Save the Date: Seattle Pride Parade, June 28
Employees are invited to join the King County group at the 52nd Annual Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friends, family members, and even four-legged companions are welcome to participate alongside the King County group.
Employees interested in marching with King County should complete the sign-up form here.
Employees who plan to participate in the parade can also request a complimentary T-shirt through the sign-up form. To help us estimate quantities and order sizes, employees must complete the form by June 10. Additional T-shirt details, including pickup information, will be shared with participants later in June.
Additional parade details, including the group meeting time and location, will be shared with participants closer to the event date.
To support accessibility and participation, employees who would benefit from accommodations will have the option to ride on the Metro bus that will be part of the King County group.
Stay tuned for more information!
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King County Permitting expanding in-person customer support
Crossposted from King County Local
Starting June 1, walk‑up permitting hours will double to four days a week at 919 SW Grady Way in Renton:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Technical experts are available on Thursdays for complex questions.
Permitting staff are also at the Fall City Library the first Tuesday of every month, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Customers can always:
- E-mail: PermitQuestions@kingcounty.gov
- Call: 206-296-6600
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FMD starts Walking Bus Pilot Program
On Monday, June 1, the Facilities Management Division (FMD) will start a Walking Bus Pilot Program in the Downtown Seattle Core. The FMD Walking Bus Pilot Program pairs groups of King County Employees with an FMD Security Officer to escort them to public transit hubs in the Downtown Core at the end of the workday.
To participate, please arrive at the designated departure location and time as described below, there will be a white sign clearly marked “Walking Bus” that indicates the meeting location at each building. The Walking Bus will make their first stop at Pioneer Square Station light rail station, then continue to the King Street Sounder Station, and finish at Coleman Dock each day.
Chinook Building
- Departure times: Monday through Friday at 4:40 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Departure location: Chinook Building, first floor lobby
King County Courthouse
- Departure times: Monday through Friday at 4:45 p.m. and 5:35 p.m.
- Departure location: King County Courthouse, first floor Information Desk
For questions, please contact the FMD Customer Care Services Team at 206-477-9400 or email CustomerCareServices.FMD@kingcounty.gov.
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Benefits Unlocked: Supporting you in navigating your benefits
Do your benefits ever feel like a puzzle that’s hard to put together?
Many employees run into stress when trying to figure out their health insurance, whether it’s for physical, dental, or mental health.
King County’s new Benefits Unlocked series is here to simplify that process. Join the Balanced You team’s Karla Clark and the Benefit team’s Matt Munson as they discuss topics such as finding a healthcare provider, understanding how to make changes, anticipating any costs, and more. Together, they will answer your questions and help you feel more confident using your insurance to access care.
Learn more and watch the video.
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Women in Rail inspiring future trades workers
Crossposted from the Metro Layover Employee Newsletter
Metro’s Women in Rail Employee Resource Group (ERG) helped showcase careers in skilled trades at the 45th annual Washington Women in Trades Fair earlier this month at Seattle Center.
Lead Track Maintainer Stephanie Forester, Lead Maintenance Service Center Worker Helen Nicdao, and Lead Facilities Electrician Erika Ruff staffed the Rail Division table, giving attendees a hands-on look at the equipment and work that keep Metro’s rail system running every day.
This year, the group wanted the display to feel authentic to the work employees do in the field. Their table featured welding equipment, a used piece of light rail track, a sledgehammer, a three-foot wrench, and other tools used on the job. In fact, a sign warning that the “wrench is dirty” had to be added because every item on display came directly from the field.
Throughout the event, attendees stopped to ask questions, hear personal stories, and learn more about careers in rail and trades work. Stephanie Forester shared her enthusiasm for helping inspire more women to explore careers in the field.
“We as women can do anything,” she said. “It’s time to get more women out in the field and show them how it’s done!”
Women continue to be underrepresented in many trades professions, making events like the Washington Women in Trades Fair an important opportunity to build visibility, connection, and support while encouraging the next generation of trades workers.
Pictured: From left to right, Lead Facilities Electrician Erica Ruff, Lead Maintenance Service Center Worker Helen Nicado, and Lead Track Maintainer Stephanie Forester staffed the Rail Division table at the 45th annual Washington Women in Trades Fair.
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Employees only: Join us for Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on Monday, June 1
We invite employees to kick off Pride Month with King County Executive Zahilay at the King County Pride Flag Raising ceremony. All interested employees are welcome to attend with supervisor approval. Participation is completely optional.
The event will include light refreshments and recognition of employees and community members whose leadership, advocacy, and service continue to strengthen and support LGBTQIA+ communities across King County.
- Monday, June 1, 2026
- 11 a.m.
- King County Administration Building Plaza
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Executive Zahilay announces key amendments and regional partnerships to improve Sound Transit 3 system plan for King County
Yesterday, Executive Girmay Zahilay announced his sponsorship for new amendments to the ST3 system update plan that will advance critical transit projects in King County and improve accountability at Sound Transit.
The Sound Transit Board is expected to vote on these amendments and updated plan on Thursday. In March, the Executive committed to regional collaboration to address the agency’s $34.5 billion funding shortfall while keeping projects affordable and moving forward.
“Addressing a budget deficit of this size is incredibly challenging, and difficult decisions were always going to be necessary,” said Executive Zahilay. “Even so, we made meaningful progress to move all of King County’s projects forward, and no project has been permanently shelved or taken off the table. I’m grateful to community members who have spoken out over the past few months to make their priorities clear, helping the board shape a stronger plan for our region. There is still a lot more to do, and I will continue working with federal, state, and local partners to secure the resources, cost savings, and efficiencies needed to deliver the transit system that voters approved in 2016.” Read more.
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Finding calm in times of change: The power of mindfulness
Are you noticing increased stress due to ongoing uncertainty?
During times of change, it’s common to feel a mix of emotions – such as anxiety or frustration – alongside hope for what’s ahead. Mindfulness offers a way to pause during difficult feelings, notice what’s happening in the moment, and respond with greater calm and clarity.
Balanced You and King County provide resources to help employees learn about and practice mindfulness skills. Read more.
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Celebrate American wetlands this month!
Each May, we celebrate American Wetlands Month to shine a light on these special ecosystems that provide clean water, flood protection, and critical habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife.
This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wetland Inventory Program, a vital tool for tracking wetlands across the United States, including right here in King County. You can learn more about this work and check out status and trends in the NWI’s 50th anniversary Storymap. The NWI includes a wetland inventory that was developed by King County and adopted by the USFWS in 2024. Read more.
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Summer ultimate frisbee season ready for launch
King County’s ultimate frisbee team is back for another summer season, with Wednesday evening games starting in June and running through mid-August. Players of all experience levels are welcome, including anyone brand new to the sport. It’s a great way to meet colleagues, get outside, and keep the momentum going after work hours.
Interested? Reach out to Danny Arauz or Amelia Bahr for details.
Employee News 