t ontents - tacomacms.cityoftacoma.org/cro/take5/current.pdf · if you would like to take advantage...
TRANSCRIPT
JUNE 2018
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECURITY INCIDENT INVOLVING ESS
PRIDE MONTH
LIVABLE CITY YEAR WRAP-UP CELEBRATION
KUDOS
DONATED LEAVE
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS NEW DESIGN
HOST FAMILIES WANTED
OLD CITY HALL RFP
MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGE
TPDrsquoS NEWS CONFERENCE
RETIREMENT
4
5
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
16
16
18
19
3
Receive Employee News and Information
Receive City of Tacoma News and Information
Share Employee or City of Tacoma News and Information
City of Tacoma employee news updates are posted on our running intranet blog the Gnet News Snapshot the moment they become available
Besides bookmarking the Gnet News Snapshot landing page you can also subscribe to the Gnet News Snapshot RSS feed or opt in to have Gnet News Snapshot updates delivered directly to your work email in whatever frequency you prefer
You can opt in to receive general City of Tacoma news releases news releases from our Mayor and City Council Members and updates on City programs or initiatives Simply click on this link to get started
Have news that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees or members of the media Need to develop materials for community members or a specific group you are trying to reach Please contact your communications staff liaison for assistance
2
3
1
How to Receive or Share News and Information
Click here and sign up today to receive emergency notifications
If you have questions about the notification system or a safety related concern please contact Safety Manager Don Noyes at (253) 591-5745 or dnoyescityoftacomaorg
Sign Up Today to Receive Emergency Notifications
4
Security Incident Involving ESS
Recently the log-on names and passwords used by 5 employees to access Employee Self Service (ESS) were compromised This provided an unauthorized third party access to their personal information Changes that they did not personally make were applied by this unauthorized third party to their direct deposit account information and their pay was rerouted to an unauthorized third party account
The 5 employees affected are all aware that this incident happened This security incident involves individual account credentials and not a general system breach and the unauthorized third party has since been identified and blocked from further access to the system The City of Tacoma remains committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information in ESS
A thorough investigation of this incident is ongoing As internet users we are all vulnerable to these types of security risks Here are some things to consider
bull Information found online is usually not private bull People online often disguise their identitiesbull Fake websites are becoming more convincing and part of the normbull Email scams are often aimed at tricking you to provide your account credentials Here are some actions you can take to minimize the risk of your account(s) being compromised by cyber thieves bull Actively monitor your online accounts that store your private information bull Find out what triggers security alerts from your bank or credit card companies and inquire about available options they offer to better safeguard your informationbull Use unique passwords for online accounts bull Avoid using public Wi-Fi when accessing private information or conducting financial transactions online bull Always shred account statements when no longer needed If you have questions or concerns about the security of your personal information in ESS please contact Michael San Soucie in the Finance Department at msansouciecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5088
5
Employee Event Series
ldquoWe Are Tacomardquo
PRIDE MONTH Speakers Panel on June 13 [Brown Bag Lunches Welcome]
If you are planning to attend this event during your regularly scheduled working hours please be sure to consult with your supervisor first You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch if you wish
6
ldquo W E A R E TACO M Ardquo L AU N C H E D W I T H C E L E B R AT I O N O F
ASIAN amp PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTHON MAY 30May is designated as a month to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander heritage City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities employees joined in a celebratory event to enjoy cultural displays food samples and performances from all over Asia and the Pacific Islands The May 30 event kicked off the Cityrsquos ldquoWe are Tacomardquo series which is designed to provide employees opportunities to learn more about the rich diversity of the communities we serve
The series is hosted by the Cityrsquos Equal Employment Opportunity Office Questions Contact Teneeshia Marshall at (253) 591-5420
7
Livable City Year is a cross-university collaboration connecting local governments with UW classes to address community-identified areas of need
UW students and professors have worked with the City of Tacoma this year on more than two dozen projects that advance goals outlined in the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan and the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan
Click here for more information about the projects
A celebration of the Livable City Year partnership between the University of Washington and the City of Tacoma took place on May 30 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center
Special guests included City of Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and UW Director of Regional and Community Relations Sally Clark
YEAR-END LIVABLE CITY YEAR CELEBRATION A SUCCESS
8
Has your child or spouse recently graduated from high school or college
Use this form to submit your information for the July 2018 issue of Take5
9
Thank you to the following staff members and departments for their consistent involvement and coordination (The EPG apologizes if individual names were left out)
Environmental Services ndash Environmental Compliance for their diligent site inspections Kurt Fremont John Sunich Paul Tollefson Kevin Brennan Stephanie Seivert Wilson Ramiro Sanchez Braden Price Esther Beaumier Mark Schuler Larry Dunn Nicole Riley Brett Burrows Shawn Madison Mark Stafford Jason Yost Laura Nokes and Katie Potter
Public Works - Streets Operations for taking the time to understand requirements and informing EPG of upcoming construction projects Rich Barber Erik Sloan and John Gaddis
Environmental Services ndash Asset Management Group ndash AccessES for developing and maintaining an amazing mapping program Karen Bartlett Mike Rose Bonnie McLeod Vanessa Simpson Jeff Swinney Staley Bufford Pete Van Pelt and Max Mousseau
All City Operations and Maintenance Staff for reporting on BMP use ndash especially Public Works Streets Operations
The Environmental Programs Group (EPG) would like to thank all City staff involved with ensuring compliance with the Cityrsquos National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit The 2017 Annual Report showed full compliance with the NPDES permit Permit compliance requires participation from almost all departments within the City (both General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities) ndash thank you all for your work and cooperation
EMPLOYEE KUDOS
SAFE STREETS RECOGNIZES CODE INSPECTORS COMMITMENT
Neighborhood and Community Service Department code inspectors Ken Ketter and Lloyd Swick were honored for their hard work and commitment to excellence during a community recognition event hosted by Safe Streets
IT EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Kudos to Scott Parent in Information Technology for his continued commitment to customer service excellence Customers have noted that he is competent quick and personable
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECURITY INCIDENT INVOLVING ESS
PRIDE MONTH
LIVABLE CITY YEAR WRAP-UP CELEBRATION
KUDOS
DONATED LEAVE
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS NEW DESIGN
HOST FAMILIES WANTED
OLD CITY HALL RFP
MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGE
TPDrsquoS NEWS CONFERENCE
RETIREMENT
4
5
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
16
16
18
19
3
Receive Employee News and Information
Receive City of Tacoma News and Information
Share Employee or City of Tacoma News and Information
City of Tacoma employee news updates are posted on our running intranet blog the Gnet News Snapshot the moment they become available
Besides bookmarking the Gnet News Snapshot landing page you can also subscribe to the Gnet News Snapshot RSS feed or opt in to have Gnet News Snapshot updates delivered directly to your work email in whatever frequency you prefer
You can opt in to receive general City of Tacoma news releases news releases from our Mayor and City Council Members and updates on City programs or initiatives Simply click on this link to get started
Have news that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees or members of the media Need to develop materials for community members or a specific group you are trying to reach Please contact your communications staff liaison for assistance
2
3
1
How to Receive or Share News and Information
Click here and sign up today to receive emergency notifications
If you have questions about the notification system or a safety related concern please contact Safety Manager Don Noyes at (253) 591-5745 or dnoyescityoftacomaorg
Sign Up Today to Receive Emergency Notifications
4
Security Incident Involving ESS
Recently the log-on names and passwords used by 5 employees to access Employee Self Service (ESS) were compromised This provided an unauthorized third party access to their personal information Changes that they did not personally make were applied by this unauthorized third party to their direct deposit account information and their pay was rerouted to an unauthorized third party account
The 5 employees affected are all aware that this incident happened This security incident involves individual account credentials and not a general system breach and the unauthorized third party has since been identified and blocked from further access to the system The City of Tacoma remains committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information in ESS
A thorough investigation of this incident is ongoing As internet users we are all vulnerable to these types of security risks Here are some things to consider
bull Information found online is usually not private bull People online often disguise their identitiesbull Fake websites are becoming more convincing and part of the normbull Email scams are often aimed at tricking you to provide your account credentials Here are some actions you can take to minimize the risk of your account(s) being compromised by cyber thieves bull Actively monitor your online accounts that store your private information bull Find out what triggers security alerts from your bank or credit card companies and inquire about available options they offer to better safeguard your informationbull Use unique passwords for online accounts bull Avoid using public Wi-Fi when accessing private information or conducting financial transactions online bull Always shred account statements when no longer needed If you have questions or concerns about the security of your personal information in ESS please contact Michael San Soucie in the Finance Department at msansouciecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5088
5
Employee Event Series
ldquoWe Are Tacomardquo
PRIDE MONTH Speakers Panel on June 13 [Brown Bag Lunches Welcome]
If you are planning to attend this event during your regularly scheduled working hours please be sure to consult with your supervisor first You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch if you wish
6
ldquo W E A R E TACO M Ardquo L AU N C H E D W I T H C E L E B R AT I O N O F
ASIAN amp PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTHON MAY 30May is designated as a month to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander heritage City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities employees joined in a celebratory event to enjoy cultural displays food samples and performances from all over Asia and the Pacific Islands The May 30 event kicked off the Cityrsquos ldquoWe are Tacomardquo series which is designed to provide employees opportunities to learn more about the rich diversity of the communities we serve
The series is hosted by the Cityrsquos Equal Employment Opportunity Office Questions Contact Teneeshia Marshall at (253) 591-5420
7
Livable City Year is a cross-university collaboration connecting local governments with UW classes to address community-identified areas of need
UW students and professors have worked with the City of Tacoma this year on more than two dozen projects that advance goals outlined in the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan and the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan
Click here for more information about the projects
A celebration of the Livable City Year partnership between the University of Washington and the City of Tacoma took place on May 30 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center
Special guests included City of Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and UW Director of Regional and Community Relations Sally Clark
YEAR-END LIVABLE CITY YEAR CELEBRATION A SUCCESS
8
Has your child or spouse recently graduated from high school or college
Use this form to submit your information for the July 2018 issue of Take5
9
Thank you to the following staff members and departments for their consistent involvement and coordination (The EPG apologizes if individual names were left out)
Environmental Services ndash Environmental Compliance for their diligent site inspections Kurt Fremont John Sunich Paul Tollefson Kevin Brennan Stephanie Seivert Wilson Ramiro Sanchez Braden Price Esther Beaumier Mark Schuler Larry Dunn Nicole Riley Brett Burrows Shawn Madison Mark Stafford Jason Yost Laura Nokes and Katie Potter
Public Works - Streets Operations for taking the time to understand requirements and informing EPG of upcoming construction projects Rich Barber Erik Sloan and John Gaddis
Environmental Services ndash Asset Management Group ndash AccessES for developing and maintaining an amazing mapping program Karen Bartlett Mike Rose Bonnie McLeod Vanessa Simpson Jeff Swinney Staley Bufford Pete Van Pelt and Max Mousseau
All City Operations and Maintenance Staff for reporting on BMP use ndash especially Public Works Streets Operations
The Environmental Programs Group (EPG) would like to thank all City staff involved with ensuring compliance with the Cityrsquos National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit The 2017 Annual Report showed full compliance with the NPDES permit Permit compliance requires participation from almost all departments within the City (both General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities) ndash thank you all for your work and cooperation
EMPLOYEE KUDOS
SAFE STREETS RECOGNIZES CODE INSPECTORS COMMITMENT
Neighborhood and Community Service Department code inspectors Ken Ketter and Lloyd Swick were honored for their hard work and commitment to excellence during a community recognition event hosted by Safe Streets
IT EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Kudos to Scott Parent in Information Technology for his continued commitment to customer service excellence Customers have noted that he is competent quick and personable
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
3
Receive Employee News and Information
Receive City of Tacoma News and Information
Share Employee or City of Tacoma News and Information
City of Tacoma employee news updates are posted on our running intranet blog the Gnet News Snapshot the moment they become available
Besides bookmarking the Gnet News Snapshot landing page you can also subscribe to the Gnet News Snapshot RSS feed or opt in to have Gnet News Snapshot updates delivered directly to your work email in whatever frequency you prefer
You can opt in to receive general City of Tacoma news releases news releases from our Mayor and City Council Members and updates on City programs or initiatives Simply click on this link to get started
Have news that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees or members of the media Need to develop materials for community members or a specific group you are trying to reach Please contact your communications staff liaison for assistance
2
3
1
How to Receive or Share News and Information
Click here and sign up today to receive emergency notifications
If you have questions about the notification system or a safety related concern please contact Safety Manager Don Noyes at (253) 591-5745 or dnoyescityoftacomaorg
Sign Up Today to Receive Emergency Notifications
4
Security Incident Involving ESS
Recently the log-on names and passwords used by 5 employees to access Employee Self Service (ESS) were compromised This provided an unauthorized third party access to their personal information Changes that they did not personally make were applied by this unauthorized third party to their direct deposit account information and their pay was rerouted to an unauthorized third party account
The 5 employees affected are all aware that this incident happened This security incident involves individual account credentials and not a general system breach and the unauthorized third party has since been identified and blocked from further access to the system The City of Tacoma remains committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information in ESS
A thorough investigation of this incident is ongoing As internet users we are all vulnerable to these types of security risks Here are some things to consider
bull Information found online is usually not private bull People online often disguise their identitiesbull Fake websites are becoming more convincing and part of the normbull Email scams are often aimed at tricking you to provide your account credentials Here are some actions you can take to minimize the risk of your account(s) being compromised by cyber thieves bull Actively monitor your online accounts that store your private information bull Find out what triggers security alerts from your bank or credit card companies and inquire about available options they offer to better safeguard your informationbull Use unique passwords for online accounts bull Avoid using public Wi-Fi when accessing private information or conducting financial transactions online bull Always shred account statements when no longer needed If you have questions or concerns about the security of your personal information in ESS please contact Michael San Soucie in the Finance Department at msansouciecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5088
5
Employee Event Series
ldquoWe Are Tacomardquo
PRIDE MONTH Speakers Panel on June 13 [Brown Bag Lunches Welcome]
If you are planning to attend this event during your regularly scheduled working hours please be sure to consult with your supervisor first You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch if you wish
6
ldquo W E A R E TACO M Ardquo L AU N C H E D W I T H C E L E B R AT I O N O F
ASIAN amp PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTHON MAY 30May is designated as a month to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander heritage City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities employees joined in a celebratory event to enjoy cultural displays food samples and performances from all over Asia and the Pacific Islands The May 30 event kicked off the Cityrsquos ldquoWe are Tacomardquo series which is designed to provide employees opportunities to learn more about the rich diversity of the communities we serve
The series is hosted by the Cityrsquos Equal Employment Opportunity Office Questions Contact Teneeshia Marshall at (253) 591-5420
7
Livable City Year is a cross-university collaboration connecting local governments with UW classes to address community-identified areas of need
UW students and professors have worked with the City of Tacoma this year on more than two dozen projects that advance goals outlined in the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan and the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan
Click here for more information about the projects
A celebration of the Livable City Year partnership between the University of Washington and the City of Tacoma took place on May 30 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center
Special guests included City of Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and UW Director of Regional and Community Relations Sally Clark
YEAR-END LIVABLE CITY YEAR CELEBRATION A SUCCESS
8
Has your child or spouse recently graduated from high school or college
Use this form to submit your information for the July 2018 issue of Take5
9
Thank you to the following staff members and departments for their consistent involvement and coordination (The EPG apologizes if individual names were left out)
Environmental Services ndash Environmental Compliance for their diligent site inspections Kurt Fremont John Sunich Paul Tollefson Kevin Brennan Stephanie Seivert Wilson Ramiro Sanchez Braden Price Esther Beaumier Mark Schuler Larry Dunn Nicole Riley Brett Burrows Shawn Madison Mark Stafford Jason Yost Laura Nokes and Katie Potter
Public Works - Streets Operations for taking the time to understand requirements and informing EPG of upcoming construction projects Rich Barber Erik Sloan and John Gaddis
Environmental Services ndash Asset Management Group ndash AccessES for developing and maintaining an amazing mapping program Karen Bartlett Mike Rose Bonnie McLeod Vanessa Simpson Jeff Swinney Staley Bufford Pete Van Pelt and Max Mousseau
All City Operations and Maintenance Staff for reporting on BMP use ndash especially Public Works Streets Operations
The Environmental Programs Group (EPG) would like to thank all City staff involved with ensuring compliance with the Cityrsquos National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit The 2017 Annual Report showed full compliance with the NPDES permit Permit compliance requires participation from almost all departments within the City (both General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities) ndash thank you all for your work and cooperation
EMPLOYEE KUDOS
SAFE STREETS RECOGNIZES CODE INSPECTORS COMMITMENT
Neighborhood and Community Service Department code inspectors Ken Ketter and Lloyd Swick were honored for their hard work and commitment to excellence during a community recognition event hosted by Safe Streets
IT EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Kudos to Scott Parent in Information Technology for his continued commitment to customer service excellence Customers have noted that he is competent quick and personable
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
4
Security Incident Involving ESS
Recently the log-on names and passwords used by 5 employees to access Employee Self Service (ESS) were compromised This provided an unauthorized third party access to their personal information Changes that they did not personally make were applied by this unauthorized third party to their direct deposit account information and their pay was rerouted to an unauthorized third party account
The 5 employees affected are all aware that this incident happened This security incident involves individual account credentials and not a general system breach and the unauthorized third party has since been identified and blocked from further access to the system The City of Tacoma remains committed to protecting the privacy of your personal information in ESS
A thorough investigation of this incident is ongoing As internet users we are all vulnerable to these types of security risks Here are some things to consider
bull Information found online is usually not private bull People online often disguise their identitiesbull Fake websites are becoming more convincing and part of the normbull Email scams are often aimed at tricking you to provide your account credentials Here are some actions you can take to minimize the risk of your account(s) being compromised by cyber thieves bull Actively monitor your online accounts that store your private information bull Find out what triggers security alerts from your bank or credit card companies and inquire about available options they offer to better safeguard your informationbull Use unique passwords for online accounts bull Avoid using public Wi-Fi when accessing private information or conducting financial transactions online bull Always shred account statements when no longer needed If you have questions or concerns about the security of your personal information in ESS please contact Michael San Soucie in the Finance Department at msansouciecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5088
5
Employee Event Series
ldquoWe Are Tacomardquo
PRIDE MONTH Speakers Panel on June 13 [Brown Bag Lunches Welcome]
If you are planning to attend this event during your regularly scheduled working hours please be sure to consult with your supervisor first You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch if you wish
6
ldquo W E A R E TACO M Ardquo L AU N C H E D W I T H C E L E B R AT I O N O F
ASIAN amp PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTHON MAY 30May is designated as a month to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander heritage City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities employees joined in a celebratory event to enjoy cultural displays food samples and performances from all over Asia and the Pacific Islands The May 30 event kicked off the Cityrsquos ldquoWe are Tacomardquo series which is designed to provide employees opportunities to learn more about the rich diversity of the communities we serve
The series is hosted by the Cityrsquos Equal Employment Opportunity Office Questions Contact Teneeshia Marshall at (253) 591-5420
7
Livable City Year is a cross-university collaboration connecting local governments with UW classes to address community-identified areas of need
UW students and professors have worked with the City of Tacoma this year on more than two dozen projects that advance goals outlined in the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan and the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan
Click here for more information about the projects
A celebration of the Livable City Year partnership between the University of Washington and the City of Tacoma took place on May 30 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center
Special guests included City of Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and UW Director of Regional and Community Relations Sally Clark
YEAR-END LIVABLE CITY YEAR CELEBRATION A SUCCESS
8
Has your child or spouse recently graduated from high school or college
Use this form to submit your information for the July 2018 issue of Take5
9
Thank you to the following staff members and departments for their consistent involvement and coordination (The EPG apologizes if individual names were left out)
Environmental Services ndash Environmental Compliance for their diligent site inspections Kurt Fremont John Sunich Paul Tollefson Kevin Brennan Stephanie Seivert Wilson Ramiro Sanchez Braden Price Esther Beaumier Mark Schuler Larry Dunn Nicole Riley Brett Burrows Shawn Madison Mark Stafford Jason Yost Laura Nokes and Katie Potter
Public Works - Streets Operations for taking the time to understand requirements and informing EPG of upcoming construction projects Rich Barber Erik Sloan and John Gaddis
Environmental Services ndash Asset Management Group ndash AccessES for developing and maintaining an amazing mapping program Karen Bartlett Mike Rose Bonnie McLeod Vanessa Simpson Jeff Swinney Staley Bufford Pete Van Pelt and Max Mousseau
All City Operations and Maintenance Staff for reporting on BMP use ndash especially Public Works Streets Operations
The Environmental Programs Group (EPG) would like to thank all City staff involved with ensuring compliance with the Cityrsquos National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit The 2017 Annual Report showed full compliance with the NPDES permit Permit compliance requires participation from almost all departments within the City (both General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities) ndash thank you all for your work and cooperation
EMPLOYEE KUDOS
SAFE STREETS RECOGNIZES CODE INSPECTORS COMMITMENT
Neighborhood and Community Service Department code inspectors Ken Ketter and Lloyd Swick were honored for their hard work and commitment to excellence during a community recognition event hosted by Safe Streets
IT EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Kudos to Scott Parent in Information Technology for his continued commitment to customer service excellence Customers have noted that he is competent quick and personable
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
5
Employee Event Series
ldquoWe Are Tacomardquo
PRIDE MONTH Speakers Panel on June 13 [Brown Bag Lunches Welcome]
If you are planning to attend this event during your regularly scheduled working hours please be sure to consult with your supervisor first You are welcome to bring a brown bag lunch if you wish
6
ldquo W E A R E TACO M Ardquo L AU N C H E D W I T H C E L E B R AT I O N O F
ASIAN amp PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTHON MAY 30May is designated as a month to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander heritage City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities employees joined in a celebratory event to enjoy cultural displays food samples and performances from all over Asia and the Pacific Islands The May 30 event kicked off the Cityrsquos ldquoWe are Tacomardquo series which is designed to provide employees opportunities to learn more about the rich diversity of the communities we serve
The series is hosted by the Cityrsquos Equal Employment Opportunity Office Questions Contact Teneeshia Marshall at (253) 591-5420
7
Livable City Year is a cross-university collaboration connecting local governments with UW classes to address community-identified areas of need
UW students and professors have worked with the City of Tacoma this year on more than two dozen projects that advance goals outlined in the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan and the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan
Click here for more information about the projects
A celebration of the Livable City Year partnership between the University of Washington and the City of Tacoma took place on May 30 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center
Special guests included City of Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and UW Director of Regional and Community Relations Sally Clark
YEAR-END LIVABLE CITY YEAR CELEBRATION A SUCCESS
8
Has your child or spouse recently graduated from high school or college
Use this form to submit your information for the July 2018 issue of Take5
9
Thank you to the following staff members and departments for their consistent involvement and coordination (The EPG apologizes if individual names were left out)
Environmental Services ndash Environmental Compliance for their diligent site inspections Kurt Fremont John Sunich Paul Tollefson Kevin Brennan Stephanie Seivert Wilson Ramiro Sanchez Braden Price Esther Beaumier Mark Schuler Larry Dunn Nicole Riley Brett Burrows Shawn Madison Mark Stafford Jason Yost Laura Nokes and Katie Potter
Public Works - Streets Operations for taking the time to understand requirements and informing EPG of upcoming construction projects Rich Barber Erik Sloan and John Gaddis
Environmental Services ndash Asset Management Group ndash AccessES for developing and maintaining an amazing mapping program Karen Bartlett Mike Rose Bonnie McLeod Vanessa Simpson Jeff Swinney Staley Bufford Pete Van Pelt and Max Mousseau
All City Operations and Maintenance Staff for reporting on BMP use ndash especially Public Works Streets Operations
The Environmental Programs Group (EPG) would like to thank all City staff involved with ensuring compliance with the Cityrsquos National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit The 2017 Annual Report showed full compliance with the NPDES permit Permit compliance requires participation from almost all departments within the City (both General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities) ndash thank you all for your work and cooperation
EMPLOYEE KUDOS
SAFE STREETS RECOGNIZES CODE INSPECTORS COMMITMENT
Neighborhood and Community Service Department code inspectors Ken Ketter and Lloyd Swick were honored for their hard work and commitment to excellence during a community recognition event hosted by Safe Streets
IT EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Kudos to Scott Parent in Information Technology for his continued commitment to customer service excellence Customers have noted that he is competent quick and personable
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
6
ldquo W E A R E TACO M Ardquo L AU N C H E D W I T H C E L E B R AT I O N O F
ASIAN amp PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTHON MAY 30May is designated as a month to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander heritage City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities employees joined in a celebratory event to enjoy cultural displays food samples and performances from all over Asia and the Pacific Islands The May 30 event kicked off the Cityrsquos ldquoWe are Tacomardquo series which is designed to provide employees opportunities to learn more about the rich diversity of the communities we serve
The series is hosted by the Cityrsquos Equal Employment Opportunity Office Questions Contact Teneeshia Marshall at (253) 591-5420
7
Livable City Year is a cross-university collaboration connecting local governments with UW classes to address community-identified areas of need
UW students and professors have worked with the City of Tacoma this year on more than two dozen projects that advance goals outlined in the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan and the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan
Click here for more information about the projects
A celebration of the Livable City Year partnership between the University of Washington and the City of Tacoma took place on May 30 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center
Special guests included City of Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and UW Director of Regional and Community Relations Sally Clark
YEAR-END LIVABLE CITY YEAR CELEBRATION A SUCCESS
8
Has your child or spouse recently graduated from high school or college
Use this form to submit your information for the July 2018 issue of Take5
9
Thank you to the following staff members and departments for their consistent involvement and coordination (The EPG apologizes if individual names were left out)
Environmental Services ndash Environmental Compliance for their diligent site inspections Kurt Fremont John Sunich Paul Tollefson Kevin Brennan Stephanie Seivert Wilson Ramiro Sanchez Braden Price Esther Beaumier Mark Schuler Larry Dunn Nicole Riley Brett Burrows Shawn Madison Mark Stafford Jason Yost Laura Nokes and Katie Potter
Public Works - Streets Operations for taking the time to understand requirements and informing EPG of upcoming construction projects Rich Barber Erik Sloan and John Gaddis
Environmental Services ndash Asset Management Group ndash AccessES for developing and maintaining an amazing mapping program Karen Bartlett Mike Rose Bonnie McLeod Vanessa Simpson Jeff Swinney Staley Bufford Pete Van Pelt and Max Mousseau
All City Operations and Maintenance Staff for reporting on BMP use ndash especially Public Works Streets Operations
The Environmental Programs Group (EPG) would like to thank all City staff involved with ensuring compliance with the Cityrsquos National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit The 2017 Annual Report showed full compliance with the NPDES permit Permit compliance requires participation from almost all departments within the City (both General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities) ndash thank you all for your work and cooperation
EMPLOYEE KUDOS
SAFE STREETS RECOGNIZES CODE INSPECTORS COMMITMENT
Neighborhood and Community Service Department code inspectors Ken Ketter and Lloyd Swick were honored for their hard work and commitment to excellence during a community recognition event hosted by Safe Streets
IT EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Kudos to Scott Parent in Information Technology for his continued commitment to customer service excellence Customers have noted that he is competent quick and personable
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
7
Livable City Year is a cross-university collaboration connecting local governments with UW classes to address community-identified areas of need
UW students and professors have worked with the City of Tacoma this year on more than two dozen projects that advance goals outlined in the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan and the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan
Click here for more information about the projects
A celebration of the Livable City Year partnership between the University of Washington and the City of Tacoma took place on May 30 at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center
Special guests included City of Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards City Manager Elizabeth Pauli and UW Director of Regional and Community Relations Sally Clark
YEAR-END LIVABLE CITY YEAR CELEBRATION A SUCCESS
8
Has your child or spouse recently graduated from high school or college
Use this form to submit your information for the July 2018 issue of Take5
9
Thank you to the following staff members and departments for their consistent involvement and coordination (The EPG apologizes if individual names were left out)
Environmental Services ndash Environmental Compliance for their diligent site inspections Kurt Fremont John Sunich Paul Tollefson Kevin Brennan Stephanie Seivert Wilson Ramiro Sanchez Braden Price Esther Beaumier Mark Schuler Larry Dunn Nicole Riley Brett Burrows Shawn Madison Mark Stafford Jason Yost Laura Nokes and Katie Potter
Public Works - Streets Operations for taking the time to understand requirements and informing EPG of upcoming construction projects Rich Barber Erik Sloan and John Gaddis
Environmental Services ndash Asset Management Group ndash AccessES for developing and maintaining an amazing mapping program Karen Bartlett Mike Rose Bonnie McLeod Vanessa Simpson Jeff Swinney Staley Bufford Pete Van Pelt and Max Mousseau
All City Operations and Maintenance Staff for reporting on BMP use ndash especially Public Works Streets Operations
The Environmental Programs Group (EPG) would like to thank all City staff involved with ensuring compliance with the Cityrsquos National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit The 2017 Annual Report showed full compliance with the NPDES permit Permit compliance requires participation from almost all departments within the City (both General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities) ndash thank you all for your work and cooperation
EMPLOYEE KUDOS
SAFE STREETS RECOGNIZES CODE INSPECTORS COMMITMENT
Neighborhood and Community Service Department code inspectors Ken Ketter and Lloyd Swick were honored for their hard work and commitment to excellence during a community recognition event hosted by Safe Streets
IT EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Kudos to Scott Parent in Information Technology for his continued commitment to customer service excellence Customers have noted that he is competent quick and personable
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
8
Has your child or spouse recently graduated from high school or college
Use this form to submit your information for the July 2018 issue of Take5
9
Thank you to the following staff members and departments for their consistent involvement and coordination (The EPG apologizes if individual names were left out)
Environmental Services ndash Environmental Compliance for their diligent site inspections Kurt Fremont John Sunich Paul Tollefson Kevin Brennan Stephanie Seivert Wilson Ramiro Sanchez Braden Price Esther Beaumier Mark Schuler Larry Dunn Nicole Riley Brett Burrows Shawn Madison Mark Stafford Jason Yost Laura Nokes and Katie Potter
Public Works - Streets Operations for taking the time to understand requirements and informing EPG of upcoming construction projects Rich Barber Erik Sloan and John Gaddis
Environmental Services ndash Asset Management Group ndash AccessES for developing and maintaining an amazing mapping program Karen Bartlett Mike Rose Bonnie McLeod Vanessa Simpson Jeff Swinney Staley Bufford Pete Van Pelt and Max Mousseau
All City Operations and Maintenance Staff for reporting on BMP use ndash especially Public Works Streets Operations
The Environmental Programs Group (EPG) would like to thank all City staff involved with ensuring compliance with the Cityrsquos National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit The 2017 Annual Report showed full compliance with the NPDES permit Permit compliance requires participation from almost all departments within the City (both General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities) ndash thank you all for your work and cooperation
EMPLOYEE KUDOS
SAFE STREETS RECOGNIZES CODE INSPECTORS COMMITMENT
Neighborhood and Community Service Department code inspectors Ken Ketter and Lloyd Swick were honored for their hard work and commitment to excellence during a community recognition event hosted by Safe Streets
IT EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Kudos to Scott Parent in Information Technology for his continued commitment to customer service excellence Customers have noted that he is competent quick and personable
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
9
Thank you to the following staff members and departments for their consistent involvement and coordination (The EPG apologizes if individual names were left out)
Environmental Services ndash Environmental Compliance for their diligent site inspections Kurt Fremont John Sunich Paul Tollefson Kevin Brennan Stephanie Seivert Wilson Ramiro Sanchez Braden Price Esther Beaumier Mark Schuler Larry Dunn Nicole Riley Brett Burrows Shawn Madison Mark Stafford Jason Yost Laura Nokes and Katie Potter
Public Works - Streets Operations for taking the time to understand requirements and informing EPG of upcoming construction projects Rich Barber Erik Sloan and John Gaddis
Environmental Services ndash Asset Management Group ndash AccessES for developing and maintaining an amazing mapping program Karen Bartlett Mike Rose Bonnie McLeod Vanessa Simpson Jeff Swinney Staley Bufford Pete Van Pelt and Max Mousseau
All City Operations and Maintenance Staff for reporting on BMP use ndash especially Public Works Streets Operations
The Environmental Programs Group (EPG) would like to thank all City staff involved with ensuring compliance with the Cityrsquos National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Stormwater Permit The 2017 Annual Report showed full compliance with the NPDES permit Permit compliance requires participation from almost all departments within the City (both General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities) ndash thank you all for your work and cooperation
EMPLOYEE KUDOS
SAFE STREETS RECOGNIZES CODE INSPECTORS COMMITMENT
Neighborhood and Community Service Department code inspectors Ken Ketter and Lloyd Swick were honored for their hard work and commitment to excellence during a community recognition event hosted by Safe Streets
IT EMPLOYEE CONTINUES TO UPHOLD HIGH STANDARDS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE
Kudos to Scott Parent in Information Technology for his continued commitment to customer service excellence Customers have noted that he is competent quick and personable
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
10
PERSONAL TOUCH
CITY ATTORNEYrsquoS OFFICE
CITY MANAGERrsquoS OFFICE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
PUBLIC WORKS
TACOMA VENUES AND EVENTS
TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES
WARD GROVES
MARY SHIRLEY
CHRIS BURKE
CHRISTINA LORELLA
MUSHTAQUE QAZI
DERECK RUSSELL
FRANK WILSON
RUSSELL OLSEN
KRISTIN DILLONMILTON HOLLINGSWORTH
PATRICK PRENTICE JOHN VANAUSDELN
ROLAND JONES CHRISTENA WARWICK
AULANI CRAWFORD
KARITE TAATITI
Employees who are eligible to receive donated leave are listed here If you wish to donate leave please contact your timekeeper or Human Resources at (253) 591-5400 to submit a Sick LeavePaid Time Off Donation Form
Employees Approved for Donated Leave
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
11
DEFERRED COMPENSATION NEWS NEW WEBSITE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES NEW ROTH PLAN OPTION
The Cityrsquos voluntary deferred compensation program vendor ndash ICMA-RC ndash has created a new website specifically for City of Tacoma employees
Whether yoursquore enrolled or not check out the site at icmarcorgtacomawa to
bull VIEW PLAN INFORMATION AND DOWNLOAD FORMS
bull EXPLORE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE CALCULATORS
bull REGISTER ONLINE FOR A ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OR GROUP SEMINAR
bull CONTACT THE CITYrsquoS ICMA-RC REPRESENTATIVE
bull VIEW AND MANAGE YOUR ACCOUNT A new Roth plan option is now available for employees enrolled in the Cityrsquos deferred compensation program Under the new option you can separate investment allocations for your Roth pre-tax contributions and existing balances Previously you had to select one investment strategy for all deferred compensation contributions
If yoursquore currently enrolled in the Roth plan option you can make changes to your investment strategy online at icmarcorgtacomawa On the site select ldquoView Accountrdquo and then click on ldquoManage Fundsrdquo Changes can also be made by calling Investor Services at (800) 669-7400
We want to hear from
YOU
Submit content for the July
2018 issue of Take5 by
Friday June 15 at 10
am to your respective communications staff liaison
If you have general comments questions or suggestions about Take5 contact Maria Lee in the Media and Communications Office at marialeecityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-2054
Would you like to see the great things your department is doing highlighted in Take5
Have workplace tips kudos fun stories and more that yoursquod like to share with your fellow employees
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
12
Any time you make changes to your City benefits or want a statement of what yoursquore enrolled in you can print a benefits confirmation statement from Employee Self Service (ESS) The statement was redesigned for easier reading and to be more concise Similar benefit types are now grouped together and lists your enrolled dependents for medical dental and vision in one place
The Benefits Office plans to have an option to email a copy of your statement from ESS in the future Using Chrome or Explorer log in to cityoftacomaorgESS to get a copy of your statement For help logging in contact the IT Service Desk at (253) 591-2057 For all other questions contact the Benefits Office at benefitscityoftacomaorg or (253) 573-2345
NEW DESIGN FOR EMPLOYEESrsquo BENEFITS CONFIRMATION STATEMENT
The Finance Department could use your help Please contact Michelle Delia at (253) 591-5803 for more information
Are you fluent in ASL
JULY TRAINING CALENDAR
DOWNLOAD TODAY
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
13
Tacoma is a ldquohost cityrdquo for the 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit hosted by the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington in partnership with the John Manjiro-Whitfield Commemorative Center for International Exchange in Japan The annual Summit a large-scale exchange of Japanese and American people is held alternately in Japan and the United States and aims to strengthen the peaceful relationship between our two countries by fostering friendship at the grassroots level
The 2018 Summit taking place in September will bring nearly 150 Japanese visitors to Washington state Following various tours in Seattle visitors will head to Tacoma and 13 other cities for three-night homestays with local families The City of Tacoma
will put on a two-day program for Tacoma homestay visitors focusing on the cityrsquos arts and cultural assets
Ten host families are needed Thursday Sept 20 - Sunday Sept 23 Detailed information is available in the following materials
RESPONSIBILITIES OF HOST FAMILIES
APPLICATION TO BE A HOST FAMILY
If you are interested or have questions please call Sister Cities Program Manager Debbie Bingham at (253) 591-5117
Host Families Needed During 2018 Japan America Grassroots Summit
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
14
City of Tacoma Issues RFP for Old City HallEnvisioning a high quality development that further enhances the vitality of Downtown Tacoma the City of Tacoma has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the purchase of Old City Hall at 625 S Commerce St
ldquoTacoma continues to evolve at a dramatic pace with more than $1 billion being invested into development projects in downtown alonerdquo said Mayor Victoria Woodards ldquoWith Old City Hall the City of Tacoma would like to consider proposals for projects that complement surrounding development downtown foster even more vibrancy in the downtown core and re-establish the buildingrsquos preeminence in Tacomardquo
In the Old City Hall RFP the City indicates that residential development hotels andor offices that support companiesorganizations with financial strength growth potential and career-ladder livable wage jobs are strongly preferred Street-level pedestrian-friendly uses such as restaurants and retail venues are highly desirable
Just a few blocks from Old City Hall Portland-based McMenamins continues its $34 million restoration of the former Elks Temple The new property is projected to open in the spring of 2019
Adjacent to the Elks Tacoma-based developer Eli Moreno recently renovated the Union Club into event and co-working spaces Seattle-based AxoWorks LLC acquired a nearby property at 725 Broadway and is in the process of developing co-working spaces there
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
15
Developers will have an opportunity to tour Old City Hall on June 20 2018 To participate in this tour developers must respond by June 15 2018 to Assistant Community and Economic Development Director Elly Walkowiak at ellenwalkowiakcityoftacomaorg or (253) 591-5209
RFP responses must be submitted by 5 pm Pacific Standard Time on July 31 2018
More information about the Cityrsquos Community and Economic Development Department is available at makeittacomacom or cityoftacomaorgCED
More information about the Cityrsquos progress toward its Tacoma2025 strategic visioning goals is available on the Results253 page at datacityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
16
BUZZWORTHY
General Government Employees
With the upcoming elections this year I wanted to ensure all General Government employees are aware of permissible and prohibited activities by City officers and employees related to political campaigns and union elections Please refer to this summary provided by City Attorney Bill Fosbre
If employees have specific concerns or questions please contact the City Attorneyrsquos Office at (253) 591-5885
Elizabeth PauliCity Manager
ARE YOU DOING THE PINKY SWEAR CHALLENGEBe sure to log your healthy habits to accrue points on a daily basis There is a maximum 1500 points per day that you can earn now through June 21
WEEKLY PRIZESAll employees who earn at least 300 points per day will be entered into weekly drawings Winners will be awarded a Fitbit Charge 2
Grand PrizeThere will be two winning teams one with the highest average points AND one with the highest cumulative points If there is a tie in either category RedBrick will conduct a random drawing to select the winning team Team members from winning teams will each be awarded a $100 Gift Card
A MESSAGE FROM THE CITY MANAGER
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
17
ELEVATOR 2 BACK IN SERVICE AS PART OF THE TMB ELEVATOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT
Renovations to the Municipal Building elevator 2 are now complete and the elevator is available for use With this elevator back in service there will be a slight break in the Elevator Modernization Project Upgrades to elevator 3 will begin on Monday June 11
Improvements to elevator 2 include new cab interior finishes dispatching hardware and software and code required upgrades The access control system (badge scanning) functions the same as in the other elevators
Until the other elevators are modernized elevator 1 and 2 will operate independently from the other
elevator cars Elevator 1 and 2 will utilize the new hall button and elevators 3 and 4 will operate from the old hall button Please do not push both hall buttons when waiting for an elevator choose one or the other If both buttons are pushed it will cause unnecessary stops and ultimately result in slower elevator service in the Municipal Building
Your patience is appreciated during these renovations If you have any questions please contact Facilities Management Assistant Division Manager Joshua Clarke at (253) 591-5395 or jclarkecityoftacomaorg
For everyonersquos security it is important that every employee follow the Tacoma Municipal Building (TMB) Complex Access Policy and Procedure This applies to anyone who enters the building and wants access to floors not open to the public Even if you recognize or know the person (employee or non-employee) if they do not have an activated employee badge visitor badge or temporary badge they must check in with security
on either the 1st or 2nd floor of TMB City employees are reminded to not grant access to non-public floors for anyone without an authorized badge Details on the policy or procedure are available within the links below
TMB COMPLEX ACCESS POLICYTMB COMPLEX ACCESS PROCEDURE
Reminder Badges Needed for Elevator Access in TMB Complex
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
18
BUZZWORTHY
Watch TPDrsquos News Conference on Jennifer Bastian Case
Tacoma Police Department detectives in consultation with the Pierce County Prosecutorrsquos Office have developed probable cause to arrest an identified suspect in the 1986 child murder case of Jennifer Bastian This case was never closed as the department continued to investigate new tips and review existing case files Department detectives have located and detained the suspect out of state The suspect will face prosecution in Washington state
A news conference was held on May 14 2018 at Tacoma Police Headquarters 3701 S Pine St regarding this case
Background Info
On Aug 4 1986 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian left her home in the 2100 block of N Winnifred at approximately 230 pm She rode her 18-speed Schwinn bicycle to Point Defiance Park to train for an upcoming bike tour in the San Juan Islands Jennifer left a note saying she would be home by 630 pm
Several credible sightings of Jennifer were reported around the 5-mile drive of Point Defiance Park as late as 6 pm that day Jennifer never returned home and a massive search took place at the park Jenniferrsquos body was located on Aug 28 1986 in a wooded area off the 5-mile drive
The TIMS pilot went live on Monday April 30 for City Attorneyrsquos Office staff and a select group of other employees
The TIMS project team has heard positive feedback from users about views and search capabilities There have been no major technical bugs with TIMS and the TIMS project team has been working through issues relating to finding files sorting moving files etc as they come up
TIMS is Live at City Attorneyrsquos Office
A full assessment and lessons learned will be presented to senior leadership staff at General Government and TPU who sponsored TIMS so they can make a decision about whether to go forward with implementation for the entire City No decisions are expected to be announced until later this year
Thank you for your interest in the TIMS pilot
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
19
In 2017 the Tacoma Employeesrsquo Retirement System (TERS) Board of Administration adopted updated actuarial and option factors for the Plan These actuarial and option factors are used to calculate your retirement benefit and the options you can choose for your named beneficiaries One of the reasons for the change was the adoption of an updated mortality table which projects that todayrsquos members will live longer than previously expected These updates were made to help ensure the long-term sustainability of the Plan That means your retirement benefit will be there for you when you retire and for others as they retire
The impact of the changes are different for each member because they take into account your normal contributions years of service and average final compensation The revisions that produced positive impacts took effect at the beginning of 2018 and have already led to increased pensions compared to what members would have expected prior to those changes The change that could reduce some of that increase will take effect Jan 1 2020 This delay will
give TERS members considering retiring around that time the opportunity to evaluate the implications of retiring in 2019 versus 2020 The members most likely to be impacted by the 2020 change are those with 25 or more years of service
All of the changes have now been programmed into the TERS online retirement calculator Members can evaluate the potential impact on their retirement benefit by entering hypothetical retirement dates of Dec 1 2019 and Jan 1 2020 into the online calculator and comparing the estimated projections
ldquoThe good news has already been factored in while the possible drawback will begin in 2020rdquo said Retirement Director Tim Allen ldquoThe Board wanted to provide ample notice of the changes so members can see how it may affect their particular circumstancesrdquo He noted that for those TERS members looking to retire in 2021 or beyond these changes will simply take effect In addition periodic adjustments to the actuarial option and annuity factors will occur in the future as needed
Considering retirement in the next few years
Contact the Retirement Department at (253) 502-8200 or at TERSretirementcityoftacomaorg for more information on the changes or for assistance using the online retirement calculator
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
20
CITY OF TACOMA JOBS
For the latest City of Tacoma job postings and to submit an application visit cityoftacomaorgjobs
Occasionally closing dates are revised
For additional assistance call (253) 591-5400 Ext 1
Check out the Community and Economic Development Departmentrsquos Special Event Calendar at cityoftacomaorgevents to see events for which permits have been issued or are pending through the Special Events Office
For other events not represented on that calendar go to their Partner Organizations page
WONDERING WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg
21
City of Tacoma747 Market Street
Tacoma WA 98402
311 Within Tacoma City Limits
Cityoftacomaorg