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MRSC FOCUS › Focus - July 2001
 

Note: Some of the information on this archival Web page may no longer be current.

Focus - July 2001

New Open Public Meetings Act Decision

The state court of appeals issued a decision on July 27 on the application of the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) to members-elect of a governing body and to e-mail communications between members of a governing body. In Battle Ground School District v. Wood, the court determined that the OPMA does not by its terms expressly apply to members-elect of a governing body, and that it is up to the state legislature, not the courts, to decide that it does. The court also held that the OPMA can apply to the exchange of e-mail between governing body members if they intend to transact official business and discuss issues that may or will come before the body for a vote. (July 30)

New County Revenue Guide Available

MRSC's newest publication, A Revenue Guide for Washington Counties (View this publication in HTML on the Web or View/Download this publication in Adobe Acrobat (Adobe Acrobat Document 409 Kb)) gives policymakers and administrators an overview of the various revenue sources that are available for county programs and services. (July 18)

Budget Suggestions for 2002 Is Now Available

Budget Suggestions for 2002 (Adobe Acrobat Document 393 Kb) has information on budget calendars, forecasts for state-shared revenues, the CPI, and the implicit price deflator, and 2001 legislation. It also has articles on topics ranging from tax increment financing to strategic financial planning. (July 17)

Model Pipeline Ordinances Available

MRSC's model pipeline ordinances are now available for jurisdictions that have hazardous liquid or natural gas transmission pipelines. The model franchise ordinance was a collaborative effort, with much thanks going to Bellingham, Bellevue, and the Pipeline Consortium representatives for their assistance. (July 6)

MRSC Introduces New Search System for Codes

MRSC has implemented a new search system for municipal codes and other public documents. The system can also serve as the search tool for visitors to your city or county Web site. If we already host your code, you will receive a letter the week of June 25 describing the new system. For an example of how the system works, see the Federal Way code. Note the pull-down menu to search the code, other public documents or the entire city Web site. Contact Fred Ward with any questions. (June 25)

New MRSC Pubs

Read our latest MRSC Focus publications:

New Guidebook for Local Government Web Sites

The Center for Technology in Government's newest guidebook, Untangle the Web, offers lessons and advice for local governments looking to launch or renovate their Web sites. (July 2)

Bellevue’s Downtown Plan Update

The City of Bellevue, in partnership with the Bellevue Downtown Association, is currently revising its Downtown Subarea Plan and updating its Downtown Implementation Plan. The two-year planning process utilizes a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) and includes significant opportunities for public comment. More on Bellevue’s Project Overview page. (July 2)

Redmond Wins Grant to Bridge “Digital Divide”

The city of Redmond was awarded a $100,000 Urban Challenge grant from 3Com at a recent U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting. The Urban Challenge grant is aimed at bridging the national Digital Divide by helping cities to connect their communities and improve access to educational, health care, and other municipal resources. The city plans to use the money to bring high-speed Internet access and wireless capabilities to a local high school. More from the U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Web site. (July 2)

New Web Page – Effective Citizen Communication and Involvement

Our new Effective Communication and Citizen Involvement Web page presents ideas and examples of successful communication tools that local governments can use to (1) keep citizens informed about community issues and services, (2) to obtain feedback about citizen concerns and, (3) to engage citizens in shaping community direction, improvement programs and services. It also presents information and techniques for better communicating what local government is and what it does for us. (June 19)

Census 2000 – Melting Pot Suburbs

A recent Center on Urban & Metropolitan Policy report, Melting Pot Suburbs: A Census 2000 Study of Suburban Diversity, (Adobe Acrobat Document689 Kb) Looks at 2000 census data to analyze racial and ethnic changes in 102 large metropolitan areas. It finds that minorities now make up 27 percent of suburbanites in these metro areas, up from 19 percent a decade ago. (July 2)

Electronic Records Access Program Guidebook

The growing demand for information to be available in electronic form and for direct access to these electronic records is changing the design and management of records access programs. Programs are becoming increasingly focused on electronic records as the format desired by users. The Center for Technology in Government’s Opening Gateways – A Practical Guide to Designing Electronic Records Access Programs (Adobe Acrobat Documentment">1.1 Mb) describes practical tools to help professionals create electronic records access programs that are effective, manageable and affordable. (July 2)

Watch Your Car Anti-theft Program

"Watch your car" is a new national vehicle theft prevention program funded by federal government and administered locally by the Washington State Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC). The voluntary vehicle registration program is designed to deter auto theft and assist in the apprehension of thieves. Several Washington cities are participating. More from WASPC’s Web site. (July 2)

I-722 Case Heard by State Supreme Court

The Washington State Supreme Court heard oral arguments on June 12 to determine whether Initiative 722 is constitutional. No final decision is expected before fall. In February, Thurston County Superior Court judge Christine Pomeroy struck down Initiative 722 (Adobe Acrobat Document1,897 Kb) as unconstitutional on several grounds, including that it violated the single subject rule. The state and all political subdivisions were enjoined at that time from enforcing and implementing the initiative until the supreme court makes its decision. (June 21)

Inquiry of the Week

This week's "Inquiry of the Week":

May a citizen may make a sound recording of a council or board of commissioners meeting and transmit that over the Internet?

[Previous inquiries of the week]

Web Sightings – Trails

This month we're highlighting sites on trails, including rails-to-trails, and pedestrian and bicycling information:

Washington City/County History Quiz

This city’s started out as a trading post established in the 1870s to supply the needs of the settlers who had begun arriving in the 1860s. In those days it was widely known as "Robbers Roost," a reference to the business practices of an early trader who operated the town store. When the railroad arrived in 1886, the centrally-located city had high hopes of being named as the capitol for the new state of Washington. Unfortunately, on July 4th, 1889, a major fire destroyed the city's business district and many homes. Although the city was quickly rEconstructed (out of brick), Olympia was chosen to be the capitol city. You can still see the beautiful brick buildings built in 1889 in this city's historic downtown. What city is it? And the answer is ~drum roll~ ... (July 2)

Selected New MRSC Library Materials

Browse through a selected list of new MRSC Library materials (listed by subject). The list includes new library books, videos, articles, government publications, and more.

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