Reminder of Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment and Inappropriate Conduct Policy

King County is committed to a respectful, productive, inclusive, and equitable workplace, and the Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment and Inappropriate Conduct Policy for Executive Branch employees sets out our expectations in the workplace as well as the conduct and behaviors that will not be tolerated. It also outlines how to report incidents, all employees’ responsibilities, and the consequences of non-compliance. 

If you haven’t read the policy or want to refamiliarize yourself with it, you can find it here. There is also our Harassment Prevention for Employees training, which explains the policy, roles and responsibilities, prohibited behaviors, and more. You can find your completed trainings in your KCeLearning NEOGOV Learn Dashboard by clicking on Training and then View Course Transcript. If you still need to complete the training you will find a direct link to the course under your Tasks.   

For Metro employees, a Metro-specific version of the Harassment Prevention for Employees training called "The Way We Work Together" is available. Metro's Leadership will share more information on this training with Metro staff.  

King County GIS Center wins national award

The King County GIS Center was honored to be awarded the 2024 URISA Exemplary Systems in Government: Single Process Distinguished System award for our new Aerial Imagery Program interactive web application. The GIS Center has been acquiring high-resolution aerial imagery since 1998 and administers a cost-sharing program to make imagery available to local jurisdictions, reducing the costs for everyone in the process.

Before the launch of this new application, managing each imagery order required manual coordination including multiple email chains, pdf documents, shapefiles, and spreadsheets. It was easy for things to get lost or steps to get missed, and jurisdictions were in the dark about the status of their orders. Now, the application provides a landing page with information about the program, the status of each biennial imagery acquisition, and cost-estimates that allow each jurisdiction to budget ahead. Read more.

New, stronger batteries to boost King County Metro’s trolley bus fleet

Crossposted from Metro Matters

Electric trolleys are Metro’s original zero-emission fleet. Our 174 “trackless trolleys” are preparing to get a power boost that will increase their ability to travel farther off wire and prepare them for continued service to the region.

Kiepe Electric and Metro have reached a $26 million agreement for Kiepe to supply new, improved battery packs for our trolley fleet. Metro’s current fleet of 174 trolley buses went into service in 2015 through 2017. The fleet had off wire capabilities that were state of the art for the time, allowing buses to detour around incidents and construction for short distances. Read more.

"Read to Me" program allows incarcerated parents to read books to children through jail-library partnership 

Crossposted from the DAJD newsletter

Every quarter, DAJD staff teams up with Seattle Public Library (SPL) to host a “Read to Me” workshop with people housed at King County Correctional Facility. Through this reoccurring program, residents attend three sessions with SPL’s librarians, ultimately resulting in a recorded story that is sent home to children, grandchildren, or other young relatives as a special keepsake.  

“Our role as Children’s Services Librarians is to help parents and caregivers connect with their children through sharing stories and books, and to support parents as the most important teachers in their children’s lives,” said Seattle Public Librarian Lauren Mayer.

“This program is an extension of that philosophy, with the goal of reaching parents who are experiencing significant barriers to maintaining that positive and loving connection with their young children.” Read more.

Transit changes are coming to south King County: Metro wants your feedback on proposed route improvements

Crossposted from Metro Matters

As Link light rail extends south, King County Metro’s South Link Connections mobility project is working to improve public transportation for communities in south King County.

We invite you to learn more about these proposed changes and take our survey by February 28.

In response to what we heard from community members in Algona, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Normandy Park, Pacific, SeaTac, Tukwila, and parts of unincorporated King County, Metro is proposing several improvements to service and is seeking your input. Read more.

Larry Gossett Service Award nominations close Dec. 17

The 2025 Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration will be held Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Community members and King County employees are invited to join in honoring our nation’s foremost human rights leader and King County’s namesake.

As part of the celebration, the Larry Gossett Service Award nominations are now open through Dec. 17. The award recognizes and affirms an individual or organization that has made significant contributions in the areas of racial equity, social justice, and/or human rights in King County.

For more information about the award nominations, click here.

Get Movin’ with Balanced You: Winter 2025 schedule

These 30-minute move breaks are free and virtual so you can tap in from anywhere and benefit from the instruction of a certified trainer. Join us for all the classes in the Get Movin’ with Balanced You series focusing on yoga, stretching, cardio, the core, mat-based Pilates, and strength training. Classes are for all levels, from beginner to advanced. No special gear is needed, and the sessions are all body-weight movement. A yoga mat is optional.

View more information and register here.

Supervisors: Here is a printer-friendly PDF of the schedule to post at your worksites for employees who do not have access to email.

We look forward to seeing you there! If you have questions, please contact BalancedYou@kingcounty.gov

Pets of the Week: Mackerel and Sturgeon

We are best friends who would love to find a forever home together. Mackerel, ID #A720675, is a two-year-old, male, domestic shorthair cat, lighter brown tabby/white colors. Sturgeon, ID #A720674, is a three-year-old, male, domestic shorthair cat, darker brown tabby/white colors. We are affectionate lovebugs who would be thrilled to hang out with you at home once we get to know you. We are gentle and loving cats who like to take things slow. We may get nervous in new situations, so are looking for a family who understands we might need some time to warm up. Because of our shy nature, we would do best in a calm, quiet home. We will need patience and time to acclimate to our new environment at our own speed. It is best to keep us in a smaller, quiet room with our food, beds, and litterboxes until we are comfortable and confident enough to start exploring the rest of our new home. Once we get to know you, we will be very devoted friends.

We are neutered, current on vaccinations, and microchipped! Our adoption comes with many benefits, including 30 days of opt-in pet insurance through Trupanion. You can find out more about us and our other friends on our website at kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. If you have more questions, you can contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.