KCIT staff craft for equity
Pictured: KCIT employees in the Rainbow Circle.
Doing good by being creative—now that’s pretty crafty. It’s all possible at the weekly Tuesday lunch gatherings of the Rainbow Circle in the Chinook Building.
The Rainbow Circle founded by Jennifer Broadus, the lead of the King County Information Technology (KCIT) Equity and Social Justice events team. It grew out of her desire to bond with other knitters while helping the community in an intentional way by creating projects to support organizations in the Employee Giving Program.
“We pick different nonprofits with an equity lens,” Jennifer explains. “That might include helping kids with cancer or homeless youth, and supporting them through our efforts.” The group is currently supporting LGBTQ+ nonprofits in celebration of June Pride Month.
Soon after starting the group as a knitting circle, it quickly became apparent other crafters were a natural to join their efforts, Jennifer says. As such, anyone with a passion, say, for felting to crochet to quilting, is encouraged to join the Rainbow Circle.
In the fall, the Rainbow Circle will shift gears and use their time to make kits for folks experiencing homelessness. The kits contain useful, small items for those without permanent housing, Jennifer says, including toiletries, shampoo, wet wipes, resource pamphlets and information.
Interested in starting a similar group in your building? Jennifer Broadus can send you the charter for the Rainbow Circle. She can be reached at jbroadus@kingcounty.gov.
The Rainbow Circle schedule for the next few months is:
- 6/25 – CNK 119
- 7/2 – CNK 118
- 7/9 – CNK 121
- 7/16 – CNK 126
- 7/23 – CNK 126
- 7/30 – CNK 126
- 8/6 – CNK 120
- 8/13 – CNK 126
- 8/20 – CNK 124
- 8/27 – CNK 126
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Show your Pride at 2019 Seattle Pride Parade
Pictured: King County Executive Dow Constantine marches with the King County contingency in the 2018 Pride Parade.
It’s less than two weeks until the 2019 Seattle Pride Parade, and King County is getting ready to celebrate.
Join your colleagues, friends and family Sunday, June 30, as we march to celebrate and support Seattle’s LGBTQ+ community.
The King County contingent will be staging on 4th Avenue, between Union Street and University Street. Just look for the Metro Bus or Medic One Rig to find us. The Parade route is about a mile long and will end near Seattle Center at 2nd Avenue and Denny Way.
We recommend people arrive at 10:30 a.m. if they want a free t-shirt (150 free t-shirts will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis in adult sizes only). Others are welcome to arrive later to limit standing around time. The parade starts at 11 a.m., and our contingent won’t start moving right away – likely closer to noon.
The weather may be warm so check the forecast and plan appropriately. Remember to stay hydrated and please make sure you’re prepared for your unique needs.
For more information about the County’s contingent, email Mariah Taylor at with “Pride 2019” in the subject line.
If you are scheduled to work and wish to attend the parade, please seek approval via your department’s applicable leave policies.
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Pet of the week: Oreo
Crossposted from Tails from RASKC
This sweet guy is Oreo, our Pet of the Week!
This handsome senior boy is playful and affectionate. He has lived in a home with other cats and a large dog, as well as with younger and older kids. While Oreo’s previous family feels he makes a good indoor/outdoor cat, he would need to be supervised while outside and would probably enjoy being on a harness. He loves string toys, batting at them when you play with him. Oreo is very sweet and likes lots of petting, but is not very interested in being picked up.
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Featured Job: Communications and Community Relations Project Manager
Salary: $90,542.40 – $109,449.60 Annually
Location: Seattle, WA
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 40 hrs/week
Department: DLS – Local Services
Job Number: 2019MD10061
Closing: 6/23/2019 11:59 PM Pacific
The Department of Local Services (DLS) represents a comprehensive effort to improve the efficient, effective, and timely delivery of municipal services to the nearly 250,000 people who live in unincorporated communities of King County. The Road Services Division designs, builds, operates and maintains roads and bridges in unincorporated areas of King County. The division is a 24 hour per day, 7 day a week operation with work site locations in Renton, Downtown Seattle, and several remote field locations throughout King County. The division is responsible for 1,500 miles of road and 182 bridges, 5.7 million feet of drainage ditches, over 44,000 traffic control signs, 78 traffic signals, and 50 traffic cameras in unincorporated King County.
Learn more about this position or view all available positions.
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New discount for employees at upcoming Seattle Storm games
King County employees can now save up to 33% off Seattle Storm tickets on several games held June 30-Sept. 1. To access the discount visit http://stormgrouptix.com/KingCounty. The Seattle Storm is a three-time WNBA Championship team committed to bringing a premium professional basketball and entertainment experience to a fan base rich in tradition and support.
See all available discounts at www.kingcounty.gov/employeediscounts.
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Tips to keep cool
With temperatures already forecast to be above normal this week, keep these tips in mind to stay cool:
- Keep window blinds or curtains closed when outdoor temperatures skyrocket. This reduces indoor temps and reduces the strain on the HVAC equipment.
- Keep windows and doors closed in locations with HVAC.
- Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
- The county recommends against using indoor fans, as they can create “hot zones” in other places in the building and can create a fire hazard. Please don’t block or manipulate air vents or returns.
- Dress in layers to manage varying temperatures.
- The County standard for building temperature range is 70-74 degrees.
- Minimize extended time outside.
Read more from DES Express
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Apprenticeship rates at Children and Family Justice Center exceed requirements
By Alex Hurtado
Pictured: Business Development Contract Compliance (BDCC) Apprenticeship Coordinator, Daniel Peterson.
The Children and Family Justice Center (CFJC), now more than 80 percent complete, leads in total apprenticeship hours on King County projects and employs a diverse workforce earning family-wage jobs. As of December 2018, apprentices have performed 93,205 labor hours on the project. This project requires the use of state registered apprentices for 15 percent of all labor hours worked, and 17 percent participation from certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS). As of May, the CFJC project boasts a 25 percent apprenticeship rate and is meeting the 17 percent required rate for SCS businesses.
”King County’s long-standing apprenticeship program has had a profound impact on providing family wage jobs to many of King County’s residents,” said Daniel Peterson, the Business Development Contract Compliance (BDCC) team’s Apprenticeship Coordinator.
Read more from DES Express
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Save the Date! Free screening of “The Most Dangerous Year” June 25
June is PRIDE Month! In honor of PRIDE, The Department of Executive Services, King County is proud to collaborate with the Meaningful Movies Project to bring the critically acclaimed documentary, “The Most Dangerous Year,” to our employee community for a screening and discussion. By Seattle writer and director, Vlada Knowlton, the film chronicles the journey by many Washington families with transgender children and the anti-transgender legislation in Washington in 2016. Knowlton, will be on hand to facilitate a Q & A session immediately after the screening. The film is 89 minutes.
Tuesday, June 25 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Chinook Building Room 121, 401 5th Ave., Seattle
This event is free, but seating is limited. Please RSVP here.
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Airport employees earn prestigious award for snow removal during Snowmageddon
Pictured: KCIA equipment operator Chase Dolliver, and Manager of Operations Davey Pilley.
This winter’s wild weather may just be a memory now, but employees at the King County International Airport (KCIA) are still celebrating a big win. They recently received a Balchen/Post Award for Excellence in the Performance of Airport Snow and Ice Control by the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. The KCIA team was up against tough competition from more traditionally snow-bound cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, and Syracuse, New York.
The award was presented at the annual International Aviation Snow Symposium in Buffalo, New York in late April. Employees celebrated the win at an airport employees’ event later in May.
During the two-week “Snowmageddon” in February, the Puget Sound area received historic snowfall, exceeding 50-year records. Despite all the snow, the airport had only two major closures in that time, the longest lasting nearly seven hours.
Read more from DES Express
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King County Personnel Board Election
Dear Colleagues,
Today King County Elections mailed ballots for the King County Personnel Board Election. The Personnel Board conducts hearings on appeals of certain county personnel actions. It’s made up of five members, one of which is elected by county career service employees. If you are a career service employee you are eligible to vote for the open position on the King County Personnel Board.
Like any other election, your ballot will be mailed to your home address. Ballots must be returned to King County Elections by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25. Ballot packets will include a return envelope with prepaid postage or employees can drop them in the ballot drop boxes at the King County Administration Building, King County Election Headquarters in Renton or the Regional Justice Center. Also, for this election, King County employees may return their ballot through interoffice mail.
This year there are two candidates for the elected position. More information about the candidates and the election can be found online. If you do not receive your ballot by June 18 or if you have questions about the election, contact King County Elections at 206-296-1608 or elections@kingcounty.gov.
Thanks and happy voting!
Employee News 