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
Budget cuts are unavoidable after state’s failure to fix broken county tax system
In recent days you may have seen news reports that the state legislature failed to take legislative action to address the state’s arbitrary and outdated one percent limit on property tax collections, which is the largest source of revenue for the County’s General Fund. For many years I, along with Councilmembers and other county leaders and employees, have advocated for a change to the one percent cap. Since its introduction in 2001, King County’s population has grown 30% and consumer prices have increased 70%. Inflation in recent years has been as high… Read More
Tim Anderson charting the future with Animal Services
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express Tim Anderson recenlty began in a new official role as Assistant Operations Manager of Regional Animal Services (RASKC). The position expands Anderson’s supervisory role to include all of RASKC, adding veterinary clinic support and pet licensing. “We’re extremely fortunate to have someone of Tim’s caliber to be one of the applicants and be successful,” said RASKC manager Gene Mueller. “He’s one of the best managers I’ve ever worked with in 30 years.” Read more.
Executive Constantine tours major Cedar River restoration project
King County Executive Dow Constantine toured a recently completed project that restored a nearly mile-long segment of the Cedar River to a more natural state, simultaneously improving salmon habitat and reducing flood risks for people, homes, and infrastructure. The Riverbend project restored 52 acres of floodplain east of Renton while creating side channels that provide slow-water, shallow habitat that is ideal for native salmon. It builds on the progress King County and partners made upstream with the successful Rainbow Bend restoration project that was completed in 2013. Read more here and watch the… Read More
BECU home loan discount for King County employees
King County employees who join BECU (Boeng Employees Credit Union) are eligible for home loan discounts through June 30, 2023. Members receive competitive rates, credits on closing costs, and savings on fees. To learn more, click here. See all available discounts on the Employee Discount webpage.
KCSO Search and Rescue Team assists in finding missing pilot
From the Sheriff’s newsletter KCSO’s Detective Ed Christian and his Search and Rescue Team assisted the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT) State Aeronautics Division in locating a pilot and his plane after they disappeared off radar a month ago. See the full story here.
What you can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Cross-posted from Keeping King County Green A recent first-of-its-kind study led by King County shows greenhouse gas emissions per person decreased. We are all doing more to protect the environment. But total emissions increased, in part, because more people moved here. To read more and watch a video about what you can do to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, click here.
What did it take to become a female operator at a King County wastewater treatment plant?
Cross posted from Clean Water Stories Pam Restovic made history as a woman in the trades, working as a wastewater operator in the early days of the Clean Water Act. This law set new regulations to protect our nation’s waters from pollution and created new jobs across the country. Like many women at the time, Pam didn’t envision this career path. She grew up in Santiago, Chile and immigrated to the U.S. for school at age 20. After graduating from college, she was working as a waitress when a customer who worked in… Read More
Metro welcomes new Transit Police Chief Todd Morrell
Cross-posted from Metro Matters Todd Morrell has been selected as the new Chief for the Metro Transit Police following a competitive recruitment process. Morrell boasts more than 25 years of experience in law enforcement. As an ardent supporter of transit, Morrell recognizes how vital the role mobility plays in helping our communities succeed and thrive. Read more.
Sheriff’s deputies attend Skyway community Easter event
From the Sheriff’s Newsletter The King County Sheriff’s Office hopped into the Skyway Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) Easter Egg Party recently. The deputies celebrated with 75 young Skyway residents and their families. The VFW provided cookie decorating, arts and crafts, lunch, lemonade, and a huge Easter Egg hunt for the children. Eggs were filled with sweet treats and tickets for prizes, and the spring showers didn’t dampen spirits with the hunt being held indoors. Children and their families left with full stomachs, stuffed Easter bags, and smiles all around.
Innovative foster program helps kittens and youth
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express Barbara Ramey, a Communications Specialist for Executive Services, posted a first-person account about her visit to Echo Glen Children’s Center to see a volunteer program for Regional Animal Services of King County up close. Echo Glen is a detention center for juvenile felons run by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The idea behind the program is to give the young people skills they need to make different choices. “The kids respond very well to the kittens,” the story states. Read more.
Reminder: WA Cares Fund payroll deductions begin in July
The WA Cares Fund is a new state long-term care insurance program administered by the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Beginning July 1, 2023, almost all workers in Washington are required to contribute to the WA Cares Fund via mandatory payroll deduction. The current premium rate is 0.58% of gross wages, or $0.58 per $100. For example, if an employee earns $50,000 annually, the total annual premium is $290 or $11.15 per paycheck. Use the WA Cares Fund calculator to Estimate your… Read More
Metro Operators of the Month for January and February 2023
Crossposted from Metro Matters When they’re in the driver’s seat, they are the kind, courteous, and helpful smile that greets you. Outside of work, they’re volunteering in the community, cycling and hiking the trails, and sprinting on the soccer pitch and the basketball court. They represent over a century of experience behind the wheel. The operators who drive your bus are as unique as you, and all of them love driving and giving back to their community. Read more.
Emergency evacuation training available for county-managed building tenants
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express If you work in person at a county site managed by the Facilities Management Division (FMD), even on a part time or hybrid schedule, you now have access to self-paced, online evacuation training. This is a shift from when each floor had “floor wardens” who were trained and assigned to help in emergencies. The change comes as a result of the county’s hybrid work environment. This expanded training ensures that the first capable person to access the floor warden kit during an emergency is able to act as… Read More
MLK Committee volunteers needed
The employee-led MLK Committee is seeking volunteers. The committee shares responsibility for organizing the annual MLK Celebration and designing the MLK Calendar for 2024. There are many opportunities available for those who would like to participate. This includes serving as a Larry Gossett Award ambassador, helping decide speakers and performers, artwork selection for the calendar, and much more. If you are interested, submit your information here by April 24. For questions, reach out to Jasmine Harbor in the Office of Equity, Racial, and Social Justice.
KCIA hosts first Airport Managers of Puget Sound meeting
Cross-posted from Plane Talk King County International Airport hosted the first quarterly meeting of a new group, Airport Managers of the Puget Sound (AMPS), last month. Representatives from 11 airports around the region attended. “It’s to discuss local issues, concerns and updates,” said Dave Decoteau, deputy director at KCIA, who helped launch the group along with Tim Mensonides of Auburn Municipal Airport and Joshua Marcy of Paine Field. “This month we had a discussion on the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the World Cup upcoming in 2026, the transition to unleaded fuel,… Read More
New Customer Service Center opens to the public April 20
Cross-posted from Executive Services Express King County will open its new Customer Service Center to the public on Thursday, April 20 at 8:30 a.m. The center, located on the second floor of King Street Center, 201 S. Jackson St. in Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood, is designed to be a “one stop shop” for many of the most-requested services offered by King County, including many offered by DES agencies. Read more.
Second Professional Development Scholarship launches May 8
The second and final application period for the 2023 Coalition Labor Agreement Professional Development Scholarship Program opens May 8 – June 4, 2023. The Scholarship Program is a benefit offered as part of the 2022 – 2024 Coalition Labor Agreement and is only open to employees represented by one of the unions in the Coalition. Applicants should familiarize themselves with the revised supplemental questions, rating criteria, and Individual Development Plan, which is highly recommended but not required. Scholarship award recipients who did not receive the full $3,000 from the January/February 2023 period may reapply to receive the remaining… Read More
Griffin Creek flooded but now farms and fish return following completion of innovative project
From Keeping King County Green Heavy rainfall in 2019 and 2021 caused more than just water from Griffin Creek to surge over the banks and fan out across farmer Todd McKittrick’s fields. Sand, gravel, and rock swept across 15 acres of McKittrick’s fertile land along Griffin Creek, rendering the acreage unusable for farming. The torrent also left adult coho salmon returning to the creek’s spawning grounds stranded in a field amidst the debris and grass, with many of the fish dying before they could complete their journey. Projects such as Griffin Creek are… Read More
Retirement resources for Financial Literacy Month
As part of King County’s commitment to employee wellness, Balanced You observes Financial Literacy month. Financial wellness is a key component to overall wellness. This week, we are highlighting retirement resources. Planning for retirement can feel overwhelming, but there are classes available that offer the information you need. If you are planning for retirement, consider attending the classes below. Road to Retirement Are you planning to retire in the next six months? If so, join your Retirement Team for this informative two-hour class. We’ll discuss procedures and forms, medical coverage options, and… Read More
Federal Public Health Emergency ends May 11
President’s Biden’s administration has announced that the current federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 will be lifted on May 11, 2023. This means that King County’s obligations under the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) will also end as of that date. Currently the county is prohibited from discharging, replacing, or discriminating against high-risk employees for seeking accommodations or utilizing leave to limit their risk of exposure to Covid-19. Because of the improved conditions in the community which have led to the announcement of the lifting of the state of emergency, as… Read More
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