New employee parking discount process at Goat Hill garage

Crossposted from the DES Express The process to obtain an employee daily parking discount at the Goat Hill Garage has changed. Employees are no longer required to scan badges at the P1 pay station to receive a discount. Instead, follow the steps below to receive an automatically discounted ticket. Step 1: Upon entering the garage, scan your employee badge at the reader located to the left of the ticket dispenser. Read more.

King County purchases property for new animal shelter

Crossposted from the DES Express King County has purchased a building that will be the new animal shelter and headquarters for Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC). The facility, located at 5920 S 194th St. in Kent, is slated to open in 2027 and will replace the current aging pet adoption center. The new location will have an improved, more efficient layout, allowing RASKC to continue implementing modern animal shelter best practices. It will also improve the pet adoption experience with upgraded kennel spaces and more room for meeting potential new… Read More

Heads up: Major I-5 lane closures start July 18 — plan now!

Crossposted from Metro Matters Summer is here — and so is roadwork season, and Seattle has a doozy of a project coming. Starting Friday, July 18, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will begin major Revive I-5 repair work on the northbound Ship Canal Bridge, and that means two northbound lanes of the freeway will be closed for up to four weeks. Yes, it’s a big deal. Yes, it’s going to impact your summer travels. But with a little planning and the right tools, you can ease the traffic blues. WSDOT’s project aims to… Read More

Balanced You Conversations: Danielle Smith

Balanced You Conversations is a series of talks about important topics related to overall health and well-being. Karla Clark, Employee Health & Wellness Project/Program Manager III with the Balanced You team, sits down with Danielle Smith, Senior Client Manager for Delta Dental of Washington. They discuss why having a dentist is important, what dental insurance covers, and what to do if you’re feeling worried because you haven’t seen a dentist in a while. “Many people feel hesitant. What I’d say is just start with a conversation. Dentists are trained to work with… Read More

Take care working outdoors during hot weather

Hot weather is forecast for the next few days in our region, and a Heat Advisory will be in effect for King County from noon Tuesday to 10 p.m. Wednesday. As some of our work needs to be performed outdoors, we want to ensure that employees and supervisors take care of themselves and one another as temperatures rise.  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… Read More

King County Security Tips – HTTPS The ‘S’ stands for Secure

If you have ever signed in to a website such as Facebook or Amazon, you will notice that on the login page, the URL will change from ‘http’ to ‘https’. What that little ‘s’ stands for is secure. It means that your web browser and the website have both agreed to communicate securely so that no other individuals will be able to ‘listen in’ on your conversation. If you needed to communicate some sensitive information such as a password to someone else, you would not shout out in the open ‘HERE IS… Read More

Exclusive savings through TicketsatWork, cruise into summer

King County employees get access to exclusive discounts and deals through ticketsatwork.com. Cruise into summer. Receive up to $1,000 in onboard credit on top cruise lines like Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, and more. Use your perks for dining, excursions, and onboard experiences. Learn more here. TicketsatWork is updated daily with seasonal offers and exclusive savings on everything from home entertainment to your everyday needs. Visit ticketsatwork.com/tickets and use the company code KingCounty to begin receiving discounts and extra special offers on your go-to brands and most-loved experiences, including brand new offers… Read More

ATU Local 587 and Metro put safety first as Task Force reconvenes

Crossposted from Metro Matters Since the historic inaugural meeting of the King County Regional Transit Safety Task Force on March 20, participants from across behavioral health, community, government, labor, law enforcement, public health, safety and transit have been hard at work. As our large group of more than 100 people reconvenes on July 9, we are eager to advance a structured framework for action. Informed by data and stakeholder experience, our action plan will draw from more than 150 solutions distilled into eight strategic themes: Built Environment & Safety Design; Care-Based Safety… Read More

One year later, West Point’s battery system proves its power

One year after activating the first-of-its-kind battery power system at West Point Treatment Plant, operators say it’s exceeded expectations — keeping critical systems online during 78 power disruptions and protecting Puget Sound from potential overflows. The onsite battery power system – which has won multiple engineering awards – kept critical pumps operating during 78 power disruptions, preventing untreated wastewater from being discharged into Puget Sound. There were 15 instances when pumps were powered exclusively by the 2,000 batteries housed in a new 24,000-square-foot structure. It is among dozens of improvements we’ve made… Read More

Ask the Tox Doc: How can I protect myself from harmful chemicals?

Crossposted from Public Health Insider We come in contact with a lot of chemicals in our daily lives, including the products we use to shower, the food we eat, and the air we breathe during our commutes. Not all chemicals are bad for people, but some can seriously hurt our health. Things like lead, formaldehyde, PFAS, and phthalates have health impacts ranging from allergic reactions and cancer to harm to brain development and the reproductive system. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by this, but there are many things that people can do individually, at… Read More