Applications for 2018 Bridge Fellowship Program due Friday
If you are looking for an opportunity to expand your skills, grow as a leader, and gain a deeper understanding of King County government, why not apply to be part of the 2018 King County Bridge Fellowship Program. The fellowship is an 18-week professional development program that expands participants’ mindsets, strengthens current competencies, and helps participants develop new skills. Applications for the 2018 Bridge Fellowship Program are due this Friday, June 8, 2018.
The 2017 Graduating Bridge Fellows with Executive Constantine, Chief People Officer Whitney Abrams, and Bridge Fellowship Program Manager Debra Baker.
Debra Baker, a Bridge Fellow herself, now manages the program and says, “The Bridge Fellowship Program is an energizing and educational experience that reinforces and introduces leadership methods and skills that help participants both professionally and personally. Even though I’ve graduated the program, I still gain new learning and insights each year!”
Debra Baker
The Bridge Fellowship, open to all full-time and TLT employees, was reestablished in 2013-2014 by King County Executive Dow Constantine. Bridge Fellows will participate in a rigorous application and interview process before joining this year’s cohort. Over the course of the program, participants engage in classroom learning, group projects, presentations and career development activities, as well as interviews and site visits to explore the County’s agencies and their priorities.
The Bridge Fellowship – part of Executive Constantine’s Investing in YOU strategy – is helping employees across the County be their best work. “The Bridge Fellowship Program provides tools and insights for individuals to grow and thrive in their careers no matter who you are or where you are in the organization,” said Debra. “I highly recommend Bridge!”
To find out more and apply, please visit the Bridge Fellowship website, and direct questions to BridgeFellowship@KingCounty.gov.
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2018 Equity & Social Justice Speaker Series
You’re invited!
The next event in the ESJ Speaker Series is MOHIA, sponsored by KCIT, and takes place June 19 from noon to 1 p.m. in room 123 of the Chinook building.
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King County is now a leading producer of clean, renewable biofuel that can be used by commercial vehicles
King County — which has converted methane to natural gas for more than 30 years — is now a leading producer of clean, renewable biofuel that can be used by commercial vehicles.
Converting waste into clean energy
The purified renewable natural gas produced at King County’s South Treatment Plant in Renton can replace diesel fuel in commercial vehicles, capitalizing on a federal program designed to power more transportation with renewable energy. Renewable natural gas sales last year yielded more than $6 million in revenue for King County’s Wastewater Treatment Division.
“We are demonstrating to the rest of the country how local governments can work together to build a sustainable clean-energy economy,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “By producing renewable natural gas at our treatment plant, we are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the region’s reliance on fossil fuels.”
Infographic: King County is using wastewater to create energy. Click the image to view it larger.
King County has been purifying and selling renewable natural gas from its South Treatment Plant for longer than any other wastewater facility in the country. It is a direct substitute for the fossil-fuel derived natural gas that typically flows through local pipelines.
The environmental benefits of renewable natural gas are significant. Biogas is a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process, and is often burned off. By converting this waste gas to a transportation fuel, the emissions profile of both wastewater treatment and transportation is significantly lowered.
As a transportation fuel, renewable natural gas also generates far fewer air pollutants than diesel fuel. Each year, the volume of renewable natural gas produced at the South Treatment Plant is the energy equivalent of about 1.7 million gallons of diesel fuel.
Clean Energy, the leading provider of natural gas fuel and renewable natural gas fuel for transportation in North America, is currently delivering the renewable natural gas produced from South Plant to its Washington fueling station network.
The five stations fuel about 1.5 million gallons of renewable natural gas annually, sourced from this local production facility. One of the largest local end users is Recology, an employee-owned waste management company that uses the renewable natural gas for their garbage trucks that roam the region’s neighborhoods.
In addition to renewable natural gas production at South Treatment Plant, King County’s Cedar Hills Regional Landfill in Maple Valley is also a large producer of renewable natural gas. Collectively, King County’s efforts to convert waste products into resources resulted in more than $14 million of revenue from the sale of renewable natural gas and renewable electricity generated in 2017.
Read more in the official press release.
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Metro’s 42nd Annual Metroadeo
Shared from Metro’s For employees site
King County employees: join Metro General Manager Rob Gannon and Metro’s Safety team on Saturday, June 16 to recognize the skills of our fantastic bus operators!
There are three ways King County employees can participate.
- Bus operators can sign up now to compete in the Metroadeo.
- Employees can bring their antique, classic or special interest cars, trucks, motorcycles or any other vehicle to the 30th Annual Employee Car Show.
- Save the date and attend the event. Bring your family and friends!
Metroadeo
Operators can sign up now to show off their skills to Metro employees and their families at the June 16 BBQ and car show event!
The winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip to the state championship August 18-19 in Kennewick, WA, and the national championship in Louisville, KY next May.
- Roadeo judge’s breakfast orientation 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
- Roadeo competition 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM*
- BBQ Lunch 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- VIP Golf Cart Rodeo 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM*
- Award Ceremony 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM*
*Exact time depends on the number of Roadeo competitors
Car Show
All King County employees, their families and friends are invited to show off their antique, classic or special interest cars, trucks, motorcycles or any other vehicle at the 30th Annual King County Employees Car Show sponsored by the Metro Employees Historic Vehicle Association (MEHVA).
Great prizes and giveaways will be awarded. Registration is free.
- Registration 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Car Show 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Awards ceremony 1:30 PM
For more information e-mail info@mehva.org or call the MEHVA hotline at 206-477-0460.
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30th Annual King County Employees Car Show June 16
The Metro Employees Historic Vehicle Association is sponsoring the 30th Annual King County Employees Car Show in conjunction with the 42nd King County Metro Transit Metroadeo on Saturday, June 16 at the Metro Transit Safety and Training Center, 11911 East Marginal Way South, Tukwila. All King County employees, their families and friends are invited to show off their antique, classic or special-interest vehicles. There will be great prizes and giveaways, registration is free and begins at 9 a.m. The event begins at 10 a.m. and concludes with an awards ceremony at 1:30 p.m.
For more information, e-mail info@mehva.org or call 206-477-0460.
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Kudos! to Medic One
Puget Sound Fire gave a great Thank You to Public Health’s Medic One on Twitter during National EMS Week “for being the best and setting the standard for emergency medical care.” Thank you Puget Sound Fire, and thank you Medic One!
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Tech Tip: How to submit the perfect KCIT help ticket
KCIT’s Help Desk team spends a lot of time figuring out help tickets and getting in touch with the employees who need support to do their best work.
In case you missed it, this 2:30 video shows you exactly what KCIT needs to process your help ticket and fix your problem as quickly as possible. Whether you submit by phone, email, or through the self-service center, these tips make it easier to help you.
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King County wins lawsuit, blocks federal government from terminating science-based teen pregnancy prevention program
King County won an important victory in U.S. District Court after demonstrating that the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) acted unlawfully in abruptly cancelling its Teen Pregnancy Prevention grants two years early.
“We sued the federal government because they are attempting to eliminate funding for programs based on science and evidence in favor of right-wing ideology that is out of touch with reality,” said Executive Constantine. “We stood up for our youth and for teachers who depend on the FLASH curriculum, one of the most respected sexual health education programs in the nation.”
Read more in the official press release.
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RASKC employee secures ASPCA grant to help cats
Records and Licensing Services’ Nickie Ford, Animal Services Coordinator with RASKC, did the due diligence and good work necessary to gain approval for a grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals worth $6,700. The grant will cover the cost of retrofitting stainless steel kennels with portals, joining adjacent kennels and creating multi-room “kitty condos” similar to those recently purchased through a Petco Foundation grant.
The ASPCA grant will cover the cost of 50 portals installed, and the installation should be complete by the end of summer. The cats will then have more room to move around, experience less stress, be happier and get adopted more quickly!
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Educating the community about restoring felon voting rights
Crossposted from Election Connection
It’s important for voters to make their voice heard. Here in Washington State we take extra steps to ensure that all people who can vote, know they have the right to do so. This extends to felon voting rights, and helping each person understand their right to vote and need to register.
Recently, a woman in Texas made headlines for voting in a general election while still on probation. She had broken a state law that does not allow convicted felons to vote until their entire sentence has been served. Unaware of these voting restrictions under Texas law, she was sentenced to five years.
This tragic story is a reminder of the importance of voter education. In Washington State, a voter’s right is automatically restored when they are no longer under the authority of the Department of Corrections (DOC). This also means someone convicted of a felony in another state or federal court has the right to vote restored to them when they are no longer incarcerated for that felony. These individuals simply need to re-register to vote, which can be done online, by mail or in person. If this woman had been here in Washington, she would have been informed that her right to vote has been reinstated upon release from the DOC, and encouraged to re-register.
Read more at Election Connection,
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