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Home My WebLink AboutCitySlick_March_2013EMPLOYEE MILESTONES Sue Weigle, Senior Center, 35 years. (March 6, 1978) Ronald “Tony” Leone, Public Works, 30 years. (March 22, 1983) William Hanly, Public Works, 30 years. (March 26, 1983) Candy Fiedler, Human Resources, 25 years. (March 28, 1988) Susie Miller, Parks & Recreation, 15 years. (March 30, 1998) Darin Cizek, Police, 10 years. (March 24, 2003) Ron Tschosick, Parks & Recreation, 10 years. (March 13, 2003)CITYSLICK p1 A newsletter for the City Council and employees of the City of Edina INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 Around The Water Cooler 3 Where Are They Now? 4 My First Job 5 Wellness Tips 6 Letter Bag by Brady Skoglund, Communications Intern If you have been in Edina at any point over the past 33 years and saw a plow, street paver or seal coating truck there, chances are you have seen Dave Adams. Adams started in May of 1979 as a Mechanic for the Public Works Department, but a year later joined the Streets Division where he worked until his retirement in January. With special skills in asphalt work, Adams was responsible for driving plows, street pavers and other heavy equipment. When his supervisors were gone, he ﬁlled in. Before joining the City of Edina, Adams worked as a mechanic for 20 years at various dealerships and small garages. “I have worked on cars since I was young,” said Adams. His passion for cars has allowed him to own a 1972 Z-28 Camaro and a 1941 Willy’s Gasser truck, which he still uses for drag racing in Brainerd, Minn. Adams’ work with the City leaves him much to be proud of and he believes the residents of Edina feel the same way. “We did as good as any contractor would have done,” said Adams, “everybody pitched in.” Shawn Anderson, Streets Supervisor with the Public Works Department, worked with Adams since Anderson began in 1999. “He was always my go-to guy,” said Anderson, “he did his job very well.” Anderson felt that Adams was a good worker and very knowledgeable and wished he could have kept Adams around a few more years. Paving the Way to Retirement 3|29|2013 In addition to taking a two-week cruise to the Caribbean, Adams’ retirement has allowed him to catch up on some family time with his wife, Deb, and their three grandchildren, who are 8, 2 and 6 months old. For the past 20 years, Adams and his brother Mike have also attended the National Hot Rod Association in Brainerd and the brothers plan to continue this tradition for years to come. Although a life of retirement comes with relaxation and plenty of leisure time, Adams still thinks about the times he spent with the Public Works Department. “I miss it, I really do,” said Adams, “the hardest thing is not seeing the guys.” But Adams knows it was the right thing to do. “It was just time to go,” he said, “let somebody else take over.” March 29, Doug, Centennial Lakes Park March 31, Vera, Parks & Recreation April 1, Jennifer, Communications & Technology Services April 1, Richard, Police April 1, Kevin, Police April 1, Jeff, Fire April 2, Doug, Braemar Arena April 3, Susan, Public Works April 4, Bob, Public Works Park Maintenance April 5, Shelagh, Community Development – Assessing April 9, Edward, Public Works April 11, Dave, Edina Liquor – Southdale April 11, Lynette, Communications & Technology Services – – CITYSLICK p2 Communications & Technology Services In 2013, the Communications & Technology Services Department made a signiﬁcant change in the way it produces videos. Because online viewership is increasing at a much faster rate than traditional cable television viewership, the Edina video production staff began producing shorter videos for the internet and repurposing them for cable television, instead of the other way around. Their work paid off, as online viewership increased signiﬁcantly. Online viewership of the newscast “Agenda: Edina” increased more than 200 percent, increasing from 2,654 views in 2011 to 8,520 views in 2012. Online viewership of “Beyond the Badge” increased from 2,515 views in 2011 to 5,358 views in 2012. Even viewership of meetings increased, from 4,025 views in 2011 to 5,391. Fire/Rescue/Inspections The Edina Fire Department responded to a large ﬁre in the 5200 block of Green Farms Road on March 26. At approximately 3:05 p.m., a neighbor reported smoke and ﬂames showing from the rear of the 1.5-story home. Fire crews arrived to ﬁnd the home fully involved in ﬁre. A third alarm was called upon arrival, requesting mutual aid from more than seven surrounding ﬁre departments. Hennepin County EMS and the Salvation Army were also on scene. Xcel Energy and CenterPoint were called to handle the home’s utilities. No one was home at the time of the ﬁre. No injuries were reported. The homeowner’s cat and dog are unaccounted for. Fire crews worked for about two hours to knock down the ﬁre, which caused extensive damage throughout the home. Several additional hours were spent checking for extension and extinguishing hot spots. The cause and origination of the ﬁre is unknown and currently under investigation. The value of damage is undetermined, though the home is likely to be a total loss. Human Resources Employee Advisory Committee The Human Resources Department was pleased to receive several applications to participate on the newly created Employee Advisory Committee (EAC). Members were selected based on a variety of factors to increase representation of all employees. The members of the committee are Laura Adler, Engineering; Chet Boom, Public Works; Susan Faus, Parks & Recreation; Dave Goergen, Public Works; Nancy Karkhoff, Police; Ryan Schulze, Police; Amy Smith, Braemar Golf; Nate Stulc, Community Development; Scott Vadnais, Fire/Rescue/Inspections; and Lynn Zuidema, Finance. The EAC exists to assist the City in designing beneﬁt plans and employee policies that best utilize ﬁnite resources to attract and retain high- performing employees by providing feedback to Human Resources and Administration regarding employee beneﬁts and policies and helping to educate and inform other employees about beneﬁts issues and complexities. The committee has met twice, focusing on education regarding health insurance, the LOGIS health care consortium and health care reform. The committee will meet monthly with the goals for 2013 of making recommendations for the health insurance plans offered by the City and the City contribution to employee insurance, giving direction to the Wellness Committee regarding areas of greatest impact to target for wellness initiatives, and providing feedback on revisions to the Employee Handbook. Committee members will share the information from the meetings with their work groups. Employees are encouraged to contact members with questions as well as suggestions for the committee to discuss. Recruitments Since December, Human Resources staff has been working with managers to hire approximately 200 seasonal staff for the summer. This included training hiring managers on the new online application software. Depending upon the division, summer seasonal employees generally begin between late March and early AROUND THE WATER COOLER 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. Continued on Page 6 ... CITYSLICK p3 June and work through August or October. These employees work in several departments, including Public Works, and several areas within Parks & Recreation, including all Braemar Golf courses, the Aquatic Center, Centennial Lakes Park and recreation programs. Police Detective Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Edina Police Detective Tom McKenzie was presented an Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award during the annual Special Operations Training Association (SOTA) Tactical Training Conference on March 25 in St. Cloud, Minn. McKenzie was nominated by his peers to receive the distinguished award for his diligence, perseverance and devotion to duty and work for the Edina SWAT team. McKenzie was on the SWAT team for 10 years, before leaving to serve as the tactical liaison for the Edina Crisis Negotiators in 2005. Soon after, McKenzie also began to serve as the team leader for the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department Weapons of Mass Destruction Tactical Team. Focus In: April As a part of the 2013 “Focus In” campaign, Edina patrol ofﬁcers will focus police efforts on those who fail to display their headlights during the month of April. April marks the beginning of spring rain. Rain and road spray often mask or conceal motor vehicles. State law requires all vehicles to display their headlights any time visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, fog or other conditions that may render people or vehicles indiscernible on the roadway. Education will include a warning to those who violate the statutes or codes. In extenuating circumstances, a citation may be issued. Police have already focused on obstructed vision, failure to signal and unsafe equipment. In following months, police will “Focus In” on safety, curfew violations, pedestrian safety, child and seatbelt safety, school bus stop arm protocol, speed in school zones, night and snow parking, and the “move over” law. by David Katz, Communications Intern Mike Adams spent three decades in the Public Works Department’s Trafﬁc Sign and Pavement Marking Division. What he misses most about the job is the unrivaled level of camaraderie and the “helping hand” work ethic of the department. “It’s the kind of job where there’s never a shortage of work to be done,” Adams said. “Working as a team – lending a hand where it’s needed, even if something is not strictly your thing, is so essential.” Much as with his career, a big part of Adams’ retirement is dedicated to helping others. He has started his own small lawn care business to assist seniors who are unable to mow or take care of other basic yard chores. “In some cases, these types of cases are a big factor in allowing these individuals to remain at home, versus moving to a less [labor] intensive apartment or senior facility,” Adams said. “I’m really glad I can make a difference this way.” WHERE ARETHEY NOW? “Where Are They Now?” is a feature meant to give employees an idea of what their former colleagues are doing in retirement. If you know of a retiree who might want to be featured in “Where Are They Now?,” call 952-833-9522. “Focus In” is a campaign aimed to educate the public and gain compliance with various state statutes and ordinances. The violations the Police Department focuses on have seasonal relevance, affect the quality of life in Edina or pose safety risks to residents. All statutes will be enforced year-round, but additional attention will be paid to the focus of the month. CITYSLICK p4 TECHY TIDBITS by Greg Messetler, I.T. Specialist Through the City’s Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, most City employees are eligible to purchase software for home use for just $9.95. Through the Microsoft Home Use Program, employees can purchase Microsoft Ofﬁce Professional Plus 2013 for $9.95. The software suite for PC users includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, InfoPath and Lync. The suite for Mac users includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. InfoPath is used to streamline business and design sophisticated electronic forms. Lync provides Ofﬁce integration, instant messaging, video conferencing and app sharing. To purchase, visit http://www.microsofthup.com/hupus/ home.aspx?programCode=87201D48EE&country_ id=US&workEmail=&culture=en-US. Enter your work email and the program code 87201D48EE. If you are eligible, you will receive an email and can use the link in it to complete the purchase. For more information, contact I.T. Specialist Greg Messetler, 952-833-9594 or gmessetler@EdinaMN.gov. by Karen Kurt, Assistant City Manager Last year, the City of Edina began participating in a survey on city services sponsored by the International City/County Managers Association (ICMA). The survey allows us to compare our results on key performance measures with the results from other communities across the country. You can learn more about ICMA’s performance measurement program online at http://icma.org/en/results/ center_for_performance_measurement/home. Results from all of the participating ICMA communities will be available in August of this year. As part of the survey, we gathered data on employee satisfaction with our ﬂeet management, information technology and human resources services. There were 121 responses to the internal survey, producing the following results: tFleet Services: Of those who were familiar with the service, no one rated ﬂeet maintenance “Poor;” 8.1 percent rated ﬂeet maintenance “Fair;” 22.1 percent rated ﬂeet maintenance “Good;” and 69.8 percent rated ﬂeet maintenance “Excellent.” tTechnology Services: Of those who were familiar with the service, 0.9 percent rated technology services “Poor;” 23.7 percent rated technology services “Fair;” 48.2 percent rated technology services “Good;” and 27.2 percent rated technology services “Excellent.” tQuality of Human Resources: Of those who were familiar with the service, 12 percent rated human resources “Poor;” 23.1 percent rated human resources “Fair;” 40.2 percent rated human resources “Good;” and 24.8 percent rated human resources “Excellent.” Participants left a total of 243 comments regarding why they gave the marks they did. This information and the survey results will be used to help improve the quality of our internal services. In future years, the list of questions will expand as we start to gather more in-depth data related to our internal operations. Thank you to all employees who participated in the survey. Employees Rate Internal Service Areas MY FIRST JOB Dona Fowler What was your ﬁrst job? Babysitting 5-year-old twins (a boy and a girl). I was 16! Do you remember how much you were paid? Not nearly enough! If you could do it all over again, would you still take that job? Yes; I did it as a favor for a friend of our family. What did you learn on the job that you have carried with you into your career? Patience; and never to be out-numbered by anyone younger or more energetic! Dona Fowler began work for the City of Edina in August 2012 as a part-time Utility Billing Clerk in the Finance Department. Prior to that, she worked at CrossUSA, Inc. as Operations Specialist and most recently as an Information Analyst. Fowler also worked as an Account Receivable/Collections Manager for Walden On Lake Conroe Community Improvement Association in Montgomery, Texas, for 10 years. t “My First Job” is a feature of City Slick compiled by Lynette Biunno meant to give employees a glimpse of each other’s professional beginnings. CITYSLICK p5 Eating out for lunch can be costly, and is not very friendly to your waistline. According to an article by the United Press International, the average adult eats out about ﬁve times per week, most commonly during lunch. Eating fast food for one meal can contribute an extra 310 calories to your daily calorie intake, according to Reuters. To save money and those extra pounds from appearing, bring your own lunch to work. This way, you control the ingredients and portion sizes. Bring a variety of foods, hitting all food groups. Eat lunch in the lunchroom, not at your desk. Being focused on emails or other work tasks can take your attention away from what you are eating, causing you to overeat. Additionally, desks, keyboards and phones are often covered in germs. It is also important to take breaks from work. Consider eating lunch outside of the ofﬁce. When spring ﬁnally arrives, eat lunch outside or at a park. While you’re out there, take a stroll and get some fresh air. A little bit of added exercise during the day helps many people focus better after lunch. Don’t eat out too often, but don’t restrict yourself from engaging in a group lunch outing. Getting away from your desk and socializing with others can be a big morale booster. If out to eat, order water instead of soda, get a side salad instead of fries and practice portion control. The time between breakfast and lunch can feel like an eternity. Consider keeping a stash of non-perishable healthy snacks in your desk to eat between meals. Snack on almonds, trail mix, dried fruits or granola bars. Avoid items high in sugar and fats. TIPS FOR ...A HEALTHIER LUNCH OR SNACK BREAK by Jordan Gilgenbach, Communications Coordinator Upcoming Wellness Events Plant a Plant Work with City Horticulturist Tim Zimmerman to get your garden going! Plant a seed of your choice at one of two sessions: 10-11 a.m. Thursday, April 4 for chives, tomatoes, hot peppers and sweet peppers; 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 for broccoli, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliﬂower, green beans, lettuce, spinach, squash and watermelon. Both events will be in the City Hall lobby. Sign up at the City Hall receptionist desk. Instant Recess Get up and get moving! A red apple icon has been added to City computer desktops, linking to Instant Recess, a video to get you up and moving during the work day. Participate individually or as a department. Walk with the Manager The next walk with City Manager Scott Neal will be held 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 19 at Edinborough Park. Talk with Manager Neal while on a two-mile walk around the park. By cutting unnecessary calories out of your diet, you could possibly see a reduction in your waistline and an increase in your wallet. Always check with your doctor or physician before beginning a new diet or exercise routine. ‘Snack on almonds, trail mix, dried fruits or granola bars. Avoid items high in sugar and fats.” CITYSLICK p6 Ryan Browning began working for the Communications & Technology Services Department as I.T. Manager on Feb. 26. Browning holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. Most recently, Browning worked as a Network Systems Analyst for the City of Eden Prairie. STAFF NOTES Patty McGrath began work on March 18 as the General Manager for Edinborough Park and the Edina Aquatic Center. McGrath has a bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies from Winona State University. She has held various positions at the YMCA since 1991 and most recently was the Executive Director of the Hudson and River Falls YMCA. The Public Works Department welcomed Thomas Buckley as a Public Service Worker – Streets/ Asphalt on Feb. 11. Prior to coming to the City of Edina, Buckley worked at the City of Prior Lake in its Streets & Utilities and Parks Division since 2007. Brittany Salvate began work as a full-time 9-1-1 Dispatcher on Feb. 18. Salvate most recently worked as a Loan Doc Specialist for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage since 2010. Bryon Sanford joined Braemar Golf Course as the Golf Maintenance Technician II - Irrigation. He began work on Feb. 4. Sanford most recently worked as an Assistant Superintendent at La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc, Calif. He has his Turfgrass Management Certiﬁcate from the University of California – Riverside. Selected letters are printed in City Slick to let you know what residents and businesses think of your services. “Somewhere around 4:30 a.m., I heard the plows while getting ready to head out to work (I manage a school bus company that in part serves Edina). Going to start my car, I saw the top knocked off of my mailbox – and that of the new neighbor two doors down. Remembering it mentioned at a Council meeting, maybe around noon I called your receptionist asking [the] policy on damaged mailboxes. She said you repaired them and took the [address information]. “Dealing with school snow issues, I missed your staff call. But on getting home, I found the mailbox back on the post. Admittedly, after one was wiped out six years ago, I installed a quality molded product with a breakaway top. But still, the swiftness and professionalism amazed me, even though I already know you run a class operation. Please tell staff thanks.” – Dick Novack “Enjoyed reading (cover to cover) About Town today. Nice balance of interesting stories about people, places and things going on. Thought the article about Michael Frey was really good as well as the photo (although I’d have liked to see a little photo of Sophie, too). I learned things about him I didn’t know and I’d never seen his extraordinary ‘Portrait of Jack.’ “I especially appreciate the coverage of art in Edina (‘Oxymoron,’ photo of ‘Friendship’ sculpture, article about Michael). Keep up the good work.” – Barbara La Valleur “Thank you all so very much for the generous gift cards to Cabela’s my favorite store on the planet! And for the cash gift too! You are all most kind and generous. I’m only a few days into retirement and I’m loving it. It feels so wonderful to wake up and have total control of your time. Those ﬁsh are getting really nervous now! The one thing I know now that I will miss the most are you folks. The City of Edina has the best people to work with. Don’t be surprised if I swing by from time to time to ‘rub it in.’ Retirement rocks! I’ve never had so much positive and loving and caring attention these past few weeks – amazing! My egotistic head barely ﬁts through the door. It has been a great career these past 35 years and I thank all of you for being so friendly, caring and supportive. Looking forward to a happy and healthier 2013 ﬁlled with lots of ﬁshing, hunting, exercise, family (should have mentioned that ﬁrst, don’t tell my wife) and relaxation. Headed to Cabela’s next week on my way up north. I will think of you all. Many thanks!” – John Keprios “Just read About Town cover to cover. You make it better all the time. Thanks!” – Gordy Lewis LETTER BAG Recreation Supervisor Donna Tilsner will take over the leadership of the Edina Senior Center following the retirement of 35-year City employee Sue Weigle April 30. Tilsner will resume many of her current duties in the Parks & Recreation Department and will assist in the training of her replacement later this spring. –