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MRSC FOCUS › Focus - July 2002
 

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

Focus - July 2002

What's New

Get a quick update on the latest additions to our Web site.

Budget Suggestions for 2003

Budget Suggestions for 2003, containing information on 2003 legislation; state-shared revenue forecasts; articles on tax increment financing, levy lid lifts, e-mail meetings and public records, performance measures, Initiative 776, and much more, is now on our Web site. (July 18)

State Supreme Court Invalidates Open Space Requirement

In a July 11 decision (Isla Verde International Holdings, Inc. v. City of Camas), the state supreme court invalidated a Camas requirement that subdivisions must retain 30 percent of their area as open space. The court held that the city's open space provision violates a statutory requirement of an individualized determination that a development condition, such as the open space requirement, is necessary to mitigate an impact of the particular development. (July 12)

Supreme Court Says No Permit Required to Solicit for Religious Reasons

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 17, by a vote of 8-1, invalidated a Stratton, Ohio ordinance that required canvassers to register and obtain a permit from the mayor's office before going door-to-door promoting any cause. The Court held that the ordinance violated the First Amendment as it applied to religious proselytizing, anonymous political speech, and the distribution of handbills. More . (July 1)

Supreme Court Ruling on ADA Big Win for Local Governments

In a big win for local governments, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Barnes v. Gorman, (No. 01-682), that local governments are immune from paying punitive damages for violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). The Court held that recipients of federal funds, including states and cities, cannot be sued for punitive damages for violating laws that are tied to federal grants unless Congress expressly says so when it enacts those laws. (July 1)

And The Winners Are ...

The winners of MRSC's AWC Conference book drawings were:

  • John Watts, Councilmember, Bellingham - Elected Officials Little Handbook
  • Haywood Johnson, Councilmember, Zillah - Washington Public Works History
  • Shelley Klasse, Councilmember, Stanwood - Dollars and Sense
  • Clara Jimenez, Mayor, Toppenish - Best Development Practices
  • Sandra Barnes, Councilmember Battle Ground - The 21 Indispensable Qualities of A Leader
The winner of our Grand Prize drawing for the "Washington Local Government Official's Ultimate Survival Kit" was Kathy Keolker-Wheeler, councilmember, Renton. Congratulations to all of our winners! (July 1)

New Fireworks Law Allows Additional Period for Sale of Fireworks

SSSB 6080, enacted to harmonize and update the state fireworks law, establishes a new time period, December 27 to 6 p.m. on December 31, during which "consumer fireworks" may be sold and purchased, but it does not expand the period of time when fireworks may be used. Their sale and use was already allowed by state law from 6 p.m. on December 31 to 1 p.m. on January 1, although cities and counties could prohibit sale and use during that time period. Cities and counties can "limit or prohibit" the sale and purchase of fireworks during this new period but to do so for 2002, they must act by August 12, 2002. More . (June 1)

Records Management - Local Records Pilot Grant Program

The Washington State Archives Office recently announced a new pilot grant program to support local public records management and preservation efforts. During the pilot program, $100,000 in competitive grants will be awarded to local government agencies to improve the management of their public records. For more information view the "Program Guidebook" (PDF (Adobe Acrobat Document325 KB) or MS Word) or contact Sherry Bays, Eastern Washington Regional Archivist at (509) 359-6900 or D. Rae Bradrick, Deputy Washington State Archivist (360) 586-4900. The application deadline is Aug 1, 2002. (July 1)

New Metropolitan Park and Lake Management District Pages

The new Metropolitan Park Districts (MPD) page includes information on function, formation and financing of MPDs. (July 1)

Records Management - Technical Bulletins Available

The International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) and the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA) have collaborated to produce six technical bulletins on basic records management for city and county officials. (July 1)

Seattle Begins Live Internet Coverage of Council Meetings

The Seattle City Council recently announced that all of its meetings will be shown live on the Internet. If the public shows substantial interest in the pilot project could become a permanent feature. (July 1)

Best Practices - Solutions for America

A new report from the Pew Partnership for Civic Change, Solutions for America: What's Already Out There (Adobe Acrobat Document941 KB), profiles successful programs across the country, focusing on initiatives for young people, local Economies, families, neighborhoods and collaborative change. Examples range from a downtown revitalization in Boston to an after-school program in Big Ugly Creek, West Virginia. (July 1)

Everett Wins All-America City Award

The city of Everett was named on June 15 as one of the National Civic League's 2002 All-America City Award winners. The National Civic League annually honors 10 communities that best exemplify the spirit of grassroots citizen involvement and cross-sector collaborative problem solving. Read the NCL press release and the Everett Herald story. Congratulations Everett! (June 17)

Inquiry of the Week

This week's "Inquiry of the Week":

Request for information on the new legislation requiring display of POW/MIA flags on certain days.

[Previous inquiries of the week]

Transportation - Transit Oriented Development

A recently released report, Transit Oriented Development: Moving From Rhetoric To Reality (Adobe Acrobat Document406 KB), from The Brookings Institution Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy finds that true, comprehensive TOD projects remain relatively scarce in this country, identifies challenges that must be addressed and offers policy recommendations to achieve optimal TOD projects. (July 1)

Web Sightings - Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

You've heard the buzz about ITS - intelligent transportation systems - and would like to find out more. Here are some places to start:

(July 1)

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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