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MRSC FOCUS › Focus - October 2003
 

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Focus - October 2003

State Supreme Court Declares I-776 to be Constitutional (October 30)
Reversing a King County Superior Court decision, the state supreme court today issued its decision in Pierce County v. State upholding the constitutionality of Initiative 776, passed by the voters in November 2002. Three justices dissented. The initiative requires license tab fees to be $30 per year for motor vehicles and repeals certain local-option vehicle excise taxes and fees for roads and transit (Sound Transit).
Improving Metropolitan Decision Making in Transportation (October 28)
A new report from the Brookings Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy, Improving Metropolitan Decision Making in Transportation: Greater Funding and Devolution for Greater Accountability, argues that federal transportation law needs to expand existing funding sources and decision making for metropolitan areas.
Web Sightings - Affordable Housing (October 29)
The lack of affordable housing continues to be a major problem in many Washington communities. Here are some Web sites that can help with ideas and resources:

Federal

Washington State

Washington Regional and Local

Specialized Sites

If you have links to other affordable housing sites that you recommend, please send them to ctobin@mrsc.org.
Is Your Web Site Accessible to People with Disabilities? (October 28)
The U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section, recently published Accessibility of State and Local Government Websites to People with Disabilities providing guidance on making state and local government websites accessible to people with disabilities.
New Web Page - Parking and Business Improvement Areas (October 28)
A parking and business improvement area (PBIA) is designed to aid general economic development and to facilitate merchant and business cooperation. See MRSC’s Parking and Business Improvement Areas page for information, examples, and links to additional resources related to PBIAs.
D-Day for Municipal Broadband Services (October 28)
The battle between municipal operations and state bans barring them from offering broadband service hits the supreme court, as an unprecedented number of supporters create a new unified front in the fight to enter the market. More from Broadband Reports.
The Case for Inclusionary Zoning (October 28)
A new PolicyLink report, Expanding Housing Opportunity in Washington, DC: The Case for Inclusionary Zoning draws on inclusionary zoning successes from around the country and makes recommendations for expanding the availability of affordable housing in Washington, DC that apply to other cities as well.
Homeland Security Money from States Reaching 64 Percent of Counties (October 28)
Sixty-four percent of the nation's largest counties have received homeland security funding from states according to a new survey, released today by the National Association of Counties and the International Association of Emergency Managers.More from NACo.
Flooding Preparedness Tips Available Online (October 28)
Fact sheets on what to do before, during and after a flood (scroll down to "More Tips and Details - Flooding") are currently available on the state Emergency Management Division's website.
GIS - Putting Health on the Map (October 28)
GIS allows public health practitioners to put their data on a map, where they can easily assess patterns, trends and relationships between health events and environmental, socio-economic and geographic factors. More from American City & County.
IRS Sets 2004 Standard Mileage Rates for Business Use of Vehicles at 37.5 Cents per Mile (October 22)
The Internal Revenue Service recently released the optional standard mileage rates to use for 2004 in computing the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business purposes. A local government may (but need not) reimburse an employee for the use of a private vehicle on official business at 37.5 cents per mile without having to report the reimbursement as taxable income. More from the IRS.
Building a Tech Economy in Small and Medium-Sized Regions (October 22)
A new report from the Brookings Center on Urban and Metropolitan Policy, Spreading the Wealth: Building a Tech Economy in Small and Medium-Sized Regions, examines five Washington regions - Bellingham, Tacoma, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Wenatchee - that have chosen a technology focus for their local economic development efforts.
USCM Releases Post - 9/11 Analysis on Homeland Security Funding (October 22)
The U.S. Conference of Mayors' (USCM) recently released report, First Mayors' Report to the Nation: Tracking Homeland Security Funds Sent to the 50 State Governments (Adobe Acrobat Document167KB), finds that the states have been slow to distribute funds to cities, as required by federal legislation passed in March.
Bellevue Launches New Business and Development Resource (October 22)
The city of Bellevue recently launched a new Web site, EastsideProperty.biz, that brings together public and private sector resources to market office space in Bellevue - and soon to follow, other communities East of Lake Washington.
Smart City - Art, Artists and Creative Communities (October 22)
A recent Smart City™ radio show, Creative Communities discusses the strategies that cities are employing in their quest to appeal to the "creative class", and explores the role art and artists play in revitalizing neighborhoods and creating jobs.
Measuring the Health Effects of Sprawl (October 22)
In the first such national study, health researchers found that people who live in counties marked by sprawl-style development tend to weigh more, are more likely to be obese and are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure. More from Smart Growth America.
ICMA Publishes New Guide on Preparing the Next Generation (October 22)
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) recently published Preparing the Next Generation - A Guide for Current and Future Local Government Managers to inspire young and mid-career professionals and to help the senior public manager prepare, develop, and motivate the next generation.
Solid Waste - The Pay-As-You-Throw Payoff (October 22)
Thousands of communities have learned how to generate less garbage, recycle more and save money. More from American City & County.
Flooding and Emergency Management Resources (October 21)
MRSC's Emergency Management and Disaster Planning Web page includes information on flood hazard management resources, procedures for proclaiming an emergency or disaster, and on obtaining services, supplies and materials.
Unclaimed Property Reporting Guide (October 15)
The Department of Revenue's Unclaimed Property Section recently updated their Local Government Reporting Guide (Adobe Acrobat Document74KB) to help cities, towns, and counties understand their obligations for reporting and remitting unclaimed property.
Claims Against Bankrupt Adelphia Must be Filed Soon (October 14)
Washington State local governments who have franchises with bankrupt Adelphia for cable service must file claims with the bankruptcy court. For further information and claim forms, contact Jim Doherty at MRSC.
Pipeline Safety for Municipal Governments Conference (October 14)
The Pipeline Safety for Municipal Governments Conference, sponsored by the Washington City and County Pipeline Safety Consortium, will be held November 13, 2003, at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue.
Cities and Counties in the News
Here are the latest news clippings from around the state highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments:
Minimum Wage to Increase to $7.16 an Hour Jan. 1, 2004 (October 14)
The Department of Labor and Industries recalculates the state's minimum wage each year in September and as a result, it will increase 15 cents to $7.16 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2004. More from L & I News.
Local Government 101 - Budgets (October 14)
The operating budget is probably a municipality's most important work product. At the most basic level it is a legal document that gives city or county officials the authority to incur obligations and pay expenses, allocating resources among departments to reflect the legislative body's priorities and policies. See: MRSC's Budget page and Budgeting for Cities and Towns in Washington State: A Handbook for Policy Makers, Chief Appointed Officials and Others Involved in the Budget Making Process.
Local Government Guide to Greenprinting (October 14)
The Trust for Public Land in partnership with the National Association of Counties recently published Local Greenprinting for Growth - a workbook series that serves as a guide for communities seeking to create a strategic land conservation program.
Feds Award $5.7 Million to Clallam County for Interoperability Project (October 14)
Clallam County is among 17 local jurisdictions nationwide, and the only in Washington state, to receive a homeland security grant to help develop interoperable emergency communications systems. More from the Courthouse Journal.