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WEEKLY BRIEFS City of Arvada internal news May 15, 2023 Parks Safety Training The Parks team recently held its inaugural Equipment Safety Training at Long Lake Regional Park. The two-day “Parks Equipment Rodeo” is an example of how the Parks Department is prioritizing safety by ensuring all its team members – both full-time and seasonal – are properly trained on each piece of equipment they operate. The safety training begins in the classroom with video tutorials on each piece of equipment – how to operate it, how to maintain it and how to be safe around it. Then it’s time for the hands-on training, or Parks Rodeo, where team members gained first-hand experience learning how to safely operate a variety of specialty equipment, everything from dump trucks and trailers to stand-on mowers and skid steers. “We just want to make sure that when people show up to work, safety is on the forefront of their minds,” Parks Manager Steve Gustafson said. Watch the latest Arvada Media Services Parks Equipment Training Rodeo video to learn more. Pavement Management Program The Public Works Pavement Management Team works diligently each year to repair and rehabilitate many roads throughout the city. As the weather warms up, this small but mighty team kicks into full gear managing work being done all across town. The city owns and maintains over 1,400 miles of road. Different types of roads are prioritized for different types of work. Check out this new video to learn more about the Pavement Management Program or visit the program webpage to learn more about work being completed this year. Nominate the Employee of the Quarter (Q2) by May 31 Take the time to recognize someone on your team for their hard work and nominate them for Employee of the Quarter (Q2). This is a great way to express your appreciation and gratitude for your peers. We will be accepting nominations for Q2 through Wednesday, May 31. If you have any questions, please email the Employee committee at [EMAIL REDACTED]. Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- Join the Employee Appreciation Summer BBQ on June 7 The Arvada Employee Appreciation Summer BBQ is coming soon! Please join us on Wednesday, June 7 at Stenger Sports Complex from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Read the following important information for you to help us have the best event possible: ● Please bring camping chairs or picnic blankets if you can, as seating is limited. ● Ball Corporation donated aluminum cups to the City. Check out a video from Ball to learn more about the cups. Please help us be part of the sustainability party by placing the aluminum cups in recycling if you use one. ● If you would like water, please bring a water bottle. No water will be available. ● If you or your team cannot attend, please let us know a head count of those who cannot make it and designate a person from your team to pick up to-go meals. Please email Kylie at [EMAIL REDACTED] by May 31 to arrange the to-go meals. ● Try to carpool or walk to Stenger if you are able as parking is limited. Please send any additional questions you have about the event to [EMAIL REDACTED]. The City’s Animal Management team shares resources for getting your pet licensed and vaccinated Did you know that the City of Arvada requires all dogs 4 months of age and older to be licensed annually (cats are optional). If your pet ever gets lost and is found by an Animal Control Officer or an Animal Control partner, a license helps them to return your pet quickly. Vaccinations are also critical for taking care of your pets and keeping them healthy. You can access licensing services at Foothills Animal Shelter or at one of the City’s police community stations Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by bringing the required documentation and $20 per pet license. Watch the latest Arvada Media Services video to learn more about the importance of licensing and vaccinating your pets, how much services cost and what paperwork you need to bring with you. Low cost vaccination clinics are offered at Foothills Animal Shelter (580 McIntyre St, Golden, CO 80401) on Fridays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. You can also visit the Foothills Animal Shelter’s website to learn more about licensing services and vaccinations. If you have questions, you can contact the Foothills Animal Shelter team at [EMAIL REDACTED] or [PHONE REDACTED]. Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- ArvadaCO.gov update In preparation for the June 1 launch of our new website, ArvadaCO.gov, the core communications team will be meeting with frontline staff on Tuesday, May 30, for a pre-launch review of the site, which will include familiarizing them with the new content navigation. This is a targeted-audience preview because frontline staff will likely be the first point of contact for visitors to the site who have questions. If you are a member of frontline staff and did not receive an invitation, please reach out to your work system communication contact. We anticipate that once the site launches on June 1, City team members may begin to identify changes they’d like to see on the site. While we welcome the feedback, it is important to remember that the backend of this new platform has much greater technical capability than the current one, and it will take some time for the core team to master the new tools and be able to fully address the feedback. Feel free to reach out to the core team with questions/concerns: ● Public Safety: Dave Snelling, [EMAIL REDACTED] and Chase Amos, [EMAIL REDACTED] ● Infrastructure: Katie Patterson, [EMAIL REDACTED] ● Clerk's Office: Kevin Luy, [EMAIL REDACTED] ● CED/AEDA: Liz Johnson, [EMAIL REDACTED] ● VCN: Sean Star, [EMAIL REDACTED] ● OSE: Cindy Javelet, [EMAIL REDACTED] ● Information Technology: Jennifer Valdez, [EMAIL REDACTED] Accessibility: Getting familiar with the accessibility experts When you are learning about accessibility, you will come across the acronyms WCAG and W3C. WCAG stands for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, part of the Web Accessibility Initiative of the W3C: World Wide Web Consortium. W3C is the main international-standards organization for the Internet. WCAG 2.0 guidelines are categorized into three levels of accessibility conformance. Most organizations strive to meet Level AA. ● A (minimum) ● AA (mid-range, most common barriers addressed) ● AAA (highest) Learn more about both general and digital accessibility: ● World Wide Web Consortium ● State of Colorado Office of Information Technology ● Rocky Mountain ADA Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- May 18 is Global Accessibility Awareness Day Thursday, May 18 is the 12th Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)! The mission of GAAD is “to get everyone talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the more than One Billion people with disabilities” worldwide. Awareness is the first step in better serving people with disabilities. People with disabilities use a variety of accessibility tools and techniques to navigate the world of technology. Next Bulky Item Event is on Saturday, June 10 The next Bulky Item Drop Off Event is on Saturday, June 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at North Area Athletic Complex (NAAC), 19500 W. 64th Parkway. For more information about what is and is not acceptable, visit the City’s website. These events are included in the minimum services that Arvada customers invest in as part of the City's Waste and Recycling Program. Organizational Service Effectiveness Work System 5 ways to kick-start your financial wellness journey Are you familiar with the five ways to kick-start your financial wellness journey? You can: ● Explore your personalized homepage. Log into NetBenefits.com to learn more about managing your full financial picture. ● Take the Financial Wellness Checkup. Spend 10 minutes to fill out the checkup on NetBenefits.com/financialwellness, and see where you stand and how to improve. ● Attend a free workshop. Visit NetBenefits.Fidelity.com/livewebmeetings and sign up for a workshop to help improve your financial know-how on a topic of your choice. ● Talk to a registered Fidelity Phone Representative. Call Fidelity at [PHONE REDACTED] to get started and for help to stay on track. ● Download the NetBenefits® app. Get instant, on-the-go access to all the helpful resources from NetBenefits.com. Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- Join us for the Health and Safety Fair on June 7 On Wednesday, June 7, you are invited to participate in the Health and Safety Fair! It will take place at Indiana Shops (6701 Indiana St.) from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. and City Hall (8101 Ralston Rd.) from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Activities will include skin cancer screening, heat stress education, weather emergency preparedness, stress and fatigue talk, distracted/drunk driving demos, AED training, and more! The team will have a passport card for employees to receive a stamp at each station. If you collect at least 5 stamps, you will earn a punch on your wellness card! Please direct questions about the event to HR Coordinator Alyssa Howell at [EMAIL REDACTED]. Mental health resources for City employees May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the City of Arvada supports your Mental Health! This is a great time to refresh your awareness of the amazing mental health benefits available to you, whether they are face-to-face or virtual. Check out some of the resources you can access: ● Meet Dr. Vanessa Bayer, a licensed helping the Arvada community. Dr. Bayer's office is located at the Everside Clinic in Arvada, and we are thrilled to have her as a strong mental health resource. She's dedicated to meeting the needs of City employees in a variety of areas, including stress, anxiety, depression, family/relationship concerns, addictions, work/life balance and more. Dr. Bayer is available to employees and family members who are enrolled in the Everside Clinic. View this flier to learn more about Dr. Bayer. ● Access a therapist through the Talkspace App. If you are enrolled in our health plans through UMR, you have digital access to a dedicated therapist by downloading the App. You can communicate by message or have real-time face-to-face video appointments. Talkspace is another tool to access trained and treatment management. This is a great online support that is convenient, safe and secure. Check out this flier to learn more about this benefit. Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- ● Participate in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through You have 24/7 access to support, resources and information through This benefit includes support to meet life's needs, including confidential emotional support, work-life solutions, legal guidance and financial resources. is available to benefited employees and their family members. Read this flier to learn more about his benefit. For additional questions about these benefits, reach out to HR Benefits Specialist Leesha Neuhold at [EMAIL REDACTED]. Here’s how to view internal job postings All internal job opportunities are posted on our internal job link and on Inside Arvada under the “Employee Resources” tab. Arvada University Update Register in advance on the Arvada University Learning Calendar. Contact Noelle Oberg ([EMAIL REDACTED]) with questions. Session/topic Date Time and/or resource link Type of Training 7 Habits of Highly Effective People May 22 or June 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register here In-person Communication Skills: Our Community Listens June 6, 8, and 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day or Aug 8-10 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day Email [EMAIL REDACTED] 3 days In-person Government Center, Brighton Conscious Communication June 8 or Aug. 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Email [EMAIL REDACTED] In-person Government Center, Brighton Diversity Workshop: The Human Library Experience. Learn more on the Human Library website. June 8 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Email [EMAIL REDACTED] Virtual Process Improvement, Green Belt for Leaders June 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register here Virtual Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- Employee Committee Corner Employee Photo Contest ● Who can submit a photo? ○ All current City of Arvada employees. Including temporary and seasonal employees. ● What is it? ○ The City of Arvada annual employee photo contest. We are currently accepting submissions! ● Where can photos be taken? ○ Anywhere in our beautiful City! Each participant may submit up to three high resolution photos. ● When can photos be submitted? ○ Photos can be submitted through the first week of June. All submissions must be received no later than Monday, June 12. Judging to take place June 15th. ● How can I submit my photos? ○ By visiting and completing the 2023 Photo Contest Submission Form. ○ If you submit photos, you must also complete the Photo Contest Release Form. To complete the form, you must print it, fill it out, scan it electronically and attach the electronic copy of the form to the 2023 Photo Contest Submission form. ● Why should I submit a photo? ○ To have fun and win gift card prizes! Please send any additional questions you have about the photo contest to [EMAIL REDACTED]. About the Employee Committee Employee Committee representatives meet in order to plan and coordinate events as well as collect departmental updates to bring back to their respective teams. Check out the links below to see who your representative is, view the upcoming list of potential City events and browse Employee Committee meeting minutes: Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- ● Find My Rep! ● 2023 Events Schedule* *Please note: this is a working document and all events are subject to change. ● Meeting Minutes - April Please contact your Employee Committee at [EMAIL REDACTED] if you have questions. Vibrant Community & Neighborhoods Work System City celebrates 37 years of Arbor Day tree plantings with Peck Elementary The City of Arvada and Peck Elementary School last Thursday held its 37th annual Arbor Day tree planting celebration. The City’s Forestry team and fifth grade students from Peck Elementary gathered at Sunrise Ridge Park and planted 37 trees to commemorate the 37 years of Arbor Day celebrations between the City and school. With Peck Elementary closing this year, Thursday’s celebration was bittersweet as it marked the final time this special Arvada tradition was shared between Peck Elementary and the City of Arvada. Going forward, the City will continue its annual Arbor Day tree planting celebration by partnering with different elementary schools in the city each year. Several special guests were in attendance to commemorate the final year with Peck, including former Peck teacher Dudley Weiland and former City Forester Craig Hillegass, who together started the special tradition back in 1987. “I remember going up to Peck Elementary School, and sitting down in one of (Weiland’s) classrooms in the little chairs for the fifth and sixth graders, and we planned this thing out and how we were going to do it. The first year was at Lady Bug Park,” Hillegass said. “I still go by there. The trees we planted way back then are still there. We planted a Green Ash that’s probably 40 feet tall now. We could drive around Arvada now and remember all the Arbor Days and all the trees we planted.” Majestic View is seeking Garden Hosts If you haven’t already submitted your pollinator garden host application, there are just two weeks left! The pollinator garden tour will take place on August 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and we are looking for established pollinator gardens who want to share their tips, tricks and blooms with families from across the City. Check out our website for more information and submit your host application by June 2! Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- Upcoming parking lot closure The parking lot at Majestic View Nature Center will be closed for paving next week. If you plan to visit between May 23-26, please park at Majestic View Park on 72nd and take the short, paved path to the Nature Center. Community and Economic Development Work System Ralston Corridor Land Use Study Public Open House on May 24 The Arvada Urban Renewal Authority (AURA) in partnership with the City is conducting a study of the Ralston Road Corridor (Wadsworth Blvd. to Garrison Street) to better understand land use constraints and to improve the barriers to development and pedestrian circulation. AURA will be hosting an open house for the public to learn more about the study and to provide their thoughts on Wednesday, May 24 from 4 to 6 p.m. at their offices located at 5603 Yukon Street. The study is being funded by the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). For further information, call AURA at [PHONE REDACTED]. Employee Spotlight Sharon Israel and Candice Svoboda graduate with MPAs This past weekend, Director of Utilities Sharon Israel and Assistant to the City Manager Candice Svboda graduated from the University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs with their Masters of Public Affairs (MPA) degrees. Congratulations, Sharon and Candice, on achieving your goals! Email your news to