Featured Job: Administrative Specialist II – Chinese Language
Salary: $22.24 – $28.33 Hourly
Location: WA 98057-2906, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 35 hrs/week
Department: KCE – King County Elections
Job Number: 2019RL11109
Division: Voter Services
Closing: 1/14/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Pet of the Week: LB
LB is a 7 year-old male Heeler mix (A478953). His personality color is GREEN, meaning he is an adaptable dog who loves to go with the flow! This handsome boy is very smart and is currently practicing how to “sit,” “shake,” and “stay.” He tends to calm down more when people around him stay calm, and he does best when he gets lots of exercise and something to keep his mind busy. LB was brought in by his previous family because they could no longer care for him. They described him as very loving and also independent. LB likes to play fetch, adores back rubs, and just loves spending time outside!
Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet.
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2020 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, Jan. 16
Dear King County employee,
Please join us in honoring our nation’s foremost human rights leader and our County’s namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, noon to 1 p.m. at Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101.
The theme for our 2020 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is “Yes, we are on the move and no wave of racism can stop us. We are on the move now.” This year’s keynote is by john a. powell, Director, Othering & Belonging Institute, University of California, Berkeley. For more information contact Matias.Valenzuela@kingcounty.gov or MPadillaOcampo@kingcounty.gov.
For those who cannot join, the event will be recorded by KCTV for streaming afterwards.
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration is a County-sponsored event and King County directors, managers, and supervisors are encouraged to permit employees to participate, if possible. Read King County’s HR Bulletin regarding employee attendance at County-sponsored events for more information. Your attendance is of course voluntary.
Getting to the celebration
Employees in the downtown Seattle area are encouraged to walk or take public transit. Employees coming from outside downtown Seattle should look at transit and carpool options. If public transit options downtown are not accessible, please email MPadillaOcampo@kingcounty.gov to arrange an Access Paratransit shuttle pick up outside of King Street Center or the Chinook Building.
To get to Town Hall Seattle from King County offices located in Downtown Seattle, take Link Light Rail and exit at University Street Station) or King County Metro Route 2 and exit directly across the street from Town Hall on 8th Avenue and Seneca.
Celebration follow-up, Jan. 21
As we will spark reflection and ideas at the MLK Celebration, employees are encouraged to continue the dialogue to deepen our equity, inclusion and belonging discussions and actions in work teams, departments, and communities. One opportunity to participate in facilitated follow-up conversations will be held at the King Street Center 8th floor conference center on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.. All King County employees are welcome. For more information, contact KKibet@kingcounty.gov.
On the Move: An MLK Day ESJ Festival, Jan. 30
Departments all over King County government are working hard to move our county forward, and closer to our Equity and Social Justice goals. Join us at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival to learn how we’re moving forward, and share what you are doing to make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. The festival will take place Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., at the Chinook Building, Rooms 121/123. For more information, contact BMcConnaughey@kingcounty.gov.
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Discover how to build wealth for retirement, sessions Jan. 14, 15 and 16
You and your spouse or significant other are invited to learn more about saving for retirement with the King County Deferred Compensation Plan. Several in-person sessions are coming up Jan. 14, 15, and 16, including:
- Social Security Simplified
- Retirement Ready
- Savings Strategies
- Financial Wellness
- Women and Retirement
See details and registration. Other education sessions are offered throughout the year. For more information about Deferred Compensation Plan education—including webinars—go to the Deferred Compensation web page. If you have any questions, please contact KC Deferred Comp.
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Take Winter by Storm
Snow warnings for this week are a reminder to be prepared for seasonal weather hazards. While winter can be wonderful, it can also be quite dangerous unless you’re prepared. Snow, ice, floods, and strong windstorms are just a few of the seasonal weather hazards that can impact our region.
Being prepared for winter emergencies not only protects our families and property now, but also provides peace of mind for unpredictable disasters such as earthquakes.
While we can’t stop winter from happening, we can get ready for it. Take steps today to plan for how you will weather this winter storm season by visiting TakeWinterByStorm.org.
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Meet Colleen McIngalls, Program Manager for the Protection Order Advocacy Program
Crossposted from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Facebook
It’s tough to do an interview about Colleen McIngalls because she just wants to talk about how great her Protection Order Advocacy Program team is.
Colleen arrived at the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) a little more than two years ago. Prior to joining the PAO, she spent 11 years at Victim Support Services, serving her last three years with the organization as Director of Victim Services. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Seattle University in the Masters in Criminal Justice Department and teaches two victimology courses Fall and Winter quarters.
“I have dedicated my career toward anti-violence, anti-oppression, and race and social justice work. My passion for this work developed during my undergrad when I interned at the local domestic violence community agency. After college I was hired at Victim Support Services as a victim advocate where I assisted on general crime victim cases (Homicides, Vehicular Homicides and Assaults, physical Assault cases, and other mainstream crimes).
“Assisting crime survivors toward accessing justice and other services has brought so much value to my life and my work. I have the unique opportunity to bear witness along someone’s journey and hold space for their experience and aid their voice in the process.”
She loves her team and the work. “Just this week,” she told me, “a DV victim we helped years ago came back to the office with a huge bag of stuffed animals for kids. This is an annual trip. She appreciated the work we did for her and the work we will do tomorrow for the next family.” (The photo below is Colleen holding one of those stuffed animals.)
As we spoke, an attorney came in to thank Colleen for the cinnamon roll and conversation before her court appearance. She grabbed her coat and the bags she casually left in Colleen’s office while she was in court. Another staff member walked by and they chatted about holiday plans. Colleen makes everyone feel welcomed and valued.
Colleen will be taking some time off in the new year. She and her wife are expecting baby number two late January! A girl to join their three-year-old boy. Colleen says her family keeps her grounded and her favorite way to unwind after a day of intense and important work is a family trip to the local park.
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New wireless network dedicated to Public Safety First Responders holds first communication
King County had a big day on Nov. 21, 2019 – the first two-way radio communication on a new wireless network that will handle public safety response for the next 20 plus years was held. This is the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN).
PSERN is managed by the Emergency Radio Communications Division, a division within King County’s Information Technology Department (KCIT), responsible for a nearly $300 million project that will serve first responders throughout King County.
The PSERN Project is expanding and updating the current system’s technology, and this work involves:
- Nearly 18,000 new radios to be programmed and distributed
- Coordination with 199 customer agencies
- Installing 144 consoles in 19 dispatch centers (mostly 911 call centers)
- Building and connecting 63 radio tower sites – from Vashon Island to Stevens Pass on U.S. 2.
- Obtaining over 140 signed agreements with PSERN customer agencies and legislative bodies
The PSERN Project team is excited to share this success and to be building an E-911 response network that every person in King County can count on to help keep them safe. A big thanks is due to all of the partner agencies, vendors and County leaders who have helped make this moment possible! To find out more about PSERN visit www.psern.org. A video of our first ever radio transmission is under Connect/Project News.
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Retirement plan transfer opportunity
Each January, certain members of Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Plan 2 have the opportunity to transfer to PERS Plan 3. You are eligible to transfer to Plan 3 if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You enrolled in PERS Plan 2 before Sept. 1, 2002.
- You are currently in an eligible position.
- You will earn service credit in January.
Here’s how:
- Use the resources on the DRS website to help you decide if transferring to Plan 3 is right for you.
- Complete a DRS Member Transfer Form
- Return it to the King County Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations office during the month of January: Chinook Building, 2nd Floor, CNK-ES-0230, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
- If you transfer to PERS Plan 3, you cannot return to PERS Plan 2. You should see the change on your payment advice in February 2020.
For more information, visit the DRS website or call DRS at 360-664-7000 or 800-547-6657.
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On the Move: An MLK Day ESJ Festival, Jan. 30
Departments all over King County government are working hard to move our county forward, and closer to our Equity and Social Justice goals. Join us at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Festival to learn how we’re moving forward, and share what you are doing to make King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.
When: Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Chinook Building, 121/123
For more information, contact Brooke McConnaughey at BMcConnaughey@kingcounty.gov.
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Pet of the Week: Pumpkin
Hi! My name is Pumpkin and I am available for adoption. I was brought in by a good samaritan on December 13th, 2019. I’m a bit of a scaredy guy at first but if you take things slow and get to know me, I’m actually a really cool dude! I love to play fetch, pretend that I’m the size of a lap dog and curl up in your lap and just hang out with my people. I love to go for walks and I pride my self on walking super nice and right next to my handler, I’m also super potty trained. I would love to work on my skills and attend a training class to learn new fun tricks! take me home and I promise I will be a 10/10 good boy!
Read more and view all available pets at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet.
Employee News 