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MRSC FOCUS › Focus - July 2000
 

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

Focus - July 2000

Inquiry of the Week

This week's "Inquiry of the Week":

What is the mayor's tie-breaking authority in a mayor-council code city?

[Previous inquiries of the week]

Officials Directory Correction: Kent Phone Number

In the 2000-01 Directory of Washington City & Town Officials that we mailed to all Washington cities and towns in March, we listed an incorrect phone number for the city of Kent. Since the number in the directory belongs to a private residence, we'd appreciate your noting that the correct number for Kent city hall is 253-856-5200. Thank you.

2000 Information Technology Survey: the results are in

Thank you to everyone who participated in our fifth annual information technology survey of Washington cities and towns. We received an excellent response rate this year: 82% of the 279 cities and towns. Nearly all cities now have some form of Internet access; only 20 of the responding cities do not (19 of which have fewer than 1,000 residents). Thirteen percent of the cities have plans to implement a Web-based service (such as permitting or licensing) within the next year. More...

Share Your Knowledge

MRSC's new Discussion Forum allows you to do something "virtually" that you have been doing for years at conferences - networking with your colleagues and sharing information. But you don 't have to travel any further than your home or office PC to participate in these discussions. Log in and share your knowledge.

New Watershed Planning Page

The new Watershed Planning page provides guidance to plans prepared under the 1998 Comprehensive Watershed Planning Act, which establishes a framework for developing local solutions to water issues on a watershed basis. It includes links to the Washington State Department of Ecology and other resources on watersheds and watershed planning.

New Pipeline Safety Page

Our new Pipeline Safety Information Web page contains links to federal and state regulatory agencies, pipeline regulations, Washington local government activities, activities in other states, and industry information.

Telecommunications: AT&T v. Portland Decision Issued!

On June 22nd the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of AT&T on the "open access" issue. Some Portland officials, however, feel that the decision ultimately is a victory for cities because internet access over cable was held to be a "telecommunications" service rather than a "cable" service. Competition will prevail. More on our Telecommunications page.

New Small Works Roster Manual

Check out our latest Web page, the Washington State Small Works Roster Manual for Local Governments. This Web page is the first edition of the Manual and is intended to present basic steps needed to implement a small works roster program for units of local government authorized to use the process.

Wireless Facility Siting Resources

The FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has created a Wireless Facilities Siting Issues Web page with links to the relevant FCC fact sheets, regulatory documents, and numerous other resources.

Bellevue Police Post Misdemeanor Warrants on the Web

The Bellevue Police Department recently began posting the names of persons with outstanding misdemeanor warrants on their Web site. The Misdemeanor Warrant List is aimed at catching some of the 3,000 people in the city who have misdemeanor warrants out for their arrest.

County/City Statistical Info on OFM Site

The Washington State Office of Financial Management has redesigned its Web site to give citizens, businesses, local governments and Indian tribes easier access to official data about communities across the state. The new County and City Information Web page lets site users click on a map for population, Economic and financial data for counties and cities.

Selected Library Holdings on Housing

If you are interested in housing issues, take a look at our Selected MRSC Library Holdings on Housing Web page. It includes holdings on affordable housing, fair housing, state and federal housing policy, housing design, manufactured housing, public housing, and senior housing. Stop by our main Housing page, too.

National Night Out Set for August 1, 2000

The "17th Annual National Night Out," a popular crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, has been scheduled for Tuesday, August 1, 2000. Last year's National Night Out campaign involved citizens, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses, neighborhood organizations and local officials from 9,420 communities (1999 Washington participants) from all 50 states.

Seattle Goes Multimedia

Seattle's Multimedia Web page is a great example of how local governments can use the Internet to deliver a variety of audio and video content to citizens. They've also included a "How to do Streaming Media in Your Organization" page together with a cost summary. We like it!

National Marine Fisheries Service Unveils E.S.A. Salmon Rules

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service recently unveiled its 4(d) rules to protect 14 populations of salmon and steelhead from California's Central Valley to Washington's Puget Sound. More on the NMFS Web Site.

New Shoreline Management Act Rules Proposed

For the sEcond time in a little over a year, the Department of Ecology (DOE) has proposed new master program approval/amendment rules. DOE withdrew last fall the rules it had proposed in April 1999. DOE has scheduled a number of public hearings across the state on the proposed rules and is accepting written comments until August 7.

Web Sightings - Tourism and Community Festivals

We've selected a few community festival and tourism sites for you to check out this summer:

Washington City/County History Quiz

Originally named by Captain George Vancouver in 1792 after a Marquis, this city was valued as a good, safe harbor. During its early settlement period it was called the "City of Dreams" because of speculation over its potential to become the largest harbor on the west coast.

By the late 1800's the city was a well known, active seaport with a bright future. Many Victorian style homes and buildings were built during that time. However, by the end of the 1890's the boom was over. No development occurred for many years which left most of the ornate Victorian structures from that era intact. What city 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.