Emergency evacuation training available for county-managed building tenants
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express If you work in person at a county site managed by the Facilities Management Division (FMD), even on a part time or hybrid schedule, you now have access to self-paced, online evacuation training. This is a shift from when each floor had “floor wardens” who were trained and assigned to help in emergencies. The change comes as a result of the county’s hybrid work environment. This expanded training ensures that the first capable person to access the floor warden kit during an emergency is able to act as… Read More
Griffin Creek flooded but now farms and fish return following completion of innovative project
From Keeping King County Green Heavy rainfall in 2019 and 2021 caused more than just water from Griffin Creek to surge over the banks and fan out across farmer Todd McKittrick’s fields. Sand, gravel, and rock swept across 15 acres of McKittrick’s fertile land along Griffin Creek, rendering the acreage unusable for farming. The torrent also left adult coho salmon returning to the creek’s spawning grounds stranded in a field amidst the debris and grass, with many of the fish dying before they could complete their journey. Projects such as Griffin Creek are… Read More
Federal Public Health Emergency ends May 11
President’s Biden’s administration has announced that the current federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 will be lifted on May 11, 2023. This means that King County’s obligations under the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) will also end as of that date. Currently the county is prohibited from discharging, replacing, or discriminating against high-risk employees for seeking accommodations or utilizing leave to limit their risk of exposure to Covid-19. Because of the improved conditions in the community which have led to the announcement of the lifting of the state of emergency, as… Read More
Guided by community voices, Michael Carter builds King County’s first Green Jobs Program
From Keeping King County Green As King County’s first Green Jobs Program Manager, Michael Carter knew his initial task would be to do a lot of listening. Working out of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks Director’s Office, Michael was asked to develop a countywide green jobs strategy – and that meant listening to the communities we serve, as well as partner employers and organizations. Read more.
Safety tip: Safe Commute Options
Our top priority is your safety and security at work, and we are continuing to partner with law enforcement, community, and other governments to ensure a safer, more welcoming environment in and around our facilities. King County offers employees a variety of Safe Commute Options to help you arrive to your destination with confidence. The Walkpool, Walking Bus, and Vanpool programs provided by the Employee Transportation Program are available for your benefit. Check out the Safe Commute Options video to learn more. Remember, in the case of an emergency call 9-1-1. To report a non-emergency… Read More
StormFest 2023 seeking volunteers
StormFest is an outdoor learning event with sixth and seventh grade Highline School District students using STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and stormwater lessons for hands-on learning. At this outdoor event, students learn about their local watershed, sources of pollution, and engineering solutions to prevent stormwater pollution. Volunteers gain experience in best practices for environmental education and interacting with students from a variety of cultures. Bilingual station educators and interpreters will be paid stipends. Eligible employees can use leave for volunteer hours. Applications close on May 8. Check out this past… Read More
Together, we must do more on climate change
Cross-posted from Keeping King County Green The world’s top scientists released their latest report on climate change this week, warning that the Earth is on pace for severe damage. The United Nations climate report is a clear call for more ambitious climate action to prevent the worst effects of climate change. While King County is leading the nation with solutions and has a strong foundation to rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions, together we must do more. The Department of Natural Resources and Parks is advancing King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan goal to cut countywide greenhouse gas emissions in… Read More
Have your say in upcoming ESJ Plan Refresh sessions
King County is refreshing the county’s Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) Strategic Plan, and you’re invited to share your ideas and experiences and help shape the plan. All Come Awareness Raising Sessions Participate in the All Come Awareness Raising Sessions and learn more about the current plan and future engagement opportunities. Join virtually for one of the following sessions: If you are unable to attend these sessions, they will be recorded and posted on the ESJ Strategic Plan Refresh Sharepoint website. Identity-based Affinity Spaces Any employee can opt-in to identity-based affinity spaces,… Read More
Ready for the next rainy season? The work to shore up clean water systems begins now
Cross-posted from Clean Water Stories It’s certainly not news that Western Washington is a wet place. That means a lot of water can flow into King County’s treatment plants on a daily, or even hourly basis. Rain doesn’t belong in the sewer, but it gets in there through cracks in sewer pipes or from drains on building roofs and foundations that are connected to the sewer system. In some parts of Seattle, sewer and stormwater systems are combined. And while the Wastewater Treatment Division is dealing with the rainy season, they’re also planning and strategizing for the work… Read More
Sprouting equity-driven ecology through education: One noxious weed at a time
From the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika Affinity Group “I have a passion for humans but always envisioned myself working with the natural world. This makes me feel like I can accomplish both” says Skye Pelliccia (she/her/ella), about her role as an Education Consultant for King County’s Noxious Weed Control Program. When speaking with Skye, who identifies as a mix of Thai, Native American, and Ashkenazi Jewish descent, her enthusiasm about noxious weeds, the ecosystem, and ways to apply an equitable lens to this field of work inspires one to learn how to protect… Read More
Employee News 