Following the completion of a LEAN session with department staff, the Assessor’s Office has been working in 2014 to place drop-in office locations around the county for appraisal staff as they complete their work in the field.

Three of these drop-in locations are now up and running as appraisal staff begin their physical inspections. These sites are located at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Shoreline District Court, and on Vashon Island at the Community Service Center and the Fire Station. Fleet vehicles are placed at these sites for convenient pick-up, along with working space inside the facilities for the appraisal staff.

The partnerships to develop these new drop-in locations demonstrate a commitment to the “One King County” vision. Assessor’s Office partners include King County Parks Division, King County Shoreline District Court, and on Vashon Island, the King County Facilities Management Division, and the Vashon Island Fire and Rescue Department.

This dispersed office location Lean project combined with a newly designed telecommuting agreement is getting appraisers closers to where they do their field work. The efficiencies gained from not having to report to Black River facility in Renton and usage of better technologies will result in a savings of 2500 hours that would have been wasted in traffic while reducing our carbon footprint.