It’s American Heart Month, and our city is committed to helping employees maintain good health for this vital organ every day. City employees are also dedicated to promoting cardiovascular health in the community.
These are some of the ways you can support this worthy cause:
Blood Drive: Consider donating or helping recruit someone who can donate blood for this event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 3 at Glendale Regional Public Safety Training Center (GRPSTC). Donors will receive a Renaissance Festival ticket voucher and be entered into a drawing to win a $10,000 gift card. Sign up for the blood drive here.
Wear Red for Heart Month - Feb. 5 or 6: Pose in red clothes for a team photo or selfie for a chance to enter a prize drawing. Email photos to contest@cogaz.onmicrosoft.com
Habit Challenge - For this “In the Healthy Range” challenge from Feb. 9-20, you are asked to do one thing every day to help improve your blood pressure, including taking a walk and checking for added sodium in food. Register for the challenge here.
Good Life, Take 10 at 10: The focus of this monthly event for Feb. 10 will be silent heart risks
This webinar will take place from 10:05 to 10:15 a.m. Click here to register.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Webinar: Take It to Heart: Managing Your Blood Pressure - Learn about lifestyle strategies for managing blood pressure and supporting your heart health in this webinar. It will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Feb. 25. Register for it here.
Know your numbers: Test your blood pressure in a unit available in the Field Operations Department office at 6210 W. Myrtle Ave.
EDUCATION FOR EMPLOYEES
VISIT ‘LEANCITY’ IN NEOGOV, GAIN EFFICIENCY TOOLS
You have likely received an email by now from NEOGOV Learn saying you are enrolled in a class called LEANCITY.
This online class introduces Lean Six Sigma concepts to city employees, showing how they naturally fit into our work. This course demonstrates how our city approaches process improvement and encourages employees to work smarter, in order to protect time, funding and talent, with the ultimate goal of providing great service to residents and employees.
Employees have six months from the time it was assigned to them to complete this five-minute online training. This class is not the same as enrolling in the optional Glendale Lean Academy. If you have any questions about LEANCITY, reach out to our Organizational Performance Program Manager Jeff Bratcher at JBratcher@glendaleaz.com. To learn more about the Glendale Lean Academy, click here.
KNOWBE4 TRAINING CHANGING
Our Innovation and Technology Department will be transitioning KnowBe4 security training from a monthly to a quarterly schedule.
The change will impact any employees who use city computers on a regular basis. These required classes will remain about 5 to 12 minutes long.
Employees also may see new types of training that combines Glendale-specific information with guidance for safely using technology in one’s personal life. Future topics for KnowBe4 classes include protecting yourself against deed fraud, using virtual credit card numbers and locking and freezing credit profiles.
YOUR ROADMAP TO A SECURE FUTURE RETIREMENT PLANNING
Benefits Manager Dolly Alexander and the Human Resources Department hosted Glendale’s first retirement benefits seminar. With standing-room only, employees heard from representatives of the Social Security Administration, Medicare, the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRA), Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) and Empower Retirement.
The panelists offered guidance on navigating the complexities of retirement, maximizing benefits and understanding options. The key takeaway was that retirement planning requires coordination across multiple systems, and the earlier you start preparing and asking questions, the better positioned you'll be to maximize your benefits and avoid costly mistakes like Medicare enrollment penalties or suboptimal Social Security claiming strategies.
The full event is available to watch via NEOGOV through April 3. If you attended the seminar, you may answer a survey about it found here.
COMING UP IN THE CITY
REGISTER FOR MAMMOGRAMS
As a reminder, our city’s Mobile On-site Mammography service will be in operation for appointments from 7 to 11 a.m. on Feb. 11 in the MOM bus outside of the Adult Center.
Experienced, professional medical employees will utilize the latest digital mammography technology to screen patients. It’s a convenient way to obtain information that could potentially save lives. A 15-minute mammogram screening may detect breast cancer.
To schedule an appointment, click here.
HELP CITY WIN CHALLENGE
There is still time to engage in fun, fitness activities as part of Team Glendale’s participation in the 8 Annual Move It Maricopa City vs City Challenge! It runs through Feb. 22 th
Our city wants to win this competition against the cities of Buckeye, Chandler, Goodyear and Surprise, as well as the Tempe Elementary School District and Gila River Casino. Help us take back the Golden Shoe Trophy from Chandler! The winner is the team that records the highest group average number of steps taken. Register for the challenge here.
SAIL AWAY FOR FUN, ADVENTURES
Would you like to enjoy a tropical getaway?
Our Glendale Employee Engagement Committee (GEEC) encourages any city workers to book a Caribbean cruise with Freedom of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruises from July 1015, 2027. This vacation is open to employees and the public, and not a city-sponsored event. The deadline to register for those who want to use a payment plan is April 3, 2027. To book a trip and learn more, visit this website.
HEALTHY STEPS FOR THE FUTURE
PLAN WILL GUIDE ENHANCED TRANSPORTATION
Our Transportation Department is creating a new transportation plan and is seeking community feedback to steer its development.
This plan will guide how people drive, walk, bike, use transit and otherwise get around our city for the next 20+ years. The plan will help our city prioritize and pay for transportation projects of all sizes to make streets safer, smoother and more connected.
This is important because Glendale is growing quickly and our transportation needs to keep up. Improvements that the plan guides will support access to schools, jobs, parks, entertainment and local businesses.
Residents and anyone who travels through Glendale regularly is encouraged to answer questions in a survey to help our city determine what is working and where improvements are needed. Take the survey at GlendaleMoves.com by Feb. 28
REGISTER FOR WALK/RUN, ENGAGE IN WELLNESS FAIR
Don’t forget that the WellStyles Move More 5K walk/run and 1-mile event and Wellness Fair will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 28 at Foothills Recreation and Aquatics Center (FRAC).
City employees, along with their family members and friends may walk or run a 5k (3.1 miles) or 1-mile route. There will be a free Community Wellness Fair after the race. A free rock-climb wall inside FRAC will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. It costs $10 for adults to register before Feb. 14 and after that it will cost $15. Children under age 12 will get in free. WellStyles and Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ produce this annual event.
Our city is looking for volunteers to help make this event successful. If you would like to volunteer or just register to participate in the walk/run, click here.
WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY
FEAST ON CHOCOLATE AT EVENT
Looking for a sweet treat in the city or something to give a loved one for Valentine’s Day? The Chocolate Affaire will be back from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 14 and 15 at the Civic Center.
Expect delicious chocolate, including artisan creations and chocolate-inspired dishes. There will be chocolate tastings and dessert samplings, along with local vendors, live entertainment and other fun, family-friendly activities. It’s FREE to attend. Click here to learn more about it.
UNIQUE SOUNDS AT LIBRARY
Discover the beautiful sound of the glass armonica in an unusual program with a musician from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 in the Main Library Auditorium.
Check out the Live @ the Library: Experience the Glass Armonica with Lynn Drye. The visually appealing and rarely heard armonica produces ethereal tones when gently touching spinning glass bowls. Drye will guide audience members through the history, science and expressive opportunities of this instrument. She also will perform music that highlights its shimmering, otherworldly sound.
Learn more on the library webpage. ENJOY
CITY IN THE SPOTLIGHT
COMMUNITY SERVICES SHINES
Our Community Services Department’s dedication to helping those in need took center stage during the MLK Jr., Day of Service on Jan. 17.
The department’s director Kimberly Hall was interviewed live with Fox 10 Phoenix at the Community Services Department’s unique event organized to help our city fight hunger in the spirit of the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Kimberly talked about how 200 volunteers, along with city employees and Glendale’s partners, showed up at Manistee and Sahuaro Ranch parks to glean citrus from trees. The public was also encouraged to drop off citrus at the parks. All the citrus was given to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance and used in their food boxes to help residents who are struggling with food insecurity. Altogether, 7,141 pounds of citrus was donated. Dr. King had a vision of ending hunger and poverty. Check out the video of Kimberly being interviewed on the top left.
PARKS AND REC PUBLICITY
Our Parks and Recreation Department’s fun REC on Wheels program generated media interest again.
Fox 10 Phoenix interviewed our Mobile Recreation Coordinator Paul Cervantes recently for a story about this popular offering. This free program brings a mobile recreation unit with sports equipment, games and other activities to parks and schools, as well as local events Check out the video of Paul to the left.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW EMPLOYEES
Heidy Carlon Veliz - Police
Joshua Castro - Police
Kaylee Clark - Police
Seth Crow - Water Services
Monica Dominguez - Police
Jayden Edwards - Police
Alexandr Miranda Haro - Police
Colter Hatfield - Police
Meghan Kerr - Police
Adnan Murtic - Field Operations
Joshua Recker - Police
Deanna Salazar - Police
Jacob Thurman - Police
Scott Trice - Field Operations
Jose Valles - City Court
Dylan Warwick - Police
George Whittle - Police
HAPPY WORK ANNIVERSARY
Your hard work, dedication and loyalty are appreciated!
HAPPY 30 YEARS
Brandon Blanco - Police
Robert Ream Jr. - Transportation
HAPPY 25 YEARS
Baldomero Dumlao - Police
Claude Hovatter - Police
Tabitha Perry - Human Resources and Risk Management
John Roth - Police
HAPPY 20 YEARS
Edward Medina - Water Services
Michaela Musgrove - Police
Jorge Ortega - City Manager’s Office
Jennifer Schmuck - Police
HAPPY 10 YEARS
James Adams - Police
Alyssa Bethel - Human Resources and Risk Management
