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INSIDE TRACK Winter 2017 A newsletter by the employees, about the employees, for the employees Everyday heroes Alberto Favila and Kent Killpack were working on snow removal in the neighborhood of 27th Street and Van Buren around 8 a.m. on Friday, January 13, clearing the sidewalks after the recent snowstorm, when Alberto noticed large flames coming from a nearby 3-plex. They immediately went to the 3-plex and began knocking on the doors and windows to alert the people inside that their home was on fire. As it turned out, all of the 10 residents, including eight children, were asleep and unaware of the life-threatening situation, and none of the residents spoke English. Alberto, who is fluent in Spanish, called 911 and directed the 3-plex residents to safety and remained on scene to assist firefighters in translating instructions as Kent assisted in directing traffic. Thank you to our everyday heroes: Alberto, Kent, and the Ogden City Fire Department. Leesa Brinkerhoff — Public Services In this Issue • Ogden City recognized for diversity promotion • Meet the new police chief • Our hardworking storm troopers • 8 reasons to take a vacation • and more! Turn the key, be idle free The Ogden City Council and Mayor Mike Caldwell have declared February 5-11, 2017 as “Idle- Free Week” in Ogden City. Residents and employees are encouraged to reduce vehicle idling and unnecessary driving during this week and throughout the entire year. Small changes, like consolidating trips, using mass transit, avoiding drive-thrus and turning off your vehicle at schools, banks, parking lots and train crossings, can make a significant difference in our air quality and even save you money. A study by Weber State University, Utah State University and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) debunked the myth that newer vehicles still require a warm-up period. Driving your vehicle warms it up a lot faster than idling and dramatically reduces emissions. While going completely idle-free may seem like a big feat, even taking small steps to reduce emissions can make a difference. Please do what you can to help Ogden breathe easier. Brittany Griffin — Council Get your lures ready! Kathy Renner — Engineering The most anticipated event in the fly fishing industry, the International Fly Fishing Film Festival (IF4), returns to Peery’s Egyptian Theater on Friday, March 10 at 7 p.m. The film festival creates awareness for all of the local conservation groups who benefit from the proceeds of the tour’s stops. In Ogden, proceeds from IF4 benefit the preservation of the Ogden River parkway. Tickets are $12 in advance, available online and at Roosters, Angler’s Den, and Smith & Edwards. Tickets are $15 at the door. flyfilmfest.com ---PAGE BREAK--- Ogden recognized for diversity promotion at MLK Freedom Breakfast The Utah Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission recognized Ogden during the MLK Freedom Breakfast at the Marshall White Community Center for the City’s work promoting diversity, equity and human rights. The Ogden City Council and Council Executive Director Bill Cook received the MLK Jr. Drum Major award for building upon Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy through community engagement, outreach and partnership creation. This is the first time the award has been presented to a City Council. Ogden has made significant strides to build a more inclusive, engaged and welcoming community. The Mayor’s Office of Diversity Affairs was created in 2015 for this purpose, and in an emotionally charged City Council meeting on September 13, 2016, the community came together for the adoption of the Ogden Diversity Charter and the approval of the creation of the Ogden Diversity Commission. The Ogden Diversity Charter is the result of many large and small group meetings that have been held during the past three years to establish a collaborative connection between the City, individuals, institutions and organizations working toward meeting the needs of our diverse communities. It is intended to be a living framework to help build a community that thrives on the trust, equity and interdependency of Ogden’s diverse communities. The City is interviewing candidates to fill the Diversity Commission. An announcement of the new commissioners is expected soon. You can watch a short video on the Ogden Diversity Charter Signing Event, and get more information on the Diversity Charter by visiting Ogden’s Diversity Affairs webpage. Brittany Griffin — Council Tech Tip: ERP Update! We are configuring the software for various departments within the City for both Tyler Munis and EnerGov. We are ahead of schedule and have wowed the Tyler instructors. Testing will begin in April and May followed by training in June. This will set us up to go live by the end of the fiscal year. Jenn Deachin — IT What defines a healthy community? Viviana Felix — Diversity Affairs A healthy community is not necessarily defined by the physical health condition of its residents. Although physical health plays a part, a healthy community considers equity and equality in all aspects of life, eliminating barriers in areas like housing, education, employment, and economic opportunities. It is when we take steps to eliminate these barriers that we begin to welcome and value differences. As public servants, we can take the first step to build healthy community relationships by listening. Actively and respectfully listen to the needs, situations and concerns at hand. Even if you don’t agree, you may learn something new. Listening is crucial, especially when discussig resources, time and/or money available. When government steps in without listening it can often be too late or the issue at hand isn’t resolved in a way that benefits those being served. To create a healthy community, we must listen and maintain civil communication, discourse and debate. CAREER SERVICES 20 Years Jack Gray — Fire Chris Maltby — Fire Shawn Netz — Fire James Doxey — Water Tom Summerill — Fire John Rebeterano — PW&P 10 Years Mara Brown — Legal Kelly Gines — Fire Cory Riley — PW&P Retirement Dave Evans — PW&P 25 Years Dennis Crezee — Fire 15 Years Robert Porter — Code Svcs Randy Garrett — Police Colten Johansen — Police Mike T. Jones — Fleet 5 Years Mike Caldwell — Mayor Eric Daems — Planning Utah Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Rights Commission presents Bill Cook and Council Chair Marcia White with MLK Jr. Drum Major award. Community celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy at MLK Freedom Breakfast. ---PAGE BREAK--- Employee Spotlight Where were you born and raised? I was born in Rupert, Idaho and adopted at 3 days old. I was raised on a farm outside of Pocatello, Idaho in a community called Tyhee, which is adjacent to the Blackfoot Reservation. Where did you work before becoming the City Council Executive Director? I worked for Snohomish County which is the county just north of Seattle, Washington. The county seat is Everett, Washington, which is where I worked for 14 years. Snohomish County has a population of about 700,000. I worked in the County Executive Office as the Executive Office Administrator. Where did you go to school? I attended Highland High School in Pocatello, Idaho – yes they are also the rams. After serving in the Marine Corps, I attended Idaho State University, where I graduated with a Bachelors of Administration degree. Tell us about your family. We have four children and eight grandchildren. One of our daughters passed away as an infant. My wife and I were high school sweethearts. Our oldest daughter, Kabi, lives in Salt Lake City and works for the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Our son, Brad, lives in Roy with his wife and four children. He works for Solar City, and his wife works for the Ogden School District. Our youngest daughter, Jen, lives in Maple Valley, Washington with her husband and four children. Her husband works as an air traffic controller, and she teaches piano. How has Ogden changed since you began working for the City? When I began work in Ogden on September 10, 2001, the Council was in the process of deciding whether or not to tear down the old downtown mall. Of course the mall was torn down, and we now have the very successful Junction. The physical structures in the city have changed dramatically. And through our branding process, we now acknowledge that our citizens are notoriously independent – always have been and always will be. We have also declared to the world that we are a welcoming and inclusive community. So I guess you could say that much is the same and much has changed. What is your favorite memory from your time with the City? I have many favorite moments. The one that was most impactful on me was when the diversity charter and diversity commission were approved by the Council. I will never forget the lady who spoke in Spanish and said that after 30 years of living here, now it feels like home. What are your plans after you retire? First and foremost, I will be spending more time with my family and exercising every day. I will be continuing to volunteer my time at Weber State. After wearing purple every day for 4 ½ years, I intend to continue this tradition. I will also be volunteering through the International City Management Association to assist other city managers around the world – they are currently working in 25 countries. My first assignment is to speak at two conferences in China. I have also expressed an interest in helping in India and Jordan. What will you miss most about working for the City? Other than all of the incredible people who work here, I will miss saying the Pledge of Allegiance at every Council meeting. After saying the pledge more than 700 times, its meaning has sunk deep into my heart. What are your hobbies? I love walking and hiking with my wife. We recently took up snowshoeing as well. I do a lot of family history research – over the past four years, I have spent about 2,000 hours in this endeavor. I also enjoy writing – books, short stories and poems. I have authored five books and about 100 short stories and poems. I write to discover what I think. Tell us something very few people know about you. Over the past four years, I have discovered that I have lots of connections to Ogden. I came here not aware of any connections to Ogden or Utah. Through my birth mother’s ancestors, I have discovered 391 people so far that were born, lived or died in Ogden. Ogden isn’t just an incredible place to live. It means much, much more to me now. I have family with a history here from the very early days of settlement. This is home. What message would you like to leave with Ogden City employees? My hope for you is that you live long and prosper. Bill Cook — Council Thank you for your service! After 15 years, Council Executive Director Bill Cook is retiring on February 24. ---PAGE BREAK--- Storm Troopers Leesa Brinkerhoff — Public Services Did you know while we’re sleeping in our warm beds or enjoying time with loved ones during the holidays, our water and snowplow crews are working tirelessly to keep the city going by clearing snowpacked roads, patching potholes, and repairing frozen water lines? Potholes alone may need to be filled several times with cold mix during the freezing winter months as we wait for ideal weather conditions to return to allow for permanent repairs. Here are some stats from our Water and Public Ways & Parks Divisions over that past two months: • Water main breaks: 81 • Pothole repairs: 171 locations • Snowplowing: 762 city lane miles • Overtime hours – Water: 938 • Overtime hours – Public Ways & Parks: 1,396 Thank you for your hard work! Where were you born and raised? Born in Montreal, Canada, raised in the Province of Alberta, Canada. Where did you work before you came to work for the City? Ogden Police Department for 32 years, then I returned and went away for 5 years and now I’m back. If you could have any job you wanted, what would it be? Chief of Police, Ogden, UT Where did you go to school? Alberta, Canada Tell us about your family: Wife, Terri, 37 years married, 4 children, 9 grandchildren What was the last magazine or book you read? The Prosperity Matrix by Dave Yarnes What are some of the things you like about Ogden City? What’s not to like? What is your favorite restaurant? Javier’s, Prairie Schooner, and Timbermine. What are your favorite foods? Mexican food, steak, steak, and steak. What did you have for lunch yesterday? Freddy’s steakburger. What is your favorite dessert? Triple Berry Pie. What is your dream vacation? Tahiti. What characteristic do you most admire? Integrity. Who is your hero? My Dad. What do you think of when you wake up in the morning? Excited to go to work at the OPD. What is your favorite sound? Huh? (I wear hearing aids.) Tell us something very few people know about you: I’m of Afghan heritage. Employee Spotlight Chief Randy Watt — Police We’re baaa-aaack! The Ogden City Records Committee has been resurrected! The Committee held its first meeting on January 30 to begin discussions regarding how records affect the groups in each Department. Seventeen employees representing fifteen Divisions will review current practices and policies as well as best practices and new technologies. Our responsibilities include developing standards for records management and retention, creating policies and procedures for records classification and designation, crafting access policies and procedures for governing and implementing the provisions of the Government Records and Access Management Act (GRAMA) and related sections of City Code, and approving classifications or designations applied to the City’s records. This is an exciting time in records and information management. We must consider electronic documents, digitized documents, social media, text messages, email management, and so much more as we move forward. x8152 Julia LaSeure — Recorders ---PAGE BREAK--- 1. Your office is not the place for inspiration. The work environment is hardly the place to generate new ideas, approaches and problem-solving techniques. You cannot be creative or get inspiration when you are under enormous pressure. A change of scene on a vacation can work wonders. Your mind will start asking questions you never thought of before. 2. Vacations take you out of your comfort zone. Taking a vacation is a challenge because you will be moving outside your normal sphere or comfort zone. It is a wonderful opportunity to delegate and it is beneficial to actually see how the office performs without you. Personal growth increases with the size of one’s comfort zone. 3. Your health benefits enormously. You feel better, sleep better, and your mood is lifted. Your stress and anxiety are lower. Heart function and blood pressure begin to come back to normal levels. 4. Your brain needs a break. Most office workers are suffering from a sort of brain flooding where data in the form of emails, phone messages, and other documentation starts pouring across the desks. Their brains are like sponges – they can only take so much. But on vacation, new ideas and exotic vistas can strengthen the neural connections and stimulate mental activity. Now, if you are worried that taking a vacation could help your competitors get ahead, think again. Research shows that the benefits of emotional stability and the mental relaxation process after a vacation will put you at the top of your game. 5. A change would do you good. Experiment with when you can take a vacation. Opt for the 100-hour one where you can add two or three days at either side of the weekend. Forget the idea that you can switch off at any time. One neurologist says that our brains make it progressively more difficult to switch off if we never take a break. You definitely need a change. 6. Vacations allow for networking. While on vacation, you will probably meet lots of new people and you will engage with some of them. They may well be in the same business so it really is worth your while maintaining contact through your LinkedIn profile and message center. The opportunities are endless. You can discover new leads, explore potential new markets, plan revenue generating ventures, and new partnerships. It will happen naturally and the follow up should be friendly and without pressure. 7. They come with their own perks. You will discover whether or not the office can be run without you. You can see straightaway whether the delegating has worked and whether the projects are still on target. You will never discover how teams really work unless you take a vacation. If you are an employee or in team leader role, the same principle applies. Yes, the office can do without you but in your case, you have shown that your organizing skills are excellent and that you have successfully planned ahead. The projects will all meet their deadlines and the team is working well together. Now that should impress your boss! 8. Vacations keep you and your coworkers happy. The famous accounting firm Ernst & Young did an interesting survey. They found that those who took more vacation time were getting consistently better grades on their performance assessment at the end of the year. Overall, they improved by eight percent. The holidaymakers had greater job satisfaction and were more likely to stay with the company. So, forget the old work ethic that longer hours mean dedication and higher productivity. Take a vacation instead! 8 reasons to take a vacation Kelsy Thompson — Marketing