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Posts for Flannary Collins

Local Government Contracting and Agreements for Non-Public Works Projects

April 7, 2025  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Purchasing and Contracting ,  Interlocal Cooperation

Local governments may opt for various types of non-public works contracts with other public agencies and private companies. Which contract types work most effectively and under what circumstances?

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Lending a Hand: Offering Public Employees Paid Time Off to Volunteer

February 10, 2025  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Gift of Public Funds ,  Leave Policies ,  Personnel Policies

While good benefits can attract people to your agency, so can intangible perks, such as providing paid time off to volunteer (VTO). In order to offer paid VTO, agencies must craft a policy that clearly identifies those volunteer opportunities that qualify for the paid leave.

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Graph showing a steady increase in money

Increases to Minimum Wage and Exempt Employee Salary Thresholds Will Be Here Soon

November 4, 2024  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Compensation ,  Minimum Wage

Proper classification of employees and proper payment of overtime wages is an essential piece of the personnel puzzle. In 2025 the state’s minimum wage and exempt employee salary thresholds will increase and public employers should be prepared to account for such changes.

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Web designers developing on accessible app

New Mandatory ADA Standards for Local Government Websites and Apps

September 3, 2024  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Americans with Disabilities Act ,  Information Technology ,  New Legislation and Regulations

Beginning in spring 2026, certain larger local governments will have to comply with new guidelines requiring that local agency websites and apps be accessible to people with disabilities, with smaller local governments given until spring 2027 to comply. 

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A close up of 3 secured pistols on display

2024 Brings New Firearm Control Laws

June 3, 2024  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Firearms

The 2024 legislative session saw a few bills on firearms regulation, including one that adds to the list of locations where open carry is prohibited, and two that add new requirements for licensed firearms dealers in the state.

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A woman abstains from voting on a topic by holding her hand over her mouth

Abstentions, Proxies, and Other Unusual Legislative Body Voting Scenarios

March 18, 2024  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Legislative Body

MRSC gets asked about unusual voting situations that can occur during council or commission meetings, such as tie votes or abstentions. Either Robert’s Rules of Order or the agency’s local rules of procedure can offer guidance on how the legislative body should proceed. 

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Bundle of mail marked "return to sender"

Residency Requirements for Local Government Officials and Appointees

January 29, 2024  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Administrative and Elected Officials ,  County Officials

Must an elected official, advisory (e.g., volunteer) board member, or city or county administrator reside in the jurisdiction they serve or work for? The answer to this question depends on the position, and in some cases, local policies. 

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A form for purchasing a gun

2023 Brings New Firearms Legislation to Washington State

October 16, 2023  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Firearms

Several firearms-related bills were passed during the 2023 legislative session, including a ban on assault weapons, and new requirements for firearms purchase, such as background checks and a 10-day waiting period. 

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New Materials Help Local Governments Comply with the Open Public Meetings Act

June 26, 2023  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  MRSC News and Updates ,  Open Public Meetings Act

From our comprehensive Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) publication to new guidance sheets on meeting minutes and meeting agendas, MRSC has revamped and completely updated its OPMA materials — including webpages and downloadable materials — to help agencies stay compliant. 

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A close up of handcuffs set against illegal drugs

New Law on Drug Possession, Use Takes Effect July 1, 2023

May 24, 2023  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  New Legislation and Regulations ,  Drug Possession and Use

After being called back to a special session, the Washington State Legislature passed SB 5536, also known as the Blake Fix, adding a new statewide law on drug use and possession, with most provisions taking effect on July 1, 2023.

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Two officials sitting at a dais during an open public meeting as seen through the lens of a video camera

Practical Tips for Holding Hybrid Meetings

May 8, 2023  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Open Public Meetings Act ,  Legislative Body

After years of practice during the pandemic, local governments have become accustomed to holding hybrid public meetings, but that doesn't mean the process is always seamless. Fortunately many have developed procedures and methods to address the most common problems.

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A close up of a person working on a laptop to retrieve files while sitting in a sunbeam

It’s Sunshine Week Somewhere

March 6, 2023  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Open Public Meetings Act ,  Public Records Act

Even during the gloomy winter months, we can all applaud Sunshine Week, which celebrates open government. 

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Are You Up-to-Date on the Open Public Meetings Act? Test Your Knowledge

January 23, 2023  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Open Public Meetings Act

Since 2020, the Open Public Meetings Act has gone through significant changes, requiring local government staff and elected officials to stay abreast of the changes. How confident are you in your OPMA knowledge?

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Privacy v. Security: Use of Security Cameras on Government Property

December 13, 2022  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Public Records Act ,  Nuisance Abatement and Enforcement

While governmental use of security cameras can be a useful tool, agencies should take care to adopt a policy that outlines the precise ways in which the cameras will be used and how the recordings will be managed. 

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Governor Inslee Ends the COVID-19 Emergency

November 2, 2022  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  COVID-19

The governor officially terminated all remaining proclamations effective at 11:59 PM on October 31. The new documents confirm what we wrote previously, but this article provides a few small clarifications regarding vaccination requirements, face masks, and reporting/notification.

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Washington’s COVID-19 State of Emergency Ends October 31: What Does this Mean for Local Governments?

October 6, 2022  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  COVID-19 ,  Open Public Meetings Act

Washington's state of emergency and remaining emergency proclamations related to the COVID-19 pandemic are scheduled to be lifted on October 31, 2022. What impact will this have on open public meetings, vaccine mandates, and requirements related to masking and disease tracking?  

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Regulating Firearms in Washington State

July 10, 2022  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Firearms

Washington State mostly preempts the field of firearm regulation under state law but there are a handful of areas in which local governments can adopt measures to regulate the sale, possession, use, and storage of firearms within their jurisdictions.

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Recruiting for Local Government Positions

May 23, 2022  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Recruitment and Hiring

Many employers are finding employee recruitment challenging. This blog explores some out-of-the-box approaches to attracting new talent, from signing and referral bonuses, telecommute options and other incentives, as well as what to consider if you hire out-of-state staff. 

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The OPMA Gets an Update from the Legislature

March 24, 2022  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Open Public Meetings Act ,  New Legislation and Regulations

The 2022 legislative session made changes to the Open Public Meetings Act, some of which take effect immediately and others not until June. This blog looks at new requirements about physical location, special meeting notice, and public comment and clarifies the effective dates.

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State Puts WA Cares on Hold for Now

February 1, 2022  by  Flannary Collins
Category:  Compensation ,  New Legislation and Regulations

With new legislation, the WA Cares long-term care insurance program (and the premiums employers were to collect from employees) has been put on hold. This blog looks at the steps local government employers should take at this time.

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