Supreme Court Grants Stay on I-747 Decision (August 24)
On August 18 the Washington State Supreme Court granted a stay of the decision of King County Superior Court Judge Mary Roberts that held that Initiative 747 was unconstitutional, and enjoined the state from enforcement. (A "stay" means that the decision does not go into effect while it is being appealed.) This means that the increase in the regular property taxes levied this November for 2007 is still limited to one percent, plus new construction and increases in state-assessed utility valuations.

The state is appealing the decision to the State Supreme Court, but the timing is such that there will be no ruling before November 30, 2006, the date by which taxing districts must submit their levy requests to their county assessors. If the court upholds the superior court ruling, the limit will be six percent for the levy for 2008. If it overturns the decision, the limit will be one percent. And, somewhere in the mix, there may be legislative action, which could produce a different limit. Stay tuned.

For background on this issue see pages 48 and 49 of Budget Suggestions for 2007.

Kids in the City (August 22)
A new report from the Brookings Institution examines the well-being of children in cities, including changes since Census 2000, finding that in 2004 more than 25 percent of children in large cities were poor. More from the Brookings Institution.

What is a Wetland? (August 22)
A recent split decision by the U.S. Supreme Court left unanswered questions that local officials have long-struggled with, including the federal government's definition of a wetland. More from American City & County.

Myth or Fact? Citizen Engagement Tool (August 22)
Spokane Valley's "Myth or Fact" Web page asks citizens if they have heard something about the city and wondered if it's true. Citizens can submit their questions via email and the city then posts a response explaining whether the rumor is myth or fact.

Meth Remains Number One Drug Problem (August 22)
County law enforcement officials across 44 states reported that methamphetamine remains the number one drug problem in their county, according to a new survey by the National Association of Counties (NACo). More from NACo's County News.

Homeland Security/Emergency Perparedness Report (August 22)
The US Conference of Mayors recently released a report, Five Years Post 9/11, One Year Post Katrina: The State of America’s Readiness ( 218kb) based on a 183-city survey.

Marrying Historic Districts and Infill (August 22)
First the enemy was neglect. Then it was urban renewal. Now it's teardowns. Older neighborhoods are hot targets for new investment, and preservation review boards are struggling to shape new construction into forms compatible with the older urban character. More from Planning Magazine.

Back Up on the Interstate (August 22)
The national highway system is marking its Golden Anniversary, but that’s not much cause for celebration. More from Governing.

Public Finance as a Profession (August 22)
Public service is demanding,difficult work. For most practitioners in the filed,a career in public finance is a conscious choice to serve through skill. More from Public Finance ( 3.4mb).

Changing Profession Requires New Level of Education (August 22)
As the new century brings new challenges and new opportunities for police officers, it also requires the police profession as a whole to reevaluate its educational requirements. More from The Police Chief.

Toolkit Provides Means to Advance Affordable Housing (August 22)
The Washington (DC) Area Housing Partnership's Toolkit for Affordable Housing Development explores a variety of techniques to promote the creation of affordable housing. More from HUD's Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse.

Web Sightings - Flexible Environmental & Land Use Regulatory Tools and Incentives (August 22)
Local governments are developing flexible environmental and land use regulations that protect community values and promoting incentives to protect open space, agriculture and critical areas. This month we’ve selected some Web sites that offer creative approaches to environmental protection and open space preservation:

• The Cascade Agenda, 100 years forward - A 100-year program to conserve more than 1.26 million acres of land from Puget Sound to the Columbia River. Partnership among business and community leaders, environmentalists and former elected officials for the King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kittitas county region
• Farmland Preservation Techniques and Sustainable Agriculture, MRSC Web page
• Preserve Open Space, Farmland, Natural Beauty and Critical Environmental Areas, Smart Growth Online
• "Conservation Connections: Tools for the 21st Century," speech by King County Executive Ron Sims, April 2006
• Incentives for Conservation, Biodiversity Partnership - A Defenders of Wildlife initiative dedicated to promoting and supporting regional and statewide strategies to conserve biodiversity
• Financial Incentives and Grants for Green Buildings, MRSC Web page
• Cluster/Flexible Zoning, Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, Massachusetts - FAQs and sample regulations

For additional information, see MRSC’s new Web page on "Flexible Regulatory and Non-Regulatory Incentive Tools."

Land Use Regulations in the Nation's 50 Largest Metropolitan Areas (August 15)
A comprehensive survey of local land use regulations by the Brookings Institution finds a wide variety of regulatory regimes, classifying them in four broad typologies, across the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas. More from the Brookings Institution.

Urban Discourse (August 15)
An unorthodox project encourages the residents of Portland to participate in the shaping of their city. More from Metropolis Magazine.

Programs Offer Support to Homeless (August 15)
As a growing number of cities outline 10-year plans to reduce homelessness, many are developing housing programs that include support services to help keep people off the streets. More from American City & County.

Annexation and the Fiscal Fate of Cities (August 15)
New research from the Brookings Institution finds that a city's ability to annex land from its surrounding county is a primary determinant of its fiscal health. More from the Brookings Institution.

Sustainability: The Issue of Our Age (August 15)
With each passing day, the issue of sustainability becomes more prominent in debates on the future of our planet. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the example of climate change. More from Public Management.

Performance Matters (August 15)
Although performance measurement is an increasingly popular management tool that helps local governments meet community goals, employees sometimes need extra support to embrace this process. More from Public Management.

Turning Stormwater Runoff into a Community Amenity (August 15)
The transformation of stormwater runoff into a community amenity is the next step for smart growth neighborhoods and can make them even greater places to live. More from Smart Growth.

Pre-Approved House Plans Speed Redevelopment (August 15)
Sacramento, California is launching a new initiative to reduce the amount of time it takes to approve the construction of infill housing. Builders can purchase pre-approved house plans and begin construction as much as six weeks earlier than if they were using other plans and specifications. More from Breakthroughs.

Municipal Wireless Snapshot (August 15)
In a series of qualitative research and analysis reports, Craig Settles provides an overview of major issues impacting municipalities' pursuit of citywide broadband wireless networks. More from Success.com.

Green Pieces (August 15)
States and localities are working with conservation groups to link existing preserves and the privately owned land between them. More from Governing.

Cities and Counties in the News (August)
Here are the latest news clippings from around the state highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments:

• Who should run the fire operation? (Enumclaw Courier Herald, August 30, 2006)
• Utility tax could bolster quality of life (Federal Way Mirror, August 30, 2006)
• On Architecture: Mercer Island's downtown development is lacking a vision (Seattle Times, August 29, 2006)
• Snohomish house tax to fund new, existing parks (Everett Herald, August 26, 2006)
• City panel against strip club district (Seattle Post Intelligencer, August 25, 2006)
• Statistics don't support fear of crime at new casino (Bellingham Herald, August 24, 2006)
• Growth board rules on guesthouses (Island's Sounder, August 23, 2006)
• Federal Way looks at tax to aid police (Tacoma News Tribune, August 21, 2006)
• Push for city business tax in Vancouver is on pause (The Columbian, August 19, 2006)
• Bellevue diversity outpaces Seattle, county (Seattle Times, August 19, 2006)
• Could city impose never-ending tax? (Seattle Post Intelligencer, August 16, 2006)
• District to stockpile drug in case of flu pandemic (Seattle Times, August 16, 2006)
• Cities wrestle with how to grow but not erase history in the rush (Seattle Times, August 15, 2006)
• City to try to banish homeless campsites (Tacoma News Tribune, August 14, 2006)
• City Web site seeks views on B&O tax (The Columbian, August 14, 2006)
• ACLU frowns upon Yakima curfew (Yakima Herald, August 14, 2006)
• County will not give out waste (Everett Herald, August 14, 2006)
• Mobile-home residents want protection in city codes (Lynnwood Enterprise, August 11, 2006)
• Defendants appear via video (The Olympian, August 10, 2006)
• Council OKs tax increases (Seattle Post Intelligencer, August 8, 2006)
• Flu-pandemic plans call for volunteers to assist professionals (Seattle Times, August 3, 2006)
• Council decision will allow judges to create drug, prostitution bans (Tacoma News Tribune, August 3, 2006)
• City may pull out of county disaster planning (Bellingham Herald, August 3, 2006)
• Preservation funds sought for Monroe area (Seattle Times, August 2, 2006)
• Lake Stevens to double staff (Everett Herald, August 1, 2006)
• Council wants authority to fire agency directors (Seattle Post Intelligencer, August 1, 2006)

New Web Page - Initiative 933 (August 01)
Our new I-933 Web page contains information on the proposed "property fairness" initiative, including links to resources posted by proponents and opponents.

The Fine Art of Reporting Results (August 01)
A growing number of localities are experimenting with alternatives to annual financial reports to inform citizens about government performance. More from Governing.

IRS Releases FSLG Toolkit (August 01)
The Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) new "Federal, State, and Local Government Toolkit" includes, among other things, the Public Employer's Tax Guide, Federal-State Reference Guide, Employer's Tax Guide, and the Taxable Fringe Benefits Guide.

Linking Performance Measurements to Customer Expectations (August 01)
The Balanced Scorecard has helped so many organizations to produce positive results that business experts have acknowledged it as one of the best management tools of the 20th Century. More from the Public Entity Risk Institute.

USCM Survey Shows Cities Still Unprepared for Disasters (August 01)
Nearly one year after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and almost five years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, cities across the nation still find themselves unprepared for future emergencies, according to a survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Emergency Preparedness - Quid Pro Quo (August 01)
State and local governments decide disaster-recovery partnerships make more sense than going it alone. More from Government Technology.

Smart City - The Future of American Cities (August 01)
For the past 50 years development in America has been sprawling away from the old urban cores into ever farther suburbs and exurbs. Why did it happen? Sprawl and development is the topic on this week's Smart City radio show.

Promoting a Culture of Ethics at City Hall (August 01)
Local government organizations need strategies to inform, inspire and encourage individuals to act ethically - and also to hold them accountable when they do not. More from Western City.

Communities Bank on Cultural Tourism (August 01)
In a landscape of cookie cutter neighborhoods, big-box retailers and national restaurant chains, a growing number of American travelers are searching for unique attractions. Communities that preserve and advertise places and activities representing their history and culture are capitalizing on a niche tourism market. More from American City & County.

Adopting Neighborhoods to Prevent Crime (August 01)
City, Citizens, and Law Enforcement Adopting Neighborhoods (CLEAN) focuses on crime prevention through the creation of partnerships in the city government, the police department and the residents of the city. More from The Police Chief.