A thought for the day…
"I like to think that to one in sympathy with nature, each season, in turn, seems the loveliest."
– Mark Twain (1835–1910) American writer, humorist, and lecturer
 IN THIS ISSUE
Guest notes from Charlie Zelle
Chair
The following column was published in August on MetroCouncil.org.
This month, the Met Council took an important step that builds on the community engagement around transit safety we’ve been doing in partnership with the Citizens League over the past year.
We established a Metro Transit Police Work Group. This group of Met Council members will use the next six months to:
- Digest the findings from the Citizens League
- Recommend measures to increase safety and security on our transit system
- Prioritize discussion of safety issues at our public Committee of the Whole meetings
On Aug. 4, we heard the initial findings from the Citizens League engagement work, and we’re anticipating a full report from the team when their work concludes this month. Early signs point to support for more people on our transit vehicles and throughout the system to provide customer support and help deescalate conflict and solve problems.
This feedback aligns well with what we’ve been hearing from customers and frontline employees, including operators and maintenance staff. In response, we announced an expansion of our investment in community service officers. These additional people on our system will both help solve problems and address concerns and questions our customers have. We hope this creates the right balance between having someone who can proactively address situations and having a police officer who could be perceived as intimidating to some riders.
Participants in the survey also told us that attention to some basic considerations will also help improve their feelings of safety:
- Additional lighting at stations and stops
- Clean and well-maintained vehicles, stations, and stops
- Emergency call buttons
- Enforcing smoking rules and other rider expectations
- On-time reliability for buses and trains
This feedback helps get us to a level of specificity that we can act on.
We still have some work to do to address safety concerns among our youth and the significant segment of participants who don’t feel safe when our transit police are present on vehicles. In the work group, our Council members will discuss these considerations, as well as how we can provide information about our priorities and performance related to policing on our transit system.
Read the Chair's full message on MetroCouncil.org.
The Citizens League engagement work has since concluded, and the full report will be posted this week ahead of the next Police Work Group meeting this Friday.
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During June and July, frontline transit employees attended in-person discussions and completed surveys related to transit safety, to complement public engagement being managed by the Citizens League. About 100 people participated directly in the process and hundreds of others were represented through conversations with safety and equity contacts throughout the system.
Employees (including bus and train operators, supervisors, facilities managers, maintenance employees, and administrative/technical support personnel) expressed significant concern about the conditions on the transit system and the deteriorating experience for employees and customers. Prominent themes included:
- Frontline transit employees desire a more prominent presence from law enforcement and/or security staff on the system.
- Operators cited transit police officer availability and response times as key factors in how they handle situations on vehicles.
- Employees suggested having officers or security on the vehicles and near stations and platforms more frequently would help de-escalate problems. The key was to clearly be a person with authority, responsible for managing conduct on transit vehicles, platforms, and stations.
- Employees also said it’s important there be clear consequences for inappropriate behavior on transit.
- Employees recognize the need to support and connect people in crisis (for mental health or chemical dependence) or people experiencing homelessness to help and community resources.
A full summary of feedback and surveys will be included in the report presented to the Metro Transit Police Work Group and the full Metropolitan Council for consideration.
Special thanks to those who participated in this process, and other staff who may have participated in the public engagement as riders and customers. We encourage you to follow the process through the working group meetings. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday (Sept. 10), and the focus will be on the public and frontline employee engagement.
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Human Resources will host the Met Council’s 2021 management conference this October: Leadership Forum on Racial Equity. The conference – part of the Met Council’s Affirmative Action Plan – is required for all general managers, directors, managers, and supervisors.
Once again, the Leadership Forum will be centered around one topic. For the first time, though, it will be held entirely virtually.
All managers and supervisors will participate in the conference, choosing from one of four dates. The event will be hosted on Microsoft Teams, and conference materials and session information will be organized in a SharePoint site for attendees to follow along and download resources.
2021 Leadership Forum on Racial Equity
All managers and supervisors
Microsoft Teams
Choose one: Oct. 6 (8 a.m. – 1 p.m.), Oct. 7 (noon – 5 p.m.), Oct. 12 (noon – 5 p.m.), or Oct. 14 (8 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Managers and supervisors will receive an email later this week with a link to register for one of the four conference dates. For questions or more information, email LeadershipForum@metc.state.mn.us.
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Two new features are rolling out for Microsoft Teams that will improve calling functionality for remote meetings and communication: audio conferencing for Teams meetings, and softphones for staff working remotely.
Also listed below is information on the series of Microsoft Teams trainings for being successful in a hybrid workplace, including a link to the recordings for past sessions.
Audio conferencing in Microsoft Teams now available
Information Services is pleased to announce audio conferencing is now available in Microsoft Teams for all Met Council employees. Audio conferencing adds a local phone number for attendees – internal or external to the Met Council – to call into a Teams meeting from a telephone.
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Attendee: To join a meeting by phone, dial the conference phone number and enter the conference ID, which are both listed in the meeting invitation (see image at right). Note: If you are in a different area code, you can click “Find a local number” in the meeting invite to get a phone number local to you.
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Meeting organizer: To start your meeting if you’re joining by phone – and you’re the first to join – you will need to enter your PIN. As with any PIN, keep it confidential. You can reset your PIN via the “Reset PIN” link included in your meeting invites.
To learn more about this feature, visit the Microsoft Teams Audio Conferencing page on MetNet. If you have any questions, please contact ECM@metc.state.mn.us.
Note: If you can attend a Teams meeting through the Teams application, use that method to join the meeting to access the full functionality of the platform.
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Coming soon: Softphones through Microsoft Teams
Starting this month, the Met Council will be moving away from physical desk phones and migrating to “softphones” through Microsoft Teams for most office workers. This will facilitate our organization’s new hybrid workplace and will equip remote workers and those using hotel spaces when onsite with a permanent, "soft” work phone. Note that onsite hotel spaces will not have a physical desk phone.
A softphone is a piece of software that allows the user to make telephone calls securely and reliably over the internet via a computer. Employees with softphones will keep the same work phone number; calls to their work phone number will, however, be re-routed to reach them through their Teams account.
Currently Teams can be used to place internal calls to other Teams users within the Met Council. With this new functionality, employees using Teams will be able to call any phone number, receive phone calls, manage contacts, and manage voicemail – all within Teams.
More information on softphones, including links to Microsoft guides, on MetNet.
Shared phones will not be replaced
Physical phones will still be needed in parts of the Met Council where softphone technology is not viable, for example call centers, shared phones in common areas, Environmental Services plants, Metro Transit Police dispatch, and Metro Transit garages.
Most employees who work in typical office settings will be expected to migrate to softphones unless they have unique situations where softphone technology is not effective.
Rolling out September and October
After testing with a pilot group and making any necessary adjustments, Information Services will roll out this new Teams feature by work unit in September and October.
Upcoming softphone trainings
Training sessions will help employees understand Microsoft Teams Calling, setting up and managing a voicemail, making outgoing calls, holding and forwarding calls, and assigning, removing, and working with delegates.
Attend one of these upcoming trainings (click the link to download the attendance information to your calendar):
- Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 14, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 23, 11:00 a.m. – noon
- Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 18, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
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Microsoft Teams training series: Hybrid workplace
The following highlights 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 every other week on Thursdays.
Read the most recent bulletin (Sept. 2), which includes:
- The Met Council's COVID-19 Leave Policy will no longer be available after Sept. 17.
- Starting Oct. 11, employees who are reporting to work onsite must be fully vaccinated or get weekly COVID-19 testing, and test negative.
- The Pfizer vaccine, which is available at the Met Council's Well@Work clinics, recently became the first COVID-19 vaccine to receive full approval from the FDA for individuals 16 years of age and older. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines continue to be available to the public under emergency use authorizations.
- The Met Council's Face Coverings Procedure (PDF) is in effect. All employees who are inside Met Council facilities must wear a face covering, regardless of vaccination status.
- Teleworking staff should check the Telework Transition FAQ page on MetNet for information on technology, workspaces, planning, trainings, and more.
Tools to help you find vaccine appointments:
COVID-19 testing:
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 Employee recognition event: Save the date and submit a photo
All Met Council employees are invited to the 2021 employee recognition event on Monday, Nov. 15, at 9 a.m. This annual event will be presented online for the second year due to the pandemic and will be open to all employees. As always, the event is designed to honor staff for all they’ve contributed over the past year and throughout their careers with the Met Council. More event details will be shared this fall.
To help organizers produce the event's video, employees are invited to submit photos of themselves to add a personal and meaningful touch to this year's presentation. Those of you celebrating years-of-service milestones this year (20 years and up) are highly encouraged to submit a photo. Your photos should be:
- Portrait layout of you doing an activity you enjoy (such as fishing, gardening, sports, recreation, etc.).
- Clear it's you (recent, your face is showing, etc.).
- Solo or with others (such as your kids, spouse/partner, siblings, or friends), as long as you have their permission.
Please email photos to Shoeb Behlim at Shoeb.Behlim@metrotransit.org by Sept. 15. Note that not all photos submitted will be used.
Reminder: Installing new badge readers at Met Council sites
The badge readers employees use to unlock doors and open gates are continuing to be replaced at all Met Council sites. The new readers will allow the Met Council to transition to a more secure employee badge, which will occur in 2022. In the meantime, all existing badges work with the new readers.
Each reader takes approximately 15-20 minutes to replace. During the replacement, external facing doors/gates will remain locked until the new reader is functional. If you arrive at a door/gate where a reader is being replaced, please wait or find an alternate entrance to the building. Thank you for your patience! If you have any questions or concerns, contact Jon Sitzer at Jonathan.Sitzer@metc.state.mn.us.
Chee Yang
Pronouns: he/him/his
Planner, Regional Parks
Community Development
Primary duties
My responsibilities include: support all Parks unit functions including long-range planning, Ambassador Program, implementation, grant programs, and research; review regional park and trail master plans; provide technical support to regional park implementing agencies and review local comprehensive plan updates and amendments, environmental reviews, and other Council grant programs; and prepare reports and make presentations to the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission, Community Development Committee, and other key stakeholders.
Started
Aug. 9
How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
It feels different as everything is virtual with no actual human-to-human interaction. Everything is completed via virtual meetings and online. However, it’s exciting to see how flexible people can be with the changes and how we’re responding and approaching technology for the onboarding process.
Hometown
I was born and raised in Oshkosh, WI.
Current residence
I currently live in Woodbury.
Family
My family consists of my mom, dad, five siblings (four out of the five are married), two nieces, two nephews, and I’m engaged to my partner of five years. In addition, I have a 14-year-old lab and a 5-year-old husky.
Education
I got my bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. I received my master’s degree in landscape architecture from The Ohio State University.
Experience
Before coming to the Met Council, I was with the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Dept., Design & Construction Division as a project manager for 5.5 years. I have experience in park planning and designing including community engagement, managing project budgets, and overseeing construction.
Other interests
Wildlife restoration and conservation is a personal interest and passion of mine. I hope to be able to do more for our natural resources in the future. During my spare time, I enjoy being outdoors doing a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, canoeing/kayaking, and snowshoeing. A fun fact, I’m a huge fan of Pokémon!
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Margaret Perez
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Outreach Manager
Metro HRA
Primary duties
I will be leading a Mobility Demonstration Pilot Program awarded through HUD to support housing choice among Section 8 families, and supporting other strategic initiatives to engage tenants, landlords, and service providers to grow access and support systems in more areas of the Twin Cities for Housing Choice Voucher holders.
Started
Aug. 30
How does it feel to start a new job when many employees are working from home?
I was looking forward to a return to work so that I could hit up all the amazing food, architecture, and urban scenery that the Robert Street location has to offer. However, my dog and husband will be glad to still have me around home for midday snuggles and snacks. At this point in the pandemic, we’ve all settled into virtual work life and so far I’ve been impressed by how connected I feel to my new colleagues despite the physical distance.
Hometown
Bloomington
Current residence
Richfield
Family
Husband, Ricardo; kids, Leonardo (8) and Ramona (3); dog, 20-month-old Enzo, a Standard Golden Doodle (a pre-pandemic pup!)
Education
BA, Hamline University, Latin American studies and Spanish, minor in economics
MPH, University of Minnesota, public health administration and policy
Experience
I was most recently the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Coordinator for the cities of Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield focused on systems changes to improve health. In that role I worked on policy, planning, public engagement, and collective impact initiatives to address key drivers of health disparities in the community. Prior to that I worked as a Food Access and Equity Manager at a food shelf in Dakota County and as a Communications and Outreach Coordinator for a Twin Cities nonprofit focused on local food production systems and advocacy.
Other interests
As a mom, I’m mostly interested these days in finding pockets of time for a solo nature walk, yoga, listening to crime podcasts, or reading a good book. However my husband and I have a shared passion for food – growing it, cooking it, eating it. I think most of our expendable income and time goes to eating out to get inspiration from our local food scene, then taking on food experiments to replicate some of what we’ve tried, and researching recipes in magazines, cooking shows, and YouTube channels. Needless to say, my kids’ favorite foods are plain white rice and mac and cheese. Go figure!
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Hearty congratulations to the following employees who in August celebrate major milestones in their service to the Met 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, read Insights and ES Update, respectively. The information is presented when it is made available by Human Resources.
Years of Service
20 Years
Thomas Buchal, Principal Contract Administrator, Environmental Services
Cynthia Hovde, Liability Claims Representative 2, Risk Management
Karen Neis, Director of Administration, Environmental Services
10 Years
Emily Resseger, Environmental Analyst, Environmental Services
5 Years
Matthew Anderson, Applications Developer 3, Information Services
Mark Lundblad, HRA Inspector, Metro HRA
Daniel Pena, Planner, Metropolitan Transportation Services
Olad Shaqalle, Systems Engineer 3, Information Services
New Staff
Wuang Yang, Aug. 16, Account Specialist, Finance
Margaret Perez, Aug. 30, Outreach Manager, Metro HRA
Lila Eltawely, Sept. 7, Equity Senior Manager, Office of Equal Opportunity
Dawit Nigatu, Sept. 7, Project Manager, Information Services
Departures
Michelle Spielmann, Aug. 21, Principal Contract Administrator, Procurement
David Quast (retired), Sept. 3, Principal Engineer, Environmental Services
Chris Houser (retired), Sept. 4, Accounts Payable Supervisor, Finance
Brian Campbell, Sept. 23, Records Management and Data Practices Manager, Information Services
 Painting the sky in lights
As we mark the unofficial end of summer with the Labor Day holiday and head into fall, it feels like a great time to step back and celebrate the beautiful summer months we had with a look at these fantastic and artful photos John Sanborn, Applications Developer IV in Information Services, captured of the Aquatennial fireworks display in July.
Looking for your cool photo!
Do you have photos to share? The Wire is always looking for the next cool photo from staff, from a close-up in your flower garden, to scenic vistas up north, to exotic travel adventures, or more artful fare like reflections and silhouettes. The only criteria is that it's a cool photo! Just email the editor at the address below.
The Wire is published every two weeks for employees of the Met Council. Everyone is invited to submit comments and story ideas. Contact the editor at TheWire@metc.state.mn.us.
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