HomeMy WebLinkAboutCitySlick_December_2013CITYSLICK p1
A newsletter for the City Council and employees of the City of Edina
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
2 Around The
Water Cooler
3 Staff Notes
3 Wellness Corner
4 Techy Tidbits
12|6|2013
Dec. 6, Mike, Public Works
Dec. 10, Jackie, Fire-
Rescue & Building
Inspections
Dec. 11, Jan, Police
Dec. 12, Michael, Edina
Art Center
Dec. 12, Greg, Edina
Liquor
Dec. 14, Richard, Edin-
borough Park
Dec. 16, Sean, Public
Works
Dec. 19, Tony, Public
Works
Dec. 19, Joe, Fire-Rescue
& Building In-
spections
Dec. 24, Kenna, Police
Dec. 26, Mark, Police
by Michael McGivern, Communications Intern
The City’s Engineering Department was proud
to add its latest set of wheels, a 2013 Nissan
Leaf, to its fleet of vehicles.
The brand new Leaf EV (electric vehicle) is a
zero-emission car that is being used as the de-
partment’s inspections vehicle. Edina is at the
forefront of a sea change in alternative fuel cars
for municipalities. Cities are adding electric ve-
hicles to help spur fuel costs. Minneapolis has
had electric vehicles
since 2008 and Eden
Prairie will soon add
an electric vehicle to
its fleet of squad cars.
Not only is the leaf
cheaper to operate,
but it had a reduced
price tag. The car
was purchased after
the City received a
$5,000 grant from
the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency (MPCA).
The Leaf was chosen over other EV models
from Chevy and Toyota because of its lower
cost. An additional federal tax break for plug-in
vehicles sweetened the deal to purchase the car.
“Pursuing the MPCA grant made sense
because the City of Edina gets to demonstrate
a new technology, reduce local air emissions
and save money in the long run,” said Envi-
ronmental Engineer Ross Bintner.
The vehicle boasts good range out of its 107
horsepower engine. Nissan points out that the
average American drives 29 miles a day, and
the Leaf has an average range of 73 miles on
a single charge. The leaf is very clean, getting
the equivalent of 129 miles per gallon in a
standard fuel combustion engine while city
driving.
“The electric vehicle allows us to showcase new,
more efficient technology,” said Laura Adler,
Water Resources Coordinator. “We’re showing
employees and the public that an EV can be a
realistic alternative to gas-powered vehicles.”
“The break-even point compared to a conven-
tional vehicle is about
5,000 miles per year.”
said Bintner. “The
next step to prove
the cost and environ-
mental benefit is to en-
courage the use of the
EV and displace miles
that would have been
powered by gas.”
Bintner explains
that if any City de-
partment with “big
driving days” in the
90-mile range should reserve the EV using the
MS Outlook “ED Electric Vehicle” calendar.
This author has driven the car on multiple oc-
casions and can sign off that it is fun to drive,
has surprising quickness and nice amenities
for a smooth ride. It’s great driving something
that isn’t hurting the environment in any way,
but also has satellite radio and heated seats.
Besides just gasoline, standard vehicle main-
tenance like oil changes and other routine
fluid changes aren’t needed for the Leaf,
adding savings over the long run.
Engineering Department Turns Over New ‘Leaf’
Continued on Page 4 ...
The new Leaf EV is on the go, headed to its next stop for the
Engineering Department.
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Following is a summary of some of the projects of some departments, divisions and
facilities. Other areas of the City will be featured in upcoming issues.
Communications &
Technology Services
The City’s I.T. Division successfully switched
over the City of Richfield’s 9-1-1 emergency
dispatching. With only a few months to
prepare, the switchover was finalized and took
place just after 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2.
Edina Art Center
Get your holiday shopping off to a good start by
swinging by the Edina Art Center’s “Gifts! Gifts!
Gifts!” sale in the Margaret Foss Gallery. The sale
runs through Dec. 23 and is open 9 a.m. to 8
p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Human Resources
Another open enrollment is in the books!
Thank you to all the employees who attended
the open enrollment sessions and took the
time to learn more about our benefits. As part
of our efforts to provide quality and service to
employees, the Employee Advisory Committee
and Human Resources Department have re-
viewed the open enrollment information
that was given to employees to make im-
provements for next year’s open enrollment.
Employees should always review their
paycheck for accuracy, but it is especially im-
portant to review your Jan. 3, 2014 paycheck
to ensure that the benefits you have selected
appear correctly. Contact Jessica Nikunen in
Human Resources if you find an error or have
questions.
Fire-Rescue & Building
Inspections
Edina Fire Marshal Jeff Siems recently re-
turned from Monrovia, Liberia, as part of a
mission trip. Early last month, a nationwide
coalition of firefighters landed in the capital of
Liberia to help the beleaguered African country
rebuild its fire services. Still recovering from
the aftermath of civil war, Liberia’s nearly 3.5
million citizens are served only by a few fire
trucks nationwide and have scarce resources
to rely upon in the event of a fire emergency.
Those on the trip to Liberia focused on
teaching fire rescue, fire prevention and coor-
dinating fire gear donation.
Police Department
As the 2013 “Focus In” campaign comes to an
end, Edina patrol officers are focusing efforts
on the “Move Over” law.
Each year, hundreds of accidents and injuries
occur while police officers conduct roadside
traffic stops. Following the tragic death of
State Trooper Ted Foss, the Minnesota Legis-
lature enacted the “Move Over” law, requiring
drivers to move to the furthest lane away from
an emergency vehicle. If a driver is unable
to move over, the law requires him or her to
reduce the vehicle’s speed while passing the
officer. From January through November, of-
ficers made 1,386 stops for “Focus In” vio-
lations.
Thank you to all of the officers who partic-
ipated in the 2013 campaign!
CITYSLICK p2
AROUND THE WATER COOLER
LETTER BAG
Selected letters are
printed in City Slick
each month to let you
know what residents
and businesses think of
your services.
“Thank you for the professional job you did putting together
the (‘Beyond the Badge’) story featuring Beyond the Yellow
Ribbon. Excellent work!”
— Mary Brindle, City Council Member
EMPLOYEE MILESTONES
Sharon Allison, Engineering, 10 years.
(Dec. 3, 2003)
Adam Helgren, Public Works, 10 years.
(Dec. 29, 2003)
Pat Sandon, Fire-Rescue & Inspections, 10 years.
(Dec. 18, 2003)
Jim Rygg, Police, 20 years. (Dec. 15, 1993)
STAFF NOTES
Dawn Beitel accepted the position of Assistant
Manager of Edinborough Park and the
Edina Aquatic Center and began her new
role on Dec. 2. Beitel has worked for the
City of Edina in the Parks & Recreation
Department since 2006 and holds a
bachelor’s degree in Recreation Admin-
istration/Therapeutic Recreation from St.
Cloud State University.
Compensation & Benefits Specialist
Candy Fiedler retired Dec. 2 from the
Human Resources Department. Fiedler
started with the City in March 1988 as
an Engineering Secretary. She became
a Human Resources Representative
in October 2000, holding the position
until January of this year when her title
changed to reflect her duties.
Roger Lemire, who had worked part-time
maintenance at Edinborough Park since
2010, started a full-time position as a
Maintenance Operations Coordinator on
Nov. 26. Lemire has more than 20 years’
experience as a maintenance technician,
and most recently worked at Golden Valley
Country Club.
Sandra Shaughnessy accepted a pro-
motion to Pottery Studios Supervisor at
the Edina Art Center. She will also coor-
dinate the Exhibition Programs. Sandra
began her full-time position Dec. 2,
as the fifth pottery studios manager.
Shaughnessy taught her first workshop in
clay at the Edina Art Center on Feb. 22, 1997.
For the past 16 years, she has consistently taught a Tuesday
evening intermediate and advanced wheel-throwing class,
and became part-time Pottery Studios Manager in 2007.
Shaughnessy has extensive pottery and ceramics experience,
having taught at Eastern Michigan University, Winona State
University and many regional art centers.
Benjamin Wenande began work Nov. 26
as a Community Service Officer for the
Edina Police Department. Wenande is
currently attending Normandale Com-
munity College, pursuing an associate
degree in Law Enforcement.
WELLNESS CORNER
Be Well During The
Holidays
by Jordan Gilgenbach,
Communications Coordinator
Given the dreary outdoors, more darkness, holiday
shopping and money concerns, stress and depression can
increase around the holidays.
What are the best ways to cut down on holiday-related
stress and depression and improve your quality of life?
Here are a few tips from the Center for Disease Control and
Mental Health America:
• Get enough sleep. Adults should get a recommended 6
to 8 hours of sleep per night.
• Exercise. Staying active helps relieve tension caused
by stress. Strive for 30 minutes of physical activity five
days per week.
• Watch what you eat. It’s easy to over-indulge.
Over-eating and drinking can reduce your energy level.
Practice portion control and stay away from unhealthy
foods.
• Don’t over-commit or over-spend. Set a budget, and
stick to it. Learn to say no – you don’t need to par-
ticipate in every activity. Know your limits.
• Manage your time. It’s difficult to remain focused and
calm when you are overly busy or running late. Plan
ahead and remain organized and calm. Take tasks at
your own pace.
• Practice stress-reduction techniques. Do something
calming for a while when tensions run high. Do
something you enjoy, like reading, exercising or medi-
tating.
• Don’t dwell on the uncontrollable. You can’t control
other people’s behavior. Don’t stress over it. Instead,
concentrate on how you can react positively.
• Talk to someone about your problems, whether it be a
co-worker, spouse, significant other or a therapist.
• If you need it, don’t be afraid to get help. Talk to
your doctor or a psychologist about the problems you
are facing and what is causing your stress and de-
pression. The City also has a free Employee Assistance
Program to assist staffers.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov or
www.nmha.org.
CITYSLICK p3
by Katie Bisek, I.T. Specialist
Have a safe and enjoyable
online holiday shopping expe-
rience by following these tips:
Use a credit card rather than
a debit card. Credit card
payments can be withheld if
there’s a dispute with a store and if the card is stolen,
you won’t have to pay more than $50 of fraudulent
charges. But with a debit card, you can’t withhold
payments—the store is paid directly from your bank
account. And if your card is stolen, you could be liable
for up to $500, depending on when you report it.
Don’t tell all. No online shopping store needs your Social
Security number or your birthday to do business. Only
fill in the required information. Also uncheck all of those
“Send me product news and alerts” boxes.
Make sure that when buying from a retailer or manufacturer
that you are on the real website. Here are four practical tips:
• Appearance: How is the grammar and punctuation
of the website? Is it easy to navigate? Legitimate
online store sites are professional and user-friendly.
• Believable: Is the website offering a new Xbox One
Console or Gold iPhone 5S for $25? If a deal seems
too good to be true, it probably is.
• Credible: Other than purchasing online, does the
store offer any other order placement method?
If you Google the website address, what is its
placement on Google? For established companies,
the completed results would have the address in one
of the first positions. When was the website created?
• Checkout: When entering credit card information
and finalizing an online purchase, verify the website
is secure. The checkout section of all legitimate sites
will begin with “https” (instead of “http”), noting that
it is secure. There should also be a padlock icon next
to the web address in Explorer.
Here are other tips for techies this holiday season:
• Keep a paper trail of your online transactions,
including the product description, price, online
receipt, terms of sales and copies of any e-mail ex-
changes with the seller.
• Check your statements. Don’t wait for your bill
to come at the end of the month. Go online reg-
ularly during the holiday season and look at elec-
tronic statements for your credit card, debit card
and checking accounts. Make sure you don’t see any
fraudulent charges, even from sites like PayPal. After
all, there is more than one way to get to your money.
• Beware of nasty links in your email. We know you
can’t wait to buy a newest “must-have” product for
half off, but make sure you only click on links that
you receive from familiar websites or trusted re-
tailers. If you don’t, you could wind up in a phishing
scheme and led to a website where hackers steal
your important personal or financial data.
• Lock your gadgets. During the holiday season,
thieves will be on the lookout for unlocked devices
that they can steal and use to make purchases.
Always make sure that if you leave your device lying
anywhere unattended, it’s locked and secure. Smart-
phones come with passwords, codes and even fin-
gerprint scanners (iPhone 5s, for example) to make
them extra secure, so make sure you use them.
• Beware of bad apps. Only download apps from a
trusted app store or online platform. Amazon, iTunes
and Google Play are safe, secure and have everything
you need, so why go anywhere else? Regardless of
where you procure your apps, if an application ever
begins requesting information that doesn’t seem ap-
propriate, delete it.
• Shop at home. The most secure place to do online
shopping is the one with the most secure network.
In most cases, that’s either in your home or at work.
Using public Wi-Fi is convenient, but if you’re typing
in sensitive information to make an online purchase
(credit card info, Social Security number, etc.) it could
easily be hacked by someone nearby.
If you have any questions, please email
helpdesk@EdinaMN.gov or call 952-903-5711.
CITYSLICK p4
TECHY TIDBITS
Leaf – Continued from Page 1 ...
There are no new plans for another EV to join Edina’s
fleet, but the Engineering Department’s satisfaction with
the Leaf leaves the door open for the City to look at more
in the future.
For more information, visit www.EdinaMN.gov/GoGreen.