HomeMy WebLinkAboutCitySlick_October_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
5 Techy Tidbits
5 Letterbag
10|11|2013
Oct. 13, Amy, Police
Oct. 20, Mary, Braemar
Golf Course
Oct. 22, Eric, Finance
Oct. 22, Brandon, Fire-
Rescue & Inspections
Oct. 23, Laurene, Police
Oct. 23, Jeff, Braemar Golf
Course
Oct. 23, Mike, Fire-Rescue &
Inspections
Oct. 24, Bev, Community
Development
Oct. 24, David, Police
Oct. 25, Ann, Parks &
Recreation
Oct. 25, Bill, Administration
Oct. 26, Lee, Public Works
Oct. 26, Kyle, Finance
Oct. 27, Ruth, Fire-Rescue &
Inspections
Oct. 31, Candy, Human
Resources
The Employee Advisory Committee (EAC) is en-
couraging employees to learn about changes in
benefits before open enrollment begins later this
year.
The EAC was created earlier this year with four
goals for 2013, including making recommen-
dations for health insurance plans offered by the
City, as well as the benefit contribution structure.
Over the group’s nine meetings, the EAC took an
in-depth look at the health plans available to the
City and reviewed contribution structures offered
by Edina’s comparison cities.
“Insurance is complicated! There are so many
options and ways benefits can be structured,”
said Water Resources Coordinator Laura Adler, a
member of the EAC. “We spent the majority of
our time this year learning.”
Public Works Coordinator Dave Goergen, another
member of the committee, feels the same way.
“This is not a simple A to B equation,” he said.
“There were a lot of variables to consider what
was best for the collective whole. I think em-
ployees will benefit from our recommendations.”
After learning the ins and outs of benefits, the
Committee made the following recommendations,
which were approved by City Manager Scott Neal:
• Drop the $500 deductible plan due to low en-
rollment.
• Incent movement from Copay plans to High-
Deductible Plans (Either the HRA or HSA
plans).
• Research deductible funding options for the
first year of switching to a High-Deductible
Plan.
• Structure the City contribution to make de-
pendent coverage more affordable.
• Eliminate $50 opt-out incentive which will
eventually be prohibited under healthcare
reform.
• Do not change the current LTD, STD, Life or
Dental plans.
The EAC has recommended the following monthly
benefit contributions for 2014:
• All Copay Plan Enrollees $825
• Single High-Deductible Plans $840
• Employee + Spouse/Child HDHP $925
• Family High-Deductible Plans $950
• Employees Opting Out $343.50
Copay Plans Don’t Make $en$e
Over the course of a calendar year, employees will
pay significantly more money on a Copay Plan
than on a High-Deductible plan, even if the em-
ployee has a large amount of medical expenses.
“Copay Plans are expensive,” Adler said. “You will
pay more for a Copay Plan than a High-Deductible
Plan over the course of the year, no matter what
kind of medical issues you have.”
Employee Advisory Committee Encourages Attendance At
Open Enrollment General Sessions
Continued on Page 3 ...
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.
Edina Liquor
Edina Liquor is holding a food drive through Oct.
31. All three Edina Liquor locations are collecting
food and cash donations to benefit Volunteers En-
listed to Assist People (VEAP). VEAP is a non-profit
agency serving low-income, senior and disabled
people in Edina, Bloomington, Richfield and south
Minneapolis.
This is Edina Liquor’s sixth year participating in the
food drive. Edina Liquor partners with Coors Light
and the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association
as part of a larger statewide food drive.
To entice customers to donate, Edina Liquor is of-
fering a 10 percent discountto anyone who donates
five or more non-perishable food items. In ad-
dition, store staff will ask customers at checkout if
they would like to donate $1 to VEAP, which will be
added to the purchase total.
In conjunction with the food drive, Edina Liquor–
Southdale, 6755 York Ave. S., will hold a paper-
shredding event 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct.
19. Anyone can bring personal and confidential
documents for shredding. Though the shredding
is free, a donation to the local food shelf is en-
couraged. Edina Liquor staff will give a coupon
for 10 percent off a purchase at Edina Liquor to
anyone who donates five cans of food or more at
the shredding event.
Engineering
The City’s street reconstruction season is quickly
winding down. Work in the Mendelssohn, Nor-
mandale, Braemar Hills and Lake Edina areas are
finished or will be completed in the coming weeks.
This winter, the City will request bids for 2014’s six
roadway reconstruction projects.
On Monday, Sept. 30, dozens of residents from
Edina’s Arden Park Neighborhood met in the City
Hall lobby to provide feedback on the 54th Street
reconstruction’s design scenarios. The consultant
will use this feedback to finalize plans for street
design and reconstruction, including a new bridge
over Minnehaha Creek, in 2014.
Fire-Rescue & Building Inspections
Fire Prevention Month is well under way! This
year’s theme is “Prevent Kitchen Fires!” which
stresses the need to use caution when cooking.
According to the National Fire Protection Agency
(NFPA), two out of every five fires start in the
kitchen.
This month, the Edina Fire-Rescue & Inspections
Department will make more than 70 presentations
to nearly 3,000 school children in Edina. The De-
partment is also coordinating fire drills for schools
and businesses throughout Edina.
In conjunction with Fire Prevention Month, the De-
partment is hosting a coloring contest for children
in Grades K-5. Children are asked to submit a
drawing of what their families do to prevent
kitchen fires. The winner of the contest will win a
ride to school on a fire truck. Entries are due Oct.
31.
The Building Inspections division has issued 88 de-
molition permits so far this year. With two and
a half months of the year remaining, the City is
on track to surpass last year’s record-breaking
numbers.
Police
October’s Focus In: School Speed Zone
As a part of the 2013 “Focus In” campaign, Edina
patrol officers are focusing efforts on school speed
zones this month. School is in full swing and the
outdoor activity around schools has increased.
Drivers entering school zones are mandated to
reduce their speeds when children are present.
Education will include a warning to those who
violate the statutes or codes. In extenuating cir-
cumstances, a citation may be issued.
“Focus In” is a campaign aimed to educate the
public and gain compliance with various state
statutes and ordinances. All statutes will be en-
forced year-round, but additional attention will be
paid to the focus of the month.
Responsible Firearms Ownership class
The Edina Crime Prevention Fund is teaming up
with the Edina Police Department to hold a Re-
sponsible Firearms Ownership class from 7 to 8
p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the South Metro Public
Safety Training Facility, 7525 Braemar Blvd. The
class will be offered again 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec.
3.
Through discussion and product demonstrations,
attendees will learn about Minnesota laws re-
garding firearm ownership, Permit to Carry,
weapon-and-ammunition storage in your home
and vehicle, and child-gun safety. Families are en-
couraged to attend together, or bring elementary-
aged children to learn about gun safety.
The classes are free and open to the public. No reg-
istration is required. Complimentary gun locks
will be provided to those who attend. Unwanted
CITYSLICK p2
AROUND THE WATER COOLER
STAFF NOTES
John Pagano began Monday, Sept. 16,
as a part-time Community Service
Officer for the Edina Police De-
partment. John is currently at-
tending Inver Grove Heights Com-
munity College and working toward
a degree in Law Enforcement. He
served in the U.S. Army and is cur-
rently a Training Non-Commissioned
Officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard.
Dena Pech began Friday, Oct. 4, as Video
Production Intern in the City’s Com-
munications & Technology Services
Department. He received his bach-
elor’s degree in communications
from Bethany Lutheran College in
Mankato, Minn., and most recently
interned at ParkTV in St. Louis Park.
He has also written several screenplays.
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Patrick Willson
began as a part-time Video Pro-
duction Assistant. Willson works
full-time as Community Cable
Access Coordinator at the City of
New Ulm, Minn. He has more than
15 years of experience in video pro-
duction at KMSP/Fox 9, Burnsville/
Eagan Community Television, Quad Cities
Community Television in Champlin and CTN Studio in
Coon Rapids. He received an associate degree in tele-
vision production from Hennepin Technical College.
After nearly nine years of service to the
City of Edina, Community Health
Administrator and City Sanitarian
Sherry Engelman retired Oct. 1.
She had been active on a number
of environmental and public health
boards and committees, including
acting as the staff liaison for Edina’s
Community Health Committee, and has
cultivated a substantial network of health professionals
throughout the state.
Former Fire Chief Marty Scheerer
has come out of retirement to assist
the City as a consultant, effective
Monday, Oct. 7. Scheerer’s as-
signment is temporary and 100
percent focused on the Building In-
spections Division. Scheerer will help
staff in the division continue their efforts
to sharpen customer service and business operations
practices.
CITYSLICK p3
Employees currently enrolled in the $30 Copay plan and $500 Deductible
plan are strongly encouraged to attend a Copay Plan Informational Session
in addition the General Session. In the Copay Plan Informational Session
you will learn:
• What the differences are between HRA and HSA plans; and
• How High-Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) save you money, re-
gardless of your medical situation.
Open Enrollment Sessions
Open enrollment will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 21.
Adler encourages all of her coworkers to attend one of the General
Sessions to learn more.
“It’s really good to have a full understanding of the options available before
you complete your enrollment” she said. “Everyone’s situation is different.
You may not be on the best plan for you. [These Open Enrollment General
Sessions] are a good way to learn about what is available.”
Accounting Associate Lynn Zuidema, another member of the EAC, echoed
her comments. “There are money-saving alternatives available,” she said.
“Listen to the options and run the numbers based on your medical ex-
perience this year. Personally, I switched plans to an HSA and I’m saving
$400 per month.”
“There are no dumb questions. If you feel uncomfortable asking a question
in the big group, ask HR or someone on the Advisory Committee for help,”
said Goergen. “It’s important to get your answer, because no two situations
are the same.”
In addition to the Human Resources Department and City insurance
brokers/vendors, members of the EAC will attend the open enrollment
sessions to discuss the changes for 2014. All employees are strongly en-
couraged to attend an open enrollment session listed above.
Open Enrollment – Continued from Page 1 ...
TRAP SHOOTING FUNDRAISER TO RAISE MONEY FOR POLICE K-9S
The United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) will hold
its “Clays for K-9s” Trap Shoot Fundraiser 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct.
27 at the West End Trap Club in Eagan. The Edina and Airport
police departments are hosting the event to raise money for the
upcoming 2014 National Detector Trials in May.
The Trials will take place from May 4 to May 7 next year at the
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and in Edina.
“Our K-9s are an integral part of our department. Without the
assistance of Diesel and Blade, a number of criminals wouldn’t
have been caught and drugs would have gone undetected,” said
Edina Police Chief Jeff Long. “Our K-9s also work as partners
with many other municipalities to help sniff out illegal drugs in
our community.”
The event at 4899 Brooklyn Lane will also include a silent
auction and K-9 demonstrations.
The cost is $50 per person, which includes the trap shooting,
shells (12- and 20-gauge are available), food and beverage. Indi-
vidual or squads of five are welcome. No prior trap shooting ex-
perience is required. For participants who care to eat, but not
shoot, the cost is $10 per person. Those 12 years of age and
younger cost $5.
All of the profits from the event will benefit the USPCA and
Retired Paws, a non-profit created to provide financial support
for retired aging K-9s.
For more information or to purchase tickets to the fundraiser,
contact the Edina Police Department at 952-826-1610. The de-
partments are also looking for individuals, businesses and civic
organizations to sponsor the National Trials to help defray costs.
For more information on the Clays for K-9s and National De-
tector Trials, contact Amy Kilian at amy.kilian@uspca.org or
612-282-0394.
– by Michael McGivern and Kaylin Martin
Edina Police Officer Mike Seeger with K-9 Diesel
CITYSLICK p4
PARKS & RECREATION’S FAUS A STANDOUT AMONG THE HERD
by Michael McGivern,
Communications Intern
“How did I feel when I heard
the news? About the same
way, I guess, that Columbus
felt when he looked out from
his ship and first saw land.”
— Baseball Hall of Fame in-
ductee Charles “Dazzy”
Vance.
Few athletes have the honor
of saying they are a Hall of
Famer. Recently, Assistant
Parks & Recreation Director Susan Faus got the call from
North Dakota State University (NDSU), congratulating her on
getting the nod for the Bison Athletics Hall of Fame.
On Friday, Oct. 11, Faus joined 258 of her peers and six
teams in the Hall during a ceremony at the Fargo Holiday Inn.
The real highlight was being recognized during halftime of
the homecoming football game, home of the back-to-back Na-
tional Champion Bison football team.
“I am so honored to be inducted into North Dakota State Uni-
versity’s Athletic Hall of Fame,” Faus said. “It’s humbling to be
recognized for [something] that I had so much fun doing.”
Faus was already inducted into her high school’s Hall of Fame
at Rocori High School in Cold Spring, Minn., a few miles
southwest of St. Cloud in central Minnesota, and with good
reason. After a high school career for the Spartans that in-
cluded multiple State Championships, school records in track,
two conference MVPs and more than 1,000 career points in
basketball, Faus took her duel-threat talents to Fargo.
At NDSU, the laundry list of accomplishments runs longer
than some legal documents. Faus started all 33 games as
point guard for the 1991 National Champion women’s bas-
ketball team. She is a four-time All-American in track and
a two-time North Central Conference champion in the 400-
meter dash. The list is much longer, but Faus is modest about
her accomplishments.
“My experience at North Dakota State was amazing. NDSU
has such a great tradition of outstanding athletic programs.
I was surrounded by so much talent in both track and bas-
ketball, which is why I had the success that I did,” she said.
For more information about the NDSU Hall of Fame and Faus’
accomplishments, visit www.gobison.com/news.
iOS 7 — 11 Changes That Matter To You
by Katie Bisek, I.T. Specialist
1 Screen Unlock — You can now
swipe anywhere on the Lock screen
to go to the Passcode screen
2 Control Center — Swiping
“up” will allow you to access to commonly changed settings such
as:
• Turn on and off Airplane Mode, Wireless, Bluetooth, Do Not
Disturb, Orientation Lock
• Adjust the screen brightness
• Adjust the volume;
• Turn on and off various utilities: Flashlight, Timer, Camera
3 Multi-tasking — As in previous iOS versions, you can double-
tap the home button and see a list of running apps. In iOS 7,
doing this will present you with larger thumbnails of each app
that is running. You can swipe and tap on the thumbnail to
switch to that app.
4 Closing Open Applications — To close running apps, double
tap on the home button to see the apps that are running. Swiping
“up” on the thumbnail will close the application. To close up to
three apps at once, swipe “up” with three fingers on the screen.
5 Spotlight Search has moved — You now swipe “down” from
the middle of the screen and the search box appears at the top.
6 Maps — Apple Maps now allows for full-screen mode and
night mode.
8 Safari — Close open windows faster by tapping on the show
pages icon at the bottom right of the screen. To close a page in
this view, just swipe “left” on it.
9 Save Your Cellular Data Plan — Here’s how you can block
cellular data usage in iOS 7 on an app by app basis.
• Part One: Limit what apps can use the cellular network
Tap on Settings > Tap on Cellular > Scroll down to Use Cellular
Data For section > Toggle the app’s on/off switches.
If you have a limit on your cellular data usage, you should defi-
nitely spend a couple of minutes making sure that only the apps
you want can use cellular data.
• Part Two: Stop apps from refreshing data in the back-
ground
Tap on Settings > Tap on General > Go to Background App Refresh
> Toggle the entire feature off or choose app by app.
10 App Grouping Folders — Now shown in its own screen when
tapped on rather than sliding down.
11 Calendar — To see a listing of your appointments, tap on the
Search icon to bring up the list.
LETTER BAG
Selected letters are printed in City
Slick each month to let you know
what residents and businesses
think of your services.
“I have been shopping at Edina
Liquor on Vernon for a few years
now, and want to say that I am pleased with the growth of the
craft/specialty beers I have seen over the years. When I first
started shopping, there was little selection outside the macro
breweries, a few imports and Summit, but now there is a great
selection of craft in both 6/12 packs as well as 22oz bottles.
Great job, Tim Hengemuhle, for taking what once was a wine
and spirits store that had beer into a well balanced liquor store.”
— Barry Bradley
WELLNESS CORNER
It’s not too late to sign up for
the autumn walk! Join the Edina
Wellness Committee as employees
walk to Chile! They will start the trek
from Minneapolis on Monday, Oct.
14 and end in Santiago, Chile, on Friday, Nov. 15. A chili feed
will cap off the event at the Edina Public Works & Park Main-
tenance Facility on Thursday, Nov. 21.
Each week, participants keep track of their steps using a pe-
dometer and submit the results every Friday during the walk to
Dawn Beitel in the Parks & Recreation Department. Participants
will be grouped with three other walkers to form a team of four.
If you’ve participated in past walks and still have a pedometer,
please use it if you can.
Prizes will be rewarded to the team with the most steps each
week, as well as to the top three individuals with the most
steps overall. And don’t forget your punch card! Each week of
the walk, participants will receive one punch. Those who finish
the walk will receive an extra punch at the chili feed.
To sign up, contact Centennial Lakes Park Assistant Manager
Laura Knollmaier at 952-833-9583 or
lknollmaier@EdinaMN.gov.
CITYSLICK p5
TECHY TIDBITS
EMPLOYEE MILESTONES
John Harris, Public Works,
5 years. (Oct. 20, 2008)
Jerry Reiter, Public works,
25 years. (Oct. 5, 1988)