Wednesday, July 11, 2007

The following items are on the agenda for the Public Utility Board meeting today, Wednesday, July 11, at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium:

·         Election of Public Utility Board officers: Bob Casey, chair; Tom Hilyard, vice chair; and Laura Fox, secretary.

·         Two-year citywide contracts to Consolidated Electrical Distributors and Graybar Electric Company to purchase general electrical parts and telecommunication supplies as needed (combined contracts total $1,000,000, plus sales tax; TPU's estimated contract usage is $700,000);

·         Three-year citywide contract to Verizon Wireless for cell phone airtime, wireless data services and related equipment purchases (contract amount is $500,000, plus sales tax; TPU's estimated usage is $340,000);

·         Two-year citywide contract to Emerald Sanitary Service for rental and servicing of portable toilets (contract amount is $97,433, plus sales tax; TPU's portion is estimated at $75,983);

·         Contract to Peak Measure for two Doble protective relay test sets ($124,510, plus sales tax);

·         Three-year contract to Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories to purchase microprocessor-based protective relaying equipment ($751,889, plus sales tax);

·         Contracts to Electric Power Systems, POWER Engineers and Commonwealth Associates for engineering consulting services as needed (combined contracts total $1,200,000, plus sales tax);

·         Contract to Electric Power Systems for an electrical system impact and facilities upgrade study in the Tideflats ($154,000, plus sales tax);

·         Agreement with ABB for software and hardware support and maintenance for Tacoma Power's Energy Management System ($337,430);

·         Authorize Tacoma Power to implement and fund the Cowlitz River Project Water Access Facilities Fund;

·         Declaration of surplus, and purchase and sale agreement to sell approximately 17 acres of industrial land and associated buildings at Steam Plant No. 2;

·         Staff recommendations regarding five new Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act standards;

·         Sale of a surplus portion of the Flume Line right of way for development of a non-motorized recreational trail;

·         A study session (3 p.m.) about climate change, a facilities update and recruitment for the utilities director.

SAP's Shadow system will not be available through August 3: Each fall the IT/SAP Department applies patches to the SAP system to ensure critical year-end processes such as tax reporting for W2 and 1099R forms remain current. This year testing begins earlier and will use the Shadow system to do an analysis of potential changes. During this time, the Shadow system will not be available for other uses through August 3. Because Shadow is a critical part of the back-up system, access after August 3 will be assigned only as needed. If you have questions or need access, contact any of the following: Dan Hilleren, 382-2730; Lorraine Stargel, 382-2701; Eric Pugmire, 382-2722; Kathy Everett, 382-2770; Debbie Tainer, 382-2656; Mary Rhine, 382-2629.

The next blood donation date is Thursday, July 19, from 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Auditorium Conference Room. You may drop in or make an appointment with Viv Leach, 591-5539.

Roberto Singletary, Water Distribution; Sherilyn Christian, Field Operations; Cinda Johnson, Cushman Project; and Ken Kurtz, Energy Services, 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.

United Way

To help you beat the heat this week, Customer Services is holding a tasty fundraiser through Friday. Between noon and 2 p.m. in the Customer Service break room, you can buy a mocha or an Italian soda for a suggested $2 donation. The break room door is located just to the left of the ladies' room on the Administration Building's main floor.

Commute Trip Reduction

Congratulations to the following CAT (Consider Alternative Transportation) members who won prizes for ridesharing in June: Mark Percy, Energy Services; Sandra Hoffman, Customer Services; Carl Foster, Water Warehouse; Cindy Dimond, Customer Services; Joe Sloan, Legal; Kim Weite, Customer Services; and Doug Hamer, Grounds Maintenance. Each won four tickets to a Seattle Storm WNBA game. Smart commuting is riding the bus, carpooling, biking, vanpooling or walking to work. Join CAT and rideshare at least two times a week to save money and be eligible for fun prizes. For more information about ridesharing, contact Randy Stearnes, employee transportation coordinator, 502-8224.

Community Connection

It's time for Community Connection's pet food drive! The Seniors with Pets Assistance Program is dedicated to helping the many senior citizens on fixed incomes who currently have a pet, or would like to have a pet, but can not afford all of the associated costs. The program provides pet food and supplies at no charge to qualified program participants and even delivers it free. A donation bin will be in the Cafeteria through Monday, July 23. To learn more, visit www.seniorswithpets.org or contact Cindy Farmer, Human Resources, 502-8158.

Community Event

There is only a month to go before the 18th Annual Team Tacoma Charity Golf Tournament, scheduled to start at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 10, at the Oakbrook Golf & Country Club. To sign up or for more information, contact Jim Curley, Power Management, 502-8352, or visit www.teamtacoma.org. Sign up by Friday, July 13, to guarantee your team's spot; all remaining spots will be offered to corporate sponsors. For information about the course, visit www.oakbrookgcc.com.

Human Resources

Lunch and learn about diabetes and heart disease on July 18: Through the City's new health and wellness program, you're invited to a "lunch and learn" session on the prevention of diabetes and heart disease, presented by Eileen Walker of Regence BlueShield. She'll talk about managing chronic conditions and using preventive methods to stay healthy. The session for TPU employees is from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 18, in the Auditorium. There will be free giveaways and an iPod shuffle door prize available to those who attend. For more information, contact Joe Nienalt, Human Resources, 591-5406.

Through the City's "Better Health, Better Life" health and wellness program, employees, retirees and their families now have access to a private Mayo Clinic Web portal at www.CityofTacomaWellness.org, where you can learn valuable information about a variety of health topics. You'll be asked for a registration ID to log on - current City of Tacoma employees use their employee number; retirees call Sandra Frasier, Human Resources, 591-5419. Spouses and dependents will use the same registration number that the employee or retiree uses. And don't forget that in September, you and your family can use the portal to perform a confidential health assessment. You'll receive more information about that assessment as September approaches. For more information Becky Lee, Human Resources benefits manager, 591-5116.

Calendar

·         Employees who have personal cellular telephone accounts through Verizon Wireless might have Tacoma Public Utilities listed incorrectly as the account owner rather than the individual employee. All accounts must be transferred before July 18, or they will be disconnected and the number lost. Contact Rick Herrmann, Generation, 502-8226, if you have questions.

·         The 2007 Dog-A-Thon to benefit homeless pets is Saturday, July 21, at Fort Steilacoom Park, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact Lee Root, 502-8148, with questions.

·         The Motorcycle Dam Run to the Cushman Project is Saturday, July 21. Please pre-register so that barbecue planners can have enough food on hand. The suggested donation to ride is $25 single, $35 two-up. Forms are available on CityWeb; go to Groups & Forums/TPU Community Conn and click on the link for the Dam Run registration form. Registration forms also are available in Community & Media Services, in the Energy Control Center or by e-mail from Ron Koecke, Dave Palmer or Frank Weite.

·         Tacoma Power is seeking artists to provide hanging art and create wall murals and/or a series of wall panels for Public Utilities' Administration Building. The deadline to submit art is 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 24. For information, contact Amy McBride, Tacoma arts administrator, 591-5192, or Sarah Hahn, Generation, 502-8209.

·         The National Arts Program visual art exhibit will be displayed at Public Utilities through August 21. A free reception and awards presentation will be held Thursday, July 26, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Pantages Theater lobby, 901 Broadway. Contact Naomi Strom-Avila, nstrom-avila@cityoftacoma.org or 591-5191.