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Focus Archive - Information Services

Please note that Focus section links were valid at the time of their original posting. However, since Web sites and addresses change frequently, we cannot guarantee that all links will remain operative.

Cloud Computing in Government (November 18)
A new report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, "Moving to the Cloud: An Introduction to Cloud Computing in Government,” examines the entry of the cloud computing phenomena into the government and inventories a number of applications where cloud computing has been implemented.

Top Digital Cities Announced for 2009 (November 12)
These city governments are using digital technologies to better serve their citizens and streamline operations. More from Government Technology.

Tracking Ballots via E-mails and Texts (November 04)
In Denver, voters can receive updates on where their mail-in ballots are via e-mail or text. More from Governing's Idea Center.

2009 Best of the Web Awards (October 28)
The Center for Digital Government recently announced the winners of their annual Best of the Web awards. More from Government Technology.

Social Media Sites' Handicap Hurdle (October 21)
As governments turn to Facebook and its ilk, they aren't paying enough attention to the needs of the visually or hearing-impaired. More from Governing.

Kirkland Tests Pandemic Flu Emergency Plan (October 21)
More than 50 City of Kirkland employees recently participated in an exercise as part of the City’s emergency management planning for pandemic flu. The test provided valuable information should it become necessary for the City to institute social distancing procedures in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. More from the city of Kirkland.

MRSC Services Survey (October 21)
MRSC is conducting a brief survey to assess whether or not our existing services are meeting your needs and to determine your interest in any additional services. We would appreciate your taking a few minutes to respond to these nine questions. Thank you.

How to Embrace Social Networking in Local Government (October 14)
The next wave of communications technology that we can't ignore as public administrators is technology-based social networking opportunities. More from Public Management.

The Difficult Path to Electronic Health Records (September 30)
They will produce better outcomes. But building this ‘network of networks’ will be complicated. More from Governing.

Social Media: Not Your Grandfather's Democracy (September 30)
As blogs, YouTube videos, and text blasts reshape how America communicates, few local governments—and even fewer city and county managers—are keeping pace. More from Public Management.

San Jose, Calif.'s Wikiplanning Project on Course (September 16)
In San Jose, Calif. -- the heart of Silicon Valley -- city officials are attempting to bring the wiki concept to city planning. More from Government Technology.

Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (August 26)
The use of timely and accurate localized data to drive law enforcement operations toward more efficient and effective resource deployment is the benchmark for 21st-century policing. More from The Police Chief.

U.S. Secret Service’s Computer Forensic Training for State and Local Agencies (August 12)
The U.S. Secret Service's Electronic Crimes State and Local Program provides state and local enforcement partners with computer forensics training and hands-on experience with electronic-crimes investigations. More from The Police Chief.

Can Social Networking Lead to a Rebirth in Civic Engagement? (June 17)
Local governments, in particular, can capitalize on the amazing opportunity that Web-based technologies, including social networking (SN), provide. More from NACo's County News.

MRSC's In Focus e-Newsletter for Councilmembers and Commissioners (May 20)
MRSC's bi-weekly In Focus e-newsletter is an excellent way for your elected officials to stay informed about the latest news, research, events and trends affecting Washington city and county governments. Sign them up today.

Can Social, Participatory Gov 2.0 Work? (May 20)
The charge towards Gov 2.0 is in danger of falling off the tracks if done incorrectly. More from Government Technology.

Using Information Technology to Develop Innovative Links with Residents (May 13)
Creative approaches are being developed to use the Internet to link residents with government and draw forth a higher level of input and sharing of views. More from ICMA.

Broadband — at Any Price (May 06)
Small cities are eyeing stimulus money to bring high-speed Internet to all. More from Governing.

Wireless at Work (April 30)
The latest technology moves public services from the office to the field. More from American City & County.

Celebrating 75 Years of Research and Services! (April 23)
MRSC proudly continues the program begun as the Bureau of Governmental Research and Services in 1934 at the University of Washington. In honor of our organization’s 75th anniversary, we hope that you will enjoy a multimedia slideshow containing highlights of our history. Also see “Twenty-Five Years of Governmental Research and Service” prepared in honor of the Bureau’s 25th anniversary in 1959.

MRSC Blog: Selected Local Government Press Releases (April 22)
We have launched our blog containing selected local government press releases to keep you informed on new Washington local government programs and initiatives. Each entry is assigned a category (finance, planning, etc.) and a tag (wetlands, urban forestry, etc.) so you can sort them by topic. If you have not already done so, please add blog@mrsc.org to your agency's press release distribution list.

Unplugged (April 08)
As local governments continue to assess how technology might improve the efficiency and productivity of departments and processes, they will invariably cross paths with wireless technology. More from American City & County.

To Serve, Virtually (March 18)
Packing multiple applications on a single server can save big bucks. More from Governing.

Goodnight Computer (March 18)
Turning a computer off can slash its energy use, but most government workers prefer to leave their machines on all night. States are trying to change that. More from Governing.

Records Management Seminar (March 18)
Washington State Archives is pleased to announce the opening of the registration for the Records Management Seminar “Be Budget Wise – Using Records Management to Save $$” to be held on April 24 from 8:00 to 4:30 at the Skagit County PUD in Mt. Vernon, Washington.

Government Seeks Major Input on Broadband Build-Out (March 11)
By design, there were a lot more questions than answers at the first meeting of the three government agencies charged with overseeing the broadband deployment portion of the economic stimulus package. More from Broadcasting & Cable.

Shrewd Investing in IT Assets through IT Governance (February 26)
IT governance contributes to shrewd IT asset investment decisions by engaging stakeholders from across the organization in decision making and accountability. More from Government Finance Review.

Consolidating the Job Search (February 26)
Instead of searching through individual Web sites or visiting government offices for job postings , applicants in the Puget Sound region need only go to GovJobsToday.com.

Stimulus Bill to Boost State and Local Information Technology (February 19)
President Barack Obama signed a massive $787 billion economic stimulus package on Tuesday in Denver. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is aimed at jump-starting he struggling U.S. economy, and includes billions of dollars that could benefit state and local government IT. More from Government Technology.

Google Earth 5.0 Includes Historical Imagery (February 12)
The latest update to Google Earth - Version 5.0 - includes the ability to view historical data according to location and could prove invaluable for the teaching of urban growth and urban sprawl. More from Digital Urban.

Major issues to impact IT services in 2009-2010 (January 29)
The Public Technology Institute (PTI) has identified what it expects to be among the most pressing issues city and county IT managers will face in 2009 and 2010. More from NACo's County News.

Defending Cyberspace (January 29)
A new report from Johns Hopkins University, Defending Cyberspace: Protecting Individuals, Government Agencies and Private Companies Against Persistent and Evolving Threats, looks at the nature of cybersecurity threats and recommends several actions organizations should consider in preventing them.

Massive Collaboration (January 29)
Will ‘Massive Collaboration’ Work for You? New Web-based collaboration tools offer ways for governments to tap the wisdom of crowds. More from Governing.

Best Practices, Cool Uses of IT and Tips for Saving Money (January 15)
The Microsoft State & Local Government Team, along with PTI (Public Technology Institute), NACo (National Association of Counties) and ICMA (International City/County Management Association), are looking for best practices, cool uses of IT and/or tips for saving money through technology from state and local governments. More from PTI.

Taking on Technology (January 08)
Local governments are navigating social networks, wireless technology and other Web 2.0 technologies. More from American City & County.

Bloggerly Love (December 18)
Techies and their interactive tools may be the way to lure tourists to local fairs and state parks. More from Governing.

IT - Unclogging Networks (November 07)
To increase network traffic, clamp down on bandwidth hogs, and save money, time and energy, IT agencies are turning to applications that identify employee activity online. More from American City & County.

IT - Lighten Up on Language (November 07)
It’s awfully hard to get legislators or the public excited about an IT program when the words that describe it sound like gibberish. More from Governing.

New Law Brings 911 Services into Internet Age (October 30)
The Federal Communications Commission issued regulations this week for voice-over-IP service providers to offer Enhanced 911 emergency call services to all customers. More from Government Computer News.

Good Question! (October 02)
Regular users of this site know that we feature an "inquiry of the week" on the MRSC home page (see right-hand column). We have now incorporated a compilation of these questions and responses into the MRSC Index. The MRSC Index is a one-stop listing of all web pages, documents and inquiries that we have on any given topic. Browse the index by topic or search it by keyword.

Local Government Budget Library (October 02)
MRSC maintains an extensive collection of local government budgets organized by city, county and special purpose districts. We also link to online budgets (along with other documents and services) within the profiles that we maintain for each city and county.

Counties Enter MySpace-YouTube Generation (September 04)
Increasingly, counties are using free social networking Web sites to connect with their residents "where the eyeballs are" - online - on sites such as Friendster, MySpace, YouTube, Bebo and Facebook. More from NACo's County News.

Top Government Web Portals and Applications for 2008 (September 04)
Winners of the 2008 Best of the Web and Digital Government Achievement Awards have been announced by e.Republic's Center for Digital Government. More from Government Technology.

New Feature - National News Clippings (September 04)
We've added a new feature to our "Local Governments in the News" section below. Now, in addition to our regular local news source clippings, we will also be featuring news clippings from various national news sources highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments and special districts.

The Promise of Municipal Broadband (August 19)
Broadband is too important to the economy, education, and, well, democracy to be at the mercy of Comcast, Verizon, or AT&T. More from The Progressive.

The Buzz about 311 (August 07)
Cities and counties want to take the next step in call-center services, but neither their pocketbooks nor their partners are ready to regionalize. More from Governing.

Leveraging Web 2.0 in Government (August 07)
A new report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, Leveraging Web 2.0 in Government, presents the potential uses of social computing in government, discusses the barriers to Web 2.0, and presents what citizens think about Web 2.0. More from the IBM Center for the Business of Government.

NATOA’s Broadband Principles (July 24)
The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) has published their concise “Broadband Principles,” outlining the need for a national broadband policy and for local governments to take all possible steps to provide fiber to the premises for their communities.

Revolution in the Stacks (July 17)
To appeal to a new generation, some libraries are positioning themselves as places to create content. More from Governing.

GIS - More than Mapping (July 17)
From the basic to the complex, GIS is helping communities in a variety of ways. It is even saving lives. More from Planning Magazine.

Quick Links to City/County Information (July 17)
MRSC recently expanded the types of key documents (e.g., budgets and comp plans) and services (e.g., council broadcasts and online service request forms) that we track in our "city profiles" page. Use these profiles for quick access to city and town documents and services. For county information, see our "county profiles" page.

The Future Is Here: Technology in Police Departments (June 26)
Technology is changing the way police departments operate, how grants requests are formatted, and what is requested in the local operating budget. Technologies funded today were not even common knowledge just a few years ago. More from The Police Chief.

Urban Planning and E-Government (June 12)
Despite innovations in many areas of governance, the use of the information technology in general and the Internet specifically to facilitate citizen involvement in urban planning has been limited. More from the Goodspeed Update.

City Government Business Drives Wireless Network Implementation (May 29)
Despite the high profile collapse of deals to build and maintain large wireless networks for public Internet access in San Francisco and Philadelphia, many cities continue to express interest in building wireless networks. More from Government Technology.

At Work on the Web (May 23)
Government policies aimed at restricting Web access may be doing as much harm as they are preventing. More from Governing.

Receive RSS Feeds of In Focus (May 23)
We’ve added another option for you to receive information from MRSC: RSS Feeds. Simply click on the RSS button MRSC In Focus RSS Feed to create an “MRSC In Focus” folder in your email program or RSS reader. You will automatically begin receiving updates to our main Focus page, “Local Governments in the News,” the four Advisor columns, and our “What’s New” section. You can unsubscribe at any time by simply deleting the folder from your RSS reader or email program.

The City's Own Series of Tubes (May 15)
Would municipal broadband service for all residents be better and cheaper than what the free market is providing now? Seattle City Hall wants to find out. More from Crosscut.

EarthLink Ends Philadelphia Wi-Fi Story (May 15)
EarthLink officials recently announced that the company is shutting down the troubled municipal Wi-Fi network in Philadelphia. More from Government Computer News.

Microsoft E-gov Tool Free for Governments (May 15)
Microsoft is making its Citizen Services Platform for creating Web-based electronic government services available for free to local and regional governments. More from Government Computer News.

Fail-Proofing Telecom (May 01)
Government employees rely so heavily on communications systems that many assume they will be available whenever they need them, even in an emergency. More from American City & County.

Fine-Tuning Wi-Fi (March 20)
Atlanta-based EarthLink's February confirmation that it was selling off its municipal Wi-Fi business sounded the final death knell for some cities' ambitious goals to offer ubiquitous wireless broadband. More from American City & County.

Locate Sample Ordinances, Contracts, RFPs (March 13)
You can use MRSC's search system to locate a wide variety of local government documents. Note the new options to the right of your search results that allow you to limit your results by agency type, population range, region, form and class of government. Watch a brief tutorial to learn more about using our advanced search features.

Google Earth Offers 3-D Modeling for Smaller Cities (March 06)
Google is inviting local governments to produce 3-D data that they can integrate into Google Earth and provide a rich, 3-D representation of their locality. More from Government Technology.

Forging an Open Stream (March 06)
While many local governments have begun streaming their meetings over the Internet, a growing number are also adding new indexing technology that allows citizens to search for and watch only those portions of the meetings they are most interested in. More from Governing.

What Does Your CIO Really Need to Know? (March 06)
Chief information officers are responsible for information technology, so that's what they need to know, right? More from Governing.

Five Management Challenges in an Internet-Enabled World (February 22)
The Internet, along with its enabling technologies, has transformed the world and the way we live. However, like all transformations, it brings with it many unique management challenges. More from The Business of Government Magazine.

Unscripted Ending (February 22)
Public access TV now faces a more uncertain future than at any time since its inception in the 1970s. More from Governing.

Working GIS Miracles (February 22)
It took a catastrophe to do it, but Washoe County, Nevada, now has a fully coordinated GIS system that is making life easier for the entire staff. More from Planning.

King County District Court Wins Award (February 14)
King County's District Court was recognized at the 2008 Washington Technology Industry Association's prestigious Industry Achievement Awards for the development of a new call center system that provides improved service to the community. More from Government Technology.

King County District Court Wins Award (February 14)
King County's District Court was recognized at the 2008 Washington Technology Industry Association's prestigious Industry Achievement Awards for the development of a new call center system that provides improved service to the community. More from Government Technology.

USDA, FCC Launch Rural Broadband Web Site (February 07)
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced the launch of a new online resource that can be used to help deliver broadband services to rural communities. More from The USDA.

Environment - Powering Down (February 07)
Rising fuel prices, carbon footprints and e-waste have grabbed the attention of state and local government leaders, causing many to turn their operations inside out to reach “green” goals. More from American City & County.

Blog City (January 31)
The trend of engaging residents in government through technology is reshaping the way government works. And, the newest interactive online tools are helping executives communicate with and engage constituents. More from American City & County.

Delete at Your Own Risk (January 31)
Governments need a system for managing their mountains of e-mail. Very few have one. More from Governing.

Governor Announces Grants to Help Businesses Track Permits (November 28)
Governor Chris Gregoire recently announced $175,000 in grants to support local government efforts to develop electronic permit tracking systems to allow businesses and local leaders to find timely information about the status of land use and development projects. More from the Governor's Office.

A Magic Merger? — High Tech, Calmer Lifestyles (November 06)
Broadband. Telecommuting. Taming our roaring highways instead of multiplying them. Walking or cycling to work. Less tension, better health. "Work to live, not live to work." Could all those values come together? More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Information Technology - A Vote for Better Design (November 06)
In a digital democracy, designing user-friendly electronic interfaces is a responsibility, not a luxury. More from Governing.

County Library Computers in Short Supply (November 06)
Far from making libraries obsolete, computers are increasing demand for their services, according to a recent American Library Association study. More from NACo's County News.

eNATOA Seminar - Solving Government Business Problems (October 31)
Solving government business problems using your government or institutional network is the focus of the latest National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) seminar. The November 5 seminar will offer case studies of cutting-edge applications that solve government business problems.

Where's My Free Wi-Fi? (October 03)
City dwellers won't be able to get high-quality wireless Internet access for free. If they want it, collectively, they'll have to pay for it. More from Slate.

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

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.

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.

High-Tech Storage for Old Paper Records (August 22)
In an effort to reduce storage space needed for records and integrate them with searchable computer databases, agencies are turning to electronic document management (EDM) technology to transfer paper records into a digital format. More from American City & County.

Web Sightings - Neighborhood Web Sites (August 15)
Many local governments have developed neighborhood programs to provide funding and technical assistance to neighborhood organizations. This month we have selected a few national neighborhood organizations and a sampling of sites from Washington cities and counties. The topic for this month's Web Sightings is Neighborhood Web Site Resources:

The Blogging Revolution (August 01)
A recent report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government,"The Blogging Revolution: Government in the Age of Web 2.0, (Adobe Acrobat Document7.2MB) examines the phenomenon of blogging as a tool for promoting not only online engagement of citizens and public servants, but also offline engagement.

NLC Launches Monthly Newscasts for Municipal Governments (July 16)
The National League of Cities (NLC) is launching www.nlctv.org, an Internet-based TV channel about and for cities. NLC TV is also premiering its first monthly newscast, which will showcase the latest news about cities and the views of city officials on the pressing issues of the day. Read Press Release

Home Is Where Your Work Is (July 10)
Telecommuting can be a great way to reduce pollution and traffic, decrease costs, increase productivity, boost job satisfaction and retain talent. When done right, that is, but attitudes create obstacles. Read more on telework from Governing's Managing Technology Newsletter..

Overcoming the Digital Divide to Compete in a New Economy (July 10)
A white paper, Power Up: The Campaign for Digital Inclusion, addresses how municipal governments are growing inclusive digital communities to prepare citizens for success, from Microsoft Government.

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

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.

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.)

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

Technology - Pulling it Together (May 30)
By linking Enterprise Asset Management and Geographic Information System technologies, several departments can see others' assets and coordinate maintenance tasks more easily. More from American City & County.

Technology - Making a Splash (May 23)
When IT is outsourced, a CIO will do almost anything to meld public and private workforces. More from Governing.

Working Without Wires (May 09)
Municipal WiFi is coming. Government employees, not citizens, may be the biggest users. More from Governing.

Keeping Personal Data Safe (April 10)
Governments need the speed and efficiency that electronic records provide and need to be able to share that information between agencies and levels of government. But the onus is on them to protect that information. More from Governing.

Local Wireless Networks - A Prerequisite for the Future (March 07)
More than 140 cities and counties in the United States (compared with 12 municipalities in 2004) are pursuing wireless networks while another 200 are studying the issues or are in the feasibility phase. More from Public Management Magazine.

Local Government Webmasters Meeting (February 23)
Join us at the next Local Government Webmasters meeting to be held in Seattle on Thursday March 22, 2007. We'll be discussing some "Web 2.0" technologies, adding maps to your site and the value of proxy servers. We'll also set aside some time to share information about any new features you may have added to your sites and to discuss Web performance metrics. See complete agenda and registration form.

Smash Hit (February 22)
It’s not just for the young and hip. State and local IT officials are tapping into a cool Google tool to create maps with new, improved uses. More from Governing.

The Role of IT in Disaster Management (February 22)
A recently released report by the National Academies, Improving Disaster Management: The Role of IT in Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, suggests that information technology has unrealized potential to improve how communities and the nation handle natural disasters and terrorism. More from the Transportation Research Board.

The Next Generation of Homeland Security (February 22)
A free web cast sponsored by the Leadership for a Networked World Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, will focus on the key strategies and tactics underpinning the next generation of homeland security: networked people and processes. The web cast is scheduled for March 1, 2007. More from the Government Innovators Network.

Information Technology - Avoiding Fitful Starts (February 14)
Armed with a well-crafted plan that identifies organizational and end users' needs, IT department officials can successfully replace a legacy computer system with a large enterprise resource planning or geographic information system that is widely endorsed by elected officials and staff. More from American City & County.

What's IT Worth? (January 31)
From Wichita, Kan., to Washington, D.C., governments are pressed to prove the value of their information-technology spending. More from American City & County.

USA.gov is Now the U.S. Government’s Official Web Portal (January 31)
When citizens, visitors or local government officials have questions about federal, state or local government services and aren’t sure where to begin, USA.gov is now the first place to look on the Internet. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Citizen Participation - In Their Own Words (December 28)
With an array of new communication technology available — such as e-mail, Web forms and blogs — residents have numerous ways to express their opinions about local politics and participate in their government. More from American City & County.

The E-Government Collaboration Challenge (December 28)
A new report from the IBM Center for the Business of Government, "The E-Government Collaboration Challenge: Lessons from Five Case Studies," offers 10 recommendations to ease the way for cross-organizational initiatives that require using a common information technology system as the backbone of the collaborative effort.

Striving for Online Excellence - Part 2: Characteristics (December 20)
In addition to accurate and thorough content (to be addressed in Part Three … stay tuned!), the exemplary web site offers reader appeal through the use of graphics or other multi-media applications, intuitive organizational structure and helpful navigational tools. More from MuniNetGuide.

Striving for Online Excellence - Part 1: Function (December 12)
What is the formula for an outstanding web site -- particularly in the municipal arena? In the first of a three part article series, MuniNetGuide examines the role that key functions, characteristics, and content play in establishing a foundation for excellence in state, county and local government web sites. More from MuniNetGuide.

Information Technology - The Executive Upgrade (December 12)
As technology powers nearly every government project and program, Chief Information Officers (CIOs) today have more responsibility and must be more accountable than their predecessors. More from American City & County.

New Local Government Web Site Search Engine (December 06)
A new search engine developed by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) - GovSearch - allows you to search the text of hundreds of local government web sites.

Tuning in to New Media (October 25)
The use of new media, particularly by young people, challenges conventional wisdom in many fields - education, social engagement, civic participation. This recent Smart City radio show focuses on new media and how they may change our most familiar habits and institutions.

Closing in on Records Management (October 25)
Defining what your agency means by "records" is as important as the systems that manage them. More from Government Computer News.

Watching, Not Waiting (October 25)
As telecommunications reform legislation moves to the Senate floor, debate is stirring over public cable channel access and control over cable television service distribution. More from American City & County.

Plugged in? (September 26)
Despite years afloat in a digital sea, government workers say that when it comes to managing their documents, they cling to familiar shores. If it's important, they want a paper copy. More from Government Technology.

The Persistence of Paper (September 06)
Despite all the advances in online services, e-governments are still stuck in the paper chase. More from Governing.

Wagering on Wi-Fi (July 26)
Will municipal Wi-FI’s current growing pains give way to ubiquitous coverage, or will the wireless boom fall back to earth? More from Federal Computer Week.

Warning: eVoting Ahead (July 18)
From local election officials to ordinary citizens, there’s angst in the air over the security of electronic ballots. More from Governing.

Skagit County Launches GIS Crime Map (July 18)
Skagit County's new GIS technology-based crime map allows law enforcement personnel and citizens to access area crime statistics online. More from Government Technology.

The Local Wi-Fi Bet (July 13)
Despite criticism, many cities are betting big on broadband. More from C/NET News.

Born Digital (July 13)
A handful of states, including Washington, are beginning to focus on the need to preserve digital documents. More from Governing.

Information Technology - The One-Two Punch (July 13)
The challenge of making government information readily available to employees and the public while maintaining its security continues to present a conundrum for the public sector. More from American City & County.

New Search Product "Googles" Government Sites (June 20)
Google recently announced "Google U.S. Government Search," a new search product that will make it easier to find U.S. government (including state and local government) information and keep up to date on government news. More from Government Technology.

The State of Police Department WebSites (June 20)
Today's most effective communication tool is the Internet, and more departments are developing their Web sites. More from The Police Chief.

Things to Consider Before Deploying Free Wireless Access (June 13)
The ultimate success of wireless deployments depends not on bandwidth, coverage or content, but on the clarity and execution of the overall vision. More from Western City Magazine.

Using the Internet to Prepare Citizens for Pandemic Flu (June 13)
How will cities inform and educate their citizens in the event of an avian flu pandemic? One tool many cities are turning to is the Internet. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Mapping the Future (May 31)
Will geospatial Web applications change the way local governments present information to the public? More from Government Technology.

Government Technology - Critical Decisions (May 31)
Local governments are exploring how Internet protocol (IP) telephone service can better serve residents, improve efficiency and save money. More from American City & County.

Information Technology - Paying the Minimum (May 10)
Managing software licenses can be a demanding task, even for small local governments, and penalties for violating licensing laws are stiff. More from American City & County.

Comprehensive E-Government Bibliography (March 29)
The E-Governance Institute at Rutgers University's National Center for Public Productivity has compiled a comprehensive collection of articles, papers, and books on the subject of electronic government. More from the E-Governance Institute.

New Technologies Let Locals Customize Applications (March 21)
Recent advancements in technology allow even small local governments to customize their applications to match existing processes and operational changes. More from American City & County.

WAstats Data Directory Available for Review & Testing (March 16)
The Statewide Information Coordination Consortium is pleased to announce the initial test release of WAstats - the Washington State Data Directory prototype. WAstats is a web-based, searchable directory of data sources for frequent users of government data in Washington State. Be sure to take the survey to help WAstats meet your data needs.

New Computer Based, Multi-Media Support for Local Access Channels (March 07)
"Telvue Virtual Television Networks," a new cable network of local-government access channels, is using the convenience of the Internet and the popularity of television to help municipalities better communicate with their residents. To learn more, visit www.tvtn.tv.

King County Seeks Web Site Evaluators (March 07)
King County's Web site has won awards, but the county wants its Web pages to be even more user-friendly and is looking for volunteers to surf its Web site and offer suggestions for improvement. More from Government Technology.

Wi-Fi Signals Wireless Internet Revolution (February 22)
Wireless Internet is on the move in urban, rural and suburban counties across the nation, and nowhere more literally than in King County, Washington, where 29 Metro transit buses have been equipped with wi-fi access. More from NACo's County News.

Web Sightings - GIS (February 08)
Geographic information systems (GIS) provide critical information across a growing range of local government agencies and functions. Here are a few of our favorite national and Washington GIS sites:

Resisting Municipal Broadband is Futile (January 31)
There are over 400 cities worldwide planning to deploy municipal broadband networks and the number will double in 2006, making community broadband initiatives a very real and significant trend. More from BusinessWire.

Information Technology - Spend with Caution (January 25)
As most public sector budgets improve, IT managers should remember the valuable lessons learned about fiscal discipline and management during lean times. More from American City & County.

New Ask MRSC E-newsletter (January 18)
Ask MRSC is a free, subscription-based, monthly e-mail newsletter featuring answers to selected questions received by our consultant staff. It's one more way for you to stay informed on current issues affecting city and county government. View a sample issue or go directly to our subscription page and sign up to receive Ask MRSC today. It's free!

Web Sightings 2005 (January 18)
In case you missed them, here's a look back at 2005's Web Sightings:

New Technology for Public Engagement (January 11)
The British are coming, and this time they’re bringing a new communications technology to help local officials with an age-old problem: getting important information to constituents accurately and conveniently. More from Public Management.

Information Technology - Cutting the Cords (January 11)
Wire-bound e-government is slowly evolving into m-government, which provides data for a mobile workforce. More from American City & County.

Digital Communities Solutions Starter Kit (January 11)
Digital Communities Starter Kits are designed to be complete end-to-end, turnkey solutions to enable municipalities to launch wired and wireless applications simply and easily. More from Government Technology.

A Simple Solution (January 04)
Success can depend as much on tweaking the way people use tools as on what those tools are. More from Governing.

King County Parks Taking Citizen Feedback Online (December 20)
King County parks users now have an open line to parks managers when they fill out an Internet survey at the county's parks and recreation survey site. More from Government Technology.

Information Technology - The Year in Review (December 20)
As 2005 draws to a close, a note of optimism has crept back into public-sector IT conversations. More from Government Technology.

2005 Digital Cities Survey (December 15)
The Center for Digital Government recently announced the results of its fifth annual Digital Cities Survey. The survey examines and assesses how city governments are utilizing information technology to operate and deliver quality service to their customers and citizens.

A Toolkit for Sharing Justice Information (December 06)
A recent publication from the Center for Technology in Government, Sharing Justice Information: A Capability Assessment Toolkit, provides a process for assessing where capability for information sharing exists and where it must be developed in order to achieve public safety goals.

Municipal Wireless Networks Continue to Thrive (December 06)
Cities and towns are deploying municipal wireless networks for several reasons, including economic development, better communication among public safety and other government agencies, and more affordable Internet service to their residents. More from Federal Computer Week.

Citizens in Edmonds can "Ask the Attorney" (December 01)
The "Ask the Attorney" feature on the City of Edmond's Web site gives citizens the opportunity to ask questions and get answers about local issues from the city attorney.

Seattle Tops in Internet Literacy (December 01)
Seattle ranks as the country’s top Internet literate city, one of the factors that helped it become the most literate city in 2005, according to an annual study. More from Federal Computer Week.

Making Streets Safer through Mobile Wireless Technologies (November 22)
Properly deployed mobile wireless technologies provide police departments with a powerful, effective tool for protecting life and property. More from The Police Chief.

Technology - Working Wirelessly (November 22)
Local governments nationwide have found innovative ways to leverage wireless networks to increase employee productivity, enhance public safety and improve services. More from American City & County.

Virtual Village Square (November 08)
What does it take to transform a lackluster municipal Web site into a vibrant community meeting place? More from Government Technology.

King County Unveils Online Customized Voter Guide (November 03)
King County's new online voter guide allows voters to verify their registration, find their polling place and get information on county, city and ballot measures customized to their address. More from Government Technology.

Metro Bus Riders Test County's First Rolling WiFi Hotspots (September 27)
King County Executive Ron Sims and Metro Transit officials recently launched a pilot effort to turn transit buses into rolling WiFi hotspots. More from Government Technology.

Seattle Public Library Patrons Can Download Digital Audio Books (September 27)
The Seattle Public Library recently announced a new online service that will offer patrons access to a collection of hundreds of downloadable digital audio books and eBooks from their home computers. More from Government Technology.

Free Webinar on Records Management for Paper and E-Mail (August 30)
ZyLAB, the Center for Digital Government and Government Technology will host a free Webinar for government IT professionals responsible for complying with an array of information management standards and initiatives. More from Government Technology.

Technology - Design for Diversity (August 16)
As more information and services move online, local government leaders are realizing the importance of making their Web sites accessible to residents and employees with disabilities. More from American City & County.

Stuck in Traffic? IT Can Ease the Commute (August 16)
There are a number of technology-related initiatives that promise to ease our chronic traffic woes. More from CIO.

Slow Adoption Restricting Federal eGovernment's Future (June 21)
Citizen adoption of e-government is low and progress has slowed as agency heads, CIOs, and program managers are faced with increasing obstacles to widespread adoption of the Web for government initiatives. More from Government Technology.

State, Local Governments Warm to Open-Source Code (June 21)
State and local governments are giving more consideration to use of open-source code as another way to help relieve continuing budget pressures. More from Government Computer News.

Most Unwired Cities Survey (June 15)
Intel's 3rd Annual "Most Unwired Cities" survey ranks the top 100 U.S. cities and regions for the greatest wireless Internet accessibility. Guess who’s number 1? More from Intel.

Seattle Telecommunications Taskforce Recommends a Wired Network (June 07)
Seattle's Telecommunications Innovation Task Force recently released a report on how the city can become a "broadband city" by building a citywide fiber optic network. More from the City of Seattle.

For the Record (June 01)
As governments increasingly rely on electronic information systems, the ability to produce digital records has far outstripped their ability to manage and preserve them, raising difficult new questions about how to maintain a complete account of government activities. More from Government Technology.

Opening the Mail (June 01)
When is an e-mail like a phone call — and when is it a public record or a secret meeting? More from Governing.

Information Technology - Performance Anxiety (June 01)
When it comes to information technology, states and localities have 21st-century visions but only 20th-century performance practices. More from Governing.

Free Electronic Records Management Workshops (May 24)
The Washington State Archives is sponsoring free workshops on Electronic Records Management for local government agencies. The half-day workshops will be at various locations around the state beginning June 2nd.

The Road Map to a Broadband Nation (May 24)
Communities across the United States are rolling out sophisticated broadband technologies to take the future for a test-drive. Here's where you'll find them. More from Business 2.0.

Information Technology - The ERPworks (May 24)
For both human and technical reasons, rolling out an Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is an arduous and long-running task — in both the public and private sectors. More from Governing.

Blogs for Local Governments (May 09)
For a very small investment in terms of time and money, blogs can deliver a positive return in encouraging citizen participation. More from Government Technology.

Information Technology - Buyers Beware (May 03)
Few purchasing decisions are as fraught with challenges as buying software. Before local government officials buy new software, they should consider the following tips. More from American City & County.

Municipal Web Site Tips (April 25)
The New Hampshire Municipal Association has assembled a collection of articles offering advice on developing and evaluating municipal Web sites.

Wi-Fi Networks Signal New Opportunities for Cities (April 06)
If Philadelphia leaders get their way, by late 2006 most of the city's residents will be able to surf the Internet from almost anywhere in the city. More from American City & County.

Municipal Broadband - MuniWireless.com (April 06)
Looking for more information concerning municipal broadband deployment, both urban and rural? Try MuniWireless.com. The site is devoted to municipal wireless broadband projects worldwide that are funded or supported by cities and towns.

FirstGov for Kids (March 29)
The Federal Citizen Information Center’s FirstGov for Kids Web site offers links to federal kids' sites along with some of the best kids' sites from other organizations all grouped by subject.

PTI Announces 2004 Solutions Award winners (March 23)
The Public Technology Institute (PTI) recently announced the winners of its 2004 Solutions Awards, recognizing local governments for improving service delivery through their use of technology. More from NACo’s County News.

Mapping ROI for Geospatial Projects (March 15)
Local government IT managers can find significant return on investment (ROI) for geospatial projects if they look in the right places. More from American City & County.

Local Government Webmasters Meeting (March 09)
We have a full agenda for our next local government Webmasters meeting to be held on Thursday May 26 in Seattle. Topics include use of the Web in emergency management, audio and video streaming of council meetings, adding photographs to your site, and intranet-based HR systems. All Washington local government employees are welcome to attend.

Cash Management Technology in State and Local Governments (March 09)
How does your government compare to other governments in its use of technologies such as Internet payments, credit cards, electronic data interchange, kiosks, and automatic bank debits? More from the Government Finance Officers Association (Adobe Acrobat Document324kb).

2004 Digital Cities Survey Report (March 09)
The 2004 Digital Cities Survey Report (Adobe Acrobat Document829kb) issued by NLC and the Center for Digital Government highlights recent trends and the progress made by cities and towns in the transition to digital government. More from Government Technology.

Barrier-Free IT (March 09)
Making state and local government Web sites accessible to people with disabilities is less a matter of dollars than sensitivity. More from Governing.

Information Technology - Spreading out Costs (March 01)
Local government chief financial officers and information technology executives who decide to invest in technology should consider financing, rather than making their purchases with cash. More from American City & County.

Outsourcing Guide Released for Local Governments (February 15)
The Center for Digital Government released "A Strategic Guide for Local Governments on Outsourcing," (Adobe Acrobat Document417kb) 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.

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.

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.

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 (Adobe Acrobat Document663kb), assesses the potential of using application service providers (ASPs) for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of public information and service delivery.

Innovations in Policing: Virtual Partner Enhances Officer Safety and Efficiency (January 26)
The Delray Beach, Florida Police Department made remarkable advancements in efficiency and increased productivity with their officer-designed "Virtual Partner" program, enhancing traffic law enforcement with the same staff and with less inconvenience to the public. More from The Police Chief.

Technology Boosts Parking Management (January 26)
New technologies are allowing parking operations to share data with other departments, generate revenue and streamline operations. More from American City & County.

ERP Market Dynamics for Midsize Governments (January 19)
The "second tier" enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems market provides an important solution to small and midsize governments that cannot afford SAP, Oracle, or PeopleSoft systems. More from Government Finance Review (Adobe Acrobat Document1968kb).

Top 10 Issues to Consider when Building a City-Wide Wi-Fi Network (January 12)
Technology today is as vital to economic growth as transportation and utility systems were in the past. With every passing day, it seems, another local government announces, with much fanfare, plans to deploy a wireless network. More from Strategic Technology Collaborative.

The Big Band Era (January 12)
The quest for rapid and robust Internet access has cities grappling with how to bring the best of broadband to their businesses and residents. More from Governing.

Washington State Starts E-Learning (January 12)
Washington State launched a statewide e-learning network that will provide more than 70,000 employees at its 83 state agencies with access to 1,200 online courses. More from Federal Computer Week.

Is Government Your Next Broadband Provider? (January 04)
Last-minute negotiations between Philadelphia and Verizon rescued a proposal to build the largest metropolitan Wi-Fi network. But many still are asking: Should government get into the broadband business and compete with the private sector? More from Mobile Pipeline.

Get MRSC Web Site Updates and Quarterly Newsletter by E-mail (January 04)
Subscribe to MRSC's free bi-weekly Web site updates and quarterly newsletter and get all of the latest local government news and information delivered right to your desktop.

Web Sightings - 2004 (January 04)
In case you missed them, here's a look back at 2004's Web Sightings: