Focus - February 2000

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

Focus - February 2000

Inquiry of the Week

This week's "Inquiry of the Week":

Must the city pay for a portion of the costs of an election if the city issue is on the general election ballot?

[Previous inquiries of the week]

Position Available: MRSC Information Services Technician

The Information Services Technician maintains and organizes the content of the MRSC Web site (80%), and assists the Manager of Library & Information Services in supporting the information services needs of the MRSC staff. (20%). See the complete job description and an E-mail link to submit a cover letter and resume. Closes March 10, 2000.

Mukilteo Business License Fee on Rental Units Invalidated by State Supreme Court

In December of 1999 the state supreme court invalidated Mukilteo's business license fee for rental units (RDU). The city had imposed a basic business license fee of $61 and additionally imposed a fee of $81.60 per rental dwelling unit. Other businesses were charged the basic fee of $61 and an additional fee of $41.60 per employee. In Harbour Village Apartments v. City of Mukilteo, No. 66920-1, (Slip Op., December 16, 1999), the supreme court determined that the RDU portion of the business license fee was an unconstitutional property tax and not a permitted excise tax. Although designated a business license fee, it was a tax on rental property and therefore a property tax. The court concluded that it is a non-uniform tax on real property and thus a violation of the state constitution.

Those cities imposing similar license fees on rental units should consult with their attorney to determine this decision's impact on their business licensing regime.

Municipal Research Council Funding Bills Introduced

Substitute House Bill 2477 and Substitute Senate Bill 6357 have been introduced to address the loss of MVET funding by the Municipal Research Council (MRC). The MRC is the state agency that contracts with the Municipal Research & Services Center to provide programs and services to local governments. The two bills are identical. The introduction of simultaneous legislation in the state House of Representatives and the state Senate is intended to expedite the legislative process during a short 60-day session. 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...

First I-695 Election Held

Longview property owners approved a flood-control levy on February 9, 2000 in the first election resulting from Initiative 695. We have posted the resolution from Cowlitz County Diking District 1 that places the proposition on the ballot along with an article from The Daily News of Longview. For more information on I-695, see our I-695 Web page.

E-Government Satellite TelEconference

The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) will host a videoconference on E-commerce and E-government on Friday, March 10th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. PST. A panel of experts will discuss trends in providing services to citizens electronically, and will allow time for you to ask questions. In Washington, you may participate form sites in Coupeville, Kennewick, Lakewood and Seattle. For more information and a registration form, visit the GFOA Web site. After February 25th, register on-site on March 10th.

RCW and WAC Databases Updated

We have now posted updates to the RCW and WAC databases. The RCW database is current through the 1999 special session, and the WAC is current through July 21, 1999.

2000-2001 Directory of Washington City and Town Officials

We are in the process of preparing the 2000-2001 Directory of Washington City and Town Officials. The directory should be available for distribution in early March. Each city and town within Washington will receive a copy in the mail. Others may purchase a paper copy or database file by contacting us in March (pre-payment required).

Crime Victimization Survey Software from BJS

The U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) have developed a software program to help localities conduct their own telephone surveys of residents and collect data on crime victimization, attitudes toward policing, and other community-related issues. The software is available online for free or on CD-ROM for a shipping and handling fee.

Before you can download the software, you will need to pick up a user ID and password by contacting the BJS Clearinghouse by e-mail (askcvs@ncjrs.org) or telephone (1-800-732-3277).

APA Reports on the Status of Planning Laws and Reform Efforts in the U.S.

A new publication by the American Planning Association (APA), "Planning Communities for the 21st Century," presents a report card on the status of state planning enabling statutes and statutory reform efforts in the United States. The 112-page report contains a detailed analysis of the planning statutes of all 50 states and looks at how well they address contemporary planning issues. It also includes profiles of six states, including Washington State, which have taken major initiatives in reforming their planning legislation and working with local governments to ensure plan implementation.

Looking for a Few Good Sample Forms?

We have a new file library containing sample municipal forms from Washington cities, towns and counties. The collection includes sample business license applications, construction permits, environmental permits, pet license applications, public works permits, and subdivision and zoning application forms. Add this one to your bookmarks or favorite places list.

Renton's Property Tax Information Web Page

Renton residents who want to know exactly who gets their property tax money and how it is spent can go to the city's "Property Taxes" Web page to find out. Residents get an itemized statement showing how their property tax dollars are allocated between the state, port, county, health district, school district, and city. The page also contains a brief overview of the services that each of these agencies provides. We like it.

New MRSC Web Pages

We've added a number of new Web pages to our site:

Statistical Resources for Washington Local Governments

Our library staff has scoured the Web and come up with a fine collection of sites that offer interesting and useful statistical information on a variety of local government-related topics, including criminal justice, demographics, culture and recreation, Economics, environment and finance. More …

"Working Draft" of Shoreline Master Program Guidelines Available for Public Comment

The Department of Ecology (DOE) is asking for your comments on a new "working draft" of the Shoreline Master Program Guidelines (proposed Chapter 173-26 WAC). DOE issued the first formal draft of this rule, later withdrawn, in April 1999 and received thousands of public comments. Before conducting another formal public comment process on a new proposed rule, tentatively scheduled to begin in April 2000, DOE would like public input on this draft of the proposed rule by March 1, 2000.

The National Marine Fisheries Service Proposes "4(d) rules" for the Protection of Threatened Species

The 4(d) rules are an Endangered Species Act mechanism for protecting threatened as opposed to endangered species. They also propose a means by which the state, tribes, local government entities, developers, private citizens, and others can obtain assurances that certain activities they authorize or conduct are permissible under the ESA. The proposed 4(d) rules, which appear in the Federal Register, address threatened salmonid (1/3/00) and steelhead (12/30/99) species. See the NMFS "4(d) Rules for Pacific Salmon" page for more information.

Web Sightings

In case you missed them, here's a look back at 1999's Web Sightings:

Washington City/County History Quiz

This county was established by the territorial legislature in January 1857 as Slaughter County in honor of U.S. Army Lt. William A. Slaughter. At the next general election the citizens voted to rename it for a local Native American chief and medicine man. Today this county ranks 36th in size among Washington counties and is the 2nd most densely populated county in the state. What county is it? And the answer is ~drum roll~ …

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 the MRSC E-mail List Administrator . Include your first and last name and your e-mail address. You may also have your name removed from the list at any time by sending us an E-mail 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.