Animals and art: 4Culture helps RASKC plan for artwork at new facility
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC In early April, staff from Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) and the county’s Facilities Management Division (FMD) toured the future RASKC shelter location in Kent with 4Culture, King County’s cultural funding agency. 4Culture’s mission is to fund, support, and advocate for culture to enhance the quality of life in King County, with a focus on racial equity. The agency helps source artwork for King County’s capital projects through the “1% for Art” initiative, which mandates that all eligible county capital projects set aside 1% of the… Read More
How past trauma and current stressors interact: A conversation with the Employee Assistance Program
Mental Health Month begins on Friday, May 1. Look for additional information throughout May about the benefits and resources we offer to support King County employees’ mental health and well-being. Many people feel stretched by the pace of work, family responsibilities, and the uncertainty happening in the world right now. According to King County Employee Assistance Program Manager and counselor Miguel Messina, it makes sense that current stressors feel heavy on their own. For some people, those stressors can also stir up older experiences that were never fully resolved. “If you’re feeling… Read More
King County Auditor’s report shows DCHS continues to make significant progress
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections Improving how our government works and ensuring public dollars are well spent is a top priority at King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). A recent report by the King County Auditor’s Office states that DCHS “made significant progress on audit recommendations, improving training and awareness” over the last several months as the department has implemented new policies and procedures. The work DCHS is doing will serve as a roadmap for the King County enterprise—ushering in a new era of accountability. Read more.
Notice of King County Personnel Board candidate filing and election
King County Elections will hold a candidate filing period for the elected member position on the King County Personnel Board. The candidate filing period will begin on Monday, May 4 at 8 a.m. and will end at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8. There is a $5 non-refundable filing fee. The Personnel Board conducts hearings on appeals of certain personnel actions as provided for in Section 540 of the King County Charter. The Personnel Board consists of five members, four of whom are appointed, and one member elected by county career service employees. The… Read More
Records Management Report: King County among best in the nation!
During Records and Information Management Month, it’s a great time to celebrate our successes. Last year, King County received a report from an independent consultant that evaluated how well King County’s records and information management practices align with best practices and standards. That consultant, FreeDoc, evaluated King County’s practices based on 25+ different industry standards, maturity models, guidelines, and technical reports related to records management. They also compared our practices to the 15 largest self-governing counties in the United States. Overall, the feedback provided by the consultant was very positive. Their report outlined… Read More
Seeing GIS through fresh eyes: A middle schooler’s inspiring visit to the King County GIS Center
Crossposted from GIS & You Sometimes the best reminder of why GIS matters comes from seeing it through fresh eyes. Recently, an energetic 8th grader with a real passion for maps and geography visited the King County GIS Center with his mom for a lunchtime learning adventure. His excitement, curiosity, and thoughtful questions made it a memorable visit with Fred Lott and the GIS Center staff. It was inspiring to see him realize just how much of daily life GIS quietly shapes. We’re happy to share his story here on the GIS… Read More
Find a Walk Partner for safety in numbers
The Walk Partner program is now live on RideshareOnline.com. With Walk Partner, you can match yourself with other people to walk to and from King County buildings. In addition to talking to your friends and co-workers to see if they could walk with you, RideshareOnline.com is a great tool for matching yourself with other walkers. How to use Rideshare Online Create an account (or sign in if you already have one). “Add a trip“ in your Ride Match / My Trips section. Instead of using your home and work address, enter where you would be walking… Read More
King County opens new Disaster Recovery Center to help residents apply for federal assistance
Residents in King County who were affected by the historic December 2025 flooding may now qualify for federal disaster assistance under Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program. After the flooding, Washington requested federal disaster declarations to help individuals affected by the atmospheric river flooding, as well as to help public entities repair infrastructure and partially reimburse their response efforts. The application deadline is June 10, 2026. From April 28 to June 10, King County will operate a Disaster Recovery Center for people who would like in-person assistance with their FEMA application. It is located at the King County Elections Office, 919… Read More
Free admission to the 2026 King County Fair
King County employees can receive free admission to the King County Fair, happening July 16-19. In honor of celebrating America’s 250th anniversary and the Back to our Roots 2026 fair theme, the fair is inviting all King County employees to enjoy a free day. King County managed the fair for over 140 years, from 1863-2006. For more information, visit kingcofair.com. Free admission for employees only, with proof of employment such as ID badge or recent paystub. View this flyer for details. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount intranet page.
King County is working with communities to promote forest canopy in urban unincorporated areas
A study launched this spring by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks will assess the current condition of forest canopy in unincorporated areas, which will inform future actions with communities that promote equitable access to healthy tree canopy. The project team will study 34 square miles, which includes urban unincorporated communities and the unincorporated rural towns of Fall City, Vashon, and Snoqualmie Pass. The study is led by the department’s new Urban Forestry Program, building on decades of progress King County foresters have made promoting forest health in rural… Read More
