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
Notes from Mary Bogie
Deputy Regional Administrator
As of this writing, we have about three weeks left in 2020 – a challenging year for all of us. As I reflect on this past year, I’m so grateful for the experience, skills, and dedication of our staff, who stepped up, adjusted, and made sure our critical functions could continue. And though nothing about this past year has been “normal,” we have seemed to settle into a rhythm.
We’re completing important work. We’re supporting our colleagues, families, and friends. And we’re continuing to plan for the future – for what our communities look like over the long-term.
It’s been remarkable to see and so inspiring to me.
It can’t be said enough how important our on-site staff are in these unprecedented times. Thank you for showing up, masking up and staying safe for your colleagues, and pitching in for all the extra precautions that we’re living with during this pandemic.
And another thank you for those of you who have carved out home offices at your kitchen tables, in your living rooms, and in your spare bedrooms. It’s worth noting the challenge it is to balance having your homes and your workplaces in the same spaces.
We’re going to be at this for a while longer. We’re hopeful that it’ll only be a few more months as the vaccine development and rollout continues and we start to see virus cases trending down. We’re continuing to take our guidance from the governor and the Minnesota Department of Health.
I encourage you to reflect on the year and note what has worked for you and what hasn’t. Let your supervisor and division directors know how we can support you in the coming months. Our Human Resources staff have put together some tools for you to use, as we head into the winter months. These next few weeks are a good time to review your plans, draw upon these tools, and ask for help.
Let me repeat that – ask for help.
On top of the adjustments we’ve made in our work and personal lives, many of us have also been dealing with circumstances that are never easy, but are much more challenging when we’re more distant and separated from our auxiliary support systems. Unexpected illnesses. Major milestones. Loss of community connections.
For some of us, that connection to the outdoors helps us cope with stress and uncertainty. Make a plan to get outside or exercise during these colder, darker months.
For some of us, we need to talk it out with a good listener and perhaps a professional who can help us sort out our feelings and fears.
In last week’s HR Connect, we got this helpful list of ways to check your own resilience and proactively create a self-care plan:
- Evaluate your current coping skills and self-care.
- Identify areas in your life that could use more self-care and attention.
- Make a plan. Pick a few self-care activities to try for a few weeks.
- Reflect and revise – keep what works for you, and leave the rest.
Our Fit For Life and employee support teams in Human Resources have created a COVID-19 Winter Resource Guide (PDF) and the Self-Care Toolkit (PDF) with information for dealing with winter, coping with the changes COVID-19 has brought to the holidays, and a template for creating a self-care plan.
Check out the mindfulness opportunities this month, as well.
And one last plug – we have access to free, confidential mental health and wellness services through Sand Creek. Please use these tools and referrals.
Make a plan. Use the tools available to you. Ask for help. Stay well.
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Improving lives on the street...
 Metro Transit police officers worked with the HAT team at Union Depot Station to help people without homes get to shelters or accept other assistance.
Metro HRA is also key to helping find safe emergency shelter
Local business is taking notice of Metro Transit Police Department’s team of dedicated officers who meet light rail trains and buses at the end of the night with food, clothing, and housing assistance for people with nowhere to go.
Created in 2018 in collaboration with the Metropolitan Council’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Metro HRA), the department’s Homeless Action Team (HAT) received an innovation award in September from the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and seven chamber partners.
Its annual Leaders in Local Government Awards honor local government organizations of note in the east metro who exemplify and demonstrate innovation, excellence, and success in local government.
Here is what they said about the HAT team:
“The Homeless Action Team assists folks who are utilizing Metro Transit buses and trains as shelter. The object was to meet people where they are at and offer tools and resources from shelter to clothing and food. They have also helped in finding them employment. Last year, over 100 individuals and families were housed. Relationships and trust have been built, and this team continues to check in on past clients while they continue moving forward with new clients. Once you are able to change the trajectory for one person in a family, others start to see that change is possible.”
Capt. Brooke Blakey accepted the honor on the department’s behalf. “It was Lt. Mario Ruberto’s brainchild. When promoted, Sgt. Tim Lawrence and I developed it and turned it into what it is today,” Blakey said.
The team also consists of Officers Katherine Kompelien, Beverly Rodriguez, Daniel Schmit and Quentin Waterkamp, and civilians Carol LaFleur and Alexis Myers, as well as staff from Metro HRA.
Metro HRA supplies federally funded Section 8 housing vouchers to help pay rent for people with low incomes. Terri Smith is the director of Metro HRA, which includes Assistant Manager Tammy Prigge and senior outreach coordinators Tasha Belshan, Ryane Ottengheime Leifheit, and Renae Pereira-Webb, who help clients find and stay in safe and affordable housing.
Contributions this year down 20% from last year
Council staff pledged more than $65,000 to help others during the 2020 Charitable Giving Campaign that ended two weeks ago.
In addition, staff donated nearly $2,000 in several special events held during the campaign. Also, a food drive sponsored and coordinated by Metro Transit brought in 2,637 pounds of food.
Campaign chair Liz Sund said the total numbers were down significantly from past years, no doubt as a result of the pandemic and because many staff are working from home and dealing with new challenges of their own. She expressed hope that by 2021 the bottom-line figures would improve again.
“Right now, we’re all really ‘in this together,’ as we are more aware than ever about the needs in our communities. Every contribution makes a difference," Sund said.
Although campaign total figures are down,137 staff did participate and were generous with an average donation of nearly $500 per person, Sund said.
The 2020 results compare with totals just over $80,000 from 2019 and $95,000 from 2018.
Here are some of the key campaign totals:
- Council-wide total pledges: $65,471.00
- Council-wide total for events: $1,934.25
- Council-wide food drive: 2,637 lbs.
- Metro Transit total pledges: $35,392
- R.A. total pledges: $21,687
- E.S. total pledges: $8,392
It’s too late now to donate through payroll deduction, but not too late to help others. Please consider donating directly to service providers of your choice who can help others in need during this perilous time.
 Santa surprised dozens of kids with his helper dog, Lexi, in Saint Paul.
The spirit of the holidays is the mother of invention
One free Santa suit and a good idea by Rachel Wiken turned into the Best. Holiday. Project. Ever.
“This is one of the best things to happen in this whole year!” said Wiken’s colleague Heidi Schallberg. And it’s tough to argue with that.
That “best thing” is in-person (but distanced and COVID-safe) visits from Santa and his helper dog, Lexi, to dozens of kids in Saint Paul, where Santa hands out a candy cane, an ornament, and a tag with the kid's name – whom he calls out by name from a safe, social distance.
The holiday spirit is palpable – for kids, parents, Santa, and his helpers.
“So far, Santa visited more than 70 kids in the first weekend, plus countless others on the street that we waved and took pictures with,” Wiken said yesterday. “We are booked next weekend as well. And parents have been sending us the best messages afterward, about how much their kids enjoyed having Santa visit. We have also been picking up Santa letters to take to the North Pole, and we’re loving reading those in the evening after he makes his rounds.”
The backstory and inspiration
Wiken, a planner in the transportation division, had picked up a free Santa suit on their neighborhood Buy Nothing page, “thinking maybe next year my husband Dave could play Santa for all the kids on our block,” she said.
“A friend mentioned maybe Santa could stop by and wave hello from the sidewalk,” Wiken said, “and a light bulb went off. A lot of kids are bummed that they can’t see Santa this year, or are worried that COVID will keep Santa away. So we decided to offer free Santa visits in our neighborhood.” Wiken used some craft supplies she had gotten from the same Buy Nothing group to whip up a jingle bell harness for their dog Lexi and a bag for Santa to carry his gifts.
Wiken and her husband put up an ad for “Free Santa visits” on the Buy Nothing page and their local Facebook neighborhood group, and were flooded with requests for Santa to visit. Wiken managed all the messages, got details on where Santa should stand, what kids' names are, etc., then used her transportation planning skills to group visits by location and map out Santa’s best parking spots (since “it ruins the magic to see Santa pull up in an old CRV,” she said).
When Santa Dave is out on visits, he wears a wireless headphone connected to Rachel back home at North Pole Dispatch with their one-year-old son. “I remind him of kids’ names, where to look for letters, directions to next location, etc.," she said. “I can hear all the excited kids over the phone, so it's super fun for me at home, too.”
A lot of people have offered to pay Rachel and Dave or give them something in return, but they’ve been requesting donations to Neighborhood House in Saint Paul instead. “We are doing this for the fun and to make Christmas happier for the neighborhood,” she said. The whole project so far has cost the couple about $20 in candy canes, gift tags, string for ornaments, and gas.
“We have been really overwhelmed by all the feedback and love from the kids and their parents,” Wiken said. “We are so happy that it’s gotten such a good response and really seems to be bringing a lot of joy to the neighborhood. It’s the perfect use of my planning skills and Dave’s eight-month deficit of social interaction. It also keeps us busy and gives me less time to stress about pandemic life.”
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Want to learn more about accessibility features in Microsoft 365 and Teams?
Windows 10, Microsoft 365, and Teams bring built-in accessibility features that help people and organizations be more productive and inclusive as they create, communicate, and collaborate. Join these instructor-led online training sessions, whether you have a disability or simply want to learn more about accessibility features built into Microsoft products such as Teams.
Instructors from Microsoft and Vispero, a provider of assistive technology, will be leading these sessions in partnership with the MNIT Office of Accessibility, MNIT Experience IT, and the Collaborative Business Solutions team of the Council’s Enterprise Content Management unit.
These learning events will be recorded and available after the event. For more information email Guthrie Byard in the Office of Equal Opportunity.
The links below provide event descriptions and webinar links.
December 15, 2020, 9-10:30 a.m.
Microsoft Teams Accessibility: Blind or JAWS users
December 16, 2020, 9-10 a.m.
Microsoft 365 Accessibility – Deaf and Hard of Hearing
December 17, 2020, 9-10 a.m.
Microsoft 365 Accessibility – Neurodiversity
January 14, 2021, 11-12 p.m.
Microsoft 365 Accessibility: Low Vision
Gov. Walz and the Minnesota Department of Health are announcing more information throughout the week. The newest and most complete information will be available in the COVID-19 email from Regional Administrator Meredith Vadis on Thursday.
Time extended to use emergency sick pay, childcare leave Employees will continue to have access to Emergency Sick Leave and COVID-related childcare leave into 2021, while we await either reauthorization of the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act or new guidance from the federal government. This is a continuation of the leave each employee received in 2020, not additional leave if you exhausted your bank in 2020.
Read more in the Dec. 3 update from Meredith Vadis.
Notification app available for download The State of Minnesota has launched an application to notify individuals whether they’ve come in contact with people who have tested positive for COVID-19.
The app does not disclose private, person information or track your location. It relies on random, proximate device identifiers. To learn more, visit the State of Minnesota COVID aware site.
Limits remain in place until Dec. 18 An executive order remains in place that limits in-person social gatherings and other interactions in an attempt to slow the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in Minnesota in recent weeks.
Bars and restaurants are limited to take-out and delivery service only; gyms, fitness studios, entertainment venues, event spaces, and similar establishments are closed; and adult and youth sports are paused. This includes fitness and workout rooms in Met Council facilities; they will remain closed until further notice.
Learn more about the state’s guidance.
Get tested – it's free and easy to do!
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) works in partnership with communities to provide safe and free on-site COVID-19 testing in areas with outbreaks, increasing cases, or other barriers to access existing test sites.
Check the COVID-19 Community Testing page on the MDH website to make an appointment and to stay up to date on locations and dates for new community testing sites.
In-home test kits available
The state is also offering in-home test kits for all Minnesotans, free of charge. Learn more about the process.
HealthPartners testing for Met Council employees
For employees who have a HealthPartners medical plan, HealthPartners has the most up-to-date information related to COVID-19 care and testing on their website at HealthPartners.com/coronavirus. In some cases, you may need to complete a video visit prior to obtaining a COVID-19 test.
Employees are invited to make a difference in their professional career or in the direction of someone else’s through the Council's 2021 MentoringWorks Program.
Due to the pandemic, mentoring pairs are meeting virtually or in person following social distancing guidelines. All group events will be held virtually.
Participants will officially meet for six months and can begin the program at any time during the year. Applications will be accepted throughout 2021.
Anyone who has passed their probationary period, received a "met expectations" or higher on their last performance review, and is not on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) is eligible to participate. Bus and train operators are not eligible. To learn more and apply, visit the MentoringWorks page on MetNet
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Employees across the organization are doing their part to keep Met Council services and programs running at full steam, despite the coronavirus and state lockdown. But we’re all in this together. To help share a little virtual camaraderie, we’re asking staff how their work has changed and what it’s like to serve during a pandemic. To share your story or suggest someone who is doing outstanding work, please email thewire@metc.state.mn.us.
Peter A. Hanf
Associate General Counsel
Office of General Counsel
How has the pandemic affected your day-to-day work?
The pandemic has affected both my work and my work routine. My practice is litigation focused. Court hearings have been held remotely. Mediations and condemnation hearings have been delayed or held remotely. My dog is now my constant work companion. I dress more casually. And my schedule is less rigid.
What’s it like working through a pandemic?
Overall, it’s been fine. Teams and Webex are easy to use and are great tools for connecting with staff, consultants, and outside counsel. I’ve had very few technology glitches. I’ve been productive working from home. However, despite that, there’s level of isolation and anxiety that can creep into your being when you’re no longer connecting with people in-person – especially for long periods of time. I don’t like that.
How has your life changed outside of work?
In early 2020, I learned I was born with a heart defect. I had open heart surgery just before the pandemic to replace an aortic valve. The pandemic complicated my recovery because follow-up appointments and cardiac rehab were either delayed, not scheduled, or canceled altogether. The upside of the pandemic has been spending more time with my immediate family. My daughter, for instance, is in 9th grade and is a serious ballet student. I can now watch her participate in virtual ballet classes. I can listen to the faint sounds of her high school schooling. And we can have lunch together or laugh about something during the workday. These wonderful things would not have happened but for the pandemic.
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Paula Crane
HR Office Coordinator
Human Resources
How has the pandemic affected your day-to-day work?
It has mostly affected the way I “do” my work. I have processes and routines in place while I'm in the office that I'm having trouble duplicating at home. I am “old school” so I tend to have my instructions for certain duties written in a binder, step-by-step. I feel at times I am skipping steps in my work and it makes me anxious. I am learning, however, to make myself an “electronic binder” in my OneDrive. This is helping a lot. Also, it is hard bouncing ideas off your co-workers for something you need help on. You don’t get the collaboration you would if you had a brainstorming session in person. I miss that!
What’s it like working through a pandemic?
I have so many emotions when I think of this question. Anxiety, stress, fear, worry, but also happy that I am able to work from home. I don’t have to stop and start all the time so I am able to get the work done in a more timely manner. It is a little eerie at times thinking about when it will end and if there will be a “back to normal” or if this is our “new normal.” I am thankful for Fit For Life, the sessions on self-care they have scheduled, and for the self-care seminars offered by Sand Creek. Those sessions have been a great help to weather the storm.
How has your life changed outside of work?
I’ve picked up two hours in my day by not commuting. An hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. My commute now is seven steps up and seven steps down. I love having the extra time because it allows me to eat healthier in the morning and evening. I am not rushing my breakfast and am able to get a healthy dinner on the table with the extra hour. I have also been spending more time doing what I love doing, reading. I have read 11 books and am on book 27 of a 40-book series. I am loving it!
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'Town Hall Meeting' draws 200+ for update on pandemic planning and more
More than 200 Council staff from Robert Street and Jackson Street logged in Monday for a one-hour online "All Staff Meeting" with Acting Regional Administrator Mary Bogie, where they heard updates on the current state of pandemic impacts at the Council, pandemic planning heading in 2021, returning to work, and other hot topics.
Joining Bogie as presenters were Director of Program Evaluation and Audit Matt LaTour, Acting Deputy of Regional Administrator Phil Walljasper and HR Director Marcy Syman who covered specific aspects of pandemic planning moving forward. IS Director Craig Bantz weighed in with an informative update about the minor catastrophe at Robert Street last Friday that shutdown wired and wireless communications for hundreds of staff in the central office for about a day.
See the one-hour video here.
Join the LGBTQ Employee Resource Group
After the enthusiasm and cross-divisional collaboration in creating the Pride lunch-and-learn this summer, a Council-wide LGBTQ Employee Resource Group started taking shape. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are groups of employees sharing a common characteristic or interest, such as gender, ethnicity or race, sexual orientation, generation, or other special interest. ERGs provide resource and support to members and to the organization. New members are welcome year-round.
You can join the next meeting on Monday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m., to catch up on the conversation as the group continues to build its charter and workplan for 2021. Contact Sarah Berres at Metro Transit to learn more. Also, if you missed the Pride lunch-and-learn, check out the Pride Committee’s presentation from this summer.
Webinar: 'Leveraging Social Media for Career Success' is Dec. 9
Some say social media can make you or break you in terms of career success. But here you can join Sand Creek for a practical session to learn the strategies to best utilize your social media footprint to accelerate your career success.
Leveraging Social Media For Career Success
Wednesday, December 9
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
To register for the webinar.
Webinar: 'The Science of Relationships' is Dec. 10
Relational and social health has never been more important than right now, and this presentation sponsored by Sand Creek will share proven methods that are critical for happy, healthy relationships.
The Science Of Relationships
Thursday, December 10
11:00-11:30 a.m.
Participants will walk away with tools proven to remove obstacles that prevent us from having more empathy and understanding. These methods have been identified through four decades of research by Drs. John and Julie Gottman, and they result in less conflicting verbal communications and increase intimacy, respect, and affection.
To register for the webinar.
Reminder: Starting in 2021, emails will be retained for six months
Beginning in 2021, emails and chat messages will be kept for six months before they are automatically deleted. Emails are currently deleted after 60 days. Learn more about data retention changes and best practices on MetNet. For more information, contact Enterprise Content Management.
Hey, Where Does This Bus Go?
In the latest episode of "Hey, Where Does This Bus Go?" host Tane Danger rides Route 63, which was recently improved as part of the Better Bus Routes program. "I got to be on a bus again, what more could you want out of life," Danger says after traveling from end-to-end. Watch the video on YouTube.
Highway 62 fully closing Dec. 10-14 for LRT
Highway 62 between Shady Oak Road and Highway 212 in Minnetonka will be fully closed from Dec. 10-14 to advance Southwest LRT tunnel construction. This work is dependent on weather and may be rescheduled. You can expect lane restrictions beginning Thursday morning, with a full closure at 8:00 p.m. The highway 62 will reopen by 6:00 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 14. The upcoming roadwork allows crews to continue tunnel construction on the south side of Highway 62. For immediate construction issues, call the construction hotline at 612.373.3933.
Chong Lo
HRA Program Supervisor
Metro HRA
Primary duties
I support a team of 10 to 13 Housing professionals and manage rental assistance programs and provide program support.
Started
October 26
How does it feel to start a new job when everyone is working from home?
I am very fortunate to be familiar with Metro HRA's housing software and program operations. My supervisors and staff have been very supportive. I have also been impressed with technology at the Council.
Hometown
Eagan
Current residence
Brooklyn Park
Family
Thai and I have two children, Mera (5) and Miles (2).
Education
BS from the University of Minnesota in Housing Studies.
Experience
I have more than 10 years of affordable housing experience. I previously worked for Saint Paul PHA in Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs, and 9 years here with Metro HRA from 2010-2019.
Other interests
I enjoy home remodeling projects. We completed a bathroom and kitchen remodel in 2020. As a family, we enjoy exploring our many parks and lakes. You can find us often on a bike ride through our neighborhood.
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Marie Ozanne
Principal Contract Administrator
Procurement
Primary duties
I'm responsible for a variety of solicitations for contracts and contract amendments.
Started
September 28
How does it feel to start a new job when everyone is working from home?
I have to admit I miss being in the office to meet and greet people in person. It's very hard to put a name with a face when you have never seen someone’s face! That said, my team has done a great job making me feel welcome and utilizing Microsoft Teams to help me put names to faces. I am also fortunate that my professional group MN NIGP allowed me to meet and work with some Council staff prior to coming to the Metropolitan Council. I am super thankful that I had opportunity to get to know some staff in advance of becoming a Council employee. It's helped me feel more connected even though I am working remotely.
Hometown
Burnsville
Current residence
Bloomington
Family
My husband, Garrett, and our dog Lady Odessa, aka Odie.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Marketing from the College of Saint Benedict & Saint John’s University.
Experience
I previously worked in procurement for the City of Bloomington and for the City of Minneapolis. I have served as the Education and Governance Committee Chair as well as the Reverse Vendor Fair Committee Coordinator for the Minnesota Chapter of the National Institute of Public Procurement (MN NIGP). Most recently I was elected as the 2020 Communication Committee Chair for MN NIGP.
Other interests
I spend my free time traveling, doing home improvements, gardening, entertaining, biking and exploring local breweries with Garett and Odie. Odie has her own Burley bike trailer, so she can tag (roll) along on all biking adventures.
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 Stand Back, Coming Through
Minnesota's Bob Dylan! The Council's light rail train! Rolling thunder through the heart of Minneapolis! 'Nuff said!
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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