Parks and trails are reopening after flooding
Crossposted from the King County Parks Newsletter
As we get further from the historic flooding in our region, our crews are hard at work repairing the damage and reopening our affected parks and trails. Some of the recovery efforts will be long-term, but many of our flooded properties have reopened for public use.
Please check the Backyard Fun Finder to view current impacts and closures in our parks as you plan your trip to nature!
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King County Promise highlights early progress for students
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections
According to South King County data and decades of higher education research, a lack of individualized support is a main barrier to receiving a college education.
That’s why programs like King County Promise prioritize building individualized supports. A cross-agency initiative designed to support young people with graduating and successfully transitioning to college or the career path of their choosing, King County Promise provides one-on-one advising, service referrals, postsecondary navigation and transition support, and an Equity Grant to support students through key milestones like financial aid completion, high school graduation/equivalency, college admission, college graduation, and more. Read more.
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Four Fridays Film Festival starts Feb. 6
Crossposted from the DES Express
In recognition of Black History and Culture Month, employees are invited to celebrate the legacy, the resilience and the promise of Black History, Arts and Culture with four film screenings in February.
The Four Fridays “We Know Who We Are” series starts Friday, Feb. 6 and runs each Friday in February from 3 – 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Here is the schedule and theme for each:
- Feb. 6: Black Panther, We are Heroic, Hosted by the Department of Executive Services
- Feb. 13: The Fight for Black Lives, We are Proactive, Hosted by the Department of Public Health
- Feb. 20: Rustin, We are Strategic, Hosted by the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention
- Feb. 27: Hidden Figures, We are Legacy Builders, Hosted by King County Information Technology
Register in advance here. After registering with your King County (@kingcounty.gov) email address, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the Zoom event.
Each screening will feature a post-film “Talk-back” with perspectives and take-aways on relevance to the county’s shared work and vision for greater inclusion and belonging. Each week will feature special guests from the host department. All King County employees are welcome to attend any or all sessions with supervisor approval. For more information, email Four.Fridays@kingcounty.gov.
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The senior gardener at South Treatment Plant sees the beauty in it all
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
There is probably no one who knows more about South Treatment Plant’s 90-acre property than Jim Davis. He’s been the senior gardener at the facility in Renton for more than 20 years, which gives him a granular perspective of what goes on there.
Surrounding the acres of gray infrastructure that make up the wastewater treatment process is a landscape of lawns, gardens, and wooded areas that are Davis’s domain. Weeds, a fallen branch, a bush that needs trimming … there’s little that escapes Davis’s notice. And while he can’t always immediately take care of what he notices, he makes a mental note. Areas of high traffic are a priority, such as the gardens surrounding the main collection of buildings where staff work. In the warm months it’s getting the weeds under control, in the fall it’s the endless piles of leaves. Read more.
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Airport levels up on carbon reduction goals
Crossposted from the DES Express
King County International Airport-Boeing Field (KCIA) has taken another step forward in its journey toward becoming carbon neutral. Airports Council International (ACI) recently informed the airport that it has met the standards for Level 3 in the Airport Carbon Accreditation Program (ACAP) by engaging airport tenants and users to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions at the airport helps King County residents, especially those who live and work nearby,” said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay. “Achieving Level 3 in the Airport Carbon Accreditation Program shows that the airport is making progress at reducing its impact on those most affected.” Read more.
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Supporting our communities affected by flood damage
By Megan Pedersen, Chief People Officer
The historic storm that recently brought heavy rainfall and flooding to our region has left damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. King County employees across many departments have been on the front lines working to mitigate damage and help residents. We are thankful for our dedicated staff who have worked around the clock monitoring and responding to those in need and quickly working to address infrastructure issues. We also want to acknowledge our Office of Emergency Management, which has been in full activation since the floods began in early December.
For many families and businesses, the road to recovery will be a long one. Many of you have reached out to ask how we can help residents, businesses, and communities recover and rebuild. One way is by making donations to organizations that are providing aid and support for our community members impacted by the storm.
The Executive signed an authorization for a 45-day Washington Flood Disaster Relief effort that will allow King County employees to support up to three Employee Giving Program nonprofit organizations responding to the historic storm. From Dec. 23, 2025 – Feb. 5, 2026, employees will be able to give in three ways during this special response:
- Time donation. Download pledge form here.
- One-time payroll donation. Download pledge form here.
- Credit card or e-check on the storefront.
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New Year marks start of new leadership for King County Superior Court
Crossposted from the Superior Court Medium blog
On Jan. 12, Judge Averil Rothrock became Presiding Judge of the King County Superior Court, and Judge Tanya L. Thorp became Assistant Presiding Judge.
Judge Rothrock, pictured above, takes on the role of Presiding Judge after having served as Assistant Presiding Judge in 2024 and 2025, and Chief Judge of the Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center in 2022. Judge Rothrock was appointed to the King County Superior Court bench in 2018.
“Courts exist for the public, not the other way around,” Judge Rothrock said. “My colleagues believe in our public service mission, and I am proud to stand among them. We are committed to treating every person who enters our courthouses with dignity, whether they are a litigant, juror, lawyer, witness, staff member, or person lost on the wrong floor.”
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Executive Zahilay honors Dwight Dively
On Thursday, Jan. 22, Executive Zahilay honored Dwight Dively, longtime director of the Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget (PBS) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), with a proclamation thanking him for his service to King County. Dwight served as PSB director from 2010-2025 and COO from 2019-2025. He guided King County’s finances through the Great Recession, the COVID-19 pandemic, and numerous crises in the General Fund. His leadership of King County’s financial management policies and budget process will have a last impact on King County for years to come. Dwight will join the City of Seattle as Finance Director. You can read Executive Zahilay’s proclamation here.
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King County awards $23.7 million to eight affordable housing developments, creating 672 homes countywide
On Tuesday, Jan 20, Executive Zahilay announced $23.7 million for eight affordable housing developments across South King County, East King County, and the City of Seattle. Together, these investments will create 672 affordable homes, reflecting both the scale of the region’s housing demand and King County’s ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of a growing and increasingly diverse population.
“The demand for affordable housing in King County is urgent and undeniable,” said Executive Zahilay. “Too many individuals and families throughout our county are being priced out of the communities they call home or are unable to secure safe, affordable housing in our neighborhoods. Everyone deserves a place to live with dignity and stability, and this investment reflects our commitment to ensure residents in King County can find and keep an affordable home in the communities where they work, go to school, raise families, and belong.” Read more.
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Employee discounts available for Victoria, B.C. and whale watching
FRS Clipper will extend a 10% discount to all eligible King County employees on Seattle – Victoria ferry service and Seattle whale watching excursions. The 10% savings applies to the sailing portion of the entire booking, enabling employees to take advantage of the benefit when traveling with family members or companions. To unlock their discount, employees will enter their King County email address and promo code EMPKING at the time of booking. For questions, contact Lorenzo Cabrera at Sales@clippervacations.com or 800-888-2535.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
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