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WEEKLY BRIEFS - City of Arvada internal news Dec. 11, 2023 Thank you for joining your colleagues at the Winter Snow Grab & Go Breakfast The Winter Snow Grab & Go Breakfast was a sweet ending to an amazing year here at the City of Arvada. The Employee Committee would like to extend a big thank you to all who stopped by to mingle and jingle. We hope that a hot breakfast was a great start to an otherwise dreary morning. As we near the end of another year, we would like to wish happy holidays to this amazing team! It's the time of year to reflect on our accomplishments and cherish the spirit of togetherness. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our organization. May your holidays be filled with laughter, love, and relaxation. Last chance to contribute to the City of Arvada Workplace Giving Campaign by Dec. 15 Giving at work is easy, especially when you spread out your giving through a number of pay periods. We invite you to find the nonprofits and causes you care about most and donate directly through your paycheck! Everyone is welcome to participate in the City of Arvada Workplace Giving Campaign. Every dollar makes a difference! Sign up to contribute by Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 and your selected nonprofit(s) will receive your gift throughout 2024. Join with your coworkers to make a lasting impact! Did you know that City of Arvada Employees contribute over $10,000 each year to support nonprofits? That’s less than $5 per paycheck. Let’s work together to make this amount even higher next year! Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- Help your neighbors in need and donate to the Community Donation Drive by Dec. 17 The City's Community Donation Drive has seen an amazing response from Arvada residents and City team members so far! The City Manager's Office, Housing and Courts teams have collected more than 20 large moving boxes worth of donated winter gear, new underwear and children's clothes for One Small Step Defendants and migrants in the Denver metro-area. Thank you to everyone who has donated items! Although we’ve done incredible work, there is still progress our City team can make. Axios reported this week that the number of migrants Denver has received in the past year now totals more than 29,000 people, so there is still a huge need for support. You can contribute donations to collection boxes in the City Hall lobby and each of the Police Community Stations around the City until Sunday, Dec. 17. Donations are sorted and delivered weekly to the teams in Arvada and Denver, who then distribute the donations to community members. Check out the Community Donation Drive flyer to learn more about the drive! If you have questions, contact Brady Porterfield-Finn, Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator at [EMAIL REDACTED]. Snow shoveling safety tips In addition to other safety considerations in the winter months, shoveling snow poses risks. Injuries from slips, sun exposure and working around moving vehicles are all possible, in addition to muscle strains, frostbite and heart attacks. Whether on the job or at home, if you have to clear snow, the following tips may prevent injuries. Know your limitations: ● Do not overexert yourself: Your body is working hard to stay warm, so be careful not to work too hard. Some people are more at risk: smokers, those with a history of heart disease or high blood pressure, and those that lead an inactive lifestyle. Check with your doctor if you have any concerns. ● Look into alternatives: Snow shoveling can be good exercise, but if you have been inactive or have certain risk factors, consider alternatives to shoveling like using a snow blower or hiring services that are equipped to do this. ● Use proper lifting techniques: Use your legs, not your back. Keep the shovel close to your body, and avoid any twisting motion. TURN YOUR TOES IN THE DIRECTION OF LOAD TRANSFER to avoid twisting motion. ● Handle only what you can lift: Snow can be heavy! It can sometimes weigh as much as 15 lbs. per cubic ft. Only handle an amount of snow within your capabilities. Use a small shovel to avoid lifting large amounts at one time. Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- ● Take frequent breaks: Take a break every 5 or 10 minutes while you're working. Never let your heart rate exceed 85 percent of its maximum. Monitor your heart rate and pace yourself. To estimate your maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220. ● Don't ignore chest pain or tightness: If this kind of ache occurs, assume the worst and call 911. ● Walk Like a Penguin: Taking smaller, shuffling steps on icy sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, and entrances/exits helps to reduce risk of slip and falls. Avoid moving too quickly! Before you begin: ● Drink water: Typically, people shovel snow in the morning when they're dehydrated. Dehydration is a stress to the heart. Drink a couple glasses of water about thirty minutes before you start. Stay hydrated throughout all work periods. ● Avoid caffeine and smoking: Caffeine and nicotine are stimulants which could increase your heart rate and place more stress on your heart. ● Warm up: Snow shoveling is vigorous exercise. Walk for a short period of time to warm up. Stretch the muscles in your back, legs, shoulders and arms prior to starting. Warm muscles work more efficiently and are less prone to injury. ● Dress in layers: Putting on a heavy coat is often done prior to starting this task. This is potentially dangerous because you may quickly overheat, which can put additional strain on your heart. Wear a shirt under a sweater, under a light jacket, and strip off layers as you warm up. ● Slip protection: Wear anti-slip and supportive shoes, or wear shoe grips attached to the base of the shoes to prevent slips. Be aware of icy areas that may be hidden below the snow layer. ● Cover your face and hands in extreme cold: Frostbite can occur easily in sub-zero temperatures, particularly to the extremities. o Ensure that your fingertips are fully covered with gloves. o Wear layered socks under your boots. o Cover your nose and ears. o Use sunscreen if the sun is out. Increased reflective exposure from the snow can result in sunburn very quickly. o Be aware of wind chill. Wind can carry heat away from your body more quickly and cause skin temperatures to drop. Shoveling snow can be good exercise if you take the proper precautions! If you have any questions, reach out to Physical Therapy Ergonomic Specialist Valerie Reed at [EMAIL REDACTED] or [PHONE REDACTED]. Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- Organizational Service Effectiveness Work System Fidelity phone appointments available on Dec. 19 and 20 Sam Casad from Fidelity will be holding 30 minute phone appointments this month on Tuesday, Dec. 19 and Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023. Any participant from ANY of our City retirement plans can sign up for one of these appointments. All appointments are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. Please use the links below to access sign up sheets for these appointments. Each link has several 30 minute appointment times you can reserve. When signing up, please provide your name and a phone number for Sam to call you. On the sign up sheet, you will also see 5 additional alternate spots listed as well. These alternates will only be contacted if Sam has extra time during the day, or if he cannot reach someone who had signed up. He will call those people in the order they are signed up. Tuesday, Dec. 19 Phone Appointments Wednesday, Dec. 20 Phone Appointments If you are unable to get a phone appointment, you can also speak to a Fidelity rep by phone by calling customer service at 1-[PHONE REDACTED], or by accessing the numerous financial resources available by logging into your account through Fidelity NetBenefits. Arvada University Update Register in advance on the Arvada University Learning Calendar. Contact Liza Nolder ([EMAIL REDACTED]) with questions. Session/topic Date Registration details Type of Training Host Delegation Skills Jan. 24 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register on Inside Arvada Virtual Employment Matters Trakstar New User Training Jan. 24 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Register on Inside Arvada In Person PD Training Room Jeff Monzingo and Scott Jarvis Project Management Training Jan. 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. Register on Inside Arvada Virtual City of Arvada Internal Project Management Team Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- Meet our newest City team members! This month's New Hire Orientation was held on Dec. 6. Join us in welcoming our newest employees! (Left to Right) - Ken Traughber (Traffic Technician), Dylan Papini (Parks Worker), Raymond Garcia (Traffic Engineer), Matthew Thompson (Civil Engineer), Jonisha Mack (Police Records Specialist), Nancy Flock (Economic Development Specialist), Sam Hoff (Parks Worker), Jeremy Cantor (GIS Analyst), Tony Lessley (Parks Maintenance Leadworker), and Sarah Miley (Economic Development Specialist) (Front) - John Libby (Electro-Mechanical Technician) Employee status changes We invite you to view this spreadsheet to see employee status changes. Employees may demonstrate interest in similar job opportunities in the future by contacting Human Resources at [EMAIL REDACTED] or [PHONE REDACTED], or your supervisor to obtain additional information. Here’s how to view City of Arvada job postings All City of Arvada job opportunities are posted on our job link. Employee Committee Corner 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. Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- 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: ● Find My Rep! ● 2023 Events Schedule* *Please note: this is a working document and all events are subject to change. ● Meeting Minutes - November Please contact your Employee Committee at [EMAIL REDACTED] if you have questions. Community and Economic Development Vance Street Flats Opening Soon Vance Street Flats, a brand new, affordable apartment community in Arvada, is set to open in Q1 of 2024. Located in the heart of Arvada at 5854 Vance Street, this property is within walking distance of City Hall and Olde Town Arvada. Apartment management is currently compiling a list of interested tenants and hopes to begin leasing these units as early as January 2024. Please note that income limits do apply. For further information and to get in touch with apartment management, view this flyer. Infrastructure Centralized trash and recycling pick up - 3rd Floor reminder The 3rd floor of City Hall joined the centralized trash and recycling pick up this week. As a reminder, you are now responsible for dumping your trash and recycling into the centrally located bins. 3rd floor bins are located near the northside printing and in each kitchen area. What to know: ● Cans with food or liquid should be emptied in the central trash. ● If you also need to remove the liner bag, extra bags are in the bottom of your trash can. ● If you need more bags, send a work order to [EMAIL REDACTED]. This will help streamline efficiencies for the Facilities team. Soon, teams in the Annex will be added as well. More communication will be shared as dates are finalized. Email your news to ---PAGE BREAK--- Vibrant Community & Neighborhoods Work System Majestic View Nature Center Registration for Majestic View’s Summer Camp will open on Tuesday, Feb. 6. Visit the Majestic View website for weekly themes or more information. Scholarships are available. Email your news to