Note: Some of the information on this archival Web page may no longer be current.
Focus - December 1999
Inquiry of the Week
This week's "Inquiry of the Week":
[Previous inquiries of the week]
New Web Server on Order
Friday, December 10. Due to heavy usage of the MRSC Web site, our current Web server is no longer adequate for the demand. We have ordered a new server and hope to have it configured within the next two weeks. Until then, you can use the Web site, but you may experience occasional problems with the RCW, WAC and municipal codes. Thank you for your patience while we make improvements to the system.
Update - Local Option Motor Vehicle License Fee and I-695
An article in the December 9, 1999 edition of the Seattle P-I reports that the four counties (King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Douglas), which currently levy a $15 local option vehicle license fee under RCW 82.80.020, will continue to levy this fee in 2000. More …
AWC Endorses Funding Plan for the Municipal Research & Services Center
On December 17 the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) unanimously adopted a resolution supporting continued funding of the Municipal Research Council (MRC). The plan is to use a small portion of the cities' distribution of profits of the State Liquor Board to fund MRC. This endorsement was a critical step in the process to secure funding to continue MRSC programs and services. More...
MVET-Related State-Shared Revenue Estimates
In Budget Suggestions for 2003,
(
488kb) we provided estimates for city police and fire MVET (p. 19), population-based
criminal justice revenues (p. 21), and sales tax equalization (p. 24) in the
event that Initiative 695 passed. These estimates were for distributions in
January 2000 from MVET collected during the last quarter of 1999. Now the news
media are informing people, whose tabs expire during this month and next, that
they will suffer no penalty if they choose not to renew until January as long
as they do not drive or park their vehicles on public rights-of-way. Some, perhaps
many, will choose to do this. Therefore, our estimates are too high, but we
have no idea by how much.
Cities and counties should also review the estimates they have made for the MVET-related revenues that we could not forecast because they are not distributed solely on a per capita basis. These include: city CTED criminal justice program revenues; city "high crime" funds under RCW 82.14.320; and county sales tax equalization, criminal justice, distressed county assistance, and public health revenues.
Note that if you used the Office of Financial Management estimates sent out by AWC rather than doing your own, they are also too high.
Disincorporation Procedures
All cities and towns in the State of Washington have the power to disincorporate. When a city or town disincorporates, its powers as a municipality are surrendered to the state and county and all municipal offices cease to exist. Disincorporations have been rare in this state. The last one was in 1965. However, in the wake of Initiative 695, it may be necessary for some municipalities to consider this as an option. More...
Year 2000 Equipment Inventories
Forty-eight cities have now contributed information about the Year 2000 compliance status of 5,500 items of public works, public safety and utility equipment to our Y2K database. Search the database to determine the Y2K status of equipment used by your local government.
DOE Developing New SMA Regulations
The Department of Ecology (DOE) is in the process of developing an update and replacement of chapter 173-16 WAC, which addresses: Shoreline Management Act (SMA) guidelines for development of master programs; implementation of regulatory reform relating to integration of shorelines, growth management and related statutes; planning and regulatory measures addressing shoreline uses and development; and protection and restoration of fish and wildlife habitat within shorelines of the state. This is the sEcond go-round for these guidelines, as DOE in September withdrew regulations it had previously proposed in April 1999. Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Peter Skowlund, Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program, DOE, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600, e-mail: psko461@ecy.wa.gov, phone: (360) 407-6522, fax: (360) 407-6902, or by visiting DOE's " Pending Rule Amendments" Web page.
New Ergonomics Rules Proposed
The Department of Labor and Industries has issued proposed ergonomics rules, designed to assist in the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The proposed rules will be subject to hearings at various locations throughout the state, beginning in January 2000. If adopted, the rules will require employer compliance within two to six years, dependent upon the nature of the jobs involved and the number of persons employed. More …
State Legal Holidays
Here they are: Washington State's legal holidays for 2000. Counties, cities and towns are not required to follow this holiday schedule. MRSC does follow the State holiday schedule, so our office will be closed these days.
WASPC Policy Manual
The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs' Basic Policy Manual is now available in the "Tools and Resources" section of our Public Safety page.
Law Enforcement Records Retention Manual
The Secretary of State Division of Archives and Records Management's Law Enforcement Agencies General Records Retention Schedule & Records Management Manual, December 1997, is now available on our site.
E-Mail Me an Agenda
Here's a great way to keep citizens informed of city council actions: The city of Kennewick City Clerk's Office offers citizens the opportunity to sign up to receive, by e-mail, copies of the agenda and minutes of the last council meeting. Saves time, saves trees, and encourages citizen involvement. We like it!
New Millennium Fireworks
The city of Port Angeles recently adopted an amendment (Port Angeles Ordinance No. 3027) to their fireworks ordinance that will allow the sale and use of fireworks to celebrate the millennium "from 6:00 p.m. on December 31, 1999 to 1:00 a.m. on January 1, 2000." What's a new millennium without a few fireworks?
Washington City/County History Quiz
This town is the oldest municipality in the State of Washington, incorporating in 1854. The town boasts many other "firsts" including the first territorial jail, library, Protestant church, brick building, and school district. Its Catholic Mission has been in continual use since 1867. What place is it? And the answer is ~drum roll~ …
Web Sightings - Affordable Housing
This month's Web Sightings focuses on sites with information on affordable housing resources:
- HomeSight - A comprehensive, annotated
and rated resource guide of housing agencies, programs and publications available
on the Internet.
- Community Connections - HUD site that
includes descriptions of model programs, case studies of affordable housing,
publications on expanding affordable housing opportunities, funding information
and resources.
- National Association of Housing
and Redevelopment Officials - NAHRO's site has information on affordable
housing resources, legislative updates, publications and programs. This site
also has a helpful glossary
of housing terminology.
- Washington State Housing Finance Commission
- This site describes state financing programs that promote home ownership,
encourage community development and make possible the production of affordable
housing throughout the state.
- National Low Income Housing Coalition
- National organization dedicated to ending America's affordable housing crisis;
includes publications, extensive links, and frequently asked questions about
housing.
- Seattle Office of Housing Home Page - Includes Housing Resources Guide, Action Agenda Progress report and more
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.
Get MRSC Web Site Updates by E-mail
You can get a monthly e-mail notifying you of selected updates to MRSC's Web site by subscribing to the mrscweb mailing list (listserv). Simply send an e-mail to Terri Sanders, MRSC Information Services Technician, at tsanders@mrsc.org. Include your first and last name and your e-mail address. You may also have your name removed from the list at any time, again by sending an e-mail to Terri Sanders with your request.
Unlike most listservs, mrscweb is not a discussion list to which all subscribers may post messages, but a free subscription to a monthly notice updating you on major changes and additions to the MRSC Web site.