Featured Headlines
Holiday travel? Metro will help you get there
Emergency exercise tests communications ahead of World Cup
King County Wins 2025 Geospatial Professional Network Award for Innovative AI-GIS System
Recognizing the service of Metro veterans
News
Training Spotlight: Basic Data Visualization
Basic Data Visualization, Oct 9: Our ability to gather and collect data has steadily increased over the past decade. But data alone is not information and does not easily convey a compelling story. This half-day introductory course will allow participants to understand why data visualization is important, explore ways to tell a story with data, and mock up data visualizations in whiteboard exercises, using tips explored in class. Register and learn more. View more training and development opportunities at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
Happy VANniversary! Metro celebrates 40 years of commuter vans
Crossposted from Metro Matters What started as a small King County Metro fleet of 21 vans and 189 riders in 1979 is now the nation’s largest public fleet of vanpools. Today there are over 1,600 vans that carry 11,000 riders and drivers each day. Public commuter van riders, on average, take six single-occupancy vehicles off the road each weekday, which annually reduces 48 million vehicle miles, saves more than 2 million gallons of fuel and prevents 50 million pounds of greenhouse gas from entering our atmosphere—that’s 22 million metric tons. Learn more about… Read More
Pet of the Week: Wrigley
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Wrigley is one cool cat who exudes cool cat vibes. This handsome 12 year old guy is very relaxed and chill. Wrigley enjoys the company of humans and all the love and affection they give him. He does well with other cats (and has previously lived with other cats), but would still do best with a slow introduction. He’s not a big fan of young children due to their high energy (they kind of kill his chill vibe). He may, however, do well with older children. Read… Read More
Featured Job: Administrative Specialist III
Salary: $24.64 – $31.23 Hourly Location: Multiple locations in King County, WA Job Type: Civil Service, Full Time, 40/hrs Wk Department: King County Sheriff’s Office Job Number: 2019-SD09970 Closing: 7/29/2019 11:59 PM Pacific Great opportunity to join the King County Sheriff’s Office team in an administrative support role. This position performs a wide variety of administrative and clerical duties, customer service support and/or oversight office coordination that is specialized and/or technical in nature, performed under limited supervision, according to department/unit assignment. This position is a civil service position, for information regarding King County… Read More
August Primary Election Day is Tuesday, Aug. 6
Last week, King County Elections (KCE) mailed out ballots to its 1.3 million voters. If you have not received your ballot, please call 206-296-VOTE (8683). There is a long list of important races on the Primary ballot this year – 56 races and 218 candidates to be exact. Drop your ballot in a drop box by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6; drop it in the mail (NOT interoffice mail!) to be postmarked by Aug. 6; or visit a Vote Center.
Get Ready for Wildfire Smoke Season
Dear employee, Summer has finally arrived and with it comes the risk that we will once again experience unhealthy levels of air quality due to wildfire smoke. Washington state has declared a state of drought and there have already been a record number of small wildfires across western Washington this year. As a result of climate change, we should be prepared for more frequent and larger wildfires during Pacific Northwest summers. Before the smoke arrives, take steps to protect your health from smoke at home and work. When air quality is at unhealthy… Read More
Presiding Judge Jim Rogers talks about a new project: Video Court Appearances for Superior Court
King County Superior Court is exploring a new project: out-of-custody appearances via video. Not for everyone…but it could work for some. Learn more about where we are on this innovative idea. Listen now.
Executive visits Dick Thurnau Memorial Park as part of Parks tour
King County Executive Dow Constantine recently visited Dick Thurnau Memorial Park in White Center as part of his 100 miles in 100 days through King County Parks where he met with employees and checked out a new playground. “Parks Specialist Christian Loko took me to the new playground our staff installed with funds generated by the King County Parks Levy,” Executive Constantine said. “We ended at the White Center Bicycle Playground, which provides kids a safe place to learn how to ride bicycle. It is the first playground of its kind in the nation.” The parks… Read More
Family Treatment Court helping King County families
King County is protecting the health, safety and welfare of children in the dependency system and helping parents reunite with their children through its Family Treatment Court. The Family Treatment Court Program, started in August 2004, is an alternative option to dependency court for parents. Parents voluntarily enter the program and agree to increased court participation, chemical dependency treatment and intense case management in order to reunite with their children. “Family treatment court is not designed to be an adversarial type of program. It’s not designed to be litigious; it’s not based on… Read More
Fighting for justice: Two public defenders worked for years to get their client acquitted
Crossposted from For the Defense Ben Goldsmith and Katharine Edwards advanced a straightforward theory about why Emanuel Fair should be acquitted in the murder of Arpana Jinaga, whose body was found in her Redmond apartment on Nov. 1, 2008. Someone else murdered the young software engineer. Ben Goldsmith and Katharine Edwards amassed 30,000 pages of discovery in their defense of Emanuel Fair. (Paul Vernon was co-counsel before Katharine joined the team.) (Photo by Leslie Brown) It took them two trials and 30,000 pages of discovery to make their case. They submitted dozens… Read More
True North and values to guide our work
You may have heard me talk about what I call our True North: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. The True North is our “why,” what ties our work together, and what drives us do our best each and every day. Today I am launching our eight Executive Branch values that we will use to guide our actions and decision-making, and help us achieve our True North. They are the next step in our work of building a workplace culture of respect, innovation, and performance excellence. The eight values represent what is important to us as an organization – what we believe in, what we stand… Read More
King County named a “Best-in-State Employer” for 2019
Last month, King County was named to Forbes magazine’s list of “America’s Best-In-State Employers 2019.” King County was ranked number 16 on the list of best employers in Washington after a survey of more than 80,000 people nationwide. This recognition shows that we are making progress on our Investing in YOU strategy and our efforts to build a workplace culture of respect, innovation, and performance excellence. It also reinforces what we heard in our latest employee engagement survey, in which 79% of employees said they would recommend King County as a great place… Read More
City Hall Park treats and tunes
Looking for some quick eats and free tunes this summer? Check out the food trucks from BBQ to Thai, at City Hall Park, on 4th Ave and Yesler Way. Upcoming concerts from noon to 1 p.m.: Tuesday, July 23: Happy Heartbreak Tuesday, July 30: Filion (Evie B) Click here for a complete schedule and menus of food trucks at City Hall Park, or for more information visit www.seattlefoodtruck.com. For the upcoming schedule of concerts and for more information, click here.
Featured Job: Public Relations Specialist – Council
Salary: $70,688.00 – $95,068.00 Annually Location: Seattle, WA Job Type: Appointed Department: KCC – King County Council Job Number: 2019-10211 Closing: 7/24/2019 11:59 PM Pacific The Metropolitan King County Council is seeking a hardworking and detail-oriented Public Relations Specialist to provide production support on graphic design, social media, website updates, photography and email newsletters for the King County Council and the entire Legislative Branch. This is an exciting opportunity to join the King County Council as a contributing member of its Communications team. The Public Relations Specialist must be a detail-oriented, customer-focused, and self-motivated individual who works well… Read More
Training Spotlight: Basic Records Management
Basic Records Management, online: This course covers the basics of records management and the responsibilities of King County employees. It is required for most new employees by Executive Policy INF-15-6-EP. This class is available to King County employees online via the KC eLearning portal. If needed, learn how to logon to KC eLearning here. Sign in and start the class. View more training and development opportunities at www.kingcounty.gov/learning.
Executive Constantine announces new funding to prevent spread of hepatitis A
As urban areas across the United States grapple with hepatitis A outbreaks affecting people experiencing homelessness, Executive Constantine announced he is allocating $375,000 in new funding to expand free hepatitis A vaccinations to help prevent outbreaks in King County. In April, a King County man living without permanent housing was diagnosed with the disease, heightening concerns about the possibility of a local outbreak. Hepatitis A is highly contagious and can cause severe liver disease. Since 2017, Public Health – Seattle & King County has held dozens of free vaccine clinics for people… Read More
Pet of the Week: Charlie
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Looking for a spirited, fun-loving guy? Our Pet of the Week could be the one for you! Charlie is a young pittie mix looking for his forever home. His personality color is “Rambunctious Red.” He’s still working on his manners, so he will do best with a family who is willing to work with him and help him become the best dog he can be! Charlie is a very smart boy who already knows “sit” and “shake” and would love to learn more. This fun guy has lots of energy… Read More
Employee Discount: Seattle Sounders FC vs. Sporting Kansas City, August 4 and Employee Day at the Races, July 21
King County employees can get discounted tickets to the Seattle Sounders FC vs. Sporting Kansas City at 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 4, at CenturyLink Field. Click here to buy tickets. All fans will receive their tickets via email 48 hours before the event. Questions? Contact Marco Rodriguez at 206-512-1257 or MarcoR@soundersfc.com. Employees and one guest will receive free admission to Emerald Downs Racetrack Sunday, July 21 for the King County Express Stakes, which includes the Fiesta Premio Esmeralda. Employees must show their King County ID at any of the 12 gates, which will… Read More
Learn how to boost your retirement savings
You and your spouse or significant other are invited to learn more about saving for retirement with the King County Deferred Compensation Plan. Several in-person sessions are coming up July 30, July 31, and Aug. 1. See details and registration. Other education sessions are offered throughout the year. For more information about Deferred Compensation Plan education—including webinars—go to the Deferred Compensation web page. If you have any questions, please contact KC Deferred Comp.
Supporting coworkers and setting high standards, Metro’s 2019 ‘Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year’ leads by example
Crossposted from Metro Matters In just seven years at King County Metro, Frank Wood has established himself as the kind of coworker his fellow mechanics want to have around. His supportive attitude and willingness to mentor new mechanics has inspired others and is a large part of why Wood was recently honored as Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance Employee of the Year for 2019. Wood accepted the award at East Base in front of family, coworkers, supervisors, and King County General Manager Rob Gannon. “Frank Wood has set a standard that his fellow mechanics look… Read More
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