Focus - More News

MRSC FOCUS › Focus - More News

Also in Focus

		Young Adults Are Falling Behind in U.S. Workforce, Says NLC Report (September 30) The nation's teenagers and young adults are being left behind in the U.S. labor market according to a new report released by the National League of Cities based on research by Northeastern University's Center for Labor Market Studies. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

		Cities and Counties in the News Here are the latest news clippings from around the state highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments: Seattle's At-Risk Youths Dig Garden Program (Seattle Post Intelligencer, September 29, 2003) 2 Counties get Officers who Speak Spanish (Seattle Times, September 29, 2003) Fast-Food Eatery Restrictions May be Eased (Bainbridge Island Review, September 27, 2003)

		Local Government 101 - Knowing Your Roles (September 30) It is essential for effective local government that municipal officials, particularly mayors, councilmembers, and city managers, understand the roles of their respective offices and their relationship with others. More …

		Web Sightings - Leadership (September 30) MRSC's quarterly Municipal Research News is featuring a series of articles on leadership starting with the Fall 2003 issue. Here are some of our favorite links on local government leadership and training: Center for Public Leadership (CPL), Harvard Kennedy School - includes publications, research, news, and more. Also see CPL's Links to Sites about Leadership GovLeaders.org - On-line resource designed to help government managers cultivate a more effective public sector workforce; includes articles, best practices and links to leadership educational programs. Also see Matrix on Management Challenges - Government vs. Private Sector MRSC Links on Management - Good starting point for leadership sources The Cascade Center for Public Service and Leadership - University of Washington American Society for Public Administration - Leadership Resources International City/County Management Association Web page on Local Government Management Administration - Information on broad topics such as management practices and regionalism National League of Cities Leadership Training Institute If you have links to other local government leadership sites that you recommend, please send them to ctobin@mrsc.org.

		Smart City - How Art Can Transform a City (September 30) Visit any big city on a pleasant fall weekend, and you're likely to run into a festival. There's a formula for most such events: tents full of colorful paintings and crafts, lots of food, and certainly music. A recent Smart City™ radio show discusses "How Art Can Transform a City."

		Small Water Systems Eligible for ICMA's Free Water Security Training (September 30) All water systems, small and medium-sized, are now eligible to receive free water security training and travel scholarships from ICMA. The training will help each system comply with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. To register for a training workshop and to learn more, see ICMA's Water Security Web site.

		Local Bridges are Falling Down (September 30) Never mind London Bridge. Too many of America's 300,000-plus local bridges are the ones in trouble. They may be too narrow for today's thicker traffic or too light for today's heavier trucks. More from American City & County.

		Access Control - The Guests are Here (September 30) Cities and counties are finding new ways to protect buildings against dangerous visitors. There are no systems that can guarantee total security, but there are emerging visitor management systems designed to reduce or, at the very least, help manage risks. More from American City & County.

		Free National Brownfields Conference in October! (September 26) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) are proud to announce Brownfields 2003: Growing a Greener America is coming to the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, October 27 - 29, 2003. More ...

		It’s Official! The Increase in the IPD from July 2002 to July 2003 is 1.84 Percent (September 23) On September 2, we announced that, based on unpublished data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the increase in the implicit price deflator (IPD) for personal consumption expenditures from July 2002 to July 2003 was 1.84 percent. However, the Department of Revenue does not consider this number official until it is confirmed by data published in the September 2003 issue of the Survey of Current Business (1.4 MB). (Scroll down to Table B.2)

		Where Have all the Leaders Gone? (September 23) Too often we hear the plaintive cry - "where have all the leaders gone?" Has the quality of civic leadership really diminished in recent years, as many critics claim? This is the first article in a series that will explore key questions about the role of leaders and leadership in local government. More from Municipal Research News.

		Cities and Counties in the News Here are the latest news clippings from around the state highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments: Planning Chief in Clallam County to be Elected, a First in the Nation (Seattle Times, September 15, 2003) Seattle Offers Incentives to Lure Filmmakers (Seattle Post Intelligencer, September 23, 2003) Truckers Can Park at Home for Now (Federal Way Mirror, September 20, 2003) Sheriff Turns to Internet for Auction (Skagit Valley Herald, September 23, 2003) Towns Pool Resources to Plan Revitalizations (Spokane Journal of Business, September 19, 2003) City Council Approves Domestic Violence Plan (Tacoma News Tribune, September 17, 2003) $5 Fee Turning Park Users Away (Federal Way Mirror, September 17, 2003) Bellevue Picks Contractor for City Hall Project (King County Journal, September 16, 2003) Redmond Picks Bellevue Firm for "Inspiring" City Hall Design (King County Journal, September 16, 2003) Council Votes to Put District Plan on Ballot (Seattle Post Intelligencer, September 16, 2003) Town Center Project a 'Go' (Tacoma News Tribune, September 17, 2003) Sex-Offender Housing Issue Steered by Power, Politics (Seattle Times, September 9, 2003)

		GFOA's Budget Presentation Awards Program Revised (September 23) The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recently revised the materials used in their Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program. While the program criteria remain essentially unchanged, the accompanying explanations have changed substantially and, in several cases, incorporate specific new program requirements. More from GFOA.

		Help Wanted: Young People for Public Service (September 23) Stop and listen. Do you hear the silence? It's the sound of nobody following in your footsteps. The baby boomers dedicated to public service are quickly approaching retirement age, and far fewer young people are following in their footsteps, creating a large "replacement gap" in the public sector. More from Western City.


		Local Government 101 - Public Hearings (September 23) Public bodies, such as city councils, boards of county commissioners, and planning commissions, are sometimes required by state law to hold public hearings. Since the issues addressed in these public hearings are frequently contentious, may involve due process rights of private parties, and generate litigation, it is important to know and follow proper hearing procedures. More…

		Property Taxes Increase 2.49 Percent for 2003 (September 23) According to the Washington State Department of Revenue, property taxes increased an average 2.49 percent statewide between 2002 and 2003, equal to a $62.28 increase on a $200,000 home. More from Access Washington News.

		Counties Seek Versatile Emergency Alert Technologies (September 23) If anything even remotely positive came of September 11, it may be that counties are catching up with technological prowess in order to keep the public informed of impending disasters and emergencies. More from NACO's County News.

		PLANetizen Names Top 50 Urban Planning Websites (September 23) PLANetizen, a popular online planning and development website, released its highly-anticipated annual list of Top 50 Urban Planning and Development websites. The list recognizes the innovative use of the Internet in urban planning and development. More from PLANetizen.

		Improving commutes with ITS (September 23) Many cities and counties benefit from applying information and telecommunication technologies to their transportation issues and challenges. Known collectively as Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), the technologies can save time, money and lives in urban and rural areas. More from American City and County.

		Property Tax Limitation in Washington State (September 17) In 2001 the people of Washington passed Initiative 747, a measure designed to limit the yearly rate of increase in the property tax burden citizens must bear. The Washington Policy Center conducted a statewide survey to see if Initiative 747 is effective in holding down tax increases. Read the latest study in WPC's series on property taxes.

		NLC Resource on Municipal Strategies for Supporting At-Risk Youth (September 17) A new National League of Cities (NLC) guide for municipal leaders discusses the topic of at-risk youth and examines how municipal policy and strategies can support the positive development of all youth - even those most challenged. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

		YouthARTS Site for At-Risk Youth (September 17) The YouthARTS Web site, by Americans for the Arts, is designed to give arts agencies, juvenile justice agencies, social service organizations, and other community-based organizations detailed information about how to plan, run, provide training, and evaluate arts programs for at-risk youth.

		Small Communities Guide for Getting Online (September 17) The National Center for Small Communities recently published "Getting Online 2.0: A Small-Town Guide to Creating 21st-Century Communities" (3.3 MB). The guide identifies the skills that enable youth, adults and communities to be successful in the digital age, and includes chapters on Web site development and encouraging public access and use.

		The Squeeze is on for Public Works Departments (September 17) Cities that made it through 2002 and 2003 by keeping a tight grip on spending or by distributing reserve funds are, in fiscal year 2004, reducing their budgets substantially. For public works departments, the crunch affects staffing, service levels and project priorities. More from American City & County.

		Cities and Schools Districts: Partners in Community Schools (September 17) In cities across the nation, municipal leaders are using community schools to address the hardest challenges that students, families and schools face. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

		Optimistic About Public/Private Partnerships (September 17) The city of Charlotte and the Bank of America have their own reasons to believe in the benefits of public/private partnerships. More from Public Management.