Employee News

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

King County District Court Expands Youth Traffic Court on Eastside

By Troy Brown, Communication Manager, King County District Court

East King County Youth Traffic Court provides teen drivers with an alternative to fines, while helping educate them and their peers on the justice system

King County District Court has expanded its Youth Traffic Court Program from Redmond to the broader Eastside. The East King County Youth Traffic Court is a student-led organization that works with district court to hear real cases of traffic citations issued to 16- and 17-year olds, offering them an alternative to the traditional justice system. Cases are handled by youth “attorneys,” a youth “judge” and a youth “jury,” making it the ultimate jury of your peers for teenagers.

The expanded youth court handles eligible traffic citations issued by Bellevue police, Duvall police, Redmond police, Sammamish police, King County Sheriff’s Office and Washington State Patrol. During the ongoing Covid-19 Pandemic, cases are heard via Zoom teleconference and supervised by Judge Michael Finkle. After the pandemic ends, the court anticipates resuming youth traffic court hearings at its Redmond and Issaquah Courthouses under Judge Finkle’s supervision and at its Bellevue Courthouse under Judge Jill Klinge.

Students in the program practice the principals of restorative justice in evaluating other students’ traffic violations, under a King County District Court judge’s guidance. The process provides a collaborative atmosphere in which everybody involved comes to a joint conclusion about the most appropriate disposition for the case.

One 16-year old student who had received a ticket from the Redmond Police for speeding and not having her headlights on, remarked after participating in her youth court hearing and being assigned 30 hours of community service and writing a 250-word essay that she was “more aware of the harm I can cause while driving, and to be more careful.”

Beyond benefiting teens who receive traffic citations, East King County Youth Traffic Court provides high-school students with valuable real-world courtroom experience. “Youth court members learn decision making skills, compassion, how to work with others they do not go to school with, and a little about the law,” said King County District Court Judge Michael Finkle.

Students in grades 9 to 12 who are interested in being part of the East King County Youth Traffic Court team can contact the court by email at KCDCYouthTrafficCourt@kingcounty.gov.

About King County District Court

King County District Court is the largest court of limited jurisdiction in Washington State, processing approximately 200,000 matters per year. The district court operate at 10 locations throughout King County: Auburn, Bellevue, Burien, Issaquah, King County Courthouse (Seattle), King County Jail (Seattle jail calendars only), Redmond, Maleng Regional Justice Center (Kent), Shoreline and Vashon Island (one day per month). For more information visit www.kingcounty.gov/courts/district-court.aspx.

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Strategic Interviewing Tips and Techniques, November 18

This two-hour virtual workshop will provide you with strategies and tips to help you to do your best during the interview. Learning objectives include:

How to prepare for a virtual job interview
The interview structure and types of questions you will be asked
The STAR-LA method and how to use it to provide organized and complete responses
General tips and strategies

This workshop will take place Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. – Noon. Register here.

For additional online workshops offered by King County Career Support Services (CSS), visit their Eventbrite page. For more information about CSS visit www.kingcounty.gov/CSS

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

One week left to complete Open Enrollment

One week left – Complete Open Enrollment by Nov. 15

Don’t miss your opportunity to evaluate your benefit choices and make changes. If you haven’t already done so, make sure the right benefit options are in place for you and your family next year.

If you don’t participate in Open Enrollment, your current elections automatically continue for next year—except your Flexible Spending Accounts and your Benefit Access Fee exemption if you cover a spouse on your medical plan—these must be selected each year.

Learn

See what’s changing next year.
Register for a live Open Enrollment information session.
Watch the Open Enrollment Overview video.
Find out about the updated PeopleSoft Open Enrollment tool: Watch the Completing Open Enrollment with PeopleSoft video or read the Open Enrollment PeopleSoft Guide.
Go to the Open Enrollment website.

Choose

Consider changing medical plans. The Kaiser SmartCare and the KingCare Select plans have lower costs.
If you cover a spouse or domestic partner on your medical plan, select the appropriate Benefit Access Fee—or exemption, which resets each year. The Kaiser medical plan has no Benefit Access Fees.
Enroll in a Health Care or Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to reduce your taxable income.

All set? Sign in to PeopleSoft

Select the new Open Enrollment tile.
Make your selections, then scroll up to Enrollment Summary.
Click the blue Submit Enrollment The Elections Preview statement will open in a new window—review, print, or save it.
Benefits Enrollment Complete will then be checked.
Click Exit to return to the PeopleSoft main menu.

Get support

Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations
206-684-1556 or KC Benefits
9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday (closed Veterans Day, Nov. 11)
Extended Hours Sunday, Nov. 15: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Due to COVID-19, the Benefits office is closed for walk-in service.

Posted on November 9, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

A historic moment for our democracy

Dear fellow King County employee,

Last week, the American people elected a new president to lead us for the next four years and begin the work of healing our divided nation.

It was a historic victory for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, and indeed for democracy itself. I am eager to work with the new administration on fighting the pandemic, rebuilding our economy, upending racial bias, healing the planet, and restoring America’s standing in the world.

It is time to turn the page. I am grateful to once again have partners at the federal level focused on bringing our country together and advancing the critical work we are doing here in King County.

We have an unprecedented opportunity – not merely to go back to where we were eight months ago, or four years ago – but to press ahead, united and with urgency, to fulfill our nation’s potential.

I look toward to the future with hope and optimism. The work begins now. We face big challenges, but I am convinced that if we can focus on the fundamental values we share, we can build a brighter future for all people.

Sincerely,

Dow Constantine
King County Executive

Posted on November 8, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Road Services welcomes new director Tricia Davis

Crossposted from King County Local

Local Services proudly welcomes Tricia Davis as the new director of its Road Services Division.

Tricia comes to us as a 13-year employee at King County, most recently as deputy director for Metro’s Rail Division and, prior to that, as a budget supervisor in King County’s Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget (PSB).

Before joining the county, Tricia worked as a research analyst for the Center on Reinventing Public Education. She also worked for Capital One Financial Services as a senior operations analyst.

Upcoming live and on-demand webinars through Making Life Easier

King County’s Making Life Easier (MLE) program is offering several upcoming live and on-demand webinars. Register early for the live session as space is limited, otherwise, a recording of the session will be available on-demand 48 hours after it has ended.

Supporting Yourself This Season: The Winter Blues & Seasonal Affective Disorder – Live, Wednesday, Nov. 18, from noon to 1 p.m. Register here.
Deepening Your Resilience: Tools For Persisting In These Times – Now available on-demand. Register here.
Moving Forward From Here: Navigating Uncertain Times – Available on-demand the first week of Dec. Registration information coming soon. Please check the website for updates.

To learn more about these webinars and to access others, visit www.KCMakingLifeEasier.com, login with username: King County, and click on the Current Featured Webinars banner on the home page.

For more information about the Making Life Easier program, visit www.kingcounty.gov/MLE.

Posted on November 7, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Tech Tip: An important note about Microsoft Skype and Teams instant messages/chat

Employees may recall that the guidance for using Skype instant messages (IMs) has been “do not conduct work via IM.” IMs should only be used for transitory communication because once the IM window is closed, the message is gone. Yes, that has meant the instant messages were totally gone, leaving no record.

The same guidance is mostly in place with IMs in Teams, only they’re called “Chats” now.
Chats, though, work a little differently in Teams. Microsoft technical requirements prevent Chats from instantly disappearing when the Chat window is closed, so they will be held in the system for 24 hours, at which point they will be deleted. The Skype to Teams transition project is still working on this “holding period” for Chats, and it may be subject to change in the future. More information is to come on this.

When employees move to Teams for calls, meetings and IMs/chats (this year for most employees, the rest in 2021), continue to use Chats only for transitory communication, such as “Ready for that coffee now?” or “Hey, are you going to join our meeting?”

Posts in Teams Channels, on the other hand, are retained and are a great place to communicate important information. Learn about posts and other great Teams collaboration features here.

Employees should keep in mind that since Teams posts are retained, and Teams Chats are automatically held for 24 hours, they are both subject to public disclosure and a hold may be placed on these communications, so please continue to communicate in a professional manner.

Posted on November 7, 2020 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Election 2020: Seattle voters support funding for transit

Crossposted from Metro Matters

While some ballots are still arriving and being counted, so far an overwhelming majority of voters in the City of Seattle have approved Proposition 1: “Funding for Transit and Related Transportation Needs.” This proposition would replace a funding source that expires at the end of this year.

Revenues from the new measure would fund transit services benefiting Seattle residents through the Seattle Transportation Benefit District. Proposition 1 was placed on the ballot when Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed Council Bill 119833 on July 31. The proposition increases the current 0.1% sales tax to 0.15%, which is anticipated to generate roughly $39 million annually over the next six years to fund transit service, capital projects, and transit access programs.

Annual Giving Drive offers virtual “office hours”

This year, the Annual Giving Drive is offering virtual information sessions to make it easier for you to participate in the 2020 campaign.

The Annual Giving Drive’s Campaign Assistants are hosting Zoom “office hours” where you can ask questions, get help setting up pledges, discuss giving options, and more.

The virtual office hours are available:

Mondays and Fridays, from 11 a.m. to noon

Wednesdays, from 1–2 p.m.
Access the office hours through this Zoom link

For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov or call 206-263-9405.