to Your Community. Communities considering broadband for either residential or commercial deployment should review this thorough report, which details the experiences of several jurisdictions.

Web Sightings - Fiscal Crisis in Local Government (November 13)
This month we’ve selected a variety of articles addressing the fiscal crisis facing local governments in the fall of 2008:

• Local Governments Gear Up to Deal with Economic Downturn, October 2008 - Local government economic struggles mirror those of the nation, according to a quick poll conducted by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in September.
• Fiscal First Aid, Government Finance Review, October 2008.
• "Feds, States, Cities: In One Fiscal Boat, by Neal Peirce, Nation’s Cities Weekly, Oct. 13, 2008.
• Beyond Bailout: Reinvesting In ‘U.S.’" by Neal Peirce, Nation’s Cities Weekly, Sept. 29, 2008 - Proposes an economic plan to rebuild America’s cities and infrastructure, to retool our businesses and people for a risky century.
• City Fiscal Conditions Take a Turn for the Worse, by Chris Hoene and Amanda M. Straub, Nation's Cities Weekly, September 15, 2008 - Addresses National League of Cities City Fiscal Conditions in 2008 report, which finds a troubling combination of developments that will likely affect the financial health of cities over the next several years.
• Under Strain, Cities Are Cutting Back Projects, by Mary Williams Walsh, New York Times, Sept. 30, 2008.
• "Municipal Bonds Hurt by Credit Crisis," by Maria Carter, NPR, Oct. 13, 2008.
• Many urban counties hurt by economic downturn, National Association of Counties, Oct. 2008.

Washington State Government

• Gregoire seeks immediate economic stimulus package, by Curt Woodward, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Nov. 10, 2008.
• "Washington Quarterly Revenue Projection Down," Washington State Office of Financial Management, Sept. 18, 2008.

Local Governments in Washington and Other States

• "Olympia Budget Plan cuts 22 jobs, By Matt Batcheldor, The Olympian, Nov. 7, 2008.
• King County Budget 2009 - Links to information on proposed King County 2009 budget and fiscal crisis.
• National Financial Crisis: Impact on New Haven New Haven, CT, Oct. 22, 2008.

All Systems in Distress (November 13)
Even if the Wall Street bailout works, state and local governments will have fiscal problems for a long time. More from Governing.

A Few Good Sets of 2006 RCWs Available from MRSC (November 13)
We've replaced our 2006 RCWs with new 2008 editions and have 12 complete sets of the old 2006 editions (along with the 2007 supplements) to give away. If your city hall or county courthouse could use a set of pre-owned 2006 RCWs, contact Erica Zwick, MRSC Technical Services Librarian, who will be happy to mail you a set, while our limited supply lasts.

IT - Unclogging Networks (November 07)
To increase network traffic, clamp down on bandwidth hogs, and save money, time and energy, IT agencies are turning to applications that identify employee activity online. More from American City & County.

IT - Lighten Up on Language (November 07)
It’s awfully hard to get legislators or the public excited about an IT program when the words that describe it sound like gibberish. More from Governing.

Preparing for Disasters (November 07)
A new report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, Preparing for Disasters, includes two essays reflecting different perspectives on preparing for and working in large-scale emergencies.

A Collaborative Approach to Prevent Youth Violence (November 07)
Although the number of arrests for youth-related violent crimes has been on the decline since 1995,1 youth violence continues to be a major concern for the public. More from Public Management.

Urban Stormwater Management Report (November 07)
A new report from the National Research Council, Urban Stormwater Management in the United States (PDF 10.8MB), provides a description of the history of stormwater management in the United States and a number of recommendations on how stormwater management can be improved to achieve better environmental outcomes.

Parks and Recreation Departments Lead Community Wellness Efforts (November 07)
Parks and recreation departments in cities across the country are going beyond their traditional roles to promote community wellness through access to quality afterschool programs and other strategies. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Putting an End to Pension 'Spiking' (November 07)
When employees game the system by artificially boosting their retirement compensation, taxpayers lose. Here's how to curtail that abuse. More from Governing.

The Fallacy of Freeways (November 07)
In the heyday of the ‘50s and ‘60s, low gasoline prices and readily available federal money influenced American urban designers to the point of delusion, causing them to make a regrettable decision. More from Next American City.

New Malls, Old Ideas (November 07)
With a handful of new retail projects, several major architects are attempting to bring the much derided mall into the 21st century. But is good design enough? More from Metropolis Magazine.

Holiday Decorations on Public Property (November 07)
As the Holiday Season approaches, it is time for municipalities to begin preparing for what has become a recent American holiday tradition-litigation over seasonal religious displays in public places. More from the Illinois Municipal Review.