December 2008
Features
America's Crown Communities 2008
American City & County's Crown Communities Awards recognize innovative projects and programs that local governments have completed in the last year...
Taking on technology
The technology toolkit has been expanding rapidly in the last few years, but only the most savvy politicians and government officials have taken advantage...
Lighting for less
Estes Park, Colo. When Estes Park, Colo., officials decided to replace the city's cantilever style lighting, they let residents vote on their favorite...
Issues & Trends
Locals call for help from new president
Giving encouragement to local governments who are calling for a Main Street Stimulus Package, President-elect Barack Obama specifically sited the need...
What do you expect?
Before Barack Obama was even elected, local government associations had built a long list of issues they want the next president to address....
Is Santa Claus still coming to town?
Dressing up downtown and other high-visibility areas between Thanksgiving and New Year's with festive lights and decorations is a tradition in many communities,...
Product makers take back disposal duty
While states are banning items, such as computers, thermostats and fluorescent bulbs from landfills, local governments often are still responsible for...
Complete Streets aim to please all users
For years, transportation planners have designed roads with enough room for bicyclists, motor vehicles, pedestrians and buses. Recently, though, communities...
How can cities gauge their emissions?
As cities work to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, they first must determine exactly how much of the gases they are producing...
California city launches online retail store
Santa Clarita, Calif., residents no longer have to leave home to buy their favorite city-branded items. Santa Clarita hats, commuter mugs and more are...
New Jersey's integrity ranks highest
New Jersey's laws are the most transparent, ethical and accountable, according to the Chicago-based Better Government Association's (BGA) BGA-Alper Integrity...
The many ways the taxmen cometh
The Arlington County, Va., Treasurer's Office has complied a resource for local officials about tax collection techniques. Brass Tax: The Compendium of...
N.J. gives business a break
New Jersey will allow businesses in the state to carry operating losses forward up to 20 years in an effort to encourage growth despite the economic downturn....
San Diego wants an AED in every building
San Diego officials have approved changes to the city's building codes that require the installation of automatic electronic defibrillators (AEDs) in...
Water agency pushes retirement plans
In light of the recent economic turmoil, employers are redoubling efforts to encourage employees to save money for the future by participating in retirement...
Grants fund non-traditional library uses
As the role of the public library expands to include support for teens and immigrant residents, recycling programs and more, the Washington-based International...
Local pension plans as well funded as states', according to report
Locally administered pension plans are as well funded as state plans and have better track records for making their Annual Required Contributions...
Through a yellow wood
Catherine Chertudi, environmental programs manager for the Boise, Idaho, Public Works Department, submitted this photo, which was taken in October in Boise. The city is the capital of Idaho and was founded in the 1860s as the center of the gold trade in the area. Now, with a population of 211,000, Boise is the largest city in the state. www.cityofboise.org...
Dotted Line
Columns
Editor's Viewpoint: Buddy, can you spare a billion?
I'm waiting for the blowback from handing local and state governments billions of dollars to repair the nation's infrastructure, but the negative reactions...
Financial Management: Hair of the dog
A number of years ago, Wall Street found a new use for an old product: Auction rate preferred stock was re-configured into auction rate securities as...
Government Technology: Emergency alerts
Emergency communication centers face a range of situations and must meet high expectations for rapid response and public communication. Some governments...
Ways & Means
Healing injured workers
Until recently, Little Rock was spending $1.9 million a year for its workers' compensation program for 2,200 employees. To control costs, the city developed...
Preserving playful places
Larchmont, N.Y.'s Flint Park was suffering. The 27-acre park, established in the early 1900s, had three athletic fields with inadequate drainage...
Balancing pest control
Hendry County, Fla., a rural community bordering Lake Okeechobee in southern Florida, is home to several organic farms, beekeepers, butterfly breeders...
Across America
Harvesting resources
In August 1928, Madison, Wis.'s research into the effectiveness of using wastewater sludge as fertilizer was featured in The American City. Working with...
Creating a city center
With a 2008 population of 89,500, Hesperia is one of the fastest growing cities in Southern California's Inland Empire North...
