Should Cities Convert One-Way Streets to Two-Way? (February 24)
The latest fad among urban planners is to convert one-way streets to two-way. The goal, they say, is to slow down traffic and make streets more pedestrian friendly. More from the Thoreau Institute.

Transportation - The Long View (February 24)
When we decide to build a new highway or train line, we think about unclogging traffic jams. That is shortsighted. More from Governing.

Shared-Services in Government (February 24)
The majority of government executives believe that shared services are important to helping them achieve their organizations' strategic goals, according to a study released recently by Accenture. More from Government Technology.

Smart Growth America Offers Shareware (February 24)
Smart Growth America has released a CD-ROM "library" of smart growth resources for everyone interested in creating livable, well-planned communities. It is available free while supplies last.

Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity? (February 24)
A report from the Transportation Research Board, Does the Built Environment Influence Physical Activity? Examining the Evidence (1065kb), reviews the relationships between physical activity, health, transportation, and land use.

Entertaining Development (February 24)
Retail entertainment has exceeded the seemingly inflated expectations of a decade ago. More from Urban Land.

Seattle Joins Homeland Security Technology Initiative (February 24)
The Department of Homeland Security last week announced the addition of the Seattle urban area to its Regional Technology Integration initiative. More from Government Technology.

New Online Water Terrorism Preparedness Guide Now Available (February 24)
The WaterHealthConnection website has released a free on-line terrorism preparedness guide that addresses the public health and security challenges resulting from intentional acts of water terrorism. More from the Public Entity Risk Institute.

2005 Urban Sustainability Forum (February 24)
The Urban Land Institute has partnered with the City of Seattle to bring you the 2005 Urban Sustainability Forum, a series of engaging public discussions designed to inspire Seattle business leaders and citizens to create a shared vision of urban sustainability.

Study Examines Government Disease Surveillance Systems (February 24)
Should a disease outbreak occur locally, how well would a state or local jurisdiction and its affiliated health organizations be able to respond? More from Government Technology.

The Great City (Seattle) (February 15)
A recent Seattle Times commentary by Bruce Katz and David Jackson suggests that, despite the Puget Sound region's strengths, it must address three key issues—transportation, housing, and schools—if it is to become truly great. More from the Brookings Institution.

The Suburbs are Here to Stay, so Stop Complaining (February 15)
Architects, environmentalists, and planners should apply their energies—not their contempt and condemnation—to America's suburbs. More from Architecture Magazine.

Outsourcing Guide Released for Local Governments (February 15)
The Center for Digital Government released "A Strategic Guide for Local Governments on Outsourcing," (417kb) for local government officials who are interested in learning about technology outsourcing. (Registration is required for this free download.)

E-Government - Made to Order (February 15)
The lofty old rhetoric about how digital technologies will fundamentally remake government is notably absent from most public CIOs' mouths these days. The current line: steady, incremental improvement -- not transformation. More from Government Technology.

King County to Implement Computer Aided Dispatch System (February 15)
King County has awarded a $2.5 million contract to Tiburon for the implementation of a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and a mobile data system to support the county's law enforcement operations. More from Government Technology.

Designating the Urban Interstates (February 15)
An article from the U.S. Department of Transportation offers an historical perspective on how the urban Interstates were selected and the controversy that still surrounds their impacts on our cities. More from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Creative Class War: The Debate over Richard Florida’s Ideas (February 15)
Cities must move away from funding corporate tax breaks and big-ticket white elephants designed to stimulate the economy and focus more on grassroots innovation and small-scale creativity. More from Maisonneuve.

Credentials for Building Departments may Lower Insurance Costs (February 15)
Building departments and the public they serve will benefit from a new accreditation program offered by the International Accreditation Service (IAS). More from NACo’s County News.

Schools as Centers of Innovation in and for Their Communities (February 15)
Communities have always had high expectations for their schools. Lately, those expectations have risen even higher. Political and civic leaders recognize that successful schools can contribute to community revitalization and economic development. More from Nation’s Cities Weekly.

Redmond Web Site Wins Best in Class Award (February 15)
In their 2004 Digital Cities Survey, the Center for Digital Government and the National League of Cities selected the city of Redmond as first-place winner in the 30,000 to 75,000 population category. More from Government Technology.

Broadband Project Examples Sought (February 15)
Jim Baller, a very well respected D.C. telecom attorney who represents local governments, is seeking information concerning public broadband projects around the country that have assisted economic development. If your community has information that is relevant to his research, please respond. Here are the details.

Unlocking the Potential of Your Employees (February 09)
People will be more engaged in their work if they are treated as respected, valued adults who have individual motives, abilities, and preferences. More from Government Finance Review (178kb).

Web Sightings – Takings and Property Rights (February 09)
Following the November 2004 adoption of Measure 37 by Oregon voters, Washington and other states are facing the possibility of similar property rights initiatives. Measure 37 requires state and local government to compensate property owners for regulations that restrict the use of property and reduce its fair market value, or not apply the regulation. A ballot proposition like Measure 37 imposes compensation requirements based on local government land use regulations that go far beyond the compensation requirements of the takings clauses of the federal and state constitutions. Here are some links to Web sites that address property rights and land use regulation, including issues of takings and compensation:

• Oregon Measure 37 Legislation, Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development
• Property Rights and Takings, Institute for Local Self Government, League of California Cities
• "T is for Takings," by Larry Gerckens, 2002, Planning ABCs, Planners Web, Planning Commissioner's Journal
• "Land Use and Property Rights," Oregon State University Public Policy and Economic Analysis - Includes FAQs, links to other resources and documents
• "Understanding Property Rights," Tool Box, Community & Economic Development, National Trust for Historic Preservation

Report Warns Against Muni Broadband (February 09)
Cities who want to run their own WiFi wireless broadband networks are basing their plans on claims of benefits that have dubious merit and few facts to back them up. More from Federal Computer Week.

New Government Innovations Portal (February 09)
The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government recently launched a new online portal, the Government Innovators Network, providing access to successful federal, state and local government innovations.

E-Government – Citizens First (February 09)
Local governments respond to citizen requests for online services with a wide array of offerings, and plans for additional services are on the drawing boards, according to a recent survey by the International City/County Management Association. More from Government Technology.

Smart City - New Approaches to Revitalization (February 09)
This week’s Smart City™ radio show guests represent a new breed of economic and community developers who are experimenting with fresh ideas and finding success in revitalizing communities. More from Smart City.

Incredible Shrinking Public Health System (February 09)
An aging workforce, budget cuts and the inability to financially compete with the private sector in recruiting qualified health care professionals are some of the factors stressing state and local government health care systems. More from American City & County.

Open Meetings, Open Records, Open Eyes (February 09)
Failure to comply with open records laws can get counties and cities in a whole heap of trouble, not to mention embarrassment. More from American City & County.

As Street Trees Die, Cities Search for Ways to Stay Green (February 09)
American Forests, a nonprofit conservation organization, has found that tree cover is declining in many North American urban areas. Toronto, its tree cover rapidly thinning, is one city looking for solutions. More from New Urban News.

Grant Program for Telecommunications Facilities (February 09)
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced a $20M grant program for planning or construction of public telecommunications facilities. Applications are due March 1. More from NTIA

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

• Council looks at the Graying of Gig Harbor (Tacoma News Tribune, February 28, 2005)
• Arts Group Picks City for Project - Everett would be Site for Artist Studios (Everett Herald, February 23, 2005)
• Olympia may Help Defray Cost of Sidewalk Fixes Repair (The Olympian, February 23, 2005)
• Police Want to get Stun Guns but Lack City Council's OK (Seattle Times, February 23, 2005)
• Towns Fear Police Tests will Break the Budget (Tacoma News Tribune, February 23, 2005)
• BIA Releases Preliminary Report about Casino (The Columbian, February 23, 2005)
• Richland Reviewing Dispatch Software (Tri-City Herald, February 23, 2005)
• (Skate) Park takes Flight (Tri-City Herald, February 23, 2005)
• City Council Hopes Plan Strengthens Ferndale Finances (Bellingham Herald, February 23, 2005)
• Neighbors Gone Bad: Send Help (Federal Way Mirror, February 19, 2005)
• Foreshadowing? Transit Suit could be First of Many (Puget Sound Business Journal, February 18, 2005)
• County Buys 137 Acres of Farmland Development Rights (Skagit Valley Herald, February 18, 2005)
• Covington Residents to Vote on Utilities Tax (King County Journal, February 18, 2005)
• Monroe Toughens Fireworks Restrictions (Everett Herald, February 18, 2005)
• Pasco, Franklin take Dispute to Lawmakers (Tri-City Herald, February 18, 2005)
• Courthouse Work could Reach $7.5 Million (Tri-City Herald, February 18, 2005)
• City Judge may be Elected (Federal Way Mirror, February 16, 2005)
• Roundabouts: Love 'em or Leave 'em (Tri-City Herald, February 14, 2005)
• A Dog's Breed is as Bad as a Bite for Some Insurers (Seattle Post Intelligencer, February 15, 2005)
• Prompt Response Focus of Bioterror Project (Seattle Post Intelligencer, February 15, 2005)
• La Conner Goes Wi-Fi (Skagit Valley Herald, February 11, 2005)
• Mayor Initiative Goes to Judge (Tacoma News Tribune, February 11, 2005)
• One-Man Department Stands Guard Against Graffiti (Yakima Herald Republic, February 11, 2005)
• Pierce County's Smoking Ban Killed (Seattle Post Intelligencer, February 11, 2005)
• Bellevue's New City Hall Faces $11.3M Cost Overrun (King County Journal, February 11, 2005)
• Skaters' Dream Park to Open - Arlington Party on Saturday will Inaugurate Facility
• Washington Cities Mull Airbus Plant (Tri-City Herald, February 10, 2005)
• Soap Lake has its Giant Lava Lamp ... Now it has to put it Together (Seattle Post Intelligencer, February 10, 2005)
• King Fire Districts Talk Merger (Tacoma News Tribune, February 9, 2005)
• Bellevue Council to Oppose Growth-Management Watchdog Group (King County Journal, February 8, 2005)
• County Officials Try to Keep Naval Station in Everett (Everett Herald, February 8, 2005)
• Police to Mull False Alarms (Tri-City Herald, February 8, 2005)
• Here's Your Chance to Adopt a Park or Trail (Skagit Valley Herald, February 8, 2005)
• Commissioners Modify Language in Garbage Plan (Skagit Valley Herald, February 8, 2005)
• Police to Place Bait for Car Thieves (Seattle Times, February 2, 2005)

Smart City - Are Convention Centers a Silver Bullet? (February 01)
Do convention centers make sense as an urban investment strategy for cities? The latest Smart City™ radio show features an interview with the author of a new study from The Brookings Institution who claims that, for most cities, sinking money into convention centers is a losing strategy.

Household Income Distributions in U.S. Cities, 1979-1999 (February 01)
A report from the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program, The Shape of the Curve: Household Income Distributions in U.S. Cities, 1979-1999 (1972kb), provides an analysis of census data on household incomes in the nation's 100 largest cities between 1979 and 1999.

APA Publishes Draft Policy Guide on Security (February 01)
The American Planning Association (APA) recently published a draft security policy guide offering security-related policy recommendations for planners and elected officials. More from APA.

Broadband Network Technology - High Speed Ahead (February 01)
To determine which broadband network technology would best meet each community's needs, project leaders should answer five questions. More from American City & County.

Budget Blowback (February 01)
Some budget processes act as a technology straitjacket, discouraging innovation rather than promoting it. More from Governing.

IT Outsourcing through Application Service Providers (February 01)
A report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, IT Outsourcing: A Primer for Public Managers (663kb), assesses the potential of using application service providers (ASPs) for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public information and service delivery.

311 Call Centers - One Call Away (February 01)
An offspring of the 911 system, 311 call centers handle a host of common problems reported by residents. More from American City & County.

Cities Strain to Cover Budget Gaps (February 01)
Many American cities are struggling with budget shortfalls. Their financial troubles are likely to get worse if expected cuts are made in domestic federal spending. More from National Public Radio.

New HUD Award on Reducing Affordable Housing Barriers (February 01)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is accepting nominations and intends to recognize 10 local governments for their outstanding work to encourage the production of homes affordable to working families. More from NACo’s County News.