December 17, 2007

News You Can Use

Tacoma Power employee meetings on December 19 and 20
To bring Tacoma Power employees up to date on the strategic planning effort and to answer any other questions, Utilities Director Bill Gaines and Superintendent Gary Armfield will hold Tacoma Power employee meetings in the Auditorium on Wednesday, December 19, at 3 p.m., and Thursday, December 20, at 8 a.m.

Want December 28 paycheck on time? Be prompt at year-end
The pay period ending December 23 is the final pay period for 2007. Because of the holiday, that will be a short processing week, so Payroll is asking for everyone’s assistance to ensure timely and accurate paychecks on December 28. Follow these steps:

• Employees, supervisors/managers and timekeepers must have all time entered, released and approved by December 23.

• If you are going to be off during the holidays and you enter your own time, enter all time through December 31 and release it for your supervisor’s approval.

• Supervisors should approve time from December 24 through December 31 after the pay period ending December 23 has been processed.

• Payroll will not run any off-cycle checks for missed pay, such as upgrade pay or overtime, on this final check of the year. Any missed time will be processed on the pay period ending January 6, 2008, as a prior pay period correction.

For more information, contact Katy Erwin, Finance, 593-5824.

Coming soon to your work area: new copiers and training
Copiers throughout TPU facilities were rebid recently, and Konica Minolta Business Machines won the bid for 2008 through 2013. By the end of this year, TPU will have switched over completely to Konica copiers. To get employees started on the machines' basic functions, Konica representatives will be available for training as the machines are installed in each work area. Consider bringing sample jobs to any training session you attend. Kathy Palmer, Copier Services, 502-8176, is available to answer questions for employees who were unavailable during initial installation and training, or for any questions that come up after using the new machines for awhile. Watch Newsline in January for notice of more in-depth training that will explain efficient use of the machines' many features.

What's Cookin' the Week of Dec. 17
Cup of Soup & Sandwich — $2.63
Cup of Chili or Chowder & Sandwich — $2.81
Salad — $2.76
Hot Special — $3.03

Monday
▪ Cream of Mushroom, Turkey Burger
▪ Chicken & Cheddar Salad
▪ Cheese Tortellini with Alfredo Sauce, Garlic
  Bread, Vegetable

Tuesday
▪ Beef Noodle, Bacon & Egg Salad
▪ Tomato Stuffed with Ham Salad
▪ Hamburger Steak, Mushroom Gravy, Mashed
  Potatoes, Vegetable

Wednesday
▪ Smoky Spicy Chicken, BLT Wrap
▪ Spinach Salad
▪ Teriyaki Chicken over Rice, Salad

Thursday
▪ Split Pea Soup, Ham & Swiss on a Kaiser
▪ Portobello Mushroom & Chicken Salad
▪ Turkey ala King over Noodles, Vegetable

Friday
▪ Clam Chowder, Fishwich
▪ Taco Salad
▪ Polish Sausage, Macaroni & Cheese, Salad

If you have questions or to place an order, call the Cafeteria at 502-8179.

Share the news
The deadline to submit items for Newsline is
10 a.m. Fridays. E-mail Newsline, or call editor Laurel Willoughby, 502-8754, if you don't have e-mail access.

Know your parking lots — B1 is for customers only
Of the eight parking lots at TPU, employees and visitors can park in seven of them . . . yet some still choose to leave their cars in B1, the sole customer-only parking lot. It’s located in front, on the west side of Washington Street (to your left if you’re standing on the front steps of TPU).

Kafeteria kleptomaniacs — please return trays, plates, cups and silverware
Ever been in line at the Cafeteria when they’ve run out of silverware? Part of the reason is that employees are hoarding their used dining implements. If there's a pile of dirty dishes — even a lone, licked fork — in your work area, please return these items to the Cafeteria.

Mileage reimbursement goes up to 50.5 cents per mile on January 1
In response to continued high fuel prices, the Internal Revenue Service recently announced that the standard business mileage rate will be 50.5 cents per mile for transportation expenses paid or incurred beginning January 1, 2008. This is a two-cent increase over the current rate. The City’s Travel Policy will be updated to reflect the new rate. This rate will be used to compute reimbursements to City employees who use personal vehicles for official City of Tacoma business. The TRIP transaction in SAP has been reconfigured to use the new rate automatically for expenses incurred starting January 1. If you have questions or concerns about mileage/travel reimbursement requests or SAP TRIP functions, contact Jeff Christensen, Accounts Payable, 502-8625.

Public Utility Board results from December 12
All items passed during the Public Utility Board meeting on December 12, except the contract to Gemini Forest Products for railroad cross ties and switch ties for Tacoma Rail as needed ($698,684.50, plus tax), which was held over to the next meeting.

Tacoma Water hoops team brings 3-0 record to Monday’s game
A basketball team of mostly Tacoma Water employees has gone 3-0 in Metro Parks company league play. The next game is Monday, December 17, at 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln High School. The season runs through February. Players include Michael Washington, Justin Pelesasa, Ben Griffin, John Mattson, Ralph Tipton and Tony Lindgren from Tacoma Water; Joe Shanahan, Tacoma Rail; and Tony’s brother, Adam Lindgren.

Perfect picks in Cafeteria football contest
The winner in week 14 of the Cafeteria football contest was Mike Reece, Transmission & Distribution, with a perfect 15 of 15 correct choices. The winner for week 15 will be posted Tuesday morning. Ballots for week 16 are in the Cafeteria and must be turned in by Friday, December 21, at 4 p.m. One entry per person per week. The person who picks the most winners each week earns a $10 Cafeteria food card and an entry in the Super Bowl contest at the end of the season. The winner of the Super Bowl contest takes home a $50 gift card to the Outback Steakhouse.

Get Smart

XiBuy procurement software going live December 18; help sessions on December 19 and 20
It is anticipated that XiBuy, the City's new procurement card software, will go live on Tuesday, December 18. Barring any last-minute testing issues, procurement card approvers should begin looking to their Outlook inboxes for notices of new transactions on December 18. Several drop-in sessions are scheduled just after go-live to answer questions and provide hands-on assistance:

• Wednesday, December 19, 1 to 4 p.m., TPU Computer Training Room and TMBN Computer Training Room
• Thursday, December 20, 1 to 4 p.m., TPU Computer Training Room

Procurement card approvers will receive separate instructions for clearing transactions from the old system. For questions, contact Kim Kerner, procurement card administrator, 502-8889.

Giving Back

CD of employees' original music goes on sale December 18; proceeds benefit Community Connection
Are you shopping for a unique present for that special someone this Christmas? Why not consider the gift of music? We have it right here at TPU with The CD of Tacoma: Music Project Volume 1. Four TPU employees are featured on this first-ever collection of original music, with proceeds from each CD sale going to Community Connection. The CD is $10, or $9 for two or more. This limited-edition collection of original music composed and performed by people you know and work with will be available beginning Tuesday, December 18. So be sure and get your TPU CD PDQ for VIPs at Xmas, AOK? To buy a CD or for more information, contact Randy Stearnes, 502-8224.

Donate items for flood victims — it's a good thing to do, and it counts toward your incentive goal
The Cowlitz River Project has arranged with the Power Warehouse to accept donations to the Lewis County Salvation Army and United Way to benefit flood victims. Donations can be left at the Power Warehouse counter. Some of the items they need most include:

The area also needs volunteers who have power washers. If you have questions about donating items or services, contact Cyndy Jacoby, Cowlitz River Project, 779-7509.

Nearly five dozen pints came from November 16 blood drive; next donation date is January 18
"Countess Vampira" Viv Leach, Finance, says that TPU employees ROCK! The November 16 blood drive was a tremendous success — we had 59 donors, including five first-timers, which saved 177 lives! Thanks to the following silent heroes: Ervin Willoughby, Mark Horst, Roy Lovato, Andris Pudists, Erin O'Brien-Smith, Herb Campbell, Paula Mazurek, Marla Sanders, Robert Jensen, Chad Druffel, Chuck Apgar, Travis Metcalfe, Ken Scudder, Greg Starr, Susan Cearley, Al Hess, Heidi Hubbard, Janice Pieper, Rick Cole, Rachel Allen, Tim Ross, Karl Kaman, Pat McCarty, Tom Clarke, Byron Larsen, Michel Peloquin, Blake York, Brad McLane, Morgan Johnson, Francis Sammy, Scott Roose, Paul Hickey, Bob Peters, Bruce Conyers, Helene McSweeney, Kari Halliday, Jim Clark, Dan McCabe, Peter Kandris, Jeremy Dunn, Jon Sigafoos, Ryan Flynn, Richelle Krienke, Matthew Ahola, Jeff Rusler, Joan Fitzpatrick, Robert Vasquez, Toby Brewer, Ed Gookin, Tom Arter, Heather Bowen, Seth Doull, Pam Hefley, Russell Post, Michael Robinson, Terry Coggins, Randall Kramer, Steve Roberts and Robert Collins. The next blood drive is January 18, not January 17 as previously reported. Contact Viv, 591-5539, to make an appointment for the first blood drive of 2008.

Three employees eligible for donated PTO or sick leave
Kevin Leib, Grounds Maintenance; Holly Mazurek, Customer Service; and Dennis Johnson, Building Maintenance, are eligible to receive donated PTO or sick leave. To donate, contact your timekeeper or Public Utilities Human Resources, 502‑8158, for a PTO/sick leave donation form. You also can download the form from the Human Resources section of CityWeb.

Green Scene

We have a winner in the Hidden Holiday Message game . . . but all ridesharing employees are winners!
Thanks to all who participated in the CAT Mews Hidden Holiday Message game in last week’s Newsline. Pam Hefley, Natural Resources, won the Baskin-Robbins gift certificate. Isn’t that cool? Any time you have questions about ridesharing options at TPU, contact Randy Stearnes, employee transportation coordinator, 502-8224.

For Your Benefit

Spend up to $5,000 per category of savings bonds beginning January 1
Beginning in 2008, you can spend up to $5,000 a year per Social Security Number to purchase each of four types of bonds: Series EE savings bonds (paper or electronic) and Series I savings bonds (paper or electronic), for a total of $20,000 in a given year. The City offers only paper bonds. Employees who deduct more than $5,000 a year, or $192.30 per pay period, will need to reduce payroll deductions to a level that does not exceed $5,000 per category in a single calendar year. Savings bond change forms are available from Payroll or your area’s timekeeper. Linked accounts can be found at www.treasurydirect.gov or by calling 800-553-2663. You also can contact Elizabeth San Juan, Finance, 594-7893.

Tips for coping with stress
The Mayo Clinic notes that unusual levels of stress can negatively impact your ability to accomplish personal goals and maintain good health. Challenges such as resolving a family crisis or losing weight become more difficult when stressors mount. But situations that create stress — the condition we experience when demands exceed our ability to cope — are as unique as you are. Simply put, different people find different things stressful. It’s important to recognize all of the causes of stress. Try one or all of these techniques:

• Keep a stress journal. For one week, note which events and situations cause a negative physical, mental or emotional response, and rate the intensity of your stress on a 1-to-5 scale.
• List all the demands on your time and energy for one week and rate the intensity of the stress each causes.
• Examine your stress recordings, especially those you ranked as very stressful. Select one of them to work on using problem-solving techniques.

What's Happening & When

• December 19: Bob Durkee, Building Maintenance manager, retires at the end of December after 23 years of service. His retirement reception is from 3 to 5 p.m. in the Ground Floor Conference Room.

• December 24: Employee/Retiree Holiday Breakfast in the Cafeteria, free, 7 to 9 a.m. Musicians and singers are needed; contact Tommie Frazier, 502-8238.

• December 31: Last day to turn in completed community involvement goal paperwork to Human Resources or to submit information through CityWeb at Employee Resources/TPU Incentive Program. For anyone to earn the incentive day, 80 percent of employees must document at least eight hours of community service in 2007.

• Throughout December: Richard Friel, Electrical Inspection, appears in December's TV Tacoma CityScape program with important information to keep the season bright and safe. CityScape airs daily on TV Tacoma Channel 12. Check listings for times and channels outside Tacoma.

• January 4: Last day to register for retirement benefits information session on Wednesday, January 9, 11 a.m. in the City Council Chambers at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street. If you'd like to attend, contact the Retirement Office, 591-2035. A DVD/CD combo of the session also is available.

• January 15 or February 19: One-day FranklinCovey FOCUS class, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., helps you identify and focus on your top priorities. Attendees receive FranklinCovey planners. Register 10 days before class with your area's training representative, or contact Sheryl Brown, 502-8511, with questions.

Bargain Shopping

Submit your ad to Newsline
Ads run in two issues of Newsline. The deadline to submit ads is 10 a.m. Fridays. E-mail Newsline, or call editor Laurel Willoughby, 502-8754, if you don't have e-mail access. Include at least your first name, and phone number or e-mail in your ad. Ads for business activities, online auction ads and calls for charity sponsorship are not allowed. About once a month, ads will be borrowed from the Cafeteria bulletin board and included in Newsline.

• Frederickson home for sale: 4 bedrooms+, 2.5 baths, 2,204 sq. ft., $259,400. Contact James Blessing,
  502-8045, for pictures and additional details.

• For sale: Can you see a red metallic electric guitar under the tree for your budding rock star? Squier Affinity Stratocaster with bag, hardly used, $100 (new $150), and Marshall amp (MG15DFX), $120 (new $180), or both for $200. Also available: viola (Ton-Klar-Danlca), student size 14”, in nice shape with case, bow and chin rest $160. Contact Cindy, 502-8362.

• Two 9-month-old golden labs available. Brother and sister, prefer not to separate. Georgia, 720-9400.

• Free: 3 cats that were abandoned at the Clip and Clean pet groomers. All the cats are neutered males. All are current in their shots. A small black cat weighs about 6 pounds and is about 6 months old. A striped tabby cat, Charlie, is about 6 years old and weighs about 10 to 12 pounds. A white and gray cat, Ivan, is a very pleasant animal, but he has feline leukemia and must not be in a household with other cats. Ivan weighs 10 pounds and is 5 years old. The cats are free, and they have spent months living in cages because the owner of the grooming business does not want them euthanized. The groomer's phone number is 752-8325, and the address is 3206½ N. 26th Street in Tacoma.

• For sale: 1998 Lexus ES300. This car is in excellent condition and has less than 80K miles. Car has navigation system, power mirrors & windows plus power driver & passenger seats. Other features include leather seats, keyless entry, sunroof, auto climate control, cruise control, Sirius satellite radio and CD player. This car was purchased as a certified car from the dealer. Asking $11,000 OBO. Need to sell ASAP. Call Marie Holm at
  445-5100 after 5 p.m. If no answer, please leave a message and we will call you back.

• For sale: Enclosed modular cat kennel by Options Plus, Inc. (USA made). 13 black, powder-coated 11½ gauge hardened steel wire panels (3 ft. x 4 ft.) that allow up to 12 ft. of roaming within kennel. Easy to assemble and portable! Excellent condition. Retail price $379, asking $325 or reasonable best offer. Contact Peggy Dickson, 502-8110, for pictures and additional details.