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The Connection Between Downtown Safety and Revitalization

March 5, 2025 by Abby Newbold
Category: Guest Author , Public Safety and Welfare , Design , Downtown Revitalization Series

Downtown revitalization often depends on public perceptions of safety in the downtown core. Localities can boost public safety through a variety of approaches, from local beautification projects to developing business improvement areas.

Reducing Crash Severity with Speed Limit Setting and Speed Management

February 19, 2025 by Briana Weisgerber
Category: Guest Author , Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Many localities are interested in setting and achieving safe speeds on their roads to reduce rates of vehicle-related accidents and injuries. What are some tools and best practices agencies can follow to determine what safe system speeds look like for their communities?

How Lakewood Addresses Homelessness After the Grants Pass Ruling

February 18, 2025 by Heidi Wachter
Category: Guest Author , Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Homelessness

Using an integrated approach, Lakewood relies on both regulations and support services to address homelessness and public camping within the community with the goal of moving unhoused individuals into stable living conditions.

Surface Mine Reclamation Program: Interaction with Local Governments

February 12, 2025 by Rian Skov
Category: Guest Author , Environmental Policy and Management , Rural Uses

Surface mines are regulated by a variety of agencies, including the local government in which a mine is located. But what happens when a mine has reached the end of its productiveness? Can the land be returned to its pre-mining state, and which agency oversees this process?

Reducing Local Street Speed Limits in Bellevue: Safety Starts on Your Street – Part 2

January 21, 2025 by John Murphy
Category: Guest Author , Streets and Sidewalks , Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Following a multiyear, iterative process, the City of Bellevue lowered the default speed limit on city streets to 20 mph. How did planning staff work with the city council and other departments to coordinate such a huge effort, and what advice would they offer to others?

Reducing Local Street Speed Limits in Bellevue: Safety Starts on Your Street – Part 1

January 13, 2025 by John Murphy
Category: Guest Author , Streets and Sidewalks , Traffic Regulation and Enforcement

Partly in response to concerns about speeding, Bellevue lowered the default speed limit on city streets to 20 mph, but only after a three-year process that included laying the groundwork and running pilot programs to test the efficacy of lower speed limits on public safety.

Leases: A Critical Tool for Clean Buildings Act Compliance

November 13, 2024 by Nicole DeNamur , Erik Jennings
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change , Design , Energy Resources and Conservation

The 2019 Clean Buildings Act creates performance standards for energy and water use in buildings. Building owners, including public agencies, can leverage lease agreements to support compliance with the law, reduce risk, and delineate landlord/tenant responsibilities.

Local Government Initiatives for Green Buildings in Washington: Policies, Codes, and Incentives

October 23, 2024 by Inonge Mubita
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change

In Washington, the buildings sector is the state's second-biggest carbon polluter behind transportation, accounting for more than a quarter of statewide greenhouse gas emissions. How are local governments encouraging the development of green buildings to reduce emissions locally?

Indoor of a green building under construction

Advancing Green Buildings: Washington’s Clean Buildings Law and Green Building Practices Local Governments Can Adopt - Part 1

October 14, 2024 by Inonge Mubita
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change

Since residential and commercial buildings account for 27% of statewide greenhouse gas emissions in Washington State, many local governments are implementing green building programs as part of a larger effort to reduce emissions and build healthier local communities.

Tax-Exempt Entities: New Source of Funding Available for Clean Energy Projects

October 2, 2024 by Alison Benge , Stacey Crawshaw-Lewis
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change , Energy Resources and Conservation , Federal Funding

Local governments that undertook clean energy projects may be able to recoup some project costs through clean energy federal tax credits. Thanks to 2022 federal legislation, these credits are now available to certain tax-exempt entities as direct, elective payments.

Save the Bees: How Local Governments Can Protect Pollinator Habitat

August 27, 2024 by Katie Buckley
Category: Guest Author , Environmental Policy and Management , Land Use Administration , New Legislation and Regulations

Pollinators are a critical component of a healthy ecosystem, impacting food security, the abundance of local flora, and agricultural earnings. Local governments can play a role in protecting critical habitat for pollinators with innovative strategies and smart land use policies.

An employee and two supervisors during an employee disciplinary meeting

Understanding Loudermill Rights: Balancing Due Process in Employee Discipline and Best Practices

August 5, 2024 by Evan Chinn , Chloe Lee
Category: Guest Author , Termination and Retirement

Loudermill rights protect the rights of public sector employees facing disciplinary actions. Employers must hold a pre-disciplinary hearing, which safeguards the right of the employee in question and ensures transparency, accountability, and fairness in employment decisions.

Aerial view of rural property showing graph of increasing dollar value

The Sheetz Decision: Agencies May Now Have To Show Their Work on Impact Fees

July 22, 2024 by Heidi Greenwood , Nick Morton
Category: Guest Author , Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Impact Fees

Under a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling, an agency may have to show how its impact fee calculations are related to land use interests and proportional to the impact of that development. (This blog updates and replaces one originally published in June.)

Team works together to collect data and make a wildfire plan

Is Your Community Ready for a Wildfire?

June 17, 2024 by Guy Gifford
Category: Guest Author , Climate Change , Emergency Management , Fire Protection

Which neighborhoods are most at risk for wildfire in your community? What are the priority actions your local government should take and where should these be concentrated? Developing a community wildfire protection plan can help an agency answer these questions.

An older man holds a sign in protest of plans for a new stadium

Dealing with Housing Displacement in Your Comprehensive Plan

May 29, 2024 by Carson Bridges , Steve Butler
Category: Guest Author , Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Housing

Housing displacement brought about by gentrification can severely disrupt existing neighborhoods. Thanks to legislation in 2021, any GMA-planning local government updating a comprehensive plan must also address and include anti-displacement strategies to protect residents.

A gavel sitting on top of a stack of legal documents

Public Defense Standards Are Changing: What Counties and Cities Need to Know

May 6, 2024 by Oskar Rey , Drew T. Pollom
Category: Guest Author , Courts and Criminal Justice System

The Washington State Bar Association recently adopted revised standards that provide case load limits and other requirements related to public defense services. What are these new standards and what do local agencies need to know to be prepared for the change?

Prioritizing Personnel Safety: Reducing the Risk of Distracted Driving in Your Agency

April 1, 2024 by Janine Koffel
Category: Guest Author , Personnel Policies

Public employers can actively protect their workforce from serious car-related injuries or death by developing a focused driving policy as a component of a strong workplace safety culture that also emphasizes traffic safety.

Reducing Barriers for Childcare Facilities, Part 2

March 25, 2024 by Lisa Pool , Barbara Rosen
Category: Guest Author , Development Regulations and Zoning , Impact Fees , Inclusive Communities

How can local governments support the development of more childcare facilities in their community? Well-thought-out zoning and development regulations can go a long way in helping to reduce the barriers for childcare providers.

A childcare teacher works with 5 young children

Reducing Barriers for Childcare Facilities, Part 1

March 20, 2024 by Lisa Pool , Barbara Rosen
Category: Guest Author , Comprehensive Planning-Growth Management , Development Regulations and Zoning , Inclusive Communities

Lack of access to affordable childcare may lead to a parent dropping out of the workforce, while convenient, affordable care creates economic advantages for families and communities. How can local governments support the growth of diverse childcare options in their communities?

A diverse group of happy adults and kids sitting in a garden

Whatcom County Boosts Engagement Efforts to Build a More Equitable Advisory Board

January 17, 2024 by Allison Williams
Category: Guest Author , Inclusive Communities , Public Participation

In order to contribute to building the health and well-being of young children and their families, Whatcom County developed a diverse, community-driven Child and Family Well-Being Task Force through innovative policies and increased community engagement.

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