King County to observe Presidents' Day holiday on Monday, Feb. 20 

Most King County offices will be closed in observance of Presidents' Day on Monday, Feb. 20. Due to the nature of our work, some services will continue as normal while others will operate on a reduced schedule.  

Metro will remain on regular weekday service. 

If you have any questions about your schedule, please talk to your supervisor. Offices will return to normal service on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Black Women's Experience Project survey deadline is Monday, Feb. 20

A message from Anita Whitfield, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer

The Black/African Women’s Affinity Group is conducting a study, called the ‘Black Women’s Experience Project,’ to identify and better understand the root causes of any issues that may lead to an unhealthy workplace culture for Black women and ultimately all employees.

A key part of the Black Women’s Experience Project is an all-employee survey, which we are inviting you to participate in between now and Feb. 20, 2023. While the overall project centers on the experiences of Black women, King County encourages all employees to take the survey as we ultimately want to understand the experiences of any employees who may be experiencing inequities in the workplace.

Responses to the survey are meant to collect general information on employee experiences and will be anonymous, with no personally identifying information. Please see the FAQs to learn more about the Black Women’s Experience Project.

If you have a specific concern about your experience as a county employee, please see the County anti-harassment policy for information about reporting those concerns.

Have an idea to improve language access services? Your department may be eligible for a grant.

King County’s Office of Equity, Racial and Social Justice has grant funds available for qualifying language access projects and programs. 

The goal of this funding is to assist departments with implementing their Language Access Plans and ensuring meaningful access for persons with disabilities or who speak languages other than English. Eligible proposals must address language access needs or gaps related to COVID-19 and its impacts.

Your department or agency is encouraged to apply. If you have an idea, reach out to your Language Access Liaison to discuss potential programs or projects that may be eligible for funding. Your Language Access Liaison has access to the application and is briefed on eligibility requirements. 

Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis through Monday, March 13, 2023.

Learn more about this program and see examples of funded projects.

Megan Clarke, new King County CIO, featured in Government Technology

Megan Clarke, former Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the city of Burbank, CA, took over King County’s IT Department in January. The announcement was recenlty featured in Government Technology.

Prior to joining King County, she worked as a CIO for Stanford University, the University of Southern California, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Read more.

Black film series: Do the Right Thing

In celebration of Black History Month, the Department of Executive Services (DES) is presenting a three-part film education series from the golden era of Black cinema. 

The second film in the series is Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee. The film was a critical and commercial success and received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. In 1999, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress, and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

The presentation will feature commentary with Marcus Stubblefield, the Criminal Justice Strategy and Policy Section Manager for the King County Executive Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget.

• Friday, Feb. 24 from 3 to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Passcode required.

To obtain the passcode for this event, or for more information, contact Cecelia Hayes.

The Black Film Series is sponsored by DES. Employees should check with their supervisor for approval before attending this virtual gathering.

DNRP: Celebrating Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, Art Hendricks, the Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Manager for the Department of Natural Resources and Parks, was asked to curate a list of resources that employees and the community can access to deepen our knowledge and awareness of Black history.

“I encourage you to intentionally learn, discuss, and honor the contributions of African Americans,” stated Hendricks. “Most important, honoring Black History Month is an opportunity to create a sense of community and belonging within our workplace, King County, and across the country.” Read more. 

Do you file an annual financial disclosure? Watch your email for information

If your department has determined that you need to file an annual financial disclosure form, watch for an email from donotreply@neogov.com that says "System - Task Ready" in the coming weeks. Like last year, the Financial Disclosure Program will be sending forms through NEOGOV rather than through county email. Participation in this program is required if you receive the email from NEOGOV. All forms are due by April 15, 2023.

Please contact your department directly if you have questions about why you have been asked to fill out the form. For any questions about the Financial Disclosure Program or the new process, please email financialdisclosure@kingcounty.gov.

Vehicle use policy changes

The Use of Vehicles for County Business policy, which covers the use of non-revenue county vehicles and employee-provided vehicles to conduct county business, was recently updated.

Since county employees conduct business all over Washington state, one important change that came with this update is allowing vehicles to be driven outside of King County without prior authorization. However, other policies and department or division requirements still apply. Read more.

State Paid Leave benefits assists military family members

The King County Veterans and Military Affinity Group (VMAG) would like to remind all County employees who are family members of Active Duty, Guard, or Reserve members, that the Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program is available to assist you when the stressors of deployment arise.

The PFML program allows up to 12 weeks of paid leave to prepare for a family member’s pre- and post-deployment, or to manage childcare issues related to a deployment. This benefit may be useful if you have exhausted your accrued leaves. For eligibility information and to apply, view the Frequently Asked Questions page and go to Paid Family and Medical Leave. Contact the program by email at paidleave@esd.wa.gov.

Pet of the Week: Mooseph

Hi, I'm Mooseph, a female Pit Bull looking for a home! I am an affectionate lovebug who would be thrilled to cuddle up with you at home. I do best when I have lots of exercise and something to keep my mind busy.

You can find out more about me and my friends on our website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) has moved back to walk-in services. Find out more information about our adoption process on our website. If you have more questions, contact RASKC via phone at 206-296-7387 (PETS) or email pets@kingcounty.gov.