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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
Recognizing Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month
Crossposted from Metro Matters Earlier this month, Executive Dow Constantine proclaimed Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 as Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month. We would like to take a moment to recognize this annual observance, which celebrates the cultural, educational, economic and political contributions of the Latinx/Hispanic communities across our region and country. National Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law on Aug. 17, 1988, by President Ronald Reagan and is observed annually from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, coinciding with the national independence celebrations of several countries. The Latinx/Hispanic community is the second-largest ethnic group… Read More
2024 Annual Giving Drive is here!
A message from Councilmember Jorge Barón and John Taylor, Director, Dept. of Natural Resources and Parks, 2024 Annual Giving Drive Honorary Co-Chairs. Dear fellow King County employee, As we enter the season of giving, we are excited to announce the start of our Annual Giving Drive, running from October 7 to November 22, 2024. This year’s theme, “Small Acts, Big Impacts,” perfectly captures the essence of how each of us can contribute to making our local, and global, community a place where everyone can thrive. By participating in the Annual Giving Drive, we can… Read More
Outside Employment and Volunteer Activities policy
Dear employee, King County released the Outside Employment and Volunteer Activities policy for employees in executive branch departments, offices, divisions, and agencies, including the Assessor’s Office and King County Elections. We are a large, diverse organization with employees who generously support their communities and organizations through volunteerism. We also recognize that there are employees who have outside employment. We acknowledge that employees and the County can benefit from employee involvement with outside organizations. The Outside Employment and Volunteer Activities policy reminds King County employees that they are responsible for meeting the job expectations and work requirements of their King County positions…. Read More
Supported Employment Program celebrates Disability Employment Awareness Month
By Lauren Orichio, Supported Employment Program Manager October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is Access to Good Jobs for All. One way King County creates quality employment opportunities for our community members with disabilities is through the Supported Employment Program, which helps departments to create new positions that meet workgroup needs and are tailored to people with developmental disabilities. The program is on track to meet all of its strategic plan goals, and it will take all of us coming together at King County to continue to… Read More
Balanced You Mindfulness: Fall 2024 schedule
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing at the moment—free from distraction or judgment. It’s a proven method to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. Balanced You partners with mindfulness providers CuriosityBased, SolJoy, and Mindfulness Northwest. View the full list of classes and learn more here. Supervisors: Here is a printer-friendly PDF with the Mindfulness fall 2024 schedule to post at your worksites for employees who do not have access to email. We look forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions, please contact BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov.
Protect yourself, your family, and co-workers with King County’s onsite flu and COVID-19 shot clinics
Getting your flu and COVID-19 shots are 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. Check out the video below to learn more.
“Fall” in love with $50 dog adoptions in October
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC The leaves are changing color and the weather is turning cooler, making October a great time to cuddle up with a warm pup from Regional Animal Services of King County! All this month, you can adopt a dog for just $50, plus a pet license fee where applicable. All pets from RASKC have had an initial veterinary exam, are up to date on their vaccinations, have been spayed or neutered, and are microchipped. Adopters get 30 days of opt-in pet health insurance through Trupanion, among other benefits…. Read More
Recognizing Metro’s Operators of the Month, July-August 2024
Crossposted from Metro Matters They are chess players, hikers and gardeners. They love to cook, barbeque, read and travel. They shoot hoops, shoot pool and ride motorcycles. For riders, they are “patient and understanding,” carry “a really contagious positive energy,” “very sweet and thoughtful” and make “my day better every time I ride on their route.” They are operators with a century and a half of driving experience. The operators on your bus are as unique as you, and all of them love driving and giving back to their community. Meet your Operators of… Read More
Records Management Reminder: Most information that we have access to is considered a “Record”
The definition of a record is “any information – regardless of format – that is created, received, or maintained, and which supports, sustains or provides evidence of King County business.” Because of this broad definition, most information we have access to can be considered a record that needs to be managed. This can include, but is not limited to: Paper records Emails Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) Information in databases Audio and video files Photographs Social media and website posts Text messages And many more! For more information, visit the… Read More
Double the excellence: King County Metro celebrates Operators of the Year
Crossposted from Metro Matters Metro celebrated two “Operators of the Year” today, marking the rare occasion of two drivers being selected for the annual honor. Emmanuel “Manny” Bautista and Thulin Tolliver were jointly honored as Metro’s 2023 Operators of the Year during a ceremony at the Central/Atlantic Base on Wednesday. Metro riders and colleagues call them skilled, kind and amazing examples of public servants. “Every day, their commitment to safety and reliable service stands out,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. “Their dedication is a shining example of King County’s public service, always putting our… Read More
New virtual contact center and search tool to connect King County residents to services
Crossposted from Cultivating Connections On Sept. 30, the Resource Access Team, a new key investment of the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy, launches their virtual contact center and online interactive resource database to better connect King County residents with the services and resources they need to thrive. Resource Access is a multifunctional customer service team within the Department of Community and Human Services that will serve as a centralized information and resource referral system, helping to bridge gaps across the human services system making it easier for residents of King County to access the services they… Read More
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
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