Announcing the Zero Youth Detention data dashboard
Crossposted from Zero Youth Detention
King County is pleased to announce the first release of the Zero Youth Detention data dashboard. The dashboard provides the data about the juvenile legal system in King County including specifically highlighting racial disproportionality. The dashboard will show progress on the full range of efforts to achieve the goal of Zero Youth Detention.
This dashboard is a work in progress. The first release of the dashboard highlights data around juvenile detention and sets the stage for adding new measures. The process is iterative – the County and its partners will collaborate on definitions of success as strategies, policies, and practices get underway. Future releases of the dashboard will include measures and targets for analyzing the impact of this work toward achieving Zero Youth Detention.
Read more and view the dashboard at Zero Youth Detention
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Deputy Prosecutor gives TEDxSeattle talk
King County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sam Dinning was recently featured In this TEDxSeattle talk, discussing the difference between equality and equity in criminal justice reform. Sam works within the Juvenile Division and explores how to prosecute cases considering equity instead of equality.
“Criminal justice reform depends on our willingness to reexamine fundamental principles. Pursuing equity, rather than equality, would produce more just and more effective outcomes.”
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Fleet Administration Division celebrated with Performance Excellence Award for Cost
On Dec. 12, Chief Operating Officer Casey Sixkiller and Budget Director Dwight Dively visited employees at Fleet Administration Division in Renton to formally present the Executive’s Performance Excellence Award for Cost. Fleet field service mechanics saved 124 hours just in travel time, or $12,300 in savings, in the first six months by adding diagnostic software to field service computers.
Field service mechanics are assigned to various areas of the county including Black Diamond, Fall City, and Redmond to support field crews. When needed, bringing vehicles and equipment into the Renton Shop for repairs is costly considering travel time, effort, and customer downtime.
In most cases, heavy-duty vehicles with a “check engine” light have to be diagnosed before they can be driven, so non-drivable vehicles are towed to the Renton Shop or the field mechanic has to go to the Renton Shop to get the diagnostic computer. Because it was the only location with diagnostic software, every time the diagnostic computer was taken to the field, it hampered the shop’s ability to diagnose vehicles and equipment. This meant per each instance a vehicle needed to be diagnosed, travel time back and forth took approximately four hours.
To address this issue and improve cost impact, mechanics analyzed alternatives from leasing additional computers to adding diagnostic programs to existing computers. The end result was Fleet added software licenses to the four field mechanics computers, ultimately saving $12,300 in the first six months of this practice.
Receiving the Executive’s Performance Excellence Award for Cost celebrates the creativity of the project team and their commitment to ensuring services are provided in an effective, cost-effective manner. Thank you to team members Erik Ferkingstad, Chris Gavigan, Cindy Kittleson and Isaac Wisdom!
Pictured: Chief Operating Officer Casey Sixkiller (far left) and Budget Director Dwight Dively (center) celebrate with members of the Fleet project team who received the Executive’s Performance Excellence Award for Cost. From left to right, the Fleet staff are Chris Gavigan, Cindy Kittleson, Isaac Wisdom, Ben Pritchard, Nora Jagielo, Erik Ferkingstad, and Jennifer Lindwall.
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Moving a step closer to one million trees at annual planting event
Pictured: Rachel Smith, Executive’s Office Chief of Staff, and DNRP Director Christie True participate in the planting one million trees initiative.
King County is planting one million trees with partners by 2020 to capture carbon pollution and better prepare for climate impacts. Department of Natural Resources and Parks moved a step closer to this goal by hosting the third annual native tree and shrub planting event for employees.
Planting one million trees in King County by 2020 in cooperation with public and private partners is one of the key strategies in King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP). Currently, King County and partners have planted more than 452,000 trees in King County since 2016. These trees also improve salmon habitat, filter water, and reduce flooding.
The tree and shrub planting event took place November 27 at Finn Hill Park where Rachel Smith, Executive Constantine’s Chief of Staff, joined around 80 Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) employees in planting native species.
“We’re seeing the devastating effects of climate change across the world and here at home with more severe storms, hotter, drier summers, rising seas, and destructive wildfires, and we need to act now to respond to these changes” Smith said. “Climate Change is one of the Executive’s top priorities and our One Million Trees campaign is one of the many actions that King County is taking to face the greatest environmental challenge of our generation.”
The SCAP serves as King County’s road map to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for the impacts of a changing climate. It outlines an ambitious agenda of actions that King County government and partners are taking to achieve an 80 percent reduction in countywide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a goal adopted by the King County Growth Management Planning Council.
“The Strategic Climate Action Plan sets a path with clear, obtainable goals that enable employees and the public to better share in the County’s commitments,” said Smith.
Find out more about the One Million Trees campaign here and the Strategic Climate Action Plan here.
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Go Public with Celia
Our final video in our Go Public video series features Celia Jackson, Deputy Director of Government Relations. She also shares about the real impact public service can make.
“Everyone is born with a different level of opportunity and different barriers that they meet, but I think it is our responsibility as local government to do our best to remove those barriers.”
Learn more about our careers at www.KingCounty.gov/jobs.
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Featured Job: Family Law Specialist
Salary: $28.75 – $36.51 Hourly
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Regular, Full time, 35 hrs/week
Department: KCSC – Superior Court
Job Number: 2019-10751
Division: Family Court Ops
Closing: 1/6/2020 11:59 PM Pacific
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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Happy New Year: New love, new luck, new sun in the sky
Wishing every employee a beautiful Happy New Year, rich with laughter, love and meaningful opportunities! As Bing Crosby sang “With a new point of view, here’s what greets my eye, New love, new luck, new sun in the sky.” Greet 2019 with a fresh eye and enjoy all that it brings!
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Celebrating another year of achievements
Dear fellow King County employee,
At the end of each year our team takes a moment to review what we have achieved together in the previous 12 months, and looks ahead to what we want to accomplish during the coming year. Each year, looking back, I am astounded by the breadth and impact of our achievements, and 2018 is no exception.
This year King County Metro was named the best large transit system in North America. We launched our Road Map to Zero Youth Detention, with the goal that every young person in our community will grow up healthy, safe, and thriving. Our Emergency Response to Homelessness has launched strategies to help bring more people inside for the winter and provide more outreach to those without a home. And our Land Conservation Initiative will help us protect 65,000 acres of our most vital green spaces and trails within a generation.
These are just a few of the things we have accomplished this year thanks to your talent, innovative thinking, and hard work. We have put together a slideshow of 18 accomplishments in 2018 to showcase the diversity of our work and the impact we are having.
Thank you for your contributions to our shared success this year. Your work brings us closer to being a truly just, welcoming, and thriving community where every person has a fair and real opportunity to succeed. I look forward to building on our progress in the new year.
Best wishes for a happy, peaceful, and productive 2019.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Pet of the Week: Beau
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Sweet senior Beau is our Pet of the Week!
This handsome boy is gentle and loving, and likes to take things slow. He may get nervous in new situations, and is looking for a family who understands he may need some time to warm up. Once he gets to know you, though, Beau will be a very devoted friend!
Read more from Tails from RASKC
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Featured Job: Economic Development Program Manager
Salary: $97,219.20 – $123,219.20 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: Department of Transportation – Director’s office
Job Number: 2018MCK09050
Closing: 1/6/2019 11:59 PM Pacific
The Economic Development Program Manager is a key resource within the Department of Local Services and will provide strategic planning, coordination and support for economic development activities within unincorporated areas of King County. This new position will work out of the Director’s office, reporting to the External Relations Manager, and will provide leadership in the development of innovative economic development programs and implementation strategies to increase jobs and income in King County’s unincorporated areas, with a particular focus on fostering successful new business ventures and supporting the growth, expansion and retention of existing businesses in King County’s unincorporated areas.
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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