New discount for employees at upcoming Seattle Storm games
King County employees can now save up to 33% off Seattle Storm tickets on several games held June 30-Sept. 1. To access the discount visit http://stormgrouptix.com/KingCounty. The Seattle Storm is a three-time WNBA Championship team committed to bringing a premium professional basketball and entertainment experience to a fan base rich in tradition and support.
See all available discounts at www.kingcounty.gov/employeediscounts.
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Tips to keep cool
With temperatures already forecast to be above normal this week, keep these tips in mind to stay cool:
- Keep window blinds or curtains closed when outdoor temperatures skyrocket. This reduces indoor temps and reduces the strain on the HVAC equipment.
- Keep windows and doors closed in locations with HVAC.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
- The county recommends against using indoor fans, as they can create “hot zones” in other places in the building and can create a fire hazard. Please don’t block or manipulate air vents or returns.
- Dress in layers to manage varying temperatures.
- The County standard for building temperature range is 70-74 degrees.
- Minimize extended time outside.
Read more from DES Express
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Apprenticeship rates at Children and Family Justice Center exceed requirements
By Alex Hurtado
Pictured: Business Development Contract Compliance (BDCC) Apprenticeship Coordinator, Daniel Peterson.
The Children and Family Justice Center (CFJC), now more than 80 percent complete, leads in total apprenticeship hours on King County projects and employs a diverse workforce earning family-wage jobs. As of December 2018, apprentices have performed 93,205 labor hours on the project. This project requires the use of state registered apprentices for 15 percent of all labor hours worked, and 17 percent participation from certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS). As of May, the CFJC project boasts a 25 percent apprenticeship rate and is meeting the 17 percent required rate for SCS businesses.
”King County’s long-standing apprenticeship program has had a profound impact on providing family wage jobs to many of King County’s residents,” said Daniel Peterson, the Business Development Contract Compliance (BDCC) team’s Apprenticeship Coordinator.
Read more from DES Express
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Save the Date! Free screening of “The Most Dangerous Year” June 25
June is PRIDE Month! In honor of PRIDE, The Department of Executive Services, King County is proud to collaborate with the Meaningful Movies Project to bring the critically acclaimed documentary, “The Most Dangerous Year,” to our employee community for a screening and discussion. By Seattle writer and director, Vlada Knowlton, the film chronicles the journey by many Washington families with transgender children and the anti-transgender legislation in Washington in 2016. Knowlton, will be on hand to facilitate a Q & A session immediately after the screening. The film is 89 minutes.
Tuesday, June 25 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Chinook Building Room 121, 401 5th Ave., Seattle
This event is free, but seating is limited. Please RSVP here.
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Airport employees earn prestigious award for snow removal during Snowmageddon
Pictured: KCIA equipment operator Chase Dolliver, and Manager of Operations Davey Pilley.
This winter’s wild weather may just be a memory now, but employees at the King County International Airport (KCIA) are still celebrating a big win. They recently received a Balchen/Post Award for Excellence in the Performance of Airport Snow and Ice Control by the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. The KCIA team was up against tough competition from more traditionally snow-bound cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, and Syracuse, New York.
The award was presented at the annual International Aviation Snow Symposium in Buffalo, New York in late April. Employees celebrated the win at an airport employees’ event later in May.
During the two-week “Snowmageddon” in February, the Puget Sound area received historic snowfall, exceeding 50-year records. Despite all the snow, the airport had only two major closures in that time, the longest lasting nearly seven hours.
Read more from DES Express
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King County Personnel Board Election
Dear Colleagues,
Today King County Elections mailed ballots for the King County Personnel Board Election. The Personnel Board conducts hearings on appeals of certain county personnel actions. It’s made up of five members, one of which is elected by county career service employees. If you are a career service employee you are eligible to vote for the open position on the King County Personnel Board.
Like any other election, your ballot will be mailed to your home address. Ballots must be returned to King County Elections by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25. Ballot packets will include a return envelope with prepaid postage or employees can drop them in the ballot drop boxes at the King County Administration Building, King County Election Headquarters in Renton or the Regional Justice Center. Also, for this election, King County employees may return their ballot through interoffice mail.
This year there are two candidates for the elected position. More information about the candidates and the election can be found online. If you do not receive your ballot by June 18 or if you have questions about the election, contact King County Elections at 206-296-1608 or elections@kingcounty.gov.
Thanks and happy voting!
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Stonewall + 50: King County Employees Tell the Story of LGBTQ+ Progress
2019 marks 50 years since the Stonewall Uprising in New York, considered by most to be the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. To mark this anniversary, King County and its employees are looking back at the milestones and landmark events that have happened since that night in late June 1969 – including the ways that our region has led the nation in recognizing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.
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City Hall Park offers delicious lunch options
This spring and summer, you can get lunch from a food truck at City Hall Park on the south side of the King County Courthouse. Trucks will be there from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. several days a week, including ‘Wich Wagon today, and LT’s Famous BBQ Friday. Depending on the day, a food truck will offer barbeque, cheesesteaks, burgers, sandwiches, or Native cuisine. Some offer vegetarian, vegan, paleo, and gluten-free options. Click here for a complete schedule and menus of food trucks at City Hall Park. For more information visit www.seattlefoodtruck.com.
The food truck effort is part of the Courthouse Vicinity Improvement effort – a partnership between King County, the City of Seattle, Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) at The Morrison and the Metropolitan Improvement District (MID) – to improve the safety and cleanliness around the Courthouse for employees, visitors, and residents of the area. So come out and enjoy the park and support these local businesses! King County is also working with Seattle Parks and Recreation to bring more games, activities, and even a few lunchtime concerts to City Hall Park this summer. We’ll bring you details of those events in Employee News.
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King County Supported Employment Program highlighted at national conference
Pictured: Christina Davidson, Supported Employment Program Manager, and Jeff Casem, Disability Services Supervisor.
Christina Davidson and Jeff Casem from the Disability Services Section of the Department of Human Resources recently presented on King County’s Supported Employment Program at the National Associate of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS) Directors Forum and Mid-Year Conference.
The conference featured a national audience of approximately 200-250 state directors of services, senior management, policy makers, self-advocates, researchers and providers from all over the country in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their interest was in learning how to take on policies for the employment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and embedding in into an organization and to also learn how state policies help or hinder efforts to developing and implementing employment programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“It was certainly an honor to be presenting our King County Supported Employment Program to an audience of this magnitude and be seen as a leader in this field along with companies such as Microsoft and Universal Cells,” said Jeff.
Christina and Jeff were featured on the plenary panel that focused on “What It Means To Be Engaged In Employment: Perspectives from Large Companies” along with Microsoft and biotech firm Universal Cells, an Astellas Company. Microsoft, Universal Cells and King County are three large and successful organizations that have hired people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as the everyday way of conducting business and shared how human resource policies, hiring practices and other business practices create an inclusive and organizational culture that works for everyone.
“We take great pride in our program and how far we’ve come over the last five years, and are committed to our ongoing work to continue growing our Supported Employment workforce and building an inclusive workplace for all, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Jeff added.
Christina and Jeff shared the history and current state of King County’s Supported Employment Program, the different types of work performed by our supported employees, key elements to building a strong program, the challenges faced, and closed with a video highlighting King County’s Supported Employment Program.
Jeanine Zlockie, the Director of Communications and Education Programs for NASDDDS, also shared her praise for the program.
“The information you provided and the personal stories that were shared, gave our state members important insight and valuable information as they each strive to develop policies and practices that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to have great lives.”
To learn more about the Supported Employment Program, watch this video below.
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Pet of the Week: Hannah
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Put your hands in the air for Hannah, our Pet of the Week!
This senior chow was brought in by her previous owner. Hannah is a very smart, sweet, and cuddly dog who is truly seeking to be your “one and only.” Hannah is deaf and therefore is sensitive to handling. Her personality color is “Bashful Blue,” so she prefers to take things slow. Hannah may also get nervous in new situations, so she is looking for a home where those around her understand that she may take some time warming up. That being said, once she gets to know you – she will be a devoted friend! Read more.
To see this pet and view other animals available for adoption, visit www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet.
Employee News 