December 24,
2007
Green Scene Special
Plug it in, plug it in: TPU’s hybrid electric vehicles changing
Fleet Services has converted one of the Toyota Prius pool cars to a plug-in
hybrid electric vehicle, meaning it needs to be plugged in to the outlet at
the back of the stall when not in use. (We shouldn't have to mention this,
but don't forget to unplug the car before pulling away!) We expect delivery of a second
vehicle this week. Both cars feature a colorful wrap with the message,
“Tacoma Power . . . Plugging in for our future.” A plug-in hybrid operates
solely on battery power for the first 16 to 60 miles of travel. Then when the
battery depletes, the vehicle automatically operates like a hybrid car, cycling
back and forth from electric to internal combustion power. Plug-in hybrid
batteries have more power than hybrid batteries. Besides reduced emissions,
using plug-in hybrid electric vehicles limits the utility’s carbon footprint
because most of Tacoma Power’s electricity comes from emission-free
hydroelectric projects. Contact
Fleet Services, 502-8240,
with questions about the
program.
News You Can Use
Holiday breakfast on Dec. 24 starts the week off right
Share good tidings with current and former TPU employees at the free
annual holiday breakfast on Monday, Dec. 24, from 7 to 9 a.m. in the
Cafeteria.
Don't miss your incentive days
—
Dec. 31 paperwork deadline
Turn in completed community involvement goal paperwork to
Human Resources or submit information through CityWeb at Employee Resources/TPU
Incentive Program by Monday, Dec. 31. For anyone to earn the incentive day, 80 percent of
employees must document at least eight hours of community service in
2007.
TPU
submissions are now at 70 percent, so we’re almost there.
City Council
votes for 2008 wage increases
The City Council approved the mid-biennial budget adjustments on December
18, giving the City’s 1,239 non-represented employees a 3.72 percent wage
increase starting Jan. 1. The City has negotiated wage increases for seven
of the City’s 28 bargaining groups. They go into effect in 2008 and
range from 1 to 4 percent. Wage increases for the remaining bargaining
groups are still being discussed.
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What's Cookin'
the Week of Dec. 24
Cup of Soup & Sandwich — $2.63
Cup of Chili or Chowder & Sandwich —
$2.81
Salad — $2.76
Hot Special — $3.03
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Vending
prices edging up next year
Effective in 2008, Canteen Vending will raise prices on snacks and beverages
sold in vending machines at the TPU Administration Complex:
-
Small candy $0.75 (5-cent increase)
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Large candy $1.10 (10-cent increase)
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Gum
and mints $0.65 (5-cent increase)
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Can
beverages $0.70 (10-cent increase)
-
Bottle beverages $1.25 (25-cent increase)
The last
price hop was in July 2004, and the current increases are necessary to keep up
with the rising cost of business. If you have any questions, contact
Rick Herrmann, 502-8226.
Giving Back
CD of employees' original music benefits Community Connection
Four TPU employees are
featured on The CD of Tacoma: Music Project Volume 1, the first-ever collection of
employees' original music, with proceeds going to Community Connection. The
CD is $10, or $9 for two or more. To buy a CD or for more information, contact
Randy Stearnes, 502-8224.
Employees bring smiles to 235
Salvation Army Giving Tree gift recipients
You did it! TPU
employees pitched in to buy gifts for 75 adults and 160 children through the
Salvation Army Giving Tree. At an estimated value of $30 each, employees
donated more than $7,000 in gifts to those who might otherwise go without.
Many seniors receiving gifts have gone five, 10 or 15 years without one.
Employees’ efforts mean even more when you consider that giving is way down
this year at the Tacoma Mall tree, the only bigger Giving Tree in the area.
Thank you to Charleen Jacobs, Liz Larson, Tony Rector, Lyn White and Ron
Robydek for coordinating the program.
Adopt-a-Family campaign rang some bells, too
TPU was one of
the largest contributors to the Greater Lakes Mental Health Adopt-a-Family
program this year by adopting 12 families. Sadly, 75 percent of the 70
families in the program requested basic items such as toilet paper, cleaning
supplies and personal hygiene items. Many of these families depend on food
stamps that don’t cover such items. TPU employees went above and beyond,
providing new clothes, toys and even some needed electronics and appliances.
Based on a rough estimate, TPU employees donated more than $10,000 in gifts
and goods to Greater Lakes families in 2007. A special thank you goes to
Gina Rich, Generation, for coordinating the entire program on behalf of
Community Connection.
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.
For Your Benefit
No excuses now! YMCA waives $75 joining fee for City of Tacoma
employees
Join the City of Tacoma’s YMCA corporate membership program any time during
the year, and they’ll waive the $75 joining fee. New members from the City
need to complete a payroll deduction form at the YMCA membership desk at any
of the four Tacoma-Pierce County YMCA branches. Bring verification of City
employment and payment for the first month's dues. Remaining payments for
employees and their eligible household members will be made through payroll
deduction. The 2008 monthly dues below show increases from $0.50 to $2 over
2007 rates:
-
Single adult (age 30+)
$51.00
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Second adult (over 15)
$25.50
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Single young adult (15-29) $35.00
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Youth (under 15 w/adult member) $15.00
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Maximum dues per household $106.50
24-hour nurse line available for
employees starting Jan. 1
Beginning in 2008, City employees with Regence coverage will have
round-the-clock phone access to a nurse. You can call the CareEnhance nurse
line at 800-267-6729
any time you or a family member is sick, hurt or needs health care advice.
The nurse will help if you don't know how to treat a health condition or are
unsure whether you should go to the emergency room, make a doctor's
appointment or treat your problem at home. The nurse will ask about
symptoms, provide helpful suggestions and even call back to see how you're
feeling. A new insurance card with the CareEnhance phone number will be
mailed to employees in December. For more information, contact
Sandra Frasier, Human Resources, 591-5419.
What's Happening & When
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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.
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January 4: Last day to
register for retirement benefits information session on Wednesday,
January 9, at
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.
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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.
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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.
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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 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.
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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.
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