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
Employee safety reminders as the fall season begins
Fall officially arrived on Sunday, Sept. 22 so it’s time to get ready for changes in the weather and less daylight. Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. which means turning your clocks back one hour on Saturday, Nov. 2 before you go to bed. It is important to prepare for these seasonal changes. If you drive, you should have an emergency kit in your vehicle, including extra clothing, food, water, and a flashlight. If you work on site, have a plan for your commute, dress warmly, and… Read More
Test of KCInform employee alert and warning system on Oct. 17
King County will conduct a test of KCInform, King County’s employee alert and warning system, on Thursday, Oct. 17 between 9 and 10 a.m. as part of the annual Great Washington ShakeOut drill to test earthquake preparedness. KCInform is used to notify County employees of emergency situations, infrastructure disruptions, facility closures, changes in department business operations, and other critical impacts. Your King County desk phone and @kingcounty.gov email address are already in the KCInform system. However, please register your County provided cell phone (if applicable) and personal cell phone and email address… Read More
Wellness Hero Skyler Bridges
Balanced You Wellness Heroes highlights employees doing things to better their lives, the lives of their colleagues, and our community. For Suicide Prevention Month, Balanced You is excited to introduce you to Wellness Hero Skyler Bridges, Executive Assistant to the King County Assessor. In this video Skyler talks about breaking down the stigma of suicide, shares a personal story on how he has been impacted by suicide, the importance of community and connection, a podcast that he started, and more. We want to hear your stories! If you have a wellness story… Read More
Balanced You Conversations: Veterans mental health
Balanced You Conversations is a series of talks about important topics related to overall health and well-being. Karla Clark, Employee Health & Wellness Educator with the Balanced You team talks with Taylor Nguyen, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate with Wellness x Design. They discuss veterans’ mental health including suicide prevention, signs, and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, how to support loved ones, and more. Read more, and view resources and links here. View the video below.
Earn rewards when you bike or scoot to transit!
Crossposted from Metro Matters As we step into fall, King County Metro, in partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), Sound Transit and Lime, is offering a new exciting promotion for those connecting their rides on shared bikes or scooters with public transit. Whether you’re hopping on a bus or catching the Link light rail, you can now earn rewards just by riding and parking at certain transit hubs. What’s new this year? Launched on Sept. 16, the Bike and Scoot to Transit pilot now makes it even easier to ride… Read More
How King County is reducing waste generated by building demolition and creating more equitable access to green jobs
A new training program offered by King County is helping the local construction industry transition from demolition to deconstruction, a modern approach that dramatically decreases the amount a material the ends up in the regional landfill while creating more equitable access to green jobs. Unlike traditional demolition that relies on heavy machinery to turn buildings into piles of mixed debris, deconstruction carefully dismantles structures so materials can be salvaged and put back into the economy or, in some cases, completely rebuilt or relocated. The approach taught by King County can reduce the… Read More
Committed to public service: Honoring the Ruth Woo Emerging Leaders Fellows
Crossposted from Metro Matters Join us in celebrating King County Metro’s Pauline Estrella, recently honored by the King County Council as one of several prestigious Ruth Woo Fellows. Estrella worked with Metro staff on World Cup transportation planning and other efforts during her 2023-2024 fellowship. Their dedication throughout this fellowship exemplifies a commitment to public service and advocacy for underserved communities. Diversity in leadership Civic leader Ruth Woo recruited diverse leaders to serve in local government. King County’s Ruth Woo Fellowship continues to recruit the leaders of tomorrow. Read more.
Executive Constantine announces proposal to preserve the county’s public health clinics, further sustain Harborview Medical Center’s operations and maintenance
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced on Sept. 19 a proposal to preserve and fund the county’s public health clinics and further maintain operations and maintenance for the county hospital, Harborview Medical Center. The proposal is part of Executive Constantine’s 2025 budget and, if approved by the King County Council, would utilize a modified county hospital property tax authority approved by the state Legislature earlier this year. The proposal would levy an 8.5 cent tax that would raise $74.6 million for the 2025 budget, eliminating the need for public health clinic services to be… Read More
Executive Constantine announces his 2025 budget proposal, highlighting key investments in housing, health, safety, transportation, climate, and the environment
King County Executive Dow Constantine yesterday announced his 2025 budget proposal totaling $10.2 billion. The budget prioritizes key investments in housing, health, safety, transportation, climate action, and the environment, and demonstrates a commitment to making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. The budget proposal is a road map to King County’s vision and values based on transforming the way government operates, solving problems effectively and efficiently, with equity and accountability, to best deliver services to all residents. “This 2025 budget reflects King County’s commitment to creating innovative solutions… Read More
Airport fire trucks get cleaned of “forever chemicals”
Crossposted from the DES Express In a partnership with the Port of Seattle, King County International Airport’s fire engines are being cleaned of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroakyl substances, found in firefighting foam. These chemicals stick around for a long time, possibly thousands of years, and can build up in the environment and people’s bodies, causing harmful effects. Among the health effects are developmental problems, immune system issues, and links to certain cancers. PFAS are man-made chemicals used in things like non-stick cookware and fire-retardant materials. The presence of PFAS is pervasive in… Read More
EAP or MLE: Which program is right for you?
During Suicide Prevention, take a moment to learn more about MLE and EAP and when and how to contact them. EAP and MLE are both comprehensive programs and services to help King County employees to be healthy and safe. But which one is right for you? Watch this video to learn more about each program and, when and how to contact each.
Leslie Harper-Miles to retire after nearly 40 years of service
Crossposted from the DES Express At the heart of King County’s Harborview Bond Program stands a resilient woman who will retire at the end of September with nearly 40 years of public service. Leslie Harper-Miles’ career is a testament to the power of perseverance, advocacy, and the relentless pursuit of equity and social justice in a world that can often resist it. A native of Seattle, Leslie has lifelong family and community ties to the Pacific Northwest. Her public service career started in 1986 in the Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget,… Read More
Amber Green Named Deputy Director for King County Department of Community and Human Services
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections This week, Kelly Rider, Department Director, appointed Amber Green as Deputy Director for King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). Amber is a long-time employee at DCHS, and most recently served as Chief Administrative Officer. In March, Amber was named Acting Deputy Director, a role that hasn’t existed since 2021. Amber holds a wealth of expertise across the department, including emergency response, workforce and workplace strategies, and department level efforts on Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EIB). In 2000, Amber joined DCHS in an administrative position and… Read More
RASKC found homes for more than 400 pets in Clear the Shelters campaign
Crossposted from the DES Express More than 400 pets, including 105 adult and senior cats, 213 kittens, 84 adult dogs, 10 puppies and five small mammals, found their “furever” homes after Regional Animal Services wrapped up participation in the “Clear the Shelters” campaign last week. Clear The Shelters is a nationwide campaign to get more pets adopted into more homes. This is the 10th anniversary of the event, and the first time that RASKC is participating. “We’re always grateful to our pet-loving community for opening up their hearts and homes to these… Read More
Records Management Reminder: Records must be retained in their “native format”
State law requires that records be retained in their “native” format. This means that if they were created as an email, they need to be retained as an email (and not printed out). And if they were created on paper (like a piece of mail received from a customer), they need to be retained in paper format. The exception to this is the Destruction After Digitization (DAD) Process. This gives any county employee the authorization to re-format or scan a record to a new digital version. They can then retain the new version… Read More
Pre-register for upcoming onsite King County flu and COVID-19 clinics
Getting your updated flu and COVID-19 shots is an important part of protecting your health, your family’s health, and your community’s health. Each year, King County’s Balanced You arranges onsite flu and COVID-19 shot clinics for employees who work onsite. You will need to pre-register for the onsite clinics. You are welcome to walk-in, but you will still need to register to receive shots, so please do so prior to the clinics. The following are upcoming onsite clinics: Atlantic/Central Bus Base, Classroom C, 1500 6th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134, Monday, Sept. 23,… Read More
Now Recruiting 2024 Employee Giving Program Ambassadors
Bring a little inspiration to your day and build connection with your team by signing up to be an Ambassador. The Employee Giving Program is now recruiting King County Employees to serve as an Ambassadors for this year’s Annual Giving Drive to their work groups/sites. As an Ambassador, you are the heart and soul of our Employee Giving Program team. We can NOT run this program and support so many great causes without you. Last year that resulted in $2.29 million! You are the key to making sure that every King County… Read More
Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) guidelines for King County employees
King County’s new guidelines set expectations for the responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in the workplace. These guidelines were developed collaboratively by KCIT and OERSJ, according to state and national standards. GenAI systems create new content such as text, audio, images, and video by learning patterns and relationships within vast data sets. Although this exciting new technology can enable tremendous efficiencies, it is essential King County employees use GenAI responsibly. The guidelines are designed to reduce bias and protect sensitive personal data the public has entrusted to us. Key points include: All employees should read the GenAI guidelines Employees may… Read More
Leesa Manion: Breaking barriers as King County’s trailblazing prosecutor
Leesa Manion made history as the first Korean American woman and person of color to serve as King County Prosecutor. From her roots in Kentucky to leading one of King County’s largest law firms, she’s breaking barriers and inspiring future leaders to “dream big.” Read more. More about the American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika Affinity Group The next American Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pasifika (AANHP) virtual gathering will take place Friday, Sept. 20, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. If you are interested in attending the online event or getting connected to the AANHP… Read More
Executive Constantine proclaims 2024 Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month
Latinx Heritage Month is celebrated every year from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed this time as Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month in King County. This month recognizes the anniversary of 1821 independence declarations in five Latin American countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile, and Belize also celebrate their independence on Sept. 16, Sept. 18, and Sept. 21, respectively. “The cultural, educational, economic, and political influences of Latinx residents can be appreciated in all aspects of life,” he said. “I urge all… Read More
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