Free carpool permit parking now available at 15 park and rides
Starting November 1, King County Metro will offer reserved permit parking for carpoolers at nine additional park-and-rides, including Green Lake, Aurora Village, Shoreline, Kenmore, Bear Creek, Bothell, Kingsgate, Wilburton, Renton Metropolitan Place and Tukwila. Permits are already available at Redmond, Issaquah Highlands, South Kirkland, South Renton, Northgate and Eastgate. Spaces are reserved for permit-holders on weekdays until 8:30 a.m. You can apply now for a free monthly permit at all 15 locations through Republic Parking Northwest.
Groups of two or more carpoolers who travel together to a participating park & ride can apply. Basic contact information for one carpool member is required to establish an account. Applicants must provide contact information, ORCA card numbers, vanpool ID, or RideshareOnline.com email for each member of the carpool to complete the application process and receive a permit. Regular transit use is not initially required to obtain a permit, but at least two carpool permit-holders must ride transit 12 days per month (an average of three days per week) to stay qualified.
More information is available at Metro’s Carpool Parking Permit website. Questions? Contact Employee Transportation Manager Hossein Barahimi at Hossein.Barahimi@Kingcounty.gov or by phone at 206-477-5853. All employees are encouraged to participate!
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Historic labor agreement delivers on our employee-focused priorities
King County Executive Dow Constantine
King County and the Coalition of Unions have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year Master Labor Agreement (MLA) that will, once ratified, help the County advance towards its goal to be a workplace where every employee has the tools, knowledge and support to innovate, achieve their career goals and deliver equitable, high quality service to our customers.
“The MLA delivers on many of the objectives of my Investing in You, Best Run Government and Equity and Social Justice priorities,” King County Executive Dow Constantine said in announcing the tentative MLA. “It standardizes many work processes, large and small; it creates efficiencies and certainty; it introduces new programs and expands existing benefits; and it will help us deliver more professional development and career advancement opportunities across our King County workforce.”
Some of the components of the MLA include:
- A first ever Career Development Scholarship Fund of $150,000 that will allow employees to access vital learning and development opportunities
- Funding of all job-required training, licenses and certifications for employees
- Standardization of various leaves – Bereavement, Holidays, FMLA/KCFML, Paid Parental Leave, Job Posting, Grievance Procedure and Discipline – across all Coalition labor agreements
- Standardizing the process of Special Duty Assignments and Job Reclassification across contracts
- Allowing employees to use up to three days of sick leave each year to volunteer at any organization participating in the County’s Employee Giving Program. This leave was previously permitted for volunteering only at an employee’s child’s school
- A standardized $200 safety equipment allowance.
The County and the Coalition of Unions will now finalize some remaining components of the MLA before union members vote on ratification by the end of the year.
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Yesler Bridge Rehabilitation Project: Update, complete and open
On Tuesday, October 10, the Yesler Bridge Rehabilitation Project was completed and opened to traffic. Thank you for your patience and cooperation through this process.
Check out the Yesler Bridge project video, featuring the historical preservation of the bridge and a general project update.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss the project further, please contact YeslerBridge@seattle.gov or 206-684-8684. To learn more about the project, visit the project website.
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Wheel Options — your trip, your way!
Leave the car at home during October and reap the benefits of sharing or saving rides to work. Complete and track at least six days of Wheel Options—that’s vanpooling, biking, walking, skateboarding, carpooling, taking transit, tele-commuting, compressing your work schedule or a combination of all modes—and you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a chance to win some great prizes—including a $1,500 grand prize, $500 second prize and a host of $50 retail gift cards. Already with Wheel Options? Log-in. So join us in Crafting Your Commute!
Questions? Contact Employee Transportation Manager Hossein Barahimi at Hossein.Barahimi@Kingcounty.gov or by phone at (206)477-5853. All employees are encouraged to participate!
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Supporting Disability Awareness Month through Annual Giving Drive
Each year King County employees help hundreds of nonprofit organizations do vital work in our community and around the world by donating to the Annual Giving Drive, and this year’s Giving Drive is now underway.
The start of this year’s Giving Drive coincides with Disability Awareness Month, which King County celebrates each October. The following are four participating nonprofits whose work helps people with disabilities in our community (click and scroll down for details):
- The Arc of King County (9233) – Serving individuals and families with intellectual and developmental disabilities through case management, peer support, leadership training, and advocacy.
- Alpha Supported Living Service (9033) – Providing 24/7 support for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities to reach their full potential as individuals and community members.
- Provail (9870) – Supporting people with disabilities to fulfill their life choices in the Greater Seattle area.
- Tahoma Hills (9427) Supported Living provider for adults with multiple disabilities & challenges.
From now to November 17, you can go online or use a paper form to make a pledge to your favorite Employee Giving Program nonprofits by:
- Payroll Donation: One-time, once–per-month, or twice–per-month.
- Time Donation: Eligible vacation or comp time. See your department Lead Ambassador for details in your office.
- Check: Made out directly to the nonprofit.
Visit an upcoming Nonprofit Expo Roadshow event:
- Thursday, October 12 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Chinook Building in Seattle
- Wednesday, October 18 from 8 to 9 a.m. at DPER in Snoqualmie
For more information, contact your Employee Giving Program Ambassador, visit www.kingcounty.gov/giving, email EmployeeGiving@KingCounty.gov or call 206-263-9405.
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Join us for a Sea Level Rise in the Puget Sound Lunch and Learn, October 18
Employees are welcome to join us for a presentation on the current understanding of Sea Level Rise in the Puget Sound. Come hear Dr. Ian Miller, Coastal Hazard Specialist from Washington SeaGrant, discuss sea level rise and how it may present itself in the Puget Sound.
Wednesday, October 18 from noon to 1:00 p.m. King Street Center, 201 South Jackson Street, 8th Floor Conference Room
All King County employees welcome, but space is limited. Please sign up here. For more information, please contact Shaun O’Neil at Shaun.O’neil@kingcounty.gov or 206-477-4432.
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Tech Tip: Tighter security for KC internet browsers
On Oct. 14, Google Chrome becomes the first browser to significantly step-up security notifications. If a website lacks a special security authentication, this is what people will see: 
But not KC webpages that manage health data, financial data and other private data. KCIT inventoried all pages weeks ago to ensure data pages are secure and encrypted and users will NOT see that notification when submitting data like credit card information to a county website.
However, because King County has thousands of pages, it was difficult to secure ALL non-data pages by the deadline and users may see “http” or NOT SECURE” and be concerned.
Rest assured that clicking through “not secure” pages won’t effect the secure data pages. KCIT expects to have all KingCounty.gov webpages secure by the end of the year.
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Disability Awareness Month – a history of Metro’s Accessible Transit Services
Crossposted from Bytes and Boxes
Today an industry leader in public transit, Metro has been shaped by citizen involvement since its establishment by the voters of King County 60 years ago. One significant area of Metro leadership and citizen engagement has been the development of accessible transit services for people with disabilities.
The Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle (“Metro”) was formed in 1958 with a public mandate to improve local water quality. Over time, Metro expanded to other civic projects and services. The Forward Thrust bond campaign, headed by community activist James Ellis, promoted a range of regional projects, such as development of parks and pools and the construction of a multi-use stadium, the Kingdome.
Read more at Bytes and Boxes
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Success at work!
This article is featured courtesy of Karla Lynch, Employment and Community Access Program Manager, with Department of Community and Human Services
When we think about our careers, and how we landed in our present jobs, we recognize that each path is unique. The same is true for persons with developmental disabilities (DD). In the early days of the supported employment movement, most people who experienced a developmental disability worked in sheltered workshops – segregated settings in which persons with DD worked together, typically performing a variety of manual tasks.
As we’ve learned more about how to effectively support persons with DD, employment opportunities have expanded to community businesses, and both the state and federal government have provided guidance to transition all employment opportunities for persons with DD to the community by March 2019. This transition has been happening in King County for some time with the majority of individuals currently supported in jobs in the community. The King County Developmental Disabilities Division (KCDDD) continues to provide Technical Assistance, Person-Centered Planning and other supports to individuals, families, and service providers who are transitioning to community employment.
Lonnie’s journey: Finding the right fit
Lonnie began working in sheltered employment at SKCAC Industries and Employment Services in 1990. His first community-based jobs included positions with Clowns Unlimited, the Washington Patrol Division, and the Kent Fire Department warehouse. He also did intermittent work for the Seattle Mariners, and the Sounders, but he wanted something more… and he was clear that money is important to him! With support from SKCAC to find the “right fit,” Lonnie now works a total of four days per week for two different companies: D & L Manufacturing in Auburn, and Yamato Transport in Kent. SKCAC supports Lonnie by checking in with his employers, and by assisting him with anything that he may need to be successful on the job.
Michele’s story: From reluctance to excitement
In 1976, Michele connected with Northwest Center, where she began learning packaging and assembly skills. She gained confidence, skills, and established valuable and lasting friendships with her co-workers. Each year, Michele and her guardian and other support providers met to explore the idea of working in the community. Each year, Michele offered an emphatic “No!” in response. Knowing that her current work opportunity would no longer be available after March 2019, Michele eventually agreed to participate in job sampling, business tours, and visits with prior co-workers at their new places of employment. These opportunities allowed Michele to see that the skills she’d developed in the workshop could be used in the community, and she began to get excited about the idea of finding a job. In May 2017, with the support of Northwest Center, Michele accepted a position as a Lobby Attendant at Wendy’s, where she works five days per week, for two hours per shift. Each day, she eagerly arrives at work with a beaming smile, ready to put on her apron and do her job. She has built wonderful friendships with regular customers, and she’s the happiest she’s ever been!
To learn more about supported employment, and other services provided by the King County Developmental Disabilities Division, please call 206-263-9105 or send an email to DDD@kingcounty.gov.
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Domestic partner changes for 2018
Effective Jan. 1, 2018, for most union groups and all non-represented employees, domestic partners and their children will not be eligible for King County benefits, except for state-registered domestic partners. King County will continue to offer employee benefits to non-state-registered domestic partners and their children for the remainder of 2017.
Why is King County making this change? King County previously extended employee benefits to the domestic partners of employees to correct an inequity in benefits provided to same-sex couples. This policy was enacted at a time when same-sex marriage was prohibited in Washington. However, a Supreme Court ruling granted same-sex couples the right to legally marry in all U.S. states in June 2015. Married same-sex couples are now eligible for the same benefits and tax advantages as other married couples.
King County and its labor unions determined that offering benefits only to state-registered domestic partners would create consistency with state law and help mitigate the effects of rising health care costs.
How do I register my domestic partnership? State-registered domestic partnerships are offered only when at least one of the partners is age 62 or older. Go to the Washington Secretary of State website for more information or to declare a state-registered domestic partnership.
Options and impact for 2018
Those whose King County benefits are ending Dec. 31, 2017, will have the opportunity to pay to continue health coverage through COBRA for up to 18 months.
Your 2018 color level will be based solely on your participation in this year’s program.
Affected employee groups
This applies to all employees except those in the following union groups (as of Sept. 18, 2017):
- King County Police Officers Guild (KCPOG)—King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO)
- Puget Sound Police Managers Association (PSPMA)—Captains & Lieutenants(KCSO)
- Technical Employees Association (TEA)—Transit Division
For more information view the FAQ: Domestic Partner 2018 Changes, COBRA, Washington Secretary of State Domestic Partnership Declaration, Washington Secretary of State FAQ or contact King County Benefits, Payroll and Retirement Operations at 206-684-1556 or KC.Benefits@kingcounty.gov.
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