“Read to Me” program allows incarcerated parents to read books to children through jail-library partnership
Crossposted from the DAJD newsletter
Every quarter, DAJD staff teams up with Seattle Public Library (SPL) to host a “Read to Me” workshop with people housed at King County Correctional Facility. Through this reoccurring program, residents attend three sessions with SPL’s librarians, ultimately resulting in a recorded story that is sent home to children, grandchildren, or other young relatives as a special keepsake.
“Our role as Children’s Services Librarians is to help parents and caregivers connect with their children through sharing stories and books, and to support parents as the most important teachers in their children’s lives,” said Seattle Public Librarian Lauren Mayer.
“This program is an extension of that philosophy, with the goal of reaching parents who are experiencing significant barriers to maintaining that positive and loving connection with their young children.” Read more.
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New, stronger batteries to boost King County Metro’s trolley bus fleet
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Electric trolleys are Metro’s original zero-emission fleet. Our 174 “trackless trolleys” are preparing to get a power boost that will increase their ability to travel farther off wire and prepare them for continued service to the region.
Kiepe Electric and Metro have reached a $26 million agreement for Kiepe to supply new, improved battery packs for our trolley fleet. Metro’s current fleet of 174 trolley buses went into service in 2015 through 2017. The fleet had off wire capabilities that were state of the art for the time, allowing buses to detour around incidents and construction for short distances. Read more.
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King County GIS Center wins national award
The King County GIS Center was honored to be awarded the 2024 URISA Exemplary Systems in Government: Single Process Distinguished System award for our new Aerial Imagery Program interactive web application. The GIS Center has been acquiring high-resolution aerial imagery since 1998 and administers a cost-sharing program to make imagery available to local jurisdictions, reducing the costs for everyone in the process.
Before the launch of this new application, managing each imagery order required manual coordination including multiple email chains, pdf documents, shapefiles, and spreadsheets. It was easy for things to get lost or steps to get missed, and jurisdictions were in the dark about the status of their orders. Now, the application provides a landing page with information about the program, the status of each biennial imagery acquisition, and cost-estimates that allow each jurisdiction to budget ahead. Read more.
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Reminder of Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment and Inappropriate Conduct Policy
King County is committed to a respectful, productive, inclusive, and equitable workplace, and the Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment and Inappropriate Conduct Policy for Executive Branch employees sets out our expectations in the workplace as well as the conduct and behaviors that will not be tolerated. It also outlines how to report incidents, all employees’ responsibilities, and the consequences of non-compliance.
If you haven’t read the policy or want to refamiliarize yourself with it, you can find it here. There is also our Harassment Prevention for Employees training, which explains the policy, roles and responsibilities, prohibited behaviors, and more. You can find your completed trainings in your KCeLearning NEOGOV Learn Dashboard by clicking on Training and then View Course Transcript. If you still need to complete the training you will find a direct link to the course under your Tasks.
For Metro employees, a Metro-specific version of the Harassment Prevention for Employees training called “The Way We Work Together” is available. Metro’s Leadership will share more information on this training with Metro staff.
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Records Management reminder: Make good records in the first place
A significant part of records management is what records we decide to create in the first place. Making good records to begin with is essential; we will have less bulk to manage, and those records will be easier to locate over time.
Some general tips include:
- Avoid sending unnecessary emails (use Teams chat or phone calls for messages that do not need to be documented)
- Avoiding saving unnecessary copies (use links or shortcuts to existing records, rather than saving your own copies)
- Use descriptive titles and naming conventions (avoid vague and general words)
- Where possible, ensure the records are accessible to others
For more information, visit the county’s Records Management Program website or contact them at records.management@kingcounty.gov. The Records Management Program, in the Department of Executive Services, provides guidance, resources, and training to all King County employees to assist them with managing King County’s public records according to state and local legal requirements and best practices.
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Weigh in on Metro’s final draft of our ADA Transition Plan
Crossposted from Metro Matters
We invite you to comment on the final draft of our Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan by Jan. 10.
Mobility is a route to opportunity, connecting people to their jobs, schools, services, and other important places. People with disabilities face many barriers as they try to get around King County. For example, we know that a higher percentage of people with disabilities rely on public transit for commuting compared to others. Our mission is to provide safe, reliable and equitable public transportation to everyone. That is why, since 2023, we have been developing a plan under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to guide us in making our services more accessible, enabling everyone in King County to ride Metro. Read more.
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Eligible PERS 2 members can switch to PERS 3 in January
Each January, certain members of Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) Plan 2 have the opportunity to make a permanent transfer to PERS Plan 3. If you are an active PERS Plan 2 member who began service before Sept. 1, 2002, and you will earn service credit in January, you are eligible to transfer to Plan 3.
Use the resources on the Department of Retirement Systems website to help you decide if transferring to Plan 3 is right for you. To transfer from Plan 2 to Plan 3, complete a Member Transfer form and return it by Jan. 31, 2025 to:
- King County Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations, 401 Fifth Avenue, CNK-HR-0230, Seattle, WA 98104
- kc.benefits@kingcounty.gov
If you transfer to PERS Plan 3, you should see the change on your pay advice in February 2024.
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Join the King County Deferred Compensation Plan Board
Are you a King County employee interested in financial planning or investing and are eager to learn more? Looking for a chance to grow your leadership skills while supporting your fellow King County employees? Consider joining the King County Deferred Compensation Plan Board!
The Deferred Compensation Plan helps employees save for retirement through automatic pre-tax and post-tax contributions. It is governed by a nine-member board that is seeking three new members: Two current King County employees and one King County retiree.
As a board member, you will:
- Spend approximately three hours per month in board meetings plus additional time for ad hoc committees. Meetings typically held on Teams and in the Chinook building.
- Serve a three-year term, with some exceptions.
- Monitor fund performance, ensure effective and inclusive communication, make decisions on Plan policy and design, and ensure compliance with King County’s Strategic Plan for Equity and Social Justice.
- Attend conferences in other cities.
You could be an excellent board member if:
- You participate in the King County Deferred Compensation Plan.
- You’re interested in personal finance and investing.
- You’re experienced in a variety of work environments, especially frontline and direct service, and have access to phone or video conferencing.
- You’re committed to King County’s Equity and Social Justice initiative.
- You’re comfortable representing the interests of Plan participants and are willing to engage with fellow employees about the Deferred Compensation Plan.
Interested? Apply by Jan. 31, 2025
Join us to make a positive impact on the financial futures of King County employees. For more information and an application, contact plan administrators at 206-263-9250 or KC Deferred Comp. Note: You may need written authorization from your supervisor for participation and inclusion in your individual development plan
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Behind the scenes at the CCFJC’s Alternatives to Secure Detention
Crossposted from the DAJD newsletter
If you’ve ever visited the Juvenile Division at the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center (CCFJC), you’ve probably overheard the many phone calls made by Alternatives to Secure Detention (ASD) staff, reminding youth on Electronic Home Monitoring about upcoming court dates and the need to charge their ankle bracelets.
However, ASD’s role stems far beyond just these friendly reminders. It is a complex system that requires an enormous amount of attention to detail, a deep understanding of the juvenile court system, a ton of patience and grace, conflict resolution skills, and much, much more. Read more.
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Dr. Gene Mueller retires after 12 years at Regional Animal Services of King County
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
Dr. Gene Mueller, manager of Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC), is retiring after 12 years at the helm. His retirement was Dec. 6, 2024.
“Regional Animal Services wouldn’t be the model of caring, compassionate animal care it is today without Gene’s leadership,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “As he heads into a well-deserved retirement, Gene leaves RASKC in great shape for the future.”
“I’d like to thank Executive Constantine, our staff and volunteers, and our whole community for trusting me to lead RASKC for the last 12 years,” said Dr. Mueller. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people and pets of King County. Read more.
Employee News 