Tune in to NLC TV (September 19)
The National League of Cities (NLC), in partnership with TV Worldwide, recently launched an Internet-based TV channel, NLC TV, in an effort to communicate the latest news, issues and views of the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents.

Performance Measures - The Fewer the Better (September 19)
How many performance measures does your agency have? If it has too many measures, it has no measures. More from Bob Behn's Public Management Report (169 KB).

Web Sightings - Washington City/County History Links (September 19)
Web Sightings - Washington City/County History Links If you want to learn more about Washington local government history, take a look at these timely links:

• "A History of Washington's Local Governments," Volume I of the Final Report of the Washington State Local Governance Study Commission, January 1988. An excellent history of local governments in Washington State; an updated edition will be available in January 2008.
• HistoryLink.org - The online encyclopedia of Washington State history
• Cities and Towns, State of Washington - Dates of Incorporation, Disincorporation, and Changes of Classification
• Northwest Digital Archives
• Washington State Historical Society - A guide to museums, resource centers, and educational programming
• Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture - Preserves and makes available materials that contribute to an understanding of the history and culture of eastern Washington and the Inland Empire.
• Washington History - Office of the Secretary of State
• Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest, University of Washington
• Northwest History Database, WSU - Selected articles from Northwest newspapers

New Publication on Smart Growth (September 19)
A new publication from The Smart Growth Network and the International City/County Management Association, This Is Smart Growth (2464 KB), illustrates how communities can turn their visions, values, and aspirations into reality, using smart growth techniques to improve the quality of development.

Cities Worried About Federal Disaster Response Plan (September 19)
State and local officials greeted a Department of Homeland Security draft update of the plan for coordinating disaster preparedness and response with skepticism and dismay in a recent congressional hearing. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Place Matters (September 19)
Spatial factors and location are often missed, but critical, pieces of the puzzle in developing public and private policies that support working families. More from the Urban Institute (81 KB).

Municipal Wi-Fi - Reality Bites (September 19)
American cities' plans for ubiquitous internet access are running into trouble. More from The Economist.

Up to $72 million available for EPA Brownfields Grants (September 19)
The EPA recently released proposed guidelines for submitting proposals for 2008 Brownfields Grants to mitigate and redevelop sites contaminated by petroleum, hazardous substances and other contaminants. More from NACo's County News.

Many Happy Returns (September 19)
By adopting energy savings performance contracts, local governments can save money and update antiquated and inefficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, and other similar systems in public buildings without tapping into capital funds. More from American City & County.

Confluence of Interest (September 19)
Thousands of citizen-led organizations are working to improve water quality across political boundaries. More from Governing.

Crisis Response Tools for Law Enforcement (September 19)
"Critical Incident Stress Management" is an effective and valuable crisis intervention system designed to mitigate the impact of traumatic incidents on police officers and other emergency responders. More from The Police Chief.

Increase in the Implicit Price Deflator (IPD) from July 2006 to July 2007 Is 2.084 Percent (September 19)
This means, for most jurisdictions, the maximum allowable levy increase for 2008 is 1 percent of the 2007 levy (plus taxes on new construction and the change in the value of state-assessed utility property) unless the Washington Supreme Court finds Initiative 747 unconstitutional. More.

Supreme Court Upholds Pasco Rental Inspection Program (September 14)
In City of Pasco v. Shaw, the state supreme court upheld the constitutionality of a Pasco ordinance that requires that landlords obtain a business license and, as a condition for the issuance of a license, that the landlord provide a certificate of inspection. For more information see this News Alert from Foster Pepper.

Kirkland is Street Smart (September 11)
Cars dominate American roadways, but walkers, bikers and the disabled want more access. More from AARP Bulletin.

Management - The Struggle to Streamline (September 11)
States are trying to make social and health services intake and screening more efficient. Outsourcing may not be the answer. More from Governing.

Citizens Reporting Crimes Online: The San Francisco Experience (September 11)
Whether an agency is small or large, citizens will consult the agency Web site for information and will look for the easiest way to resolve their specific issues. Online reporting is one such service. More from The Police Chief.

Metropolitan Travel Forecasting (September 11)
A Transportation Research Board (TRB) report, "Metropolitan Travel Forecasting: Current Practice and Future Direction," examines metropolitan travel forecasting models that provide public officials with information to inform decisions on major transportation system investments and policies. More from the TRB.

Homeland Security Releases National Response Framework for Public Comment (September 11)
The Department of Homeland Security recently released the draft National Response Framework, successor to the National Response Plan, for a 30-day public comment period. More from Government Technology.

Proof of Delivery (September 11)
As electronic communications grow in volume and importance, government officials should take measures to ensure that their messages are protected. More from American City & County.

Waste from Analog-to-Digital TV Switch Worries Officials (September 11)
When television screens around the country go static in 2009, officials are hoping that consumers will be prepared and not go running to the landfill. More from NACo's County News.

Bottled Watergate (September 11)
A shocking discovery was made in late August: Some bottled water is municipal tap water. More from American City & County.

The Young and the Restless (September 05)
There are proven ways to recruit and retain the emerging generation. Most states and localities don’t seem to know about them. More from Governing.

City-School Joint Use Agreements Maximize Space, Minimize Costs (September 05)
Joint use agreements between cities and schools have been gaining popularity as local governments and school districts recognize the cost and space benefits of facility sharing. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Smart Growth: The Opportunity for Managers to Lead (September 05)
Seven ways that local government managers can introduce and implement best practices for smart growth in their communities. More from Public Management.

Considerations for Pandemic Flu Planning and Response (September 05)
Guidance for the development of contingency plans, organization of resources, and establishment of departmental protocols that can be used to respond to and help mitigate the effects of a pandemic influenza or similar health emergency. More from The Police Chief.

Planning for Stormwater: Parking Lots (September 05)
The University of Connecticut's Planning for Stormwater website includes an overview of paved parking areas and their impact on stormwater runoff.

Transportation Vision and Strategies for the 21st Century (September 05)
A New Vision for the 21st Century is the fifth of seven reports developed by state transportation officials to provide information and policy recommendations to the the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.