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Public Utility Board agenda for November 14
At 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium, the board will discuss:
Service award brochures mailed — gift orders due November 21
Service award gift brochures have been mailed home to all
eligible employees. Detailed information about service award gifts is on CityWeb at Departments/TPU/Service Awards, but online ordering
is not available. Gift selections must be returned to Community & Media
Services by Wednesday, November 21. If you miss the deadline, you will
receive a clock. Questions? Contact
Carrie Kors, 502-8759; or
Erika Tucci, 502-8225.
Utilities People
taking See's Candy orders by December 4
Catalogs and order forms are available in the Cafeteria, and the last day to
order is Tuesday, December 4. Candy will be delivered by Friday, December
14. Contact
Joan Fitzpatrick, Management
Services, 502-8150, to order.
Maybe it's just getting
easier to guess in the Cafeteria football contest . . .
The winner in
week nine of the Cafeteria football contest was Cory Hillman, Transmission &
Distribution, with 12 of 14 correct. Cory tied with Brad Kasemeier,
Generation; and Bob Dyer, Customer Services, but Cory won the tiebreaker,
snagging the Cafeteria food card and entry into the Super Bowl contest.
The winner for week 10 will be
posted Tuesday morning. Ballots for week 11 are in the Cafeteria and must
be turned in by Friday, November 16, 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. Correction: Week eight winner
Renée Tresness works in Generation, not Transmission & Distribution, as
reported last week.
Green Scene
Are you ridesharing? Check out vanpool routes or get a free bus pass
Carpooling, riding the bus, vanpooling, walking or riding your bike to work
can provide many benefits for you and for our community. Ridesharing helps
you personally by saving money on your work commute and it helps our
community collectively by reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. The
CAT (Consider Alternative Transportation) program can help you find a
ridesharing mode that suits your schedule and your personal needs. With
rising gasoline prices, ridesharing is worth exploring now more than ever.
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Thirty vanpools
serve TPU — click
here for the current route list. The City will subsidize your
vanpool fare up to $110 per month, so in many cases your vanpool travel
could be free. New vanpool riders starting in November or December will
be eligible for a special incentive reward.
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The City provides
free employee bus passes. Bus route books are available on the commuter
option board in the Cafeteria.
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For more
ridesharing information, contact
Randy Stearnes, employee transportation coordinator, 502-8224.
Last chance on washer and dryer set from EnviroHouse —
speak up by November 16
If you're looking for a bargain on a new washer and dryer that also
qualifies for a $50 rebate from Tacoma Power and Tacoma Water, this is your
deal! This brand new set has been on display at the EnviroHouse and has
never been used or even hooked up. They are dark gray General Electric
models (washer WCVH6260F and dryer DCVH515EF0GG) priced at $1,198 for the
set. You can see them at EnviroHouse (located at the Tacoma Landfill, 3510
S. Mullen Street). If you’re interested in buying the set, contact
Hollis Tamura, Energy Services, 502-8643, by Friday, November 16.
Giving Back
One employee eligible
for donated PTO or sick leave
Dennis
Johnson, Building Maintenance, is
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.
Craft Sale proceeds
will help seniors in need
Community Connection's annual Holiday Craft Sale was a great success, with
27 vendors providing an array of hand-made and homemade products. The final
sales tally of more than $5,200 allows Community Connection to purchase
grocery gift cards for 10 seniors this holiday season. A special thanks goes
to Building Maintenance for its help with the event. Thanks also to the
shoppers who supported the sale.
For Your Benefit
Free employee Benefits Fair on Tuesday, November 13, includes flu shots
Don’t miss the Employee Benefits Fair from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday,
November 13, in the Auditorium. Among the services that will be available are
flu shots (7 a.m. to 2 p.m., no appointment required; sorry, no family flu
shots this year), bone density tests, body fat tests and blood pressure
checks. City medical, dental, vision, prescription and insurance vendors
will be on hand to answer your questions. Chiropractic information also will
be available, and many other vendors will be on-site. For more information,
contact
Shannon Hoffman, 591-5823.
Thinking about retiring? Check out November 14 introduction session
The Retirement Office provides an introduction to retirement every other
month to familiarize individuals with their retirement benefits. The next
session is at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 14, in the City Council
Chambers. If you’d like to attend, contact the Retirement Office, 591-2035,
by Friday, November 9. If you cannot attend, Retirement has a DVD/CD combo
of the session that you can borrow.
Are you new here? Don't miss the orientation on Monday,
November 19
This orientation is required for all new employees who are permanent
(code 01), appointive (code 06), project
(code 08) or temporary pending exam (code 15). The orientation will be from
8:30 a.m. to noon in Tacoma Municipal Building Room 1444 at 747 Market
Street. The session will provide an overview of the City's organizational
structure, employee programs and services, City policies and the safety
program. Contact
JoAnn O'Neill, Human Resources, 591-5438, for more information about the
orientation. If you have not yet signed up for benefits, you will
need to bring dependent and beneficiary information with birth dates, social
security numbers and addresses. If you have medical, dental or vision
coverage elsewhere, bring the name, address and phone number of the group,
the policy number and names of the people who are eligible under the plan.
Contact
Regene Halfmoon, Human Resources,
591-5411; or
Shannon Hoffman, Human Resources, 591-5823, for more information on
benefits.
November is open enrollment month for flexible spending accounts and
medical/dental changes
Employees have until the end of November to make changes to their flexible
spending accounts and medical and dental coverage, including adding/dropping
dependents and switching plans. Plan changes will take effect January 1 and
will be in force throughout 2008. Contributions to your flexible spending
account allow you to use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible medical, dental,
vision and dependent care expenses. Flexible spending information packets
have been distributed to all employees. To enroll in a flexible spending
account, complete the purple flexible spending account/salary reduction form
in the packet and return it to Human Resources by Friday, November 30. More
about flexible spending accounts:
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The City of Tacoma contributes $30 per month ($360 annually) into a
flexible spending account for each employee covered by the health plan.
Employees can use the money in one of three ways: put it toward the
medical premium, the health care flexible spending account or the
dependent care flexible spending account.
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If you direct the City's $360 contribution to your medical premium, it
will show on your pay advice 12 times a year as a $30 per month
reduction in employee medical plan coverage costs. Any remaining
employee costs and deductions for premiums are taken on a pre-tax basis.
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The City will make no contribution to health care or dependent care
unless you have completed an election form indicating your choice.
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Employees cannot change or revoke a flexible spending choice during the
year except under specific circumstances such as termination of
employment, divorce or marriage.
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Any unspent money in flexible spending accounts at the end of the year
is forfeited and reverts to the Labor Management Health Care Trust Fund.
Therefore, you should carefully estimate your contributions.
Good news on the health plan front for 2008
Below are some bright spots in your health plan coverage for 2008. To add
dependents to your health care plan, contact
Shannon Hoffman, 591-5823;
Regene Halfmoon, 591-5411;
Joe Nienalt, 591-5406, or
Sandra Frasier,
591-5419; and return your forms by Friday, November 30.
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No costs will be added to what you're already contributing toward your
health plan premium. Regence PPO coverage remains at $40 per month for
single-person coverage and $80 per month for family coverage. Regence
Selections will continue to cost $96 for single-person coverage and $136
for family coverage. Group Health coverage will continue to cost $40 for
single-person coverage and $80 for family coverage.
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Enhancements to the Regence health care package: starting January 1 you
can use the Regence nurse line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving
you access to a health care professional who will address your medical
issues over the phone. Also, you'll be able to make one trip to your
pharmacy to purchase a three-month prescription supply. You will,
however, have to pay a co-pay for each of those three months. You may
continue to use the mail order pharmacy, if you prefer.
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As in 2007, you’ll have an unlimited preventive care benefit and
round-the-clock access to the City's Employee Assistance Program — First
Choice Health — a confidential professional counseling service. For more
information, visit
www.1stchoiceeap.com or call 1-800-777-4114.
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Washington Dental Service annual maximum coverage amount will increase
from $1,500 to $2,000 in 2008. Coverage for Willamette will remain the
same.
November is Diabetes Awareness Month — Eating and diabetes
You can take good care of yourself and your diabetes by learning what to
eat, how much to eat and when to eat. In addition, wise food choices can
make you feel good every day, lose weight if necessary and lower your risk
for heart disease, stroke and other problems diabetes causes. Healthful
eating helps keep your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, in the target
range suggested by diabetes experts and your health care provider. Physical
activity and any necessary diabetes medicines also help. For more
information, check the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
Web site.
What's Happening & When
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Now!
List of names available for Adopt-a-Family. If you or your work group wants to
help a family or individual for the holidays, contact
Gina Rich, 502-8449; or
Patty Gillingham, 502-8651.
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November 13:
SharePoint implementation and basic training. Get your
supervisor’s approval and attend the session from 8:30 to 11 a.m. in
the City Council Chambers at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market
Street. For information,
contact
Rick Clark, Network Support,
591-2057.
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November 13:
Fund accountant/asset accountant year-end preparation training,
plus instructional handouts, 1 to 3 p.m., Tacoma Municipal Building Room
248. Contact
DeAnna Herrera, 591-5852, with questions.
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November 15:
Learn about generators and generator safety at the Generator Workshop at Ron
Jones Power Equipment,
14423 Pacific Avenue S.
in Spanaway, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Register by calling 502-8377.
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November 16:
Blood drive in the Auditorium Conference Room, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Drink plenty of fluids, have a hearty breakfast and
skip the caffeine. Walk-ins are welcome, or contact
"Countess Vampira" Viv
Leach, Finance, 591-5539, for an appointment.
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November 28:
Year-end training for section PR/PO processors and bill payers,
plus instructional handouts,
1 to 3 p.m., City Council Chambers. Contact
DeAnna Herrera, 591-5852, with questions.
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November 30:
Last
day to complete a confidential Mayo
Clinic health risk assessment. Receive a personalized report
plus a $25 gift card good at more than
300 merchants.
Register or log on at
www.cityoftacomawellness.org. Click the Health Risk
Assessment link, complete the assessment and follow the directions
to receive your gift card.
(It will take about 48 hours before you receive the
e-mail link that allows you to redeem your gift card.)
For more information, contact
Becky Lee, 591-5116.
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Throughout November:
The
November edition of
TV Tacoma's CityScape recaps response to the December 2006 windstorm,
reminds how Tacoma Power strengthens the power system year-round and
tells how customers can prepare for possible power outages. Check listings for replay times
inside and outside Tacoma.
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December 4:
Year-end training for section PR/PO processors and bill payers,
plus instructional handouts,
9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Auditorium. Contact
DeAnna Herrera, 591-5852, with questions.
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December 8: Utilities People bus trip to Leavenworth for
Christmas tree lighting.
Bus leaves from the Administration Building by the fountain 7 a.m. and
returns about 9
p.m. $25/members and $30/non-members includes the bus
trip and refreshments. To reserve your seat, contact
Rick Herrmann, Generation, 502-8226.
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December 12 and 13:
Mammogram vans from Swedish
Medical Center will be at TPU giving free mammograms to
any female City
employee age 40 or older who is symptom-free and not pregnant, or who is
35 or older with her primary care provider's referral.
Make appointments with
Swedish at 206-320-2500 or
breastcareexpress@swedish.org. Contact
Shannon Hoffman,
591-5823, with questions. (Vans also will be
in the Market Street
parking lot across from the Tacoma Municipal Building December 3, 4 and
5.)
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December 15:
Utilities People children's Winter Wonderland party, 10 a.m. to noon,
Cafeteria and Auditorium. Sign up on the sheet in the Cafeteria; Utilities People members and guests only. For
party info, contact
Jan Pieper, 502-8452; or
Denise Hottel, 502-8936.
Contact
Rick Herrmann,
502-8226, to join Utilities People.
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.
Please 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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For sale: Christmas wreaths and swag sale to benefit Boy Scout Troop 224
— traditional wreath $16, noble swag $16, large candy cane wreath $20,
table wreath $12, Noble mini-charm $8 and 25 feet of garland $25.
Contact Jim Coker, 759-1880; or
Cindy Dimond, 502-8011.
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House for sale: Parkland/Spanaway area, 4 bedrooms, 2.75 baths, 1,880
square ft. $260,000. Jeff, 537-5009.
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For sale: Oak bedroom set, $650. Includes king-size bed, pillow-top
mattress, box spring, cupboard w/2 shelves and 2 drawers on each side of
bed, headboard with 4 built-in lights, mirror, handy full-length shelf
w/sliding doors that allow you to prop pillows to lean against, armoire
with 8 drawers and 2 roomy shelves.
Connie Ferguson, 335-3388. Pictures available.
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Need
to fill in time for the Employee Incentive Program? Did you love Cub
Scouts when you were a boy? Men and women are invited to see if they
would enjoy being a cub master for Cub Scout Pack 509 Summit – Sleeping
Giant. The current cub master is about to follow his son into the Boy
Scouts. We have a strong pack both financially and in numbers at around
50 boys ranging from Tiger to Webelos II. The pack, through our
fundraisers, pays for the boys to go to camps and many other great
outings. We have great den leaders and family participation. If you’re
interested, contact current cub master Joe at 253-539-0775 or wolf den
leader Stephanie at 253-970-7610. You also can visit the Web site at
www.pack509tacoma.org.
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