Metro Transit operator shares experience in KUOW story
King County bus operator Nathan Vass was profiled in a recent KUOW article. It focused on his experiences driving a bus throughout different parts of Seattle and his community engagement work as a filmmaker, writer and photographer. The article quotes Nathan saying:
“If I say hi to people on the 7, they will say something in response. I don’t drive that route because it’s more cool, or more dangerous, or something like that, but because the people are more friendly. If I’m going to spend eight hours in one neighborhood, I want it to be somewhere where there’s a lot of back and forth.”
Read more in the full article titled “This Seattle bus driver decided to be extra nice to his passengers. Here’s how it went.”
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Featured Job: IT Project Manager II
Salary: $102,777.38 – $130,276.64 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Special Duty Assignment or Term Limited Temp (TLT)
Department: King County Department of Information Technology
Job Number: 2018-08628
Closing: 12/16/2018 11:59 PM Pacific
King County Department of Information Technology (KCIT), the central information technology provider for King County, delivers smart and innovative technology solutions that engage, empower, and serve our residents, businesses, and communities.
As our region has grown, we are looking for multiple IT Project Managers to join our team. In this role, you will provide project management support for various project assignments supporting the KCIT organization. Additionally, you will be responsible to the Project Management Office (PMO) in addressing general project management issues associated with scope, schedule, budget and quality of deliverables.
If you’re ready to make a difference at a company that matters, if you want to maximize your potential and receive recognition for your own talents, we would love to talk to you. Join us as we transform and raise the bar on what technology looks like in the public sector!
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Saving SoundGuardian
Crossposted from the Downstream Blog
On the night of Saturday, Nov. 10, a four-alarm fire started at a lumberyard right across from the King County Environmental Lab.
The fire was the largest Seattle has seen since 2010 with flames shooting over 100 feet into the air, according to the Seattle Fire Department blog. In the end, the fire that burned two buildings to the ground and damaged three others was determined to be arson.
That night, in addition to the 142 firefighters that helped fight the fire, King County employees were coordinating their own response to protect the Lab and the SoundGuardian research vessel. The 4-alarm fire was less than 200 feet away from the Lab which worried employees that both the Lab and SoundGuardian were at risk.
Read more at the Downstream Blog
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King County partner named best cat café in America
RASKC partner Seattle Meowtropolitan was named “Best Cat Café in America” by a national online news magazine, Hoodline. The café in Wallingford was recognized for its work to find new homes for cats, as well as its financial contributions to animal welfare organizations. The ranking was also based on its Yelp reviews, which are some of the highest in the nation. RASKC shared the honors on its social media channels, and the Executive also shared the good news with his social followers, saying, “One of the ways we increased the pet adoption rate by a record 20 percent last year was by creating innovative partnerships with local businesses, such as Seattle Meowtropolitan, which is now the top-rated cat cafe in the United States.”
View a short video about this achievement on Executive Constantine’s Facebook page.
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Go Public with Yuka
As part of King County’s recruitment efforts we have produced a series of videos featuring employees talking about why they chose a King County career and how they are making a difference in our community. Meet Yuka, Treatment Case Manager. Learn more about our careers at www.KingCounty.gov/jobs.
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Supported Employment in Roads Division: Matt Everson
King County’s Supported Employment Program matches job seekers with developmental disabilities to jobs by identifying efficiencies and unmet needs throughout King County government. Roads Division partnered with Christina Davidson, Supported Employment Program Manager, to hire through the Program to meet their business needs.
Matt Everson started working with the Roads Division in December of 2017 to provide support around recycling and other tasks. “[Matt] is just a part of the family now. People from front-line employees to management love to interact with Matt. He’s been a great addition to the team,” stated Jeremy Ferguson, Roads Maintenance Manager.
There are now 50 employees in the Supported Employment Program. Big thank you to Roads leadership for their commitment in building an inclusive workforce!
Watch the short video below that highlights Matt in the Supported Employment Program and contact Christina Davidson to learn more about ways you can take advantage of this program.
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Payroll deductions for Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave program start Jan. 1, 2019
In 2017, the Washington state legislature passed a bill to create a mandatory statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) insurance program that will provide almost every Washington worker with partial wage replacement while on leave beginning January 1, 2020, to:
- Recover from a serious illness or injury;
- Bond with a new child (through birth, adoption, or foster placement);
- Take care of a seriously ill or injured family member; or
- Participate in certain military-connected events.
Under the state PFML, eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of family or medical leave, or a combination of the two up to 16 weeks annually. While on leave, you are entitled to partial wage replacement. This will be a percentage of your average weekly wage. It is up to 90% of your weekly wage, with a maximum benefit of $1,000/week. King County employees will also continue to have their existing benefits, which you may choose to utilize instead of PFML.
Starting January 1, 2020, eligible employees who have worked 820 hours for a Washington employer during the previous year will be able to apply for benefits (i.e., leave and partial wage replacement). The PFML program will be administered by the Employment Security Department, the same agency that manages unemployment benefits.
The program will be funded by premium payments beginning January 1, 2019. The premium is 0.4% of an employee’s wages. Under the PFML employees are responsible for 63% of the premium deduction, and the county is responsible for the remaining 37%. For example, if you make $50,000 annually, the total annual employee cost would be $200, of which $126 would be deducted from your paycheck per year, or about $2.42 per week.
Beginning January 1, 2019, the County is required to start making payroll deductions for non-represented employees and a majority of the bargaining units. This deduction will appear on your first paycheck of 2019. Click here for a listing of collective bargaining units that have completed bargaining on PFML.
For more information, please visit paidleave.wa.gov/workers or email paidleave@esd.wa.gov, and refer to this infographic. You can also contact your Human Resources Manager.
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Plan ahead, expect delays during SR 99 closure beginning Jan. 11, 2019
Dear fellow King County employee,
King County Executive Dow Constantine
Starting January 11, 2019, after the evening commute, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will close SR 99 through downtown Seattle for approximately three weeks, and permanently close the SR 99 Viaduct. Additional ramp closures mean this work could create up to six weeks of traffic disruption.
No matter how you commute, or where from, you should expect significant delays during these closures and be prepared for crowded buses, trains, water taxis, and light rail. All buses coming into or through downtown Seattle will face delays. Twelve southwest routes and five northern routes will be directly affected by the closure.
Metro has been working with regional partners to provide travel options and alternatives to help you get around during the closure. Visit kingcounty.gov/getready to review your options and find out which routes are affected.
King County is always committed to delivering high quality services to our customers and we will continue to do so during this period. Please allow plenty of extra travel time to get to work and expect rush hour congestion to start earlier and end later.
You may wish to take vacation for some of this period, or consider adjusting your schedule, working at an alternative location, or teleworking if these are options for your job. If you wish to make alternative work arrangements for any of this period, please discuss these beforehand with your supervisor. We have existing policies that address attendance and work schedules, and a website with our telework policy, forms and templates that can assist your planning.
Also, as getting to and from meetings will be very difficult, try to limit meetings with external partners and people coming from outside Seattle during this period, or conduct meetings using Skype for Business (formerly Lync).
Thank you for helping us continue to meet and exceed the expectations of the people we serve during this construction work.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
This is a map of the SR 99 closure through downtown Seattle. For more information visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/Viaduct/realign99.
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Pet of the Week: Kingston
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
This regal-looking fellow is Kingston, our Pet of the Week!
Kingston is a German Shepherd/Australian Shepherd mix who is smart, playful, and protective of his people. Since he’s so spirited and fun-loving, he’s one of our “Rambunctious Red” pets.
Read more at Tails from RASKC
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Featured Job: Chief Legal Counsel
Salary: $155,783.00 – $209,511.00 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Appointed
Department: King County Council
Job Number: 2018-08997
Closing: 1/1/2019 11:59 PM Pacific
The Metropolitan King County Council is seeking an experienced, enthusiastic attorney with a passion for Public Policy, Leadership and Professionalism to join our team. The Chief Legal Counsel serves as a legal advisor to the Council and staff on a variety of matters dealing with public policy, legislation, and Council actions. The ideal candidate will be adept at municipal law, and the powers and duties of public officials and agencies. The Chief Legal Counsel is a senior level professional position and supervises the work of the Council’s Deputy Chief Legal Counsel. This position operates with considerable latitude in providing legal advice and proposed solutions for consideration by decision makers to support the Council in fulfilling its mission. The most competitive candidates will have an in-depth knowledge of County government and the theories and practices of civil and administrative law as they relate to local government. This is an exciting opportunity to join the King County Council staff and help provide excellent regional services to county residents. The position requires effective collaboration with Councilmembers, staff, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the King County Executive and County departments, other units of governments, and members of the public.
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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