Featured Job: Residential Appraiser I
Closing Date/Time: Mon. 05/08/17 4:00 PM Pacific Time
Salary: $28.40 – $36.00 Hourly, $2,153.69 – $2,729.93 Semi-Monthly
Job Type: Career Service, Full Time, 35 hrs/week
Location: Assessments – 900 Oakesdale Ave SW, Renton, Washington
Department: Department of Assessments
Description: The Department of Assessments is looking for an action oriented, creative thinker for the role of Residential Appraiser. The position will allow for the individual to expand interest in real estate, work within a culturally and generationally diverse environment, collaboratively set fair and equitable residential property values and use communication skills with the public to convey property assessment policies and procedures
Learn more about this position or view all available jobs.
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May Day events Monday, May 1
Several community groups are planning rallies, marches, and other events to mark May Day this Monday, May 1. These events include (see map below):
- May Day March – Some King County employees will participate in this year’s May Day March which focuses on labor and immigrant rights and begins at Judkins Park, starting at 11:30 a.m. holding the banner pictured. The march to downtown Seattle starts at 1 p.m.
- Veteran Anti-War march – Starting at 9 a.m. at the Garden of Remembranceat 2nd & University in Seattle, with a march to Judkins Park at 9:30 a.m.
- Rally and march on Amazon.com – 11 a.m. rally at Westlake Park, followed by a noon march on Amazon headquarters in South Lake Union.
- Anti-capitalism march – Commencing late afternoon or early evening, starting location and route to be determined.
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Cross-department collaboration tells the true story of the SoundGuardian
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) is a treasure trove of untold stories. Employees across four divisions work hard every day carrying out a broad mission to foster environmental stewardship and strengthen communities. It is hard to stop progress to recount our adventures and triumphs.
But when it was time to chronicle a legendary journey, employees across DNRP pitched in to help.
The County’s Environmental Lab has monitored streams, rivers, and Puget Sound for over 40 years. Field scientists sample, survey, carry out special projects, and respond to environmental emergencies. Routine water quality monitoring tracks the health of Puget Sound and inform decision makers.
In 2015, King County commissioned a new research vessel to carry on this crucial mission. The previous vessel was a converted fishing boat that could no longer do the job after 40 years. With the new vessel, field scientists do more work in a day, run in bigger seas, and collect even more data than before. The Lab is now equipped to continue their critical work year round for decades to come.
We knew that this story needed telling, and we had a new communications tool to do it justice: GIS-based Story Maps. Story Maps combine location, text, and visual media in a three-dimensional narrative.
The Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) stepped up to lead the storytelling effort, with the Lab, Water and Land Resources (WLR) and DNRP. Peter Keum of WTD’s GIS group navigated the Story Map platform. Peter helped communicators shape the story to the format. Peter’s entire group- and his wife, an artist- pitched in to review along the way.
The Lab’s Field Science Unit (FSU) gave us context and content. They let us ride along on marine runs, viewing and documenting their work. On the water, Kimberle Stark, WLR marine biologist, filled us in on monitoring and special projects. Tim O’Leary, DNRP videographer, documented the run and interviewed scientists. Matt Manguso, on a special assignment from Solid Waste Division, shot photos and developed text for a Web landing page.
FSU Supervisor Ben Budka provided input, and insight throughout. He sent presentations, photos and underwater video. He politely corrected our creative nautical terms.
Back at the office, Paul Israel, on assignment from Parks, edited photos and videos. Saffa Bardaro, WLR Communications Manager, and Logan Harris, DNRP Public Affairs, added polish to the Story Map.
Everyone scrambled to launch it during Earth Week. Fred Bentler, DNRP’s Web lead, made sure it happened with a landing page in place when we were ready to hit “publish.”
We learned the pluses and minuses of the Story Map platform. We know a lot more about the Environmental Lab’s work. We know this Story Map only scratches the surface of their mission. Our most valuable lesson is about DNRP employees: when it is time to feature one of our great stories, they’re all in.
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Kudos to employees who care about our residents and our environment!
This piece was featured in the Seattle Times’ Rant and Raves list. Kudos to a DNRP employee for saving a bird’s day!
“RAVE To the woman working for King County who took my Saturday call about a coot (bird) trapped in a storm drain in Covington. She reached someone in Covington public works, who called me and said they were closed, but they were there first thing on Monday freeing the trapped animal. Public-sector heroes!
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Social Media Spotlight: Assessor John Wilson
This is the official Twitter account for King County Assessor John Wilson. Our department strives to deliver excellent customer service, accountability, fair and equitable valuation
Follow Assessor John Wilson on Twitter today!
Click here to view all King County social media pages.
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Free auto leaks workshops throughout Puget Sound
Does your car drip? Ever wondered if a ‘spot’ on the ground came from your car? Want to learn how to properly maintain your car?
Join the experts for a FREE Auto Leaks workshop – a $125 value. Or use the $50 coupon at one of the over 200 participating repair shops.
At this workshop you’ll:
- Get a free professional car health assessment from a certified automotive instructor.
- Learn how to identify and prevent leaks.
- Receive tips on repairing minor common leaks.
- Learn preventive maintenance.
- Leave the class with a FREE Vehicle Maintenance Check Kit and the confidence to talk to your mechanic.
To register visit www.fixcarleaks.org.
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Social Security 101: Everything You Wanted to Know, April 26
This event, presented by the Social Security Administration, will answer many of your of your questions regarding Retirement Benefits and Eligibility Requirements, Early Retirement Effect on Benefits, Survivor Benefits, Medicare, Disability and Spouse Benefits and much more! Attendees are asked to bring a printed Social Security Statement, which can be accessed at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Wednesday, April 26, noon to 1:30 p.m. City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room, 600 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104.
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GoGreen and “The Future of Transportation”
Crossposted from Inside Transportation
by Harold S. Taniguchi, Director, King County Dept. of Transportation
Local action will continue to be our path forward on climate, sustainability, mobility and equity in King County, as we saw at the recent GoGreen Conference in Seattle. Thanks to the leadership of King County Executive Dow Constantine, we are addressing these challenges and partnering with businesses and the community for shared success on green building, wind and solar energy, transit-oriented development, and the nation’s leading commitment on electric buses.
This was the fifth year of King County’s sponsorship of the event, and I had the privilege of moderating an expert panel on “The Future of Transportation.” Our group shared the promise and progress of on-demand vehicle services, shared mobility, and vehicle electrification. While we still haven’t reached the day of flying cars and the Jetsons that we imagined as kids, our discussion highlighted the speed of change and innovation and the need for public agencies to adapt, innovate, and partner to ensure the transportation of the future works for everyone.
Read more from Inside Transportation
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County floodplain managers work together to understand a fast-moving river
Crossposted from The Downstream Blog
On a gray day last month, a small group of King County and King County Flood Control District (Flood District) employees stood on the forested edge of the Tolt River upstream of Carnation.
Geologically speaking, this is a young river – sinuous, fast-moving and largely unconstrained as it courses from its headwaters in the Cascades to its confluence with the wide, slow-moving Snoqualmie River.
Chase Barton, an engineer with the King County’s River and Floodplain Management (Rivers) Section in the Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD), looked out across the swirling water. “This portion is the most rapidly migrating river of those we manage in King County,” he said.
Sometimes, the County’s goal is to use engineering tools to manage a river. “Here,” Chase said, “our goal is to get people out of harm’s way.”
Read more from The Downstream Blog
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Commemorating May Day and International Workers Day April 26
Employees are welcome to participate in a celebration focused on protecting immigrants and refugees by commemorating May Day and International Workers Day. The event will feature guest speakers, a spoken word artist and is co-sponsored by the Executive Branch, King County Office of Equity and Social Justice and members of the King County Council.
Wednesday, April 26 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Chinook Rooms 121-123
View the flyer for more information.
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