A thought for the day…
An optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; a pessimist sees a calamity in every opportunity.
– Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British Politician
 IN THIS ISSUE
Guest Notes from Charlie Zelle
Chair
Last week, I signed a commitment to participate in the Regional Anti-Racist and Economic Justice Trust as part of our ongoing partnership with the Center for Economic Inclusion. It commits us to important actions and measures that will move us and the other members of the trust more intentionally toward a more equitable region.
This is not merely a commitment on paper. This agreement anticipates active participation with other regional partners toward economic justice and racially inclusive policies. It commits the Metropolitan Council to act, hire, retain, and invest in ways that have real impact on the region’s communities and residents. The trust will be measuring progress. We will be held accountable.
We will also learn with other members of the trust – government partners, businesses and corporations, and philanthropy – what methods have real, sustainable impact.
The Center for Economic Inclusion has created a program that provides a unique context that brings clarity of purpose, encourages innovation and shared learning, and facilitates public transparency. This trust will really make us move from promise to action.
I’m excited about the measures the Center for Economic Inclusion has identified. I’m excited to make collective progress together. But most of all, I’m excited to elevate the innovative ideas each of our organizations has and see what great things we can accomplish together.
This process gives me so much hope, especially during a tragic few weeks for our region, where the disparities and injustice, particularly for Black Minnesotans, have been magnified, again, with the senseless killing of Daunte Wright, in the midst of the Derek Chauvin trial. It’s difficult for many of us to see a path forward to breaking down the systems that contribute to these acts of racism and brutality. But I am optimistic the work we will do as part of this trust will help create a more equitable and thriving region for all of us.
We know being anti-racist means disrupting the status quo. We know that means investing in different approaches, different voices, and asking more critical questions that turn the spotlight right back on us. That’s exactly what we’ll be able to do with this Center for Economic Inclusion partnership. It specifically calls for changes necessary to reform actions, policies, and investment, and to dismantle systemic racism.
It also calls for us to invest in Black leaders and be vocal champions for anti-racism and economic justice in our region. Read the commitment and more about the trust (PDF).
Each year, we have some discretionary funds in our budget for targeted efforts. The Management Committee, under the leadership of Council Member Chris Ferguson (committee chair) and Acting Regional Administrator Mary Bogie, recommended several projects, brought forward by our divisions, to advance regional equity (PDF):
- Increasing contracting with underutilized businesses
- Increasing housing stability through investment in more deeply affordable, larger family housing units
- Training and hiring youth, who identify as people of color, in our Environmental Services workforce
- Evaluating ways to more intentionally involve and benefit people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color in transportation prioritization and investment
- Reducing barriers to maintenance technician careers through a training program
- Expanding multi-cultural representation in transit marketing
These projects, which the Council approved on April 14, are an important step. And though we know there’s so much more work to do, we’re committed to doing our part for racial justice and equity in the region. Thank you for your efforts and resolve, especially during these difficult times for our communities. We’re on an important journey together.
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April is Earth Month, and it’s a great time to reflect on the progress the Met Council is making towards development of a Climate Action Plan. Staff across the Council are contributing significantly to this effort.
Councilwide, the Climate Action Team has interviewed nearly three dozen groups totaling more than 200 employees across all five divisions about their climate-related work. People have expressed excitement about the possibility of further gains we can make.
The conversations have spurred many employees to view their work in a new light in terms of how it relates to climate change. Employees have shared hundreds of examples of ways they are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changes the region is already experiencing – or supporting others to do so. Here is a tiny sampling:
- Modeling groundwater for future climate scenarios
- Incorporating electric vehicles into our fleet
- Designing a tool to assist local governments to measure how different actions would affect their greenhouse gas emissions
- Improving work schedules to reduce trips to interceptor and metering facilities
- Modifying landscapes to handle increased rainfall
- Considering expanded teleworking policies
- Shifting to all-electronic sharing of contract proposals
“The breadth and depth of our current work is impressive and will be a solid foundation from which to create new goals,” said Sara Smith, sustainable operations manager for the Environmental Services division and a co-lead of the Climate Action Team. “We appreciate the commitment and enthusiasm of staff for this work.”
The team is sorting, synthesizing, and analyzing data from the interviews to create a baseline of information from which goals can be set and strategies developed to get us to a new level of action of climate change.
Getting ready for a consultant to come on board
Soon the team will announce award of a contract to a consulting firm that will assist them with the next phases of the project. The consultant’s central task will be to provide technical assistance and professional expertise for goal setting, policy creation, strategy implementation, and evaluation components for the plan. They will also assist in ensuring an environmental justice framework, currently under development, is effectively integrated into the plan.
Employees will be asked to engage in a second round of interviews in late spring and summer to talk about their ideas for further actions the Council can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to coming changes, and become more resilient. A draft plan is expected in late fall.
New MetNet page and sustainability site
You can keep current on the project by visiting the Climate Action Plan MetNet page, which is part of a new MetNet site focusing on sustainability at the Council. From this central hub, you can connect to the Council Environmental Sustainability Policy, internal and external efforts related to sustainability, and project updates.
Just in time for Earth Day, the Met Council released a new animated video and a refreshed presentation called Wastewater Treatment for Kids. Three characters with distinct personalities – a heron, a duck, and a frog – guide viewers through the water cycle and the wastewater treatment process.
The project is a collaboration of several staff members from Regional Administration Communications and Environmental Services, including Linda Jones, Carol Critchley, Jeanne Landkamer, Tim O’Donnell, and Kate Nyquist; as well as former graphic design interns Anna McKenna and Linh Dao Le Thuy; and former ES employees Girma Yismaw and Bobbie Chong. Former Human Resources staff member Chris Piehowski voiced the heron for the video, and the children of several staff members viewed and commented on it before it was finalized.
The new animation is based on a presentation created in the early 1990s by former ES employee Gare Frick. The presentation has long been one of the most-visited features on the Met Council’s external website. Visitors have downloaded the presentation an average of nearly 1,000 times per month over the last 10 years. Educators and families from around the world use it as a resource.
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With less than a month to go before the constitutional adjournment deadline of the 2021 Legislative Session, the House and Senate have been busy passing their omnibus bills during long floor sessions. Here are a few highlights of interest to the Met Council.
Transportation. The House passed its transportation bill after an extended floor debate on Saturday. The House proposal provides new revenue for transportation, including indexing the gas tax for inflation, increasing the motor vehicle sales tax, and establishing a 0.5% metro transit sales tax in the transit taxing district. The House bill maintains current General Fund appropriation levels for transit operations and Metro Mobility. The House proposal also authorizes the Council to issue Regional Transit Capital bonds and includes language that would allow the Council to establish an administrative citation program for fare enforcement. An amendment was adopted on the floor that would establish Metro Mobility as a forecasted program built into state budget forecasts.
The Senate is expected to take up its transportation bill this week. The Senate bill reduces most General Fund appropriations for transit systems and Metro Mobility. Provisions in the bill that would reallocate MnPASS revenue, make host counties responsible for guideway costs, and shift costs for busways to the Council would also impact the transit budget. The Senate bill also directs the Council to request approval from the Federal Transit Administration to discontinue operations of the Northstar commuter rail line and establishes Metro Mobility as a forecasted program in the state budget.
Parks and trails. Both the House and Senate Legacy Fund bills continue the 40-40-20 split of the Parks and Trails Fund among the Council, the DNR, and Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails. House and Senate Environment bills also appropriate funds for regional parks operations and maintenance, with the House providing an increase over base-level funding in their proposal.
Water sustainability. The House and Senate Legacy Fund bills include appropriations from the Clean Water Fund for the Council’s water supply sustainability and water demand reduction grant programs. The House bill also provides Clean Water Fund dollars to the Council for inflow & infiltration grants and lead service line replacement grants. The House State Government Finance omnibus bill includes language that was heard in House and Senate committees as a stand-alone bill that authorizes the Council to assist communities with private property inflow and infiltration mitigation programs.
Four weeks to go. With just four weeks remaining in the legislative session, the House and Senate will continue to spend long hours on the floor debating omnibus bills. Conference committees for each bill will be tasked with negotiating House and Senate positions and coming to agreements on policy items and appropriations to set the state’s next biennial budget. The legislature must adjourn by May 17.
For more information, email Government Affairs Liaison Brooke Bordson.
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Employee builds basement recording studio during lockdown
Even as a child, Applications Developer Elias Anthan developed a serious love for music that has never abated – not only listening but eventually playing guitar, studying music theory, and recording in his own studio.
“As a kid I used to stay up late listening to Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 15 over and over again,” he said. “My parents both listened to jazz, classical, opera, bluegrass, and show tunes. I started forming melodies in my head on my way to school and wanted – needed – more recorded music to fill my curiosity.”
At age 10 Anthan heard Andy Summers' guitar solo on “Bombs Away,” and that was it. “I freaked out! I had to know what was going on with the electric guitar!” That led to formal guitar lessons for jazz and classical guitar, music theory, and buying more and more guitars. By the 1990s he had bands, lots of bands, as well as an extensive solo guitar repertoire and then his own recording studio. “It became a huge part of my life,” he said, and it continues.
Flash forward to 2020 and the work-from-home order, and Anthan saw an opportunity to build a new recording studio in a dirty corner room in his basement that held old cans of paint and other detritus.
“It was a dirty mess and an inefficient use of space,” he said. “So I took a day off this winter to gut the room and move my gear in there. It's really nice now and affords me the space not only to track and mix music, but it's also a great practice space.
“Most of the paint went to the household hazardous waste drop-off, and my wife was able to use my tiny old recording closet for document storage and a nice printer nook. Her office is adjacent to the old space, so it was a logical win for everyone. The work-from-home order really informed the effort to relocate,” Anthan said.
His self-described “reclamation project” has paid in other ways, too. “With the new studio I feel like I have spiritual or emotional renewal every day, and every minute brings a new discovery. I’m having familiar musical emotions from 40 years ago but with a fresh perspective, like hearing something that was deeply buried, but was there all along.
“Revisiting these classic musical works as well as the freedom of improvising on guitar brings a presence and mindfulness to my sometimes scattered and distracted day at work. It centers me and brings peace.”
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Share your stories of 'creating joy'
It's been more than a year since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold and Minnesota began its lockdown. We've all had to adapt at work, at home, and socially. Starting with the March 9 issue of The Wire, we are happy to share some stories of Met Council employees who found creative, interesting ways to find joy, build connection, or make the most out of an otherwise dark year. If you have a story to share, or know a colleague with a good story, please email thewire@metc.state.mn.us.
The following news briefs provide a summary of important information you need to know related to the Met Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The newest and most complete information is available in the COVID-19 update emailed to all staff on Thursdays. (Read the most recent bulletin, April 15.)
Changes to vaccine availability affect onsite clinic plans
With the federal and state pause on administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, our Met Council request for these one-dose vaccines for our onsite clinics is delayed, as well. State officials are making appointments for two-dose vaccines available for our staff, and additional access to these opportunities will impact the demand for our own onsite clinics.
The Incident Command team sent an emergency notification to employees last week with a survey about the vaccine, and we were able to accommodate most requests for appointments at available state-run vaccination sites. We anticipate additional appointments for Met Council employees in the coming weeks at state-run clinics, as well as with Dakota County and other county partners.
As a result, we may not need onsite clinics, since so many of you have accessed the vaccine through other channels.
Notifying staff of vaccination opportunities
If you do still need a vaccine appointment, and either weren’t able to get an appointment last week or you didn’t respond to the survey, please email Lisa Belland at Lisa.Belland@metc.state.mn.us so we can make sure you receive communications for available appointments.
We may also send another emergency notification to survey employees who weren’t able to respond to prior communications one more time in the next week or so. Please respond to this text or email right away – they are legitimate communications and require your urgent attention.
The Met Council's emergency notification system uses contact information from Employee Self Service (ESS), so it’s very important that your contact information there is up to date. Review the full information about these notifications on MetNet.
Tools to help you find vaccine appointments:
- Sign up for the COVID-19 Vaccine Connector to get updates on vaccine opportunities and be entered into the random selection process for the state's Community Vaccination Program sites.
- Contact your healthcare provider, local pharmacy, or use the Vaccine Locator Map to search for vaccine providers in your area.
- If you have a HealthPartners medical plan, make sure your contact information in your account is up to date. HealthPartners is contacting eligible patients to schedule a vaccination when they have appointments available. Learn more on the HealthPartners COVID-19 site.
- As part of M Health Fairview’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Efforts, they are prioritizing communities of color and indigenous communities that have experienced disproportionately high rates of COVID-19. For an appointment, register through their COVID-19 Vaccine Screener.
- Make sure you're reading the weekly all-staff COVID-19 email to get the latest on vaccination opportunities, guidelines, and more.
- For more information about the vaccine and how to find an appointment, visit the Minnesota Department of Health vaccine site.
You do not have to wait for information from the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector or the Met Council's emergency notification system before getting your shot. If your health care provider contacts you about making an appointment, or if you have another opportunity to get vaccinated, you can and should do that.
Remember, it takes at least two weeks from the final vaccine dose to develop immunity. Even after you are fully vaccinated, you should continue to wear masks, practice social distancing, delay travel, and get tested if you are showing symptoms of COVID-19.
COVID-19 testing:
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Do you have a manual and repetitive process you would like to make more efficient? Let’s find a solution! Microsoft tools – such as SharePoint, Teams, Outlook, Power BI, OneDrive, Forms, Planner, Excel, and many more – can be used together to create an easy-to-maintain workflow to streamline your existing business processes.
You may find these tools easy to use on your own, but to make the most out of them – and to understand how they can work together – partner with the Microsoft experts on the Collaborative Business Solutions team. We’re here to help you discover, design, and implement solutions for your team.
These are some examples of workflows we can help you build:
- Automate approvals and sign-offs for time off, overtime requests, access requests, etc.
- Create a customized project management tool with real-time notifications and reminders
- Automate Forms routing and approval to replace manual printing and routing of paper forms
- Link real-time Forms data to dashboards and visualizations using Power BI
- Get notified when materials are published or edited on a MetNet site
Read about more success stories on MetNet (PDF).
Interested in finding a better solution for your team, or have an idea you want to talk through with us? Let’s meet! Click here to schedule a 30-minute consultation today.
If you have any questions, please email us at ECM@metc.state.mn.us.
The Collaborative Business Solutions team is part of the Enterprise Content Management unit within Information Services. They make Microsoft 365 reliable, relevant, and usable for Met Council staff to help improve and automate business processes across the organization.
The goal of maintaining personal privacy is managing your digital footprint – that is, attempting to protect and limit what information is collected about you. Be aware that in today's digital world, it is almost impossible to eliminate your digital footprint or stop every organization from collecting information on you; we can only reduce it.
Learn more about protecting your digital footprint in OUCH!, the world's leading, free security awareness newsletter designed for everyone. Published every month in multiple languages, each edition is carefully researched and developed by the SANS Security Awareness team, instructors, and community members.
Read the article, "Privacy: Protecting Your Digital Footprint"
Browse the OUCH! archives
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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 changed and what it’s like to serve during a pandemic. Today we feature two employees who also are married. To suggest someone who is doing outstanding work, please email thewire@metc.state.mn.us.
Magdalena Aguero
Principal Administrative Specialist
Real Estate
How has the pandemic affected your day-to-day work?
This has been a crazy year for all, and first I have to say how grateful I am that I was able to keep my job, and that Met Council provided us with the technology and resources we need to complete our work from home. Our office adjusted very well and rather quickly to work from home, a huge bonus. I’ve been going occasionally to the office to complete “office tasks.” I am using Microsoft Teams on a daily basis and learning more each day what the app has to offer. Day-to-day work is very similar as if I was in the office; lots of my tasks are completed online, but now I use Adobe Sign instead of walking over for signatures – another great tool.
What’s it like working through a pandemic?
"Pandemic" was a foreign word to me a little over a year ago. Now, it’s a new lifestyle, unfortunately. We are lucky enough to have a designated working space at home and an au pair (live-in nanny) who takes care of our little ones. Having meetings with colleagues through Teams instead of in a conference room was an adjustment, but I believe the transition was smooth. We all became more experienced when it comes to technology – that’s progress for Met Council staff and the business world. I make sure to contact people and catch up every now and then because it’s easy to forget and lose personal connections with others. Reach out if you want to chat!
How has your life changed outside of work?
At moments you feel lonely, scared, and miss interactions with others, it’s hard on mental health, and hard to stay positive through all that, especially when living with a high-risk child. But that’s where video calls help us stay connected, movie night with our kids (4 and 6 years old) and their dance-off parties are very entertaining – and yes, the fights, too! As a family we spend more time together, lots of walks with our dog, bike rides, and backyard activities. (I cannot skip family puzzle time, where 200 pieces take three hours because the kids are “helping.") I’ve earned two more hours per day just by cutting my commute, because the basement is that much closer than downtown Saint Paul, and that has been a wonderful life-work balance that I didn’t know about before.
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Martin Aguero
Supervisor, Data Operations
Human Resources
How has the pandemic affected your day-to-day work?
I have to say that it has been business as usual, nothing has slowed down or stopped. As a matter of fact, work has increased because of the demand for more technology, and thankfully I've been able to keep up with it. I’m a systems administrator in Human Resources and happy to have been part of the evolution of business systems within HR, more even through the pandemic when it is much needed. We’ve taken many paper manual processes and turned them into systems-based solutions that allowed us all to work remotely.
What’s it like working through a pandemic?
I have to say that I am thankful to still have a job with the Met Council and to be able to work remotely from home. The technology we have has made it so much easier to still be connected with each other and get our work done. Work-life balance has increased as well, and because we don’t have to make the two-hour daily commute we can spend that time cooking a healthier breakfast and talking to our kids more in the morning rather than just rushing out and grabbing a power bar. We then feel so much happier starting up our computers and getting to work.
How has your life changed outside of work?
We’ve been a more outdoor, active family. We’ve had to think back to the things that you can do that do not involve a mall, movie theater, restaurant, or any indoor entertainment. We have enjoyed nature, outdoor activities, family stay-in-home activities. We’ve started to teach our kids how to downhill ski, which will be our annual winter family sport.
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All staff: Complete required training on unconscious bias by April 22
The Met Council’s eLearning Unconscious Bias training reviews the definition of unconscious bias, shows how to recognize its impact in the workplace, and offers practical actions we can take to create a more inclusive culture where everyone can contribute, innovate, and improve business outcomes. Read more about this training on MetNet.
The Unconscious Bias course is part of the Councilwide racial equity training program and is required for all Met Council employees except bus operators, who will receive this information in a different format. Employees received an emailed notification about this required training from Learn on Feb. 22 and must complete the online course by Thursday, April 22.
Earn $40 by completing health assessment by May 31
Eligible employees can earn a $40 gift card by completing an online health assessment by May 31. The assessment poses questions about nutrition, exercise, emotional health, life satisfaction, and sleep, and generates customized recommendations based on your results. Responses to the assessment are confidential and are only shared back with the Met Council as combined data for the organization.
All employees who have HealthPartners medical or dental coverage through the Met Council are invited to participate in the assessment and will receive a $40 gift card for completing it before May 31. To complete the assessment and access HealthPartners programs, visit healthpartners.com/wellbeing and log in with your HealthPartners account. For assistance, call HealthPartners at 800-311-1052.
Met Council updates ADA Transition Plan
The Met Council undertook a large initiative in 2019 to evaluate the physical accessibility of its public and support facilities, which amounted to over 140 facility reports totaling over 3,000 barriers. As the Met Council works to address ADA compliance issues, the ADA Transition Plan highlights the initiative, work completed so far, and projects for the current year. The ADA Transition Plan will be updated annually and was updated last month. Read the plan on the Met Council's ADA and Accessibility webpage.
METRO Gold Line BRT project in the east metro advances
Following an important approval from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the METRO Gold Line is now cleared to enter the engineering phase of a federal program that could pay for 45% of the project’s cost. The approval allows the engineering team to complete the work necessary to develop the construction plans.
The 10-mile-long bus rapid transit (BRT) line will run parallel to I-94, operating primarily within dedicated, bus-only lanes. It will connect Saint Paul, Maplewood, Landfall, Oakdale, and Woodbury, serving key destinations like 3M campus, Sun Ray Shopping Center, and a variety of existing and proposed housing and retail options close to station areas.
The Gold Line will be the Minnesota’s first rapid bus line to operate primarily within bus-only lanes and provide all-day service approximately every 10-20 minutes. Learn more about the METRO Gold Line.
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Webinar: Transit and shared mobility in a post-COVID world
Regional leaders will explore shared mobility in the Twin Cities in a post-COVID world, including impacts and plans for 2021-2022, at the next online quarterly convening. The event is sponsored by the Twin Cities Shared Mobility Collaborative and supported by the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Minnesota.
Quarterly Convening: Shared Mobility Post-COVID
Tuesday, April 27
1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Presentations will include Understanding Post-COVID Safety Concerns, COVID’s Impacts on Metro Transit … So Far, City of Saint Paul’s Mobility Goals and Actions, and Transit in the Post-COVID Economy.
Register by April 21. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required to access the Zoom webinar. For more information, visit the event webpage.
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Pauline Pajibo
HR Assistant
Human Resources
Primary duties
I process all the leave requests that come into the Employee Resource Center, mostly FMLA Requests.
Started
March 22
How does it feel to start a new job when everyone is working from home?
It was a challenge at first. Getting training via Microsoft Teams and meeting all my new team members on video was a different experience. But everyone I have interacted with has been so patient and helpful! I’m so excited to be working here.
Hometown
Burnsville
Current residence
Hopkins
Family
Single
Education
B.S. in business administration from Metropolitan State University, Saint Paul. Also a HR Generalist certificate from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Experience
I have worked in banking, claims management, health insurance, and advertising before landing my current role at the Met Council. My previous role working in claims management prepared me for my current role as an HR Assistant processing FMLA requests for the Employee Resource Center.
Other interests
In my free time, I enjoy watching documentaries and cooking.
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Andrew Gustin
GIS Technician
Research
Primary duties
I am working with other interns to update the 2020 Land Use Classification for the seven-county metro area.
Started
February 1
How does it feel to start a new job when everyone is working from home?
It is a little strange to be a part of such a large and multifaceted organization, yet hardly know any of my coworkers. It is nice to have the luxury to perform this work while limiting my potential exposure to the virus, but there is definitely something I miss about the camaraderie of working in an office.
Hometown
Nashville, IN (in southern Indiana)
Current residence
The great city of Saint Paul
Family
Single, plus my two Maine Coon cats, Igity and Gilda
Education
Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in geology from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
Experience
Some of my prior work includes developing a mapping tool for a local community council; programming and installing micro-meteorological monitoring stations; designing and modeling a concept shallow geothermal heat exchanger that can be installed in abandoned water wells; researching the distribution of rock glacier deposits in Montana; and performing various remote sensing GIS analysis tasks.
Other interests
I am an avid backpacker, forager, and nature enthusiast. A few years ago I started a small digital cartography business and have released dozens of map-based apps for iOS and Android, ranging from mushroom foraging apps to hiking apps and travel guides for both state and federal public lands.
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 Scenic Norway
Norway is an intriguing land of magnificent mountains, deep coastal fjords, massive glaciers, tiny scenic towns and bustling modern cities. Its rich history dates back more than 1,000 years, and it also ranks among the world’s happiest places to live. “I had a chance to visit Norway a few years ago when my daughter was studying there during college and was totally impressed,” said Communications Specialist Jeff Syme. “It was easy to get around and every day was an adventure. Every building was spotless, and I drove hundreds of miles without a single pothole. The scenery of course is stunning. It’s a photographer’s dream.” On top, the town of Alesund is built on seven islands on the west coast facing the Iceland Sea. In the middle bottom, the old waterfront in historic Bergen. Raging rivers and waterfalls are everywhere.
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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