A thought for the day…
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle.
Chris Watson (1867-1941) Australian Prime Minister
IN THIS ISSUE
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NOTES FROM MEREDITH VADIS
Regional Administrator
As we head into the fall, the Council is rolling out new technology that will make processes and tasks easier across the lifecycle of an employee at the Council, signaling a renewed commitment to our staff and each individual’s career development.
Led by Human Resources, the Council just recently launched a new site on MetNet called the Talent Hub. This is the brand new online destination for all employees to access what they need in four key areas of career development: applying for jobs, onboarding to a new position, tracking and reviewing performance, and enrolling in learning opportunities.
We hope the Talent Hub will help you find more opportunities for career development, stay engaged with the organization, and make all these related tasks easier to accomplish.
The Talent Hub will connect staff to four modules – three of which are brand new to the Council:
- Apply: Online job application and applicant tracking system already in use by the Council.
- Onboard: New online portal for new hires and their managers to share information and track checklist completion in their initial weeks and months.
- Perform: New online program for goal-setting, tracking, development planning, and performance reviews.
- Learn: New online platform that will replace the current LearnCenter for offering and tracking learning.
This means we have even more technology changes impacting staff in 2019, and I’m excited for you all to benefit from the improvements in functionality and usability these new programs will bring. These sites will be easy to use, collaborative, and meaningful to our daily work.
These upgrades will provide connected technology for us to support the development and engagement of a talented workforce, and the Talent Hub reflects the value we place on our employees and our commitment to you. As these programs roll out this fall and winter, I encourage you to take advantage of the new technology and find new ways to develop skills, improve your team’s management, support your new hires, and more.
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Two new modules of the Talent Hub are rolling out this fall, bringing new functionality to the Council!
Onboard rolls out late September
New online portal for new hires and their managers to share information and track checklist completion
Later this month, Onboard will launch and new hires will start going through the new onboarding process with the online portal. Here are the big changes and benefits that Onboard will bring:
- Onboard will be used in the new hire's initial weeks and months. It will help augment the New Employee Orientation session and make for an easier transition on the job.
- The new hire will have a checklist with assigned tasks to complete, and they will review information to help them better understand what it’s like to work at the Council, including recommended readings, videos, FAQs, and more.
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Attention managers! You will also have a checklist with assigned tasks to complete. This will be a helpful guide to successfully onboarding your new hire and preparing them for their new role at the Council.
Learn will replace LearnCenter
New platform replacing LearnCenter for offering and tracking learning
Learn will launch in the fall, and LearnCenter will no longer be available.
- Learn will provide enhanced usability and position the Council for expanded capability in the future.
- Learn will be easier for employees to use, for managers to access their staffs’ training records and needs, and for divisions to administer their training processes. It will reduce administrative time and increase accuracy for reporting.
- Learn will contain employees’ training records that are currently in LearnCenter.
Managers and training coordinators will learn more about the new system and how it will meet their needs in the coming weeks before the new platform launches.
These modules are part of the Talent Hub, the Council’s new online destination on MetNet for staff to access what they need in four key areas of career development, each with their own technology for making these tasks easier and more centralized: applying, onboarding, development planning, and learning. Visit the Talent Hub on MetNet.
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A few months into SharePoint Online, we’re getting the hang of the new MetNet and SharePoint applications, but some of us might need that extra boost to become expert users of the new system. Read on for best practices for end users.
How to successfully use MetNet:
- Check the MetNet home page regularly for important staff information and news.
- Review and customize My favorites on the home page. (Step-by-step instructions here.)
- Report outdated materials or broken links to the site contact (email is in the page footer).
- Get to know the navigation menu at the top so you’re familiar with how sites are organized.
- Review your work unit’s site home page and help your team make sure you’re providing helpful links, contacts, and information for your colleagues across the Council.
- Do not link to collaboration site pages or documents within MetNet. MetNet houses information accessible by all users, and it is poor practice to include links that not everyone can access. You can, however, add these links under My Favorites on the home page (visible only to you).
How to successfully use My Collaboration sites:
- Don’t use collaboration sites for long-term retention. Clean and maintain your collaboration sites.
- Be mindful of sensitive data, and make sure it’s okay for all members of that collaboration site to see the content you are posting.
- Utilize metadata and follow best practices. (See tips in welcome packet linked below.)
- Use views and columns instead of folders to organize content in lists and libraries. (See tips in welcome packet linked below.)
- To keep our environment clean, follow naming conventions for files, pages, or sites. Keep the name simple and clear, and avoid lengthy descriptions. Consider how content and pages will be searched later.
RESOURCE: All users should read through the Council’s end user welcome packet for SharePoint. This packet provides all the basics for end users to get up to speed on MetNet and the new SharePoint Online environment.
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Take a look. You’ll find a complete picture of all the compensation you received last year, including your wages and the dollar value of each of your benefits.
The information is unique to you and available only through your confidential Employee Self Service (ESS) account. Covering the entire year of 2018, the information is displayed in your own “My Total Compensation” statement.
These first-ever statements are being issued well into 2019; future ones will be posted regularly right after the start of the new year.
To find your online compensation statement:
Sign in to your ESS account > Main Menu > Payroll and Compensation > My Total Compensation.
For a guide to what your statement shows:
First go to the ESS sign-in page. Then under “Helpful Links,” click on “Employee Self Service Instructions.” In the table of contents, scroll down to the “Payroll and Compensation” section, where you’ll see the “Guide to My Total Compensation Statement.”
Councilwide, the average dollar value of employee benefits accounts for 25% to 30% of your total compensation. These include employer contributions toward medical and dental coverage, basic life insurance, floating holiday pay, Council contributions to your retirement, and possibly others depending on your bargaining unit.
In addition, your share of premiums for medical and dental coverage is taken on a pre-tax basis from your paycheck.
If you have questions about your compensation statement, contact the Benefits One Line by calling 651-602-1601.
HRA director has long list of achievements
Metro HRA Director Terri Smith was recognized with an award for career excellence and leadership by the Minnesota chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials, a professional group.
Established in 1979, the Allan Anderson Award of Merit is presented to a member who “exemplifies the dedication and leadership needed to serve their community and its people in providing affordable housing and community development activities.”
Metro HRA Manager Jennifer Keogh said the award is well-deserved.
“Terri is accomplished and professional, a mentor and leader. However, the one word that I would use to describe her is collaborator, and her letters of support attested to that,” she said.
“Terri goes into each situation with an open mind, solution-focused with the hope that we will leave with the best outcomes for the families we serve as well as the agency and partners. She easily develops rapports with strategic partners, which results in successful collaboration. She also embraces innovation and creative problem-solving to achieve efficient administration while ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and program integrity.”
PHOTO:
Terri Smith (left) with fellow award winner David Schluchter
Experience, growth
Smith began her career in housing in the 1990s as a property manager for a private development company. Four years later she began working as property manager at the Washington County HRA. In 1999, she began working at Metro HRA as a program operations supervisor and was promoted four times to her current role director. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and communications from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and several professional certifications.
Many achievements
Smith’s list of achievements over the past 28 years is long and wide-ranging. Many were cited in letters of support for the award from Beth Reetz, former Director of Community Development at the Metropolitan Council; Greg Russ, Executive Director of Minneapolis Public Housing Authority; Sgt. Mario Ruberto, Homeless Action Team Supervisor at the Metropolitan Council; Dominic Mitchell, HCV Programs Director at St. Paul PHA; Al Hester, Housing and Policy Director; Wes Kooistra, General Manager of Metro Transit; Gail Dorfman, former Executive Director of St Stephens; and Dana Kitchen, HUD Division Director.
Terri Smith nomination testimonies
WES KOOISTRA
GENERAL MANAGER
METRO TRANSIT
For more than 10 years I have witnessed Terri’s remarkable resourcefulness and her knack for developing innovative approaches to improve the lives of people across our region. Her leadership has resulted in new approaches to address some of our most challenging community development issues.
As Metro HRA Director, Terri’s days are packed with navigating all the complexities that come with administering federal housing assistance to over 7,000 households, managing a large staff and substantial budget, and working closely with clients who are striving to find and maintain secure housing. While many people simply would not be able to find the time to take on any more responsibilities, Terri’s boundless energy and keen leadership lead her to continuously push forward with finding new ways to serve our community.
Beyond her accomplishments, anyone who works with Terri will tell you being her colleague is truly a pleasure. She is the consummate professional – always willing to collaborate with others and pursue solutions that will make people’s lives better.
GAIL DORFMAN
FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER & HOUSING ADVOCATE
As a former mayor, county commissioner, and executive director of a nonprofit that serves the homeless, I have seen first-hand how Terri's work at the Metropolitan Council has expanded housing opportunities for people throughout our region. And as a former Met Council member, I had the good fortune of working directly with Terri for several years to address the growing incidence of people experiencing homelessness who were using transit for shelter because they had nowhere else to go.
Through her work at the Met Council, Terri Smith has been an unsung hero in addressing issues of housing and homelessness in our community.
DANA KITCHEN
HUD DIVISION DIRECTOR
In addition to performing her job at an exemplary level, Terri demonstrates an unrivaled commitment to low-income residents in the Twin Cities and the general public by consistently leaping at ways Metro HRA can try new things, get involved with other agencies, or bring the region and state housing authorities together.
Terri has distinguished herself over the years as a person who is deeply committed to bringing a voice to those without one. Her willingness to become involved with affordable housing and serving the community has kept Metro HRA at the forefront of program opportunities and major policy changes.
As a former employee of Metro HRA, I can also say that Terri has shown a tireless dedication to her employees and the people and communities they serve. She also is a mentor and was the first person to show me what a truly good leader looks like.
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Accessibility and the Council:
By Paida Chikate
2019 ADA intern
Office of Equal Opportunity
In the semester preceding my internship as the first Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) intern at the Council, I took a class on disability studies that complicated the terms “disability” and “accessibility” for me.
Viewed through the human rights lens, I was challenged to think about what those terms mean in both local and global contexts. As I further engaged with the theories of disability and accessibility, I began to think of what these theories looked like when applied in public life; enter Office of Equal Opportunity at the Metropolitan Council.
This summer, I was immersed in the Council’s self-evaluation to make this public institution more accessible to people with disabilities. This evaluation focused on policy and procedure reviews, the Councilwide implementation of digital accessibility, and the physical inspection of Council facilities. Inspections ranged anywhere from bus and light rail platforms to office spaces and transit garages.
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It was an honor to work with renowned consultants and ADA specialists JQP Inc. of Minneapolis, which is a woman-owned and operated company that focuses on accessibility.
As we all know, accessibility does not stop at addressing only physical restrictions. To address digital concerns, I worked with the Website Accessibility Audit and Testing (WAAT) team, which is working to increase digital accessibility across the Council. Accessibility of our online platforms to those with vision and hearing impairments is imperative as we disseminate essential information to the public.
One of my most memorable experiences at the Council was attending a listening session with a community of deaf transit users. Listening to the challenges they face on public transit presented several opportunities to change the status quo and create communities that are universally designed and accessible to everyone. The Council has an obligation to be a leader in the designing of this accessible world, and self-evaluation is a step in the right direction to accomplishing that goal.
Ableism is described as discrimination against people with disabilities. What most of us tend to forget is that being able-bodied is a temporary state of being. At any time, we can break a leg or an arm and become disabled. Today, we may be able to effectively use all our limbs and our mind, but one day our bodies and mind will become frail. Eventually, if we live long enough, we will all become disabled.
The work of becoming more accessible as a Council can be achieved through the evaluation of our facilities and policies – but more importantly, it is an evaluation of ourselves as individuals. The introspective nature of a self-evaluation calls on us to analyze our assumptions and biases, recognize where we have not put our best foot forward, and then make amends.
As I walk around at the Council and in public life, I have picked up a habit from my supervisor, ADA Administrator Guthrie Byard, of which I’m quite proud. I look at my surroundings and examine them for accessibility. Are the stalls wide enough? Are the pathways clear? Is the signage legible? Are the announcements loud enough?
Observing our surroundings, checking for accessibility, and seeking fixes where necessary can mean the difference between a good or challenging life for a friend, colleague, or the public that we serve.
As my internship comes to an end, I leave Council staff with one question: “Are we willing to embody value systems and a culture that is anchored in accessibility and universal design?”
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Early detection can save your life, too
By Jim Larsen
Senior Planner
Environmental Services
Five years ago this summer, at age 59, I was diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 prostate cancer. Even though my blood PSA levels remained relatively low, they had recently begun to increase more quickly over time. There’s little doubt in my mind that if it weren’t for a cautious doctor and urologist viewing my PSA history and calling for a biopsy, I wouldn’t be here today, post-surgery and post-radiation, planning my retirement in six months.
While family history and health symptoms can suggest an increased potential for prostate cancer to develop, at this time the only way to determine if cancer cells are growing in the prostate is having a biopsy for pathology review – and that short period of discomfort is well worth the cost in added years of life.
One in nine men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, which is the most common male-specific cancer and the third leading cause of death in men in the U.S. today. Chart-trending simple PSA blood protein test results over time in conjunction with routine physicals by a doctor is the best way to monitor prostate health.
Based on my life experience, I urge all Council staff to have the men in your lives begin asking for PSA blood tests during consistent, routine physicals at age 50 (or age 40 if prostate cancer runs in their family) to track its changes over time. That information could one day prove invaluable to a doctor or urologist in providing sound health care. Ninety-five percent of the time, prostate cancer can be discovered early enough to be treated and eliminated. Everyone, especially the “remaining five percent,” are welcome to join me in donating generously to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, which sponsors numerous talented researchers in the effort to develop a cure.
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 Council employee and St. Paul Park Mayor Sandi Dingle mostly dodges a pie in the face (middle photo) thrown by Cottage Grove Mayor Myron Bailey during a charity competition between the two cities.
It wasn’t exactly David vs. Goliath.
But for bragging rights, it felt like that to Program Technical Specialist Sandi Dingle, who also is the mayor of St. Paul Park in the south metro.
“It” was a fundraising challenge to Mayor Dingle from Cottage Grove Mayor Myron Bailey about which city could collect more school supplies during National Night Out on August 6. The losing mayor would receive a pie in the face at St. Paul Park’s annual Heritage Festival on August 24.
“It was a big stretch for us because we had never collected school supplies before, while Cottage Grove has done it for years,” Dingle said recounting the story. “He even told me they would take into account our population differences – we have 5,500 and they are seven times as large with close to 40,000.”
Long story short, the little town of St. Paul Park stepped up by collecting four big pallets of school supplies. Cottage Grove had historically collected one pallet and this year collected four – but to win they needed at least 28 pallets.
The pay-off
As shown, as the mayors squared off (in a wrestling ring no less), it was announced that “the kids are the true winners here!” – and planners wanted each mayor to throw a pie at the other’s face. But Dingle prevailed, if momentarily. “I got him square in the face and dodged at the same time, though he caught my ear,” she said.
But the announcer picked up some of the pie that had missed Dingle and got her in the face. (Hey, no fair!) “But it was all in good fun and at the end of the day, it really was the kids who won!” she said.
Going forward, St. Paul Park will make a commitment to collect school supplies every year to be donated to its local food shelf, Dingle said. “So far, more than 400 backpacks were filled and distributed to kids in need, and there are still more,” she said, crediting the Marathon Refinery in St. Paul Park for its donation of $1,500 to purchase backpacks.
Former Maplewood Mayor and now Council Chair Nora Slawik was moved by the story. “Congrats to you and your city for collecting so many school supplies,” she told Dingle, suggesting she share the story with the League of Minnesota Cites to encourage other cities into giving more.
Council awards $3 million to promote jobs & economic development
The Council recently awarded $3 million in grants that promote redevelopment and economic opportunity. The grants are part of the Council’s Livable Communities program, a voluntary, incentive-based approach to helping communities achieve their regional and local goals.
Funds were awarded to five cities for 14 projects in this funding round. The grant awards will help clean 27 acres, increase the net tax base by $1.9 million, and encourage millions more in private investment. The Council had received 19 applications this funding round, totaling $7 million in requests.
"These grants will help create 1,000 jobs and support the development of more than 800 new homes, including 160 affordable homes, at a time when housing is so desperately needed in the region,” said Chair Nora Slawik. “Housing is foundational to the success of families, children and neighborhoods. It’s also vital to the success of our economy. To grow and prosper as a region, we need the infrastructure that supports growth, and that includes housing. I can’t say enough about the value that these grants bring to the region in support of redevelopment, housing that’s safe, stable and affordable, job opportunities, and community vitality and livability.”
Read the news release.
Council Close-Ups: Meet Val Quarles
Val Quarles has had quite a summer at the Council. An intern with the Council's Urban Scholars program, she worked for both Metro HRA and Metro Transit, including time with the new Homeless Action Team.
You can meet Quarles in the 38th and latest installment of "Council Close-Ups," a long-running video series that introduces Council staff and the work they do. The videos are linked from metrocouncil.org.
Hosted by writer and editor Jeanne Landkamer, the videos are shot and produced by videographer Carol Critchley, both of the Communications Department. All 38 episodes are available on YouTube and feature staff from every Council division. See the video on YouTube.
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Reminder: Parking changes at the Heywood campus
Please be aware of several parking changes now in effect at Metro Transit's Heywood campus.
Beginning last month the parking lot next to the Transit Control Center (now known as the Green Lot) will be restricted to employees whose positions are in the priority access group. Like the Lower Parking Lot (now known as the Orange Lot) an employee badge will be required to open gate arms at the entrances to this parking lot.
Employees and visitors are encouraged to reduce parking demand on the Metro Transit Campus by taking transit or using other alternatives to driving alone. Employees who must drive and are not in the priority access group can use overflow parking areas north of the Heywood Garage.
Direct your questions to heywoodcampus@metc.state.mn.us.
Register for Walktober Sept. 9
Compete against yourself and your co-workers in this exciting, free fitness campaign available to all Council employees in October.
Participants will track their steps and activity from October 1 through October 31. Logging activity is simple – you can use your favorite fitness tracker or the Step Converter tool on the Walktober website or mobile app.
To join in the fun, register at fitforlife.walktober.com starting Monday, September 9. Space is limited, so mark your calendars. The first 250 people to sign up will receive a Fitbit Inspire (subject to taxes). Check out the Walktober MetNet page for more information.
Reach out to Ashley Starr with the Fit For Life team with any questions at ashley.starr@metc.state.mn.us.
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Email breach is a reminder to take security seriously
Council employees should be aware of a recent data breach through the Council’s email client, which exposed data about Metro Mobility customers. Information Services staff learned about the attack when the hacker sent a phishing email from an employee’s account – then immediately cut off the hacker’s access and removed the phishing email from Council inboxes, stopping the threat.
Such an attack is the reason that email security is so important, and we want to remind you about these simple steps to protect your account:
- Use strong, unique passwords and don’t share them with anyone.
- Take phishing awareness seriously, when you see something that doesn’t look right, report it. Contact ServiceDesk@metc.state.mn.us or 651-602-1498.
- Use caution when opening unexpected attachments or links.
Security staff will be working on a roll-out of multi-factor authentication security for Council employees, which can help prevent this type of breach. If you have additional questions, contact Eirik Felter, Technology Security Officer, at 651-602-1606.
Presentation by Joseph Hill on historic ‘Red Summer’ on YouTube
For those interested, a historic look at the brutal “Red Summer” of 1919 presented recently by Joseph Hill in Saint Paul is available on YouTube. Hill, chief security guard at Robert Street, is a journalist and storyteller with a deep passion for history. His new slide show presents the events of 1919 when race riots took place in a dozen big cities across the U.S. and left hundreds or more dead in their wake. The "Red Summer" is a writer's allusion to innocent blood flowing in the streets. See the presentation on YouTube.
Sand Creek is here for you 24/7
Available anytime of the day and always confidential, Sand Creek is here for you and your family. You’ll have access to an abundance of useful resources, articles, links, and interactive tools.
Other features include a Savings Center, where you can shop name brands at discounts of up to 25%; Financial and Daily Living Calculators, for a variety of practical applications; and access to monthly online seminars.
Visit SandCreekEAP.com. Go to the “Work Life Wellness” tab and enter the company ID mc1.
Sand Creek also offers free, confidential counseling. To speak with an intake consultant, call 888-243-5744.
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Please take employee survey on ADA and accessibility
An additional part of the ADA self-evaluation study the Council is conducting is a voluntary survey of Council employees. Study planners hope to gather more firsthand knowledge from employees with intimate knowledge of Council facilities. Employee input will play an important part in the forthcoming transition plan. The short survey should take about five minutes.
If you haven't already, please take the ADA employee survey.
HARSH OBEROI
ASST. DIRECTOR, CONTRACTS & PROCUREMENT
REGIONAL ADMINSTRATION
Primary duties
I am responsible for all non-standard contracts for procurement of goods and services for our internal customers like Metro Transit, Environmental Services, and Community Development.
Started
July 29
Hometown
Delhi, India, but in the past 30 years I have lived in Florida, California, and Texas.
Current residence
I recently moved here from Fort Worth; now live in downtown Saint Paul.
Family
My wife of 20 years, Namita, and our daughters, Hanna and Nakisha, both in high school
Education
Graduate degree in finance from DeVry University in Houston; also professional certifications in government contracting (CPPO and CPSM)
Experience
I was a contract manager for six years with Dallas Area Rapid Transit, and was purchasing manager with City of Dallas for five years.
Other interests
Drone flying and playing piano; I am a Cowboys fan but equally love the Vikings.
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Hearty congratulations to the following employees who in September celebrate major milestones in their service to the Council. This recognition includes only Robert Street employees and Regional Administration employees working off-site. For recognition of Metro Transit and other Environmental Services employees, see Insights and ES Update, respectively.
YEARS OF SERVICE
25 Years
John Shay, Systems Engineer 3, Information Services
5 Years
Santosh Chintamaneni, Applications Developer 3, Information Services
Jennifer Leigh, Senior Administrative Specialist, Environmental Services
Kao Zong Vang, Purchasing Agent, Procurement
NEW STAFF
Melissa Johnson, Aug. 12, E-Learning Specialist, Human Resources
DEPARTURES
Jeffrey Weinhagen, Aug. 24, EO Consultant II, Office of Equal Opportunity
Robert Street Reflections
"I must have walked past those buildings 1,000 times before I caught the morning sun reflecting just perfectly on the glass one day and I had to make this photo," said Jeff Syme, Communications.
The Wire on MetNet.
The Wire is published every two weeks for employees of the Metropolitan Council. Everyone is invited to submit comments and story ideas. Contact the editor at thewire@metc.state.mn.us
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