The Blogging Revolution: Government in the Age of Web 2.0 (June 29)
An examination of blogging; a growing tool for promoting online and offline engagement of citizens and public servants. Th author, David C. Wyld develops a set of lessons learned and a checklist of best practices for public managers interested in following in their footsteps. Read the Report from the IBM Center for Business and Government

Washington Model Rules for Disclosure of Electronic Records (June 28)
After an extended period of review, during which substantial public comment was solicited, the Model Rules dealing with public disclosure of electronic records have been issued. These additions to the current Model Rules will go into effect on July 16, 2007. We suggest that you print out a copy and keep them handy. Link to the new rules.

A Blueprint for National Prosperity (June 26)
Our next president needs to have a blueprint for national prosperity that builds on the economic assets of our metropolitan areas and the cities within them. Read more from the Brookings Metro Program What Matters Column

The Effects of Broadband Deployment on Output and Employment (June 25)
This study, a cross-sectional analysis of U.S. data on broadband, provides new estimates of the effects of broadband penetration on both output and employment, in the aggregate and by sector, using state level data. Read the study from the Brookings Institution

NATOA Seminar on Community Wireless Network Legal Issues (June 22)
Register by June 28 for the July 2 eNATOA Seminar. The issues range from whether the community is responsible for CALEA (federal wiretapping statute) to copyright liability to privacy and data retention policies. Information about NATOA and Registration.

NATOA Annual Conference in Portland (June 22)
NATOA's 27th Annual Conference: Promoting Community Interests in Communications will be in Portland, October 2-6, 2007. See Conference Information.

Improving the Government Brand (June 21)
With the impending retirement of the Baby Boomers in government services, how can government attract necessary talent? Read this week's Management Insights Column from Governing.

The Next Drug Problem (June 19)
Hidden among the well-known problems faced by water professionals — aging infrastructure, dwindling supply — is another emerging issue: rising amounts of pharmaceutical compounds in surface water and drinking water. Read article in the June issue of American City and County.

Serving Diverse Communities — Best Practices (June 19)
Across the nation, local communities are experiencing rapid growth of diverse ethnic populations. Along with this growth comes an inevitable clash of cultures.  What is the best way to provide services to growing diverse populations? What practices are most effective?  See Public Management Cover Story for June

States Seek Alternatives to More Prisons (June 19)
Swelling inmate populations are cutting into state budgets, and lawmakers are exploring new ways to ease overcrowding and save money including grants for local community programs.  More from Stateline.org

MRSC Search Options Tutorial (June 18)
Take a quick tour of the search options available to you on the MRSC Web site. Learn how to locate the information you are seeking by viewing this five-minute video. (Please make sure that your computer speakers are turned on when you watch the tutorial.)

Mapping the Growth of Older America (June 12)
Aging baby boomers constitute this decade's fastest growing age group, expanding nearly 50 percent in size from 2000 to 2010. This group adds new stresses to suburban and Sun Belt locations where they are predominantly "retiring in place" with demands for health, transportation, and other services. Read the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program report on Seniors and Boomers in the Early 21st Century (1.05 MB).

eNATOA Seminar on "Fiber to the Premises" June 18th (June 11)
In the past year, a number of high-profile American Communities have evaluated Fiber-to-the-Premises -- connecting every home and business over fiber optics -- joining the significant number of small and rural communities that have already deployed FTTP.  This eNATOA session will explore the range of FTTP models under consideration in such cities as San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland -- and those that have already been deployed in Utah and many other jurisdictions.

This session will be moderated by Joanne Hovis, President of Columbia Telecommunications Corp.  speakers will include Tony Perez, Director, Office of Broadband, City of Seattle, WA; Paul Morris, Executive Director, UTOPIA; Chris Vein, Executive Director, Dept. of Technology and Information Services, City of San Francisco, CA (invited) The seminar will take place on onday, June 18 at 2pm EDT, 11am PDT.  Registered participants will receive electronic materials and technical instructions before the event.  Registration

Latest Report from Governing's Citizens and Performance Project (June 11)
The latest report, Data-Driven Decisions, shows how various governments are using performance measurement to drive budget decisions.  Performance measurement helps legislators and city council members link budget dollars more closely to results.

New Clean Water Bill Alters Definition "Waters of the U.S." (June 11)
New regulations, preemption, and unfunded mandates are in the works for state and local governments under a new proposal to revise the 1972 Clean Water Act. H.R. 2421, proposes to eliminate the word “navigable” from the definition of “waters of the U.S.” within the Clean Water Act, essentially placing all bodies of water or “perceived” bodies of water under federal jurisdiction.  More from NACO News and Analysis

Urban Institute Report Assessing Federalism and Social Policy (June 11)
The recent publication explores what ULI's Assessing the New Federalism (ANF) project work can tell about the evolution of federalism within five major social programs during the nine years between 1997 and 2006.  Summary and Complete Report.

Web Sightings – Workforce Planning (June 07)
With the prospect of many local government employees retiring in the next 10 to 20 years, increased attention has focused on workforce development and succession planning. The following are a few links to workforce and succession planning sites:

• Workforce.com - General information on employment law, human resource development, and human resource management
• Washington State Department of Personnel, Workforce Planning
  
• Job Training Programs, MRSC Web page - Includes workforce development and workforce development councils
• University of Washington Center for Workforce Development - Focuses on the challenges of the emerging workforce: recruitment, retention, and advancement of women and underrepresented minorities. 
• WorkSource, Washington, WorkForce Development Councils - Workforce Development Councils assure quality services to customers in the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
• Workforce and Succession Planning in Government, California
• Succession Planning Resource Guide, National Center for State Courts - Includes links to Succession/Workforce Planning generally  
• Workforce Planning Resources (PDF), University of North Carolina School of Government 
• Top 10 Practices to Move Local Governments Beyond Succession Planning, Dalhousie University, Canada
• State of Minnesota Workforce Planning Links
• Workforce Development, City of Richland

Crime in the U.S.: The Preliminary Stats for 2006 (June 05)
The FBI released its preliminary crime statistics for 2006. The big picture? Nationwide, violent crime in the U.S. increased 1.3 percent and property crime decreased 2.9 percent over 2005. The stats, collected from more than 11,700 law enforcement agencies, show a rise in violent crime for the second straight year. View the preliminary report and press release.

EPA's  Excellence in Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Award (June 04)
This award recognizes communities for their outstanding comprehensive approaches to implementing principles of smart growth, as well as strategies that support active aging. The award will be presented to communities with the best and most inclusive overall approach to implementing smart growth and active aging. Entries due by October 19, 2007 Additional information on EPA's Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging

New ICMA Center for State and Local Government Excellence (June 04)
ICMA-RC and ICMA  announced the formation of the Center for State and Local Government Excellence, whose mission is to help state and local governments become competitive employers. The Center also seeks to promote careers in state and local government.  View the Press Release and the CSLGE Web site

Keys to Technology Success: Management, Leadership (June 04)
When it comes to solving the problems of state and local governments and delivering services, technology isn’t the answer. The consensus at Governing’s Managing Technology 2007 conference was that the proper management of technology will help governments innovate and improve citizen services. For summary see  News from Governing’s Managing Technology 2007

Lack of Affordable Housing Near Jobs: New Survey from ULI Looks at Impact of Commuting (June 04)
A survey, conducted by Harris Interactive®, was taken to gauge perceptions by employers and commuters regarding the impact of long distances between housing and jobs on business operations and workers’ quality of life.  More About the Survey at ULI News Round UP.

Putting Child Care in the Picture as Part of Community Infrastructure (June 04)
Government officials ought to recognize that more than 70 percent of mothers with children under age six are in the workforce, and more than half of them use child care, according to the U.S. Census. Shouldn't child care be part of local, state, and federal planning efforts?  See article on planning efforts in APA's  Planning  June 2007.