The Heart and Soul of King County Parks

Cross-posted from King County Parks: Blogs From Your Big Backyard

Parks employee RJT can always be spotted at the Jim Ellis Memorial Regional Park’s Preston Athletic Fields with a smile on his face and a song ready to belt.  

RJT, who has worked for King County for 33 years, has been a staple at the play fields in the eastside community. He can often be heard singing loudly while leaf blowing and cleaning the pavement. RJT’s favorite tasks are push mowing the lawns and cleaning the community center. He’s also responsible for trash and recycle collection, cleaning the restrooms, and seasonal work like clearing invasive blackberry bushes.  

“I care about the plants and trees and flowers in our parks and facilities for the public,” RJT said. “And a clean safe playground for the kids.” Read more.

King County Metro’s ‘24/7’ commitment to bus shelter cleaning

Cross-posted from Metro Matters

At King County Metro, we know the importance to our riders of a clean and inviting bus stop. That’s why we’ve moved our cleaning teams to around-the-clock service, introduced a cool new tool to scrub sidewalks and are transitioning to clear polycarbonate in many of our bus shelters.

Metro Facilities Superintendent Jose Reyna and his teams are pleased to now provide shelter cleaning for three, eight-hour shifts per day.

“Metro upgrading to more frequent cleanings of bus shelters lets us respond more quickly,” Reyna said. “Also, we will have more intense cleaning coverage on weekends. We’re definitely stepping up our service.” Read more.

Attend an Open Enrollment info session or Benefit Fair

Open Enrollment for next year’s benefits is coming up, Nov. 1–15. Get a head start on understanding your 2025 benefit choices and the changes for next year by attending an online information session or a benefits fair hosted by your Benefits team.

Register for an Open Enrollment Information Session to:

• See what’s changing next year.
• Learn more about your 2025 benefit choices.
• Discover why it’s important that you participate in Open Enrollment.
• Ask questions.

Attend a Benefit Fair to:

• Talk with representatives from benefits and retirement vendors.
• Get your questions answered by your King County Benefits Team.
• Learn about 2025 benefit options and changes.
• Get assistance with Open Enrollment.

Benefit Fairs will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at several county locations. Find them here.

Five Questions with Joseph Weber, DHR Disability Services newest Disability Services Consultant 

1. What is your role at King County and when did you start? I am a Disability Services Consultant with the Department of Human Resources (DHR). My first day in this role was Monday Sept. 30, 2024.

2. What is your background in disability services? I have worked in various government agencies providing disability services to the public and a vast majority of work experience has been working directly with the King County community. Prior to my current role, I spent my previous 10 years in King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS), specifically working in the Veteran’s Program. Preceding my county experience, I worked in the WA State Employment Security Department, WA State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, and with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

3. What will you be responsible for in your new role? As a Disability Services Consultant, I will work with employees and department supervisors, managers, and human resources to assist with reasonable accommodations, return to work plans, medical leave, and other disability related services. Read more.

Small acts and big impacts with the Annual Giving Drive 

The King County Employee Giving Program (EGP) helps enrich communities and provides opportunities for people to thrive. The EGP’s Annual Giving Drive is a way for you to support a variety of causes ranging from arts, culture, and humanities to racial and social justice, and everything in between. If you are unsure where to start or what cause or organization to support, no problem. We aim to make it easier and more accessible for you to give because we know that small acts add up to big impacts! 

You can find EGP participating nonprofit organizations online or in the 2024 King County EGP Nonprofit Giving Guide. You can make your campaign pledge here. Pledge today and make a big impact for positive change. 

Check out this video to learn more.

La Niña predicted to return to King County, prepare for a potentially active flood season

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in King County. Scientists expect that La Niña, a natural weather pattern of cooler and wetter weather, will happen this fall and winter, creating the potential for an active flood season in the region from October through April.

Typically, La Niña lasts for one or two years, but the most recent La Niña lasted from 2020 to 2023, which was unusual. There were some moderate to high flood events during those years that resulted in major damage to homes, businesses, roads, and other important infrastructure in King County. Even minor flooding can lead to big disruptions such as closing roads and requiring costly clean-up and repairs to property.

It is hard to predict natural disasters, and climate change makes it even harder. Protect your loved ones, pets, community, and yourself by knowing your flood risk and making a plan for flood season. Learn more.

Make your vote plan

Do you have a vote plan? Research shows that voters who make a clear plan to vote are most likely to follow through and make their voices heard. Take a moment today to consider things like where you’ll vote, what pen you’ll use, and what resources you’ll use to research your choices.

If you’d like to return your ballot by mail, it’s best to get it mailed by Friday, Nov. 1, to be sure it’s postmarked on time. There are 85 official ballot drop boxes around the county and they’ll be open until 8 p.m. sharp on Election Day, Nov. 5.

For more information, visit https://kingcounty.gov/en/home/dept/elections.

Cultivating Psychological Safety Through Mindfulness, Part I

This workshop explores the concept of psychological safety and its importance in high-stress environments. Attendees will learn how to create a culture where team members feel safe to speak up, share ideas, and express concerns without fear of negative consequences. The session will also introduce mindfulness practices that enhance awareness and foster a present, empathetic approach to workplace safety. This class is focused on the BIPOC experience; however all King County employees are welcome. This class is offered by CuriosityBased and SolJoy.

• Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2 to 3 p.m.

Learner Catalog - InstructorLed - Cultivating Psychological Safety Through Mindfulness - Part 1 - Session details (neogov.com) Please note: Class registration will close two business days before the event.

RISE virtual Lunch and Learn Nov. 14

The Refugees and Immigrants Support and Empowerment (RISE) Affinity Group presents a virtual Lunch and Learn event with Maythia Airhart Hazardous Waste Management Program Director.

Attendees will explore pathways to career success in public service through connection, learning, and growth. All King County employees are welcome to attend. This Lunch and Learn will not be recorded.

• Thursday, Nov. 14 at noon on Microsoft Teams. Join with meeting ID Meeting ID: 247 594 252 283 Using Passcode: RWW5LE

Find out more here. For questions contact RISE@kingcounty.gov. For more information about RISE and other King County Affinity Groups, visit www.kingcounty.gov/AffinityGroups.

Pet of the Week: Aerith

I am a two-year-old, grey/white female Pit Bull dog, ID #A717623. At 50 lbs I'm considered a large breed dog.

I love treats and will happily "sit", "shake," and "lay down" for them. I am very energetic and love to play. I tend to calm down more when the people around me stay calm. I do best when I have lots of exercise and something to keep my mind busy. Due to my high energy I would thrive in a home without younger children. I am a spirited dog with a fun-loving personality. I am still working on my manners, so I would do best with a family who is willing to work with me and help me become the best dog I can be. If you're looking for an energetic girl to add to your family, please come down to RASKC to visit me.

As Pet of the Week, my adoption fee has been reduced. You can find out more about me and my other friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. If you have more questions, you can contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.