Executive Constantine on the adoption of $12.4 billion biennial King County budget: Putting our money where our values are
“I thank the King County Council for their careful deliberations since I transmitted my proposed two-year budget in September. I also want to recognize the many community members who participated in hearings and other venues to get their voices heard.
“This budget puts our money where our values are. It will provide a safe, dignified place to live to thousands of chronically homeless people. It re-orients our criminal legal system and makes a significant down payment in our ongoing efforts to shift resources to upstream programs aligned with racial and social justice.
“This budget also enhances Metro service where needs are greatest, and continues King County down the path of a carbon-free transit system.
Read more in the official press release
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Join the virtual blood drive for King County employees, November 23–December 7
Bloodworks Northwest is hosting a virtual blood drive for all King County employees. Employees are encouraged to the give the special code KING when registering in person the day of their appointment to help keep track of all King County employees who are participating to help save a life. Make an appointment at a donor center, or pop up donor center at the link below for anytime between Nov. 23 and Dec. 7.
All donations are by appointment only to provide the safest possible donation environment. Additionally, no walk-ins, guests or people under age 16 are permitted onsite, and masks (or an appropriate face covering) are required.
Make an appointment online here at a donor center or pop-up donor center location, and select an available time period listed. For questions about eligibility or for more information about blood donation visit www.BloodworksNW.org or call 800-398-7888. Please note, this drive does not replace the King Street Center (KSC) virtual drive planned Dec. 21–Jan.4. KSC employees should feel free to donate at either blood drive, and of course all employees can donate whenever fits their schedule best.
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King County Council approves Metro’s Access Paratransit Advisory Committee (APAC)
Crossposted from Metro Matters
King County Metro is pleased to announce the 11 members of its newest advisory group, the Access Paratransit Advisory Committee (APAC). The Access Paratransit Advisory Committee will advise Metro, the King County Executive, and the King County Council on transit and policy issues related to equitable public transportation for people with disabilities.
The work of this new committee will enhance the Access paratransit program by providing guidance to Metro on what to prioritize and on developing a vision for ongoing improvements. The committee was appointed by the King County Executive and was approved by the King County Council for two-year appointments on November 16, 2020.
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Elections Building selected for Round 1 of PSE Community Solar Program
Puget Sound Energy has selected King County’s Elections Building in Renton to be one of the sites for Round 1 of its Community Solar Program, currently under development.
“This is a really great opportunity to shine a light on renewable energy in general and Elections specifically,” said Sarah Calvillo Hoffman, Energy Manager for Facilities Management Division in Executive Services. “Elections is really interested in doing more sustainable things in general. There are lots of people who go to that building, and there will be signage about the project.”
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Featured Job: Education Specialist – Downtown Needle Exchange
Salary: $56,673.97 – $71,837.79 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Part Time, Std Wkly Hrs Vary
Department: DPH – Public Health
Job Number: 2020DB12401
Division: Prevention
Closing: 11/23/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Tech Tip: Skype Business to Teams migration chatting and instant messaging
For the next year, as employees move to Microsoft Teams for County communications, many people will continue on Skype until they move. Did you know you can send Instant Messages between Skype and Teams?
Below are instructions to send Instant Message between Skype and Teams.
Once employees move to Teams, send a message, called Chats in Teams, to coworkers using Skype by simply looking them up and sending a message. They will receive the message in Skype. When they reply, it will show up in Teams for the original sender using Teams.
Pro tips about chatting/instant messaging between Skype and Teams:
- Chats are limited to two people. That means group chats are not possible.
- Screen sharing is not possible between the platforms.
- To screenshare or have a group chat, schedule a meeting or use Meet Now, and invite your other party. Meet Now can be started from either Skype or Teams.
For questions or concerns, visit the KCIT Helpdesk.
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KCIT successfully transitions the new PSERN emergency radio system core
KCIT recently transitioned to the new Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN) system core, which will help provide more effective and coordinated emergency responses in King County.
The PSERN Project’s dispatch center and core cutover was an important milestone because it replaced components that were unsupported by the manufacturer due to their age. The PSERN core is the “brains” of the system composed of servers, switches, routers, databases, storage units, and radio components. In essence, it is a large data center dedicated to managing the radio network primarily used by emergency personnel to coordinate incident responses.
Additionally, 17 dispatch centers and over 130 consoles were successfully transitioned at the King County Sheriff’s Office, NE King County Regional Public Safety Communication Agency (NORCOM), Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Police Department, and Valley Communications (Valley Com). All King County first responders are now dispatched through the new PSERN consoles.
Over 40 million calls a year go through the current KCERCS emergency system; many of these are dispatch communications from 911 call centers. The PSERN Project is replacing the aging KCERCS system to ensure reliability. KCERCS is very near capacity; PSERN will significantly enhance capacity to get us through the next two decades. Transitioning to the new PSERN core has taken pressure off the most crucial parts of the network by implementing fully supported equipment and upgraded dispatch center consoles, plus adding more consoles to accommodate population growth.
“Since the KCERCS network was implemented, population centers have shifted east in King County,” says Ellen Whitely, KCIT’s External Affairs Program Manager for the PSERN Project. “The new PSERN network will provide coverage in areas that KCERCS does not.”
The PSERN Project is a voter-approved effort to upgrade and expand the current King County Emergency Radio Communications System (KCERCS) that is scheduled to wrap up in December 2022. King County is the lead agency for the new emergency radio system development. When complete, a new nonprofit entity, the PSERN Operator, will manage the system.
This major milestone was a success due to the hard work of KCIT, KCERCS, Motorola, the PSERN team, and the dispatch centers. Go to www.psern.org for more details about the project.
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Thank you from Employee Giving Program – Last Day of the Annual Giving Drive
Dear fellow King County employee,
In the midst our work, our families, the planning, schooling, cooking, finding new routines, and doing what we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we are encouraged to stop and take a moment next week to celebrate all those very precious people and things we have in our lives.
This year, I am thankful for the extra time with my children. While it is hard balancing all the things, I am getting to see parts of them I didn’t know before. They are showing me how to persevere through this time with a new perspective. I am grateful for the chance to run again and that my body is able. I am grateful that we work with some of the best Public Health professionals in the nation, who are working tirelessly for all of us. And, I am thankful for all of you.
And, as we give thanks for all that we have, there will be thousands of people who will also be giving Thanks for you.
Thanks to you, 400 people from low-income households accessed medical care.
Thanks to you, 400,000 meals were put on the table this year for families in need.
Thanks to you, a star of hope is shining bright for our communities when we need it most.
As a reminder, if you are making a donation of eligible Vacation or Compensatory time, please remember that today, November 20, 2020, is a firm deadline, and one of the benefits of PeopleSoft is that donations can be made from home.
Every year hundreds of hours of time have to be turned away because they come in after the deadline and were not able to be processed. Click here to learn more about giving time.
The best way to ensure that your pledge reaches us in time this year is to do one of the following:
- Fill out a paper form and then scan and email to employeegiving@kingcounty.gov; or
- Go online in PeopleSoft and complete.
To share what you are thankful for or to receive personal assistance, please go to the Employee Giving Program website at www.kingcounty.gov/giving, call 206-263-9405, or email employeegiving@kingcounty.gov. We have Zoom office hours from 11 a.m. to noon today.
We all do something in some way to give back to our communities not only through the EGP but also outside of the workplace. Your efforts are admirable and why we continue to work for ways to support you in all the ways you give. Thank you to all the amazing employees who have given their talent and time as volunteers at their worksite. Thank you to leadership that has been supportive of these efforts and have led by example. Thank you to every single one of you.
Gratefully,
Junelle Kroontje
Employee Giving Program Manager
P.S. as the saying goes, “No one can do everything, but everyone can do something” Every small act adds up to a huge something
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Staying safer as COVID-19 infection rates increase
Dear employee,
Nationally and locally our Public Health agencies are reporting an increase in COVID-19 infection rates in communities. This escalation in infections is also reflected in our work community, with increasing numbers of employees testing positive for COVID-19 or reporting significant exposure to those who have tested positive. Temporary statewide restrictions announced by the Governor are in place to help reduce the rate of infections.
Workplace exposure
The County continues to review workplace exposures where employees report that they have tested positive for COVID-19. County staff conduct workplace contract tracing on reported cases and notify co-workers who may have had close contact with an infected person at work, which would include those who been within six feet of a person with confirmed COVID-19 for about 15 minutes (consecutively or combined over a 24-hour period).
With regard to identifying co-workers who may have had COVID-19 exposures, state and federal laws protect the privacy of personal health information. We limit the access and amount of information shared to only what is operationally needed and don’t divulge personally identifying information generally. In some cases, the absence of a specific employee combined with notification to close workplace contacts may reveal the identity of a confirmed or suspected case.
While we are taking appropriate actions and providing notice to co-workers who may have been exposed, we are careful to avoid identifying individuals where possible.
Upcoming holidays – Protecting yourselves and others
Unfortunately, it is common now to hear about people that may be positive or who have been exposed to COVID-19. We all have to assume there is a risk of exposure in any public spaces and follow appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hygiene, and social distancing measures at work or in other spaces, especially masking requirements.
Testing facilities currently have limited capacity and reserving that capacity is important for reducing infection rates. Employees should seek testing if they are symptomatic or have had a significant exposure. Employees should not seek testing at this time if they do not have a current risk in order to preserve testing resources.
County workers are encouraged to follow state and national guidelines to keep themselves, loved ones, and our community safer by avoiding holiday gatherings and other public spaces and events.
First responders and employees delivering in-person services continue to do extraordinary work. Teleworkers have embraced new technology and remote service delivery, helping to limit the number of people in County facilities and on roads and transit. Maintaining our vigilance against the virus remains critical to slowing its spread.
Information for employees about COVID-19 and the workplace is available here. Guidance and restrictions on holiday events and public gatherings is available here. Visit Public Health’s COVID-19 website for tips to stay healthy and other up-to-date information.
Let’s all work together to reduce the impact of this virus on friends, family, healthcare, and other emergency workers, and on our workplace community. Stay home, stay safe.
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Investor relations website launched
King County’s first-ever Investor Relations website is now live. The site, maintained by a third-party vendor, BondLink, greatly improves the potential investor experience with links in one place to Official Statements, ratings, budgets, Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs), policies and more.
With voters approving a $1.74 billion bond measure for capital improvements at King County-owned Harborview Medical Center, the website comes at the perfect time.
“We are hoping King County sees an increase in the pool of potential investors and bidders by leveraging the BondLink communication functionality,” said Carol Basile, Treasury Manager.
Employee News 