Thank you for participating in the 2026 Better Government: Customer Focus survey
The Better Government: Customer Focus survey closed last Friday, and we want to thank all employees for participating in this important initiative.
More than a quarter of employees – 27 percent – offered their feedback, which will help the county improve service to our community. Hearing from employees about what is working well and where improvements are needed will help us ensure we meet our customers’ needs effectively.
Now the results and feedback are being compiled, reviewed, and analyzed, with final reporting to leadership and employees starting in July, followed by recommendations for incorporating insights into existing action planning.
Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey. Your feedback is essential, and we are committed to listening and acting on what you share so we can better support you in delivering excellent service to our community.
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Metro’s Matthew Green receives National ‘40 Under 40’ recognition for emergency management excellence
Crossposted from Metro Matters
Congratulations to King County Metro’s Emergency Management Administrator Matthew Green who was recently honored with the Top 40 Under 40 award by the International Association for Emergency Management (IAEM-USA).
The IAEM-USA Top 40 under 40 is a recognition given to individuals under age 40 for their outstanding leadership and notable contributions to the emergency management profession. This honor is a symbol of excellence and a testament to the achievements and hard work of the next generation of emergency management professionals.
At Metro, emergency management is an essential function to keeping the community safe. As Emergency Management Administrator, Green focuses on emergency and continuity planning and founded and chairs the department-wide Emergency Management Steering Committee, the place where leaders across Metro collaborate on emergency management and continuity solutions. Read more.
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Sharing my first 2026 State of the County address with all of you
On Wednesday, June 10, I delivered my first State of the County address in front of a crowd of over 500 attendees including King County Council, King County department leaders and employees, local elected officials and residents at the Federal Way Performing Arts Center. My goal with this first address was to talk about some of what this administration has been working on, my goals for the future and my commitment to the work ahead with each of you.
We are living through a period of tremendous change in King County where we find ourselves facing and making generational decisions about the future of our transit system, our homelessness response, our climate resilience, our health care infrastructure, and the affordability of our region.
I was very proud to share all of the incredible work that I see each of you do each day to step up and meet this moment in time. Together we have expanded housing and behavioral health services, strengthened accountability in government, advanced transit investments, and protected some of our most vulnerable communities in the face of federal threats. Read more.
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King County Executive and Council honor Juneteenth
Executive Zahilay and the King County Council jointly proclaim Friday, June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth in King County.
Together, they share how “Juneteenth is an important opportunity to reflect on the progress, achievements, and contributions African Americans have made and continue to make, and an occasion to look forward to the work that remains to reach full economic and social equity for the descendants of enslaved African Americans.”
June 19, 2026 also marks the 161st anniversary of Juneteenth, which continues to be a profound symbol of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey towards justice.
Read the full proclamation here.
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Free admission to Emerald Downs on Sunday, July 19
King County employees can get free admission to King County Day at Emerald Downs on Sunday, July 19.
Employees may attend for free on Sunday, July 19, by bringing their King County badge, displaying their King County email inbox on their phone, or displaying any other generally accepted proof of employment. Employees may bring up to nine members of their family (10 total free tickets).
Tickets will be available for pick-up on Sunday, July 19, in front of the general admission gates from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Emerald Downs’ address is 2300 Ron Crockett Dr, Auburn, WA 98001 and more information about the track can be found at emeralddowns.com.
See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
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Get Movin’ with Balanced You with the new summer schedule
The new summer schedule of Get Movin’ is designed to help employees shake off the workday stiffness and bring a little sunshine into your routine. It is a low-pressure way to feel better and move more. Classes are for all levels, from beginner to advanced. No special gear is needed and the sessions are all body-weight movement.
Check out the summer Get Movin’ schedule here.
Supervisors: Here is a printer-friendly PDF of the Get Movin’ summer schedule to post at your worksites for employees who do not have access to email.
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Back-to-back Emmy awards, this time for short science documentary
A video showing how our scientists discovered a potential breakthrough for treating a toxic tire chemical that is killing coho salmon won the award for best short-form environment/science documentary at the 63rd Annual Northwest Regional Emmy Awards gala.
Multimedia Specialists Ken Christensen and Eric Keto used a toy truck and mason jars filled with organic ingredients to show how a high-performing soil mixture has proven effective in lab tests at treating a toxic chemical, known as 6PPDQ, that is killing coho salmon before they reach their spawning grounds. Read more.
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Management team donates time to Food Lifeline
Crossposted from the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention Employee Newsletter
Ten people from Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention’s (DAJD) Senior Management Team spent a recent Friday volunteering at Food Lifeline in Seattle’s South Park neighborhood.
During a two-hour morning session on May 29, the team boxed 10,000 pounds of cabbage, then returned for an afternoon shift to bag 2,000 pounds of dried black beans.
The team performed this day of service as part of DAJD’s commitment to Employee Giving. Senior management hopes the volunteer work will encourage other employees and workgroups to donate their time and talents throughout the year, including the annual Employee Giving Campaign this fall. As a department with limited public exposure, the volunteer opportunity allowed DAJD to further Executive Zahilay’s “Be in Community” policy goal — making King County government more visible, connected, and community-driven.
Food Lifeline’s mission is “to feed people experiencing hunger today and while working to end hunger tomorrow.” The nonprofit accepts donations of bulk food and distributes it to more than 300 community partners in 14 western Washington counties, including food banks, shelters, and senior centers.
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Take care working outdoors during hot weather
With warm temperatures heading our way, employees and supervisors are reminded to take care of themselves and one another as temperatures rise.
There will be a gradual warming trend through Friday, with temperatures expected to warm further on Saturday, and peak Sunday and Monday.
Some of our work needs to be performed outdoors, and in extreme heat, Executive Branch departments should evaluate planned field work to determine if this work can be postponed to when temperatures are cooler, where possible. If work must be performed, departments should attempt to adapt schedules wherever possible so work can be performed in the morning.
Please see the following advice and tips to help stay safe in the heat. Note that this applies to Executive Branch employees, and employees in other branches of County government may receive additional guidance from their leaders.
For complete Department of Labor and Industries requirements, please refer to: F417-300-000 Permanent Changes to Outdoor Heat Exposure Rules. For more resources, visit the Be Heat Smart website. Read more.
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Seattle’s first FIFA World Cup match kicks off on Monday, June 15
The first of six FIFA Men’s World Cup 2026 matches at Lumen Field in Seattle (referred to as Seattle Stadium for the FIFA World Cup) between Belgium and Egypt kicks off at noon, Monday, June 15.
On game days, street closures will go into effect four hours before kickoff and stay in place until approximately two hours after the end of the match. There will be significant security and crowd-control measures in place around the stadium, with no on-site parking at the stadium.
Both King Street Center (KSC) and the Graybar Building are located within the secure road closure zone. It is recommended that employees who are scheduled to work in KSC and the Graybar Building on game days and have the option of working remotely, adjusting work schedules, or working at an alternative location should be given these options on game days. They must discuss these options beforehand with their supervisor and obtain their pre-approval. Approvals will be based on maintaining normal work operations and service delivery.
For employees working in other buildings in the downtown Seattle campus, please submit requests for schedule changes ahead of time to your supervisor. Supervisors will endeavor to be flexible with these requests while ensuring normal work operations and service delivery are maintained.
Get all your employee information on FIFA World Cup impacts, including scheduled matches in Seattle, road closures and restrictions, employee parking, County vehicle and motor pool parking, transportation resources, and more on our one-stop FIFA World Cup 2026 – Employee Resources intranet site.
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