After 25 years of work, a geomorphologist has a deep understanding of how rivers change
Crossposted from The Downstream Blog
Terry Butler, a fluvial geomorphologist with King County’s Water and Land Resources Division, tracks ever-changing river conditions.
For a quarter of a century, Terry Butler has been observing the way rivers course through King County.
He has seen some, like the Tolt, transform overnight, when an avulsion – the rapid abandonment of a river channel to create a new one – has occurred. He has seen others migrate gradually, moving laterally across a basin over the course of years. He has watched side channels become main channels, witnessed erosion and sedimentation and has seen the dramatic changes a landslide can trigger.
“That’s why my work has been endlessly fascinating,” he said. “Rivers are dynamic. They’re prone to change. And yet people generally live near rivers and construct things near rivers. We’re drawn to rivers. And that can create problems.”
Read more at The Downstream Blog
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April is Records Management Month
Every day, King County generates thousands of records. Keeping track of all this information, and making sure it’s accessible, is a monumental task. Records can be in any format: paper, electronic, audio/video recordings, photographs, magnetic, microfilm, and more – and each has unique storage needs. In addition, depending on the content of the record, it may need to be retained for a few years – or in perpetuity.
King County is celebrating April as Records Management Month. This celebration, established in 2002 by ARMA International, a not-for-profit professional association for records managers and administrators, promotes best practices in records and information management.
Read more link
As King County employees, each of us has a duty to properly manage our records. Your four records management responsibilities are to:
- Create records needed to document your work
- Maintain your records so they can be easily retrieved
- Retain your records for the legally required amount of time
- Protect your records from destruction during litigation, active public records requests, audit or investigation.
The professionals of the King County Records Management Program, part of the Department of Executive Services (DES), are here to help you manage your public records throughout their life cycle. They also provide tools for electronic and physical record management, and conduct training on various records management topics.
Think you already know all there is to know about records management? Test your knowledge by taking this short quiz!
This year’s Records Management Month Theme is “Be a Records Management Superhero.” Unlock your records management superpowers by participating in some of outreach activities hosted by the Records Management Program this month.
For more information about the King County Records Management program, or about Records Management Month, visit our website. You can also email records.management@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-6889.
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Another successful year for King County’s Annual Transition Resource Fairs
Shared from the DCHS Touching Base Newsletter
Attendees had the opportunity to meet employment providers to learn about their services and supports for School-to-Work students.
The Department of Community and Humans Services’ Developmental Disabilities Division (DDD) sponsored its 10th Annual Transition Resource Fairs on March 11 and March 14 this year. With growing turnout each year, the popular fairs provide information for youth with developmental disabilities and their families to help them prepare for the student’s successful transition from high school to adult living.
The Transition Resource Fairs took place on March 11 at Highline College and March 14 at Microsoft, drawing more than 1,650 people out to the two events! This was the fourth year that Microsoft generously provided facilities, onsite coordination, an employer session and volunteer support for the event held on their campus.
The day-long fairs featured more than 40 organizations including King County School-to-Work Program, King County supported employment vendors, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and community and technical colleges.
The fairs included 12 one-hour sessions for families, students and educators with key information needed for students to successfully transition past school with the support they need to get and keep a job. Topics included:
- An orientation on the School-to-Work Program
- Eligibility and services offered by the State of Washington’s Developmental Disabilities Administration and Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Guardianship
- Estate planning
- Special needs trusts
- Housing
- Building expectations of employment.
Richard Wilson provides a School-to-Work orientation, explaining what the program is, how and when to enroll and what to expect from the program.
Additional outreach was provided this year in 13 languages and DDD received 16 interpreter requests. These were supported by Open Doors for Multicultural Families in Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Somali, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, Bengali, Khmer, Cantonese, Mandarin and Vietnamese.
Big kudos to Richard Wilson and Emily Hart, our School-to-Work Program Coordinators, for organizing another series of successful Annual Transition Resource Fairs, and to the rest of the DDD staff who supported the fairs.
To learn more about what DCHS is doing in our community, read the most recent issue of the Touching Base Newsletter (on SharePoint).
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New philosophy makes animal adoptions more successful
Regional Animal Services of King County has just adopted a new philosophy, along with several new policies and procedures, as part of the Humane Society’s Adopters Welcome program.
“This new program is challenging us to be more open-minded about adoptions,” said Nickie Ford, RASKC Animal Services Coordinator. “It has really made us take a step back and realize that on the whole, people love their animals and want to do the right thing.”
Adopters Welcome is a Humane Society of the United States philosophy that embraces community members, encourages them to adopt, and helps them and their pets succeed.
This program helps animals (and their prospective humans) by removing unnecessary barriers to their adoption. All of RASKC’s adoptable animals are color-coded as either Easy Going Green, Bashful Blue, or Rambunctious Red to provide guidance to those considering adoption.
“We want to make sure that adopters see us as a resource,” said Nickie. “We want them to feel comfortable being open and honest with us, and we want to help them in whatever way we can.”
Nearly nine of every 10 cats and dogs who come into the County’s care find a safe home. RASKC hopes the new Adopters Welcome philosophy will make these adoptions even more successful.
An example of how our best-run government is integrating the Adopters Welcome philosophy is illustrated in the following cat meet-and-greet improvements:
- Customers do not need to fill out an application first in order to meet with cats.
- Meet-and -greet volunteers and customers no longer need to wear gowns & gloves or wash hands between cats. (Please always make sure to visit with kittens first and sick cats last!)
- Adopters will receive a refund if they return their animal within 90 days of adoption.
- Signs about the new RASKC adoption colors have been posted in the volunteer room.
- New adoption policies: No landlord checks required, No specific child restrictions, Customers can adopt an animal as a gift.
“We hope that these changes will help us to increase adoptions and improve our relationship with the community,” added Nickie.
There are adoption fees, but the fees cover everything necessary for a great start in a new home:
- King County pet license (if applicable)
- Microchipping (for cats and dogs)
- Spay / neuter surgery
- 30-day trial pet health insurance coverage from Trupanion
- Initial vaccinations (including rabies if pet is over four months old)
- Veterinary health exam
- Collar
- Carrier (for cats)
- Leash (for dogs)
The adoption fees for cats is $30 for those six months of age and older, and $100 for kittens (younger than six months). For dogs, the fees range between $100 and $250.
King County’s adoption centers are located in Kent and Kirkland. The County also partners with the Covington Petco, Seattle Meowtropolitan, Reber Ranch, The Whole Cat and Kaboodle, and the Tukwila Petco. You can also view pet profiles online.
When Executive Constantine decided that King County would maintain regional animal services, he set the goal of making it one of the best agencies of its kind. The County’s save rate increased nearly 50 percent between 2006 and 2015, from 60 percent to a record-high 88 percent. Sharing the Executive’s concern for past performance, advocacy organizations continue to be part of the County’s solutions.
The County’s Pre-adoption Application form is on the RASKC web site. If you have questions about Adopters Welcome, reach out to Animal Services Coordinator Nickie Ford. For general questions, call the pet information line at 206-296-7387, or email Pets@KingCounty.gov, AdoptaPet@KingCounty.gov or PetLicense@KingCounty.gov.
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Featured Job: Diversity and Equity & Social Justice Intern
Closing Date/Time: Wed. 04/12/17 4:30 PM Pacific Time
Salary: $16.07 – $20.37 Hourly, $1,285.60 – $1,629.60 Biweekly
Job Type: Intern
Location: King County Administration Building – 500 4th Ave, Seattle, Washington
Department: Department of Executive Services – Human Resources Division
Description: King County Human Resources has a fantastic summer opportunity for a college student who has an interest in diversity, inclusion, equity & social justice and working in government. This intern will participate and assist the Department’s Workforce Equity Manager with key initiatives.
The County has a strong commitment to equity and social justice, continuous improvement, service excellence, healthy employees, and teamwork and collaboration. The selected intern will learn new skills and contribute to new and existing efforts that support these values and the County’s objectives.
Learn more about this position or view all available jobs.
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Social Media Spotlight: King County Council Twitter
Updates and news from the Metropolitan King County Council.
Follow King County Council on Twitter today!
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
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Tech Tip: Skype Bites: How to forward your phone using Skype for Business
No one can be at their desk 24/7/365. Skype for Business allows you to forward your calls to many places including your personal cell, an individual or an entire call group. Learn how in 94 seconds.
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Public Health Lunch and Learn April 5: Lead Poisoning in King County – Is this an issue?
As we celebrate National Public Health week let’s look back as what some describe as one of the biggest public health success stories – childhood lead poisoning. Come learn more about lead and current lead issues in King County with discussion of approaches to prevent and reduce lead exposure. This free event will feature trainers Dr. Kyle Yasuda and Nicole Thomsen and does not require attendees to register.
Wednesday, April 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Chinook Rooms 121-123
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Rev Up For Retirement seminar, May 1
With increased concern over the future of Social Security and the stability of retirement plans, you’re never too young (or too old!) to prepare.
Bring a sack lunch and hear what the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington, the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors and the Social Security Administration have to say about planning, PERS, Medicare, and Social Security.
Monday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eighth Floor Conference Hall, King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St., Seattle
Registration is required. Due to space limitations, only county employees may attend. To register, please e-mail KC.Orientations@kingcounty.gov.
Employee News 