2017 State of the County address
Dear fellow King County employee,
King County Executive Dow Constantine
In our work together, we are continuing to reinvent how King County does business. We call it Best Run Government, a mindset that embraces innovation, continuous improvement and teamwork to take on challenges, big and small, in our communities.
Along the way we’ve been winning national recognition and the support of our residents for our ideas.
That support led to the success of Sound Transit 3, which will allow us to build on the successes of our transit system – including Metro’s RapidRide network and ORCA LIFT passes for residents with low incomes – to create a truly regional high capacity transit system.
That support led to the Best Starts for Kids initiative, which will help us ensure that every baby born in King County, every child raised here, has a strong start in life.
We are bringing our Best Starts mindset – that we can make the greatest difference in a young person’s life by investing early – to the issue of young people involved in the criminal justice system.
Today, in my 2017 State of the County address, I announced plans for two community-based reception centers – “Safe Spaces” – where young people who have committed less serious crimes, or who are otherwise in crisis, can come to seek help getting their lives back on track, find a safe place to stay, and get connected to housing, education and training.
I also announced that we will build on the excellent work we are doing to support our military veterans through renewal of the Veterans and Human Services Levy, which expires at the end of the year. I will soon announce plans for an expanded levy that will enable us to do even more to repay our veterans for their service to our country, and to ensure our residents age in good health and with strong community connections.
And I reaffirmed King County’s place as a welcoming community for all, no matter a person’s race, religion, economic means, or country of origin, at a time when our freedoms and values are under attack.
You can watch the full video of today’s speech at the Auburn Community and Events Center here, and read more about my proposals here.
I look forward to sharing more about these new proposals with you in the coming weeks and continuing our work together to serve the people of King County.
Sincerely,
Dow Constantine
King County Executive
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Kudos to Career Support Services for helping employees manage careers and improve skills!
Career Support Services offers a variety of services, training and resources to King County employees in the areas of career development and job search, including support for career-service employees facing layoff. It has received rave reviews from employees who spoke with a career coach about their career plan, and also by employees going through layoffs. Employees from around the County have shared:
“This is an excellent resource, I plan on utilizing more of the services offered as well as letting my co-workers know.” –Department of Transportation
“Very helpful, thank you for this service to employees. I think it is important to help employees improve themselves. It is a benefit to the employee and to the County!’ – KC Information Technology
“I’ve received excellent assistance from Career Services staff and finding a job sooner than I thought. Very caring staff.” – Department of Public Health
For more information about the program and to make an appointment to speak with a Career Support Service staff member, visit the website.
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Social Media Spotlight: Department of Natural Resources and Parks Twitter
Check out news and information from King County Natural Resources and Parks.
Follow King County DNRP on Twitter today!
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
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New naming conventions at King County
King County is changing the way new employees access King County systems. We have changed the login standards for various email-based systems to move toward a single, universal sign on. A single, universal sign on is simpler to remember, easier to automate new account creation and increases the county’s ability to protect against phishing, scams and other cyberthreats.
What will it look like? Whether you sign into your PC or email, it will be first letter of first name plus last name. For Juan Hernandez it will be: jhernandez to sign into the PC, laptop, all work stations, and eventually PeopleSoft and the email is jhernandez@kingcounty.gov. It will NOT be Hernandezj or HernanJ or any other combination. Simply jhernandez.
Does this affect all employees? This only affects new employees. Current employees will continue to use the existing naming conventions for the time being.
Standard and Exceptions – There will be exceptions, of course, for employees who use an alternate name to their first legal name, or duplicate names. We have a process in place for these exceptions.
Why are you telling me this? This affects how people contact you and the email on new business cards. Employees who joined the county Feb. 1, 2017 and after have the new naming standard.
Questions? Contact Jamie Holter (old employee) at Jamie.holter@kingcounty.gov
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Tech Tip: Skype Bites: How to get Skype for Business into your Outlook and Calendar Ribbon
Lots of people email me, Jamie Holter, and say, “I can’t even get Skype on my computer! Your Skype bites are of no use to me!!” Well, here’s how to do it in 30 seconds.. well… 39 seconds.
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Employee discounts to Washington State Spring Fair
Employees can get discounts to the 2017 Washington State Spring Fair. Single gate tickets prices are: Adult $9.50 (usually $12), Student (Ages 6-18) $7.50 (usually $10), Kids (Ages 5 & under) ALWAYS FREE! The Spring Fair runs April 20-23 in Puyallup. To purchase tickets, visit thefair.com/corporate, click the “Buy Tickets” button, and enter access password king17. Discounted tickets are available through April 20 only at thefair.com/corporate. Learn more.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount Program webpage.
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CPR classes available this spring
King County employees are welcome to sign up for available CPR classes. Dates for March-July classes are as follows:
Basic Heartsaver CPR/AED Training (Open to all King County employees), Register at http://kccpr.eventbrite.com
- Thursday, March 23, 2017- 11:30 a.m.- 2:30 pm, Chinook Bldg., Room 126
- Monday, April 12, 2017- 9am-12 pm, KC Elections, Renton
- Monday, April 12, 2017- 12:30-3:30, KC Elections, Renton
- Tuesday, May 23, 2017- 11:30-2:30, Chinook Bldg, Room 115
- Thursday, June 22, 2017- 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Chinook Bldg, Room 126
- Wednesday, July 26, 2017 11:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., Chinook Bldg, Room 126
Refresher Heartsaver CPR/AED Training (Open to all King county employees) Register at http://kccpr.eventbrite.com
- Thursday, March 23, 2017- 9 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. Chinook Bldg., Room 126
- Tuesday, May 23, 2017- 9 a.m.- 11:00 a.m., Chinook Bldg, Room 115
- Thursday, June 22, 2017-1:30 pm.-3:30 p.m, Chinook Bldg, Room 126
- Wednesday, July 26, 2017- 9:00 a.m.- 11 a.m., Chinook Bldg, room 126
BLS CPR (Healthcare Provider) Training (Open only to Public Health Certificated staff) Register at http://kcbls.eventbrite.com
- Tuesday, April 25, 2017- 1 p.m.- 4 p.m., Chinook Bldg., Room 126
- Monday, June 8, 2017- 11 a.m.- 2:00 p.m., Chinook Bldg, Room 115
- Thursday, July 13, 2017- 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 pm, Chinook Bldg, Room 126
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Nominations needed for Administrative Professionals Day, April 26
The Administrative Professionals Recognition Program is seeking nominations to recognize employees who embody the attributes of excellence and innovation. For information about eligibility and to nominate an employee before Wednesday, April 26, visit the Administrative Professionals Program website.
Also, save the date for the upcoming celebration to honor this year’s award recipients to be held Wednesday, April 26, 2017, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at King Street Center, 8th Floor Conference Center. If you would like more information about this event, contact Paige Myers at 206-477-4551 or paige.myers@kingcounty.gov.
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The story behind MV Sally Fox’s cribbage boards
Crossposted from the Captain’s Blog
Mike Sudduth, left, plays a game of cribbage with Richard Franklin, right, as another game of cribbage takes place at the table next to them aboard the MV Sally Fox. Sudduth donated the specially inscribed boards as a way to honor his friend, Sally Fox, who was an advocate for passenger-only ferry service to Vashon Island and the vessel’s namesake. King County photo by Ned Ahrens.
Regulars on King County Water Taxi’s Vashon Island route know them well: glossy wooden cribbage boards stationed at one of four seating areas in the lower passenger deck of the MV Sally Fox.
On almost every run, enthusiasts of the popular card-and-board game can be seen huddled around one of these game boards, studying their cards, positioning their pegs and hoping for a coveted hand of 29.
Seasoned cribbage players such as Mike Sudduth know the game’s lingo inside and out. After all, the Management Services Analyst for King County Metro and Vashon Island native started the island’s first sanctioned cribbage club in 2006.
Read more at the Captain’s Blog
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The changing face of Capital Project Management
Crossposted from Clean Water Stories
King County Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) is facing the same workforce challenges that confront many clean water utilities across the United States. Hard working senior employees throughout our organization are retiring. We need to recruit new employees and help them onboard to a career protecting public health and our environment.
The passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972 sparked the beginning of many wastewater careers. A costly and damaging fire on the Cuyahoga River in Ohio triggered an amendment of the 1948 Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The amendment, known as the Clean Water Act, included requirements and construction grants to build treatment facilities across the United States. Even after construction grants were phased out in 1987, wastewater systems continue to be expanded and upgraded to serve growing populations of people increasingly aware of environmental issues.
Many of WTD’s most experienced people- about 45% of our workforce- began their careers during the height of that infrastructure boom and are eligible for retirement within the next five years.
Read more at Clean Water Stories
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