Executive Constantine announces his plan to renew the King County Parks Levy, connecting regional trails and improving access to parks, green space and recreation 

Executive Dow Constantine announced his proposal to renew the current King County Parks Levy, scheduled to expire at the end of the year. His proposal for the August ballot would generate an estimated $738 million over the next six years to expand and connect regional trails, improve access to green space and recreation, and keep the county's parks and trails clean, safe, and open.  

The current King County Parks levy – which voters approved in 2013 – will expire Dec. 31. On Feb. 21, Executive Constantine sent to the King County Council a proposal that will expand and improve access to the county's 200 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, and 28,000 acres of open space. 

“This proposal isn’t just about access to parks and recreation – although that is plenty. It is about a generational investment in our environment,” said Executive Constantine.  

Read more in the official press release. 

Executive Constantine talks transit with The New York Times 

In a recent article, The New York Times highlighted how West Coast cities are leading the way in innovative public transportation, as compared to East Coast cities. It included commentary from transit experts and regional leaders in Los Angeles, New York, and here in King County, featuring King County Executive Dow Constantine. 

“Folks are tired of sitting in traffic,” he said. “They’re mindful of the environmental implications of driving.” 

Read more in Why the West Coast Is Suddenly Beating the East Coast on Transportation. Image courtesy of The New York Times. 

Bridge Fellowship empowers employees to achieve career goals and public service 

The King County Bridge Fellowship program continues to be a successful opportunity for employees to grow in their career development. The Fellowship is part of Investing In YOU, reinforcing a commitment to provide leadership and development opportunities to all employees.  

The program is a valuable opportunity that encourages each employee to explore new possibilities, for themselves and for King County. During the Fellowship, participants engage in classroom learning, group projects, presentations and career development activities, as well as interviews and site visits to explore the County’s agencies and their priorities. It is an experience that each Bridge participant has found personally and professionally rewarding. Here we connect with a current Bridge participant, and a previous Bridge Fellow to hear about their experiences. Read more.

King County Superior Court welcomes new judge 

Judge Aimee Sutton was sworn in Monday at King County Superior Court. Congratulations, Judge Sutton! We look forward to your outstanding work on the bench at the Maleng Regional Justice Center.

Pictured: From left, Judge Aimee Sutton and Presiding Judge Jim Rogers.

Four years into a more robust employee engagement effort that is part of Investing In YOU, we have been holding focus groups to figure out how to make our response to survey data more effective in improving engagement. We’ve learned a lot from you about what works and can offer these best practices that have helped boost belief that action will be taken as a result of the survey 11 points since 2015. This is the largest increase countywide on any question and speaks to the trust that is being built in the process. These practices are common among groups that have seen significant increases in areas where their action plans focused. Read more.

The King County Clerk’s office is one of the most important offices in the county - find out why! 

A new podcast from King County Superior Court features King County Clerk Barb Miner who shares why the Clerk's Office is the most important office you've probably never heard of. With 200 employees, reams of critical documents and even bloody knives, it's where you can find everyone's story. Listen to the podcast here.