Street Talk | Winter 2016

VOLUME 6 ISSUE 4

REPORTING ON WHAT MATTERS TO PUBLIC WORKS

WINTER 2016

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Desire What You Have As 2017 approaches, we may start thinking about our resolutions for next year.

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Austin Water Implements Reclaimed Water Initiative Public Works Project Managers Navigate through Downtown’s Central Business District

Public Works Staff Finalists in Citywide “Idea Accelerator” Program Lightning talks and awards bring together employees around the City for an innovator Meetup

executive corner

BY JORGE MORALES

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Managing with H.E.A.R.T H

appy New fiscal year! It is amazing to realize that we are also on the brink of 2017. I am excited for what we accomplished in FY16 and look forward to the opportunities in the new fiscal year.

Thomas Edison once said “vision without execution is hallucination.” This quote has greatly impacted me in many ways. It has motivated me to focus on becoming a better version of myself and to help strive for success in any role. Below is my personal management philosophy, which describes how I work on improving myself, my team and our community.

Many of the items outlined started from ideas shared by my first mentor, Mr. Robinson, my high school shop teacher who would share with us his “war stories.” Over the years, my own experiences have expanded my understanding of these ideas and have become integral to my temperament. This is intended as a living document which guides my behavior and the actions I take in both my personal and professional life. I hope that by sharing this with you, it will provide a better understanding and appreciation of who I am, how I work and what my expectations are of my team.

HUMBLE LEADERSHIP

RESPONSIBILITY AND RESPECT • Act openly with no hidden agendas • Sensitize yourself to pressures around your team members and supervisors • Get out of your chair and manage by walking • Take action, provide information – do not wait to be asked • Beware of overcommitting and under delivering – people are counting on you

• Commitment to serve our employees, department, customers and community

• Plan your work and work your plan

• Constantly seek opportunities for personal development and training

• “Be all you can be”… and then some

• Routinely conduct regular self-evaluation and personal assessment

• Remember the 6ps – proper prior planning

• Celebrate your strengths and improve on your weaknesses; do not be afraid to acknowledge what you do not know • Put yourself in someone else’s situation; empathize • Value all people in the organization; treat everyone how you want to be treated, regardless of their position

around

prevents poor performance

TEAM WORK AND TRUST • There is no “I” in team • Collectively is stronger than individually

EMPOWER AND EXECUTE

• Help your team improve and succeed

• Set short and long-term goals; once you achieve them set more

• Remember that we are here to serve others

• KISS- Keep It Simple Silly

• To become the “best managed city in the country”,

• Make them S.M.A.R.T. goals: specific, meaningful, action-oriented, realistic, and timely • Provide opportunities for those around you to constantly seek improvements • Conduct open, honest, adult-level dialogue with peers and supervisors • Collaborate and network with others to help you achieve success when executing ideas

ACCOUNTABILITY AND ATTITUDE • Do what you say you will do; perform consistently and reliably • Say you are not ready rather than winging it • Assess your own competencies and process capabilities • Act professionally in conduct, behavior and interaction with others • Seek regular reviews of your performance • Always be prepared and be flexible with change

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• You are only as strong as your weakest link

we must work together

VOLUME 6

contents

ISSUE 4

WINTER 2016

contributors EDITORIAL Editor-In-Chief

Courtney Black

courtney.black@austintexas.gov

Assistant Editors

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Susan Garnett

susan.garnett@austintexas.gov

Alexandria Bruton

alexandria.bruton@austintexas.gov

Carolyn Perez

carolyn.perez@austintexas.gov

WRITERS Susan Delgado susan.delgado@austintexas.gov

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features 26 06

DESIRE WHAT YOU HAVE As 2017 approaches, we may start thinking about our resolutions for next year.

AUSTIN WATER IMPLEMENTS RECLAIMED WATER INITIATIVE Public Works Project Managers navigate through Downtown’s Central Business District.

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PUBLIC WORKS STAFF FINALISTS IN CITYWIDE “IDEA ACCELERATOR” PROGRAM Lightning talks and awards bring together employees around the City for an innovator meetup.

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divisions

04 MORE THAN BEAUTY REST

MILESTONES What Public Workers are doing out there to achieve, foster community, impress co-workers and citizens alike, and show we really are the ‘Department with a Heart’!

Susan Garnett susan.garnett@austintexas.gov Courtney Black courtney.black@austintexas.gov Alexandria Bruton alexandria.bruton@austinteas.gov Michelle Frith michelle.frith@austintexas.gov Jorge Morales jorge.morales@austintexas.gov

Why a good night’s sleep matters.

Robin Field robin.field@austintexas.gov

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DAILY IMPROVEMENT

Terrance O’Connor terrance.oconnor@austintexas.gov

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THE TOP FIVE MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS IN AUSTIN

Construction Services Makes a New Year Resolution to improve documentation.

Intersection improvements aim to remedy dangerous conditions and improve safety.

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ALL AROUND AUSTIN Public Workers discuss an array of exciting new projects and happenings around the City, telling their stories and commending staff for a job well done.

Mike Bewley mike.bewley@austintexas.gov

NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERING PROGRAM SEEKS TO FACILITATE THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ALL Program introduces transcribed application materials to promote equity.

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STAFF RECIPES

From entrees to side items, to holiday spirits, PWD staff have an impressively diverse and delicious assortment of recipes to share!

Carolyn Perez carolyn.perez@austintexas.gov Grecia White grecia.white@austintexas.gov Luciano Tamayo luciano.tamayo@austintexas.gov

ART + PRODUCTION Creative Director Alexa Muraida

alexa.muraida@austintexas.gov

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PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES CARE City of Austin Combined Charities Campaign 2016.

TO ONE 24 CHANGES TEXAS CENTER

PARKING WENT INTO EFFECT NOV. 14

Validation available for guests; employees to park in garage.

2016 WINTER STREET TALK

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safety

BY MIKE BEWLEY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

More than Beauty Rest Why a good night’s sleep matters

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ave you even caught a morning flight on a commercial airline? Frequently, the vast majority of passengers will be asleep. Ideally, we should aim to be well-rested and ready for the day in the mornings. Chronic sleep deprivation is a growing problem. One of the overlooked keys to overall wellness is getting a good night’s sleep! Not sleeping enough or not having quality sleep can significantly affect your health, performance and safety. The stresses of daily life may intrude upon our ability to sleep well, or perhaps we are depriving ourselves of sleep for more work..

LET’S LOOK AT THE SHORT TERM CONSEQUENCES OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION: Decreased Performance and Alertness: Sleep deprivation causes significant reductions in performance and alertness. Just one night of sleep, reduced by as little as one and a half hours, can result in a reduction of daytime alertness by as much as 32 percent.

Memory and Cognitive Impairment: Decreased alertness and excessive daytime sleepiness impairs your memory and your ability to think and process information.

Stress Relationships: Sleep pattern disruptions can cause conflicts in relationships whether at work or at home. If you’re sleep deprived, you may have more conflicts, moodiness and frustration.

Poor Quality of Life: You might, for example, be unable to participate in certain activities that require sustained attention, like going to the movies, completing work before a deadline or spending quality time with friends and family.

Occupational Injury: Excessive sleepiness also contributes to a greater than twofold higher risk of sustaining an occupational injury.

Automobile Injury: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates conservatively that each year drowsy driving is responsible for at least 100,000 automobile crashes, 71,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths.

In the long term, the consequences of untreated sleep disorders are significant. They are associated with numerous, serious medical illnesses, including: • High blood pressure • Heart attack • Heart failure • Stroke • Obesity One study found that reduced sleep time is a greater mortality risk than smoking, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Remarkably, getting a good night’s sleep may also be the key to weight management. If your New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight, experts say you should also consider committing to getting more sleep. The negative effects of chronic sleep deprivation are quite apparent.

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HERE ARE SOME KEYS TO GETTING A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP: Stick to a sleep schedule of the same bedtime and wake up time, even on the weekends This helps to regulate your body’s clock and could help you fall asleep and stay asleep for the night.

Practice a relaxing bedtime ritual A relaxing, routine activity right before bedtime, conducted away from bright lights, helps separate your sleep time from activities that can cause excitement, stress or anxiety which can make it more difficult to fall asleep.

If you have trouble sleeping, avoid naps, especially in the afternoon Power napping may help you get through the day, but if you find that you can’t fall asleep at bedtime, eliminating even short catnaps may help.

Exercise daily Vigorous exercise is best, but even light exercise is better than no activity. Exercise at any time of day, but not at the expense of your sleep.

Evaluate your room Design your sleep environment to establish the conditions you need for sleep. Your bedroom should be cool – between 60 and 67 degrees. Your bedroom should also be free from any noise that can disturb your sleep.

Finally, your bedroom should be free from any light. Check your room for noises or other distractions. This includes a bed partner’s sleep disruptions such as snoring. Consider using blackout curtains, eye shades, ear plugs, “white noise” machines, humidifiers, fans and other devices.

Sleep on a comfortable mattress and pillows Make sure your mattress is comfortable and supportive. The one you have been using for years may have exceeded its useful life, which is about 9 or 10 years for most quality mattresses. Have comfortable pillows and make the room attractive and inviting for sleep, but also free of allergens that might affect you and objects that might cause you to slip or fall if you have to get up.

Use bright light to help manage your circadian rhythms Avoid bright light in the evening and expose yourself to sunlight in the morning. This will keep your circadian rhythms in check.

Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and heavy meals in the evening Alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine can disrupt sleep. Eating big or spicy meals can cause discomfort from indigestion that can make it hard to sleep. If you can, avoid eating large meals for two to three hours before bedtime. Try a light snack 45 minutes before bed if you’re still hungry.

Wind down Your body needs time to shift into sleep mode, so spend the last hour before bed doing a calming activity such as reading. For some people, using an electronic device such as a laptop can make it hard to fall asleep because the particular type of light from the screens of these devices stimulates your brain. If you have trouble sleeping, avoid electronics before bed or in the middle of the night.

If you can’t sleep, go into another room and do something relaxing until you feel tired It is best to take work materials, computers and televisions out of the sleeping environment to strengthen the association between bed and sleep.

If you’re still having trouble sleeping, don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor or to find a sleep professional You may also benefit from recording your sleep in a sleep diary to help you better evaluate common patterns or issues you may see with your sleep or sleeping habits.

MAKING A COMMITMENT TO GETTING A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP WILL GREATLY INCREASE YOUR OVERALL WELLNESS!

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division

BY ROBIN FIELD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Austin Water Implements Reclaimed Water Initiative

Public Works project managers navigate through downtown’s Central Business District

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ver the past decade Austin Water has looked at ways the City can reduce peak daily water usage. Numerous committees such as Austin Water’s Conservation Task Force and the Citizen’s Water Conservation Implementation Task Force went to work on ways the city could conserve the resource. Both groups put out reports outlining options with the shared goal of a plan to save 25 million gallons per peak day by 2017.

In August 2012, City Council approved an ordinance which outlined an action plan to reduce water usage to an average of 140 gallons per capita, per day by 2020. One provision called for the mandatory connection of new commercial development within 250 feet of a reclaimed water main, and implementing this ordinance affected site plans submitted on or after May 1, 2015. This ordinance, combined with the Austin Water Task Force’s own priority initiatives for saving money, expanding the City’s reclaimed water system has proven a success -- and is keeping Public Works project managers busy.

WHAT IS RECLAIMED WATER? Reclaimed water is wastewater that is treated so that residences and businesses can use it to water lawns, fill cooling towers and use for purposes excluding drinking and bathing.

The city’s 25-year plan arranged for a total of 168.1 miles of reclaimed water line, complete with tanks, pumps and lift stations.

Austin Water’s Water Reclamation Initiative (WRI) is one of the largest programs in the country and saves 1.2 billion gallons of drinking

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STREET TALK WINTER 2016

water a year. Since wastewater is treated whether it is reused or returned to the Lower Colorado River, the City does not pay more to create reclaimed water.

By 2014, Austin had over 50 miles of a separate reclaimed water main, nicknamed “purple pipes” since they are painted to be distinguished from the drinkable water systems, and had pumped 1.2 billion gallons of reclaimed water. Reclaimed water is mainly used for commercial purposes by the University of Texas, some of the Mueller subdivision, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and municipal golf courses. There is no current plan to extend the purple pipes to residential neighborhoods, but they will be extended downtown to support new development, plus the state capitol, University of Texas’ Dell Medical School, New Central Library, Austin Community College and others.

MILESTONE Austin Water announced in June 2016 that is has been providing safe, clean and reliable water services, including reclaimed water, to the Austin community for more than 100 years and recently reached a milestone of servicing more than one million customers!

THE PROJECT IS MANAGED BY THE PROJECT MANAGEMENT DIVISION The Project Management Division has been busy the last few years installing reclaimed water lines all over Austin. Currently, two projects are ongoing in the Central Business District. Project Manager, Paulinda Lanham is

overseeing the Mains to Junction 420 Project which will complete a core loop through downtown to interconnect the reclaimed water system north and south of the Colorado River. The $4.7M construction project includes installing 8,000 linear feet of 8-, 12-, 24-, and 30-inch mains so that individual properties along San Antonio Street, like Republic Square Park up to the Austin Community College Rio Grande campus, are served. Purple pipe will also connect to the existing main in Second Street in order to provide service to the New Central Library, Green Redevelopment and the Seaholm Redevelopment District, including Google.

“It’s great to be part of a project like this. The reclaimed water program has been so successful bringing this resource to new and existing downtown businesses.”

- Paulinda Lanham Contractor Austin Underground, Inc. began at Rio Grande and 12th St and moved south along Rio Grande before cutting over to San Antonio at 10th Street, where it will ultimately connect with another reclaimed water project to serve the capitol complex.

Work continued south on San Antonio Street to Second Street. Austin Underground, Inc. then mobilized in Butler Park south of Riverside Drive, to prepare for horizontal directional drilling under the lake.

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is a steerable, trenchless method of installing underground pipe along a prescribed path by using a surface-launched drilling rig while minimally impacting the surrounding area. The subcontractor, guided by GIS, steered the drill from Butler Park and stayed on course 65 feet under the lake. First, the sub contractor drilled

the initial bore from the entry point in Butler Park to the exit point in the San Antonio and Second Street intersection. Steering the drill by GIS allowed the contractor to precisely “hit the target” in San Antonio Street, while steering the bit from across Lady Bird Lake. Drilling fluid, a mixture of bentonite and clay, is then pumped into the bore which will force all drill cuttings back to the surface during the drilling process.

The cuttings are hydraulically removed from the bore and the bentonite is reused in the drilling, recycled or hauled off site.

A major challenge occurred when the contractor drilled through a void near the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue in Auditorium Shores. This “frac-out” began as a small crack in the ground and then filled with bentonite material. The contractor followed their frac-out contingency plan, which minimized environmental impacts, as well as impacts to hike and bike trail users who were temporarily diverted from the section of trail. The contractor notified the appropriate response team including the project manager, construction inspector Jimmy Miller, city environmental staff, the Parks and Recreation Department, and others. The frac-out was immediately contained, the drilling fluid pumped out, and the site restored. “We have a lot of problems and challenges, but we get it right,” said John Fenley of Austin Underground.

The work resumed and drilling under the lake was completed.

Construction for this reclaimed water project is on schedule and should be completed in spring 2017. Austin Water states in their end of fiscal year 2016 Reclaimed Water Initiative Report that the New Central Library signed on as a new customer in the fourth quarter.

Project Manager, John Wepryk, has managed a number of reclaimed water projects, but the Mains to Capitol Complex project comes with a unique set of challenges.

Any job in the Central Business District requires working while accommodating special events every weekend. Combine these special events with the non-negotiable deadline of January

2017 when the 85th Texas Legislature descends on the capitol, and you really put the “complex” in “Capitol Complex.”

Peabody General Contractors is experienced working downtown. They have been successful coordinating and mobilizing their work so the schedule impacts are minimal and work proceeds on time. John Jamison Smith of the Construction Services Division and the rest of the project team meet every two weeks with the City’s Special Events office to coordinate construction and special events activities. John explains that the Special Events office staff bring a map that shows upcoming special events, locations, and duration of events, then the team collaborates on how to progress pipeline construction while accommodating events, the University, capitol and Capital Metro activities.

Working around Saturday Longhorn games and tailgate parties is now routine, but large events John successfully navigated include the Texas Book Festival, Veterans Day Parade, and the Turkey Trot 5K. December will be equally busy.

The $4.9M Mains to Capitol Complex project includes 10,500 linear feet of 8-, 12-, and 24-inch diameter purple pipe. Peabody began work in two locations: San Antonio at W. 10th Street and I-35 at E. 10th Street. They are closing the gap now by heading east on 11th Street in front of the Capitol and north on Trinity Street on the east side.

In addition to future new development along Waller Creek including Waterloo Park, reclaimed water will be available for irrigation and cooling purposes for the UT Dell Medical School, Capitol Complex, and Travis County office complex.

Once the Mains to Capitol Complex project is complete, the reclaimed water from the existing pipeline at Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. and Trinity Street will feed to both Paulinda and John’s projects.

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RECLAIMED WATER RUNDOWN Is reclaimed water safe?

Although reclaimed water is not used in the drinking water supply, it meets over 90 percent of the criteria for drinking water. This water is clear with no noticeable odor, and is harmless to humans through normal contact. Austin’s reclaimed water has passed all state and federal laws for non-potable use.

How do I apply for reclaimed water service?

Not all areas of Austin have access to reclaimed water and reclaimed water is not suitable for all customers. Call Austin Water at 512-972-0074 to determine if you have access to reclaimed water or if it is right for you.

What is the reclaimed water treatment process?

Do I have to post signs if reclaimed water is used?

Normally, wastewater produced by water users is collected in the sewer system, treated at wastewater plants, and released back to the original water source as standard treated effluent, which is now of better quality due to technological advancements and regulatory requirements. The water reclamation process treats standard effluent further for increased safety.

Users must post signs to notify people that reclaimed water is being used.

Does it save money?

Reclaimed water is less expensive to use or treat, and can be as little as one-third the price of drinking water. Users can see a reduction in water fees.

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What if I don’t have access to reclaimed water service at my location?

To make reclaimed water available to customers with water hauling trucks, Austin Water has constructed reclaimed water bulk water facilities at several locations within the Austin area.

If you have questions about reclaimed water, visit the Austin Water website or talk to our two resident experts!

features

BY COURTNEY BLACK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Public Works Staff Finalists in Citywide “Idea Accelerator” Program

Lightning talks and awards bring together employees around the City for an innovator Meetup.

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his past November, the Innovation Office hosted a meetup event featuring employee “lightning talks” from the eight projects selected through the inaugural Idea Accelerator. The event, hosted at Google Fiber’s event space downtown, also awarded “superlatives” to Idea Accelerator participants and offered a networking session to help projects build momentum.

In three minutes, presenters were tasked with sharing their ideas with the audience – not an easy feat – and give possible methods of implementation.

THE SELECTED PROJECTS AND EMPLOYEE PRESENTERS INCLUDED: > | Electronic Execution of Contracts | Marisol Claudio-Ehalt (Capital Contracting Office) > | Light the Bike Lane | Robin Camp (Public Works) > | Artists in Residence | Meghan Wells and Susan Lambe (Economic Development) > | Three-Session Treatment Package for 9-1-1 Call-takers + Police Dispatchers Carol Logan (Austin Police Department) > | User-Centered Design Playbook | Hillary Berquist-Funk (Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services) > | Virtual Reality as an Internal City Service | Marbenn Cayetano (Communications and Technology Management) > | Show Us Your Austin | Betsy Woldman (Communications and Public Information Office) > | Box Park in Eastern Crescent | Matt Dugan (Planning and Zoning) and Kit Johnson (Public Works)

Robin Camp and Kit Johnson represented the PWD crew, each with their respective projects. Robin presented first with her “Light the Bike Lane” presentation.

In 2010, Robin’s brother David was attempting to make a legal left turn when he was struck and killed by an aggressive drunk driver while riding his bike at dusk in San Angelo, TX. It was after this tragedy that Robin began to consider what, if anything, could have prevented his death. Perhaps if the driver could have seen her brother, would that have made a difference? What if there was some sort of mechanism available to bikers that would allow them to be more visible without having to have special equipment – some sort of technology that could stand alone and let bicycles be more noticeable to drivers?

Drunk drivers are just one of many dangers to bicyclists on the road. Distracted drivers, drivers who have issues seeing at night and even bicyclists themselves who aren’t wearing reflective tape or utilizing proper lighting can all present dangerous situations.

Robin’s project proposes to find a solution to light bike lanes, making bicyclists more apparent. Still in the early

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features

BY COURTNEY BLACK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF continued from pg. 09

planning stages, some ideas are to have a high-contrast, reflective paint that will clearly distinguish the bike lane (and the rider); have a sensor that would be triggered by a bicyclist that would light a path; have a solar-powered mechanism that would light a bicycle lane/trail at night; or create a new technology entirely.

With help from departments around the City: Austin Transportation, Aviation, CTM, and PARD, an abundance of innovators and thinkers are coming together to make this a reality.

Stay tuned for a beta version that could soon become the new standard for lighting bike lanes all around Austin.

Kit Johnson and Matt Dugan presented towards the end of the lightning rounds with their “Box Park in Eastern Crescent” pitch. The idea is to use shipping containers to create pop-up spaces on the city-owned land at 3511 Manor Road in east Austin to help create a complete community. “Complete” communities are defined by the City as those with amenities, transportation, services, and opportunities that fulfill all Austinites’ material, social, and economic needs.

However, numerous parts of Austin are currently considered incomplete. A Box Park in east Austin could add uses and opportunities to help change that. There are numerous uses that could be programmed for the

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shipping containers that would be determined through input from the local community.

Examples include space for retail, restaurants, entrepreneurs, healthcare, artists, musicians, food trucks and growing food, and education/ training. Local residents and employees would benefits from its services and uses, and a Box Park could serve as a public gathering space.

It can be difficult for small brands to be able to pay to rent space in a traditional brick and mortar building. The Box Park would lower the barrier to entry for aspiring small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, a Box Park in the Eastern

Crescent would align with Mayor Adler’s Spirit of East Austin initiative and could serve as an on the ground demonstration project. We would be making use of “incubator ready” land that is simply sitting fallow and adding opportunities and amenities to local residents.

The preliminary design is at 80 percent and we could see doors open for business in as little as seven months, with a second deployment in another community in 15 months.

Like these ideas? Want to hear more? Visit the Idea Accelerator site: http://ideaaccelerator. bloomfire.com

Box Park

Pop Up Space in the Eastern Crescent

STREET TALK WINTER 2016 City Manager’s Idea Accelerator Competition

July 1, 2016

division

BY TERRY O’CONNOR CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Construction Service Division Daily Improvement CSD makes a New Year’s Resolution to improve documentation

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ocumentation is one of the most crucial tasks that a Construction Services Division (CSD) inspector undertakes on a Capital Improvement Project. One of the most important (and challenging) project-related documents that an inspector completes is the Daily Progress Report. “The Daily,” as it is commonly referred to in CSD, is a legallybinding record of all of the activity, progress, and conditions on the job site. Inspectors may use this report to document conversations held, weather conditions, work completed, and equipment used on the job site. In other words, if it happens on the project, it gets recorded in “The Daily!” It can be quite a challenge for an inspector to include all appropriate information in their daily report and make sure it’s done on time.

In the past, inspectors completed the report manually in a paper booklet, or electronically in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

While these formats were adequate for the purpose of project documentation, it was challenging to share the information recorded with project stakeholders. Additionally, these methods of daily reporting required a time consuming conversion when it came time to archive project records. The reports had no formal tracking mechanism. Finally, CSD had to use budget to order the custom, carbon paper daily report books (not to mention saving the space required for storing the books), but those days are now over.

Spearheaded by Division Manager Patricia Wadsack and Business Process Specialist Peggy Howard, CSD is currently in the midst of a very exciting process improvement.

Inspectors will now have the capability to complete their Daily Progress Reports electronically in a form created using relational database FileMaker.

This form, created by Bethany Smith from the Public Works Systems and Information Management Division, has many advantages over the old Daily Progress Report formats.

ADVANTAGES OF NEW DAILY PROGRESS REPORT: Inspectors will save time by using dropdown menus for quick data input and minimal “clicks” needed to document days when no work is scheduled or performed.

Inspectors will no longer have to re-input project information monthly thanks to auto-population of project data on each day’s report.

Electronic signatures mean that reports need not be printed in order to be submitted and approved.

Improved customer service as a result of improved efficiency, tracking, and accuracy.

Immediate delivery of reports to supervisors for approval.

Dashboard reporting that can help project support staff save time and resources.

No more money spent on paper Daily Report books.

No additional time required for converting records for electronic archive.

The new Daily Progress Report application, which launched on December 1, will increase efficiency, reduce stress levels, and improve communication and customer service. CSD is excited about these improvements as we continue to work to improve our methods of project delivery.

The division is thankful to Bethany Smith for her expertise, patience, and hard work in creating the new application and training staff how to use it. She has created an extremely valuable tool that will drive process improvement in CSD. Bethany has been a pleasure for CSD staff to work with!

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BY LUCIANO TAMAYO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Top Five Most Dangerous Intersections in Austin Intersection improvements aim to remedy dangerous conditions and improve safety.

THE TOP FIVE MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTIONS ARE RANKED IN ORDER BY THE MOST CRASHES AND THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASHES:

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W. Slaughter Lane and Manchaca Road

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N. Lamar Boulevard and Rundberg Lane

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N. Lamar Boulevard and Parmer Lane

Construction Cost Estimate $1,500,000

Construction Cost Estimate $525,000

Construction Cost Estimate $525,000

Crashes typically occur at the driveways close to the intersection where drivers make unsafe left turns. Work will start Spring 2017.

Crashes here are often caused by drivers making unprotected turns from driveways. A raised median, restricting driveway access will be installed this winter.

The majority of crashes here occur as a result of high speeds and rearendings. This project proposes to improve turn lanes, forcing drivers to yield and decrease speeds. Work is expected to start January 2017.

STREET TALK WINTER 2016

division Traffic deaths in Austin rose to a record high in 2015. In response, the City allocated $3.8 million to prevent traffic incidents and improve safety in the top five most dangerous intersections. These five intersections were responsible for 250 accidents and one death between 2012 and 2014. The intersection improvements will enhance and improve safety; however, drivers must also remember to be cautious and abide by the rules of the road.

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U.S. 183 Service Road, Southbound and Cameron Road

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IH-35 Service Road, Southbound and Martin Luther King Boulevard

Construction Cost Estimate $900,000

Construction Cost Estimate $375,000

Modifications will be made to the southbound turn lanes and an additional lane will be installed to make this area safer for pedestrians. Work is expected to start this winter.

Vehicle crashes at this intersection are often on the southbound frontage road as they cross lanes to MLK Boulevard. This project would make the southbound lane, which is currently right turn only, an optional through traffic lane. The eastbound turn lane would also be improved to make it safer for pedestrians, forcing vehicles to slow down. Work is currently in progress.

The Public Works Engineering Services team designed these alternatives. This particular division is headed by Bimal Adhikary, PhD, P.E., Supervising Engineer.

The improvements were requested and prioritized by the Austin Transportation Department. The scope consists of reconfiguring the existing median, realigning the curbs, tightening the turn lanes and re-striping the travel lanes.

The design schedule of the project is ambitiously tight, but the design team was able to cope with the demand, including the frequent changes in the design alignment.

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Staff Recipes

From entrees to side items, to holiday spirits, PWD staff have an impressively diverse and delicious assortment of recipes to share!

INGREDIENTS:

NAME:

h C as se ro le S p ag h et t i S q u as

1 medium spaghetti DIRECTIONS: squash out all of the uash in half and scoop sq i tt he ag sp t Cu 1 jar of your favorite 1 inc h of water and pasta sauce (I recommend seeds. Place in a large pot withuntil you can score the Mezzetta’s Truffle, Porcini & Cream)

1 small can of chopped black olives 1 bunch of spinach 4 button mushrooms Fresh Mozzarella cheese ¼ cup of shaved parmesan cheese 4 basil leaves

inutes, or steam for about 10 m k to cool and then use a for t i t Le y. sil ea t ou s string bowl. A dd squash in to a mixing score all of the stringy sauce ms and mix in pasta oo hr us m , ch ina sp , olives of the entire jar). Place half (you won’t need the with sserole dish and layer ca all sm a to in re tu mix of Cover with remainder fresh mozzarella slices. p. shaved parmesan on to e th kle rin sp d an re tu mix degree oven for about 50 3 a in ed ver co un le Bake cassero for 10 il bubbling). Let cool nt (u tes inu m 5 -2 20 d dig in! chopped basil leaves an minutes, garnish with

Provided by Susan Garnett

INGREDIENTS:

NAME:

Olive Oil Granol a

(makes a great gift for teac hers or coworkers!)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 300°F. In a large bowl, combine oats, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, coconut chips, maple syrup, olive oil, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and cardamom.

Spread mixture on a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until golden brown and well toasted. Transfer granola to a large bowl and let cool. Add to jars when completely cool.

Makes about 9 cups.

Provided by Carolyn Perez

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STREET TALK WINTER 2016

INGREDIENTS:

NAME:

Chewy Pecan Pie Ba rs

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour DIRECTIONS: ½ cup po Preheat oven to 350 degrees. To make the crust, mix sugar wdered

¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup butter (cold) 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 cup chopped pecans ½ cup pa sugar cked brown

½ cup ligh corn syrup t-colored 2 tablespoon melted s butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla

together the flour, powdered sugar, and the salt. Using a fork or a pastry blender, cut in the ½ cup of cold butter until coarse crumbs are formed. Pat into the bottom of an 11x7x1 ½ – inch baking pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.

While crust is in oven, stir together the eggs, pecans, brown sugar, corn syrup, the 2 tablespoons melted butter, and the vanilla. Spread evenly over the baked crust. Bake for 20 minutes or until filling is set. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars and enjoy!

Provided by Alexandria Bruton INGREDIENTS:

TIME: NAME:

50 min

SERVING:

Humm in gbird Cake

16

DIRECTIONS:

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups cooked & mashed sweet potatoes (I bake 3 large sweet potatoes, peel, mash) 1 cup Sugar 2 eggs ½ cup Milk ½ tsp.Salt ½ stick Butter/margarine 1 tsp. Vanilla Topping: 1 cup Brown Sugar ¼ cup Flour ½ stick Butter 1 cup each, Pecans and Coconut

NAME:

as se ro le S w ee t Po ta to C

DIRECTIONS:

sweet potatoes!

For people who say they won’t eat casserole dish.

Combine all ingredients in a greased on top of sweet potatoes.

Mix ingredients and pourcoco nut. and Then sprinkle pecans 8-10 servings.

Bake 30 minutes on 350. Yields

Provided by Janet Wilson

My absolute favorite cake that is easy to make. (This is Southern Living's most requested recipe.)

Combine first five ingredients in a large bowl; add eggs, and oil, stirring until dry ingredients are moistened.

(Do not beat) Stir in vanilla, pineapple, 1 cup pecans, and bananas.

Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9" round cakepans.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake; sprinkle 1/2 cup chopped pecans on top.

Store in refrigerator.

Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed, with an electric mixer until smooth.

Gradually add powdered sugar, beating at low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.

Yield: 3 cups.

Provided by Roxanne Cook 2016 WINTER STREET TALK

15

column INGREDIENTS:

INGREDIENTS:

NAME:

ic ke n M o le Po b l an o C h

DIRECTIONS:

g the anc ho chiles by openinfew For the chile paste: Toast flat a for et skill hot a them and pressing themk theinchiles in hot water until seconds on each side. Soa30 minutes. Drain and pour they are very soft, about roasted poblanos and chicken into a blender with the . Season with salt and set broth. Pulse until pureed aside. ola oil in a large skillet overand For the mole: Heat the can onds, hazelnuts, pecans alm the d Ad medium heat. il lightly toasted, ring sesa me seeds and cook, stirove theuntnuts with a slotted about three minutes. Rem or blender. Add the raisins to spoon to a food processor for a minute as they puff. Put the same skillet and stir Add the anise seeds, cumin them in with the nuts. es and cinnamon stick to the seeds, peppercorns, clovrant, about1 minute. Transfer to skillet and cook until frag the garlic and onions to the the food processor. Add ned, about 10 minutes. skillet and cook until browcessor with the nuts and Remove to the food pro tains and add to the food raisins. Then, fry the plan . Add about one cup chicken processor with the tortillas ooth broth and blend to a sm paste. e more oil over medium heat In a large skillet, heat som ho chile paste, and pour in the mole. Adainid ngthe2anc2/3 cup chicken rem and chocolate, sugar pepper and continue cooking broth. Season with salt and r. Serve the mole with on low heat for about 1 hou ken. chic d che roasted, grilled or poa

1 can Pump (not pumpkin pie kin filling) 2 cups Self-Rising Flo ur 2 cups Sugar 4 Eggs 2 tsp. Cinnamon 1 cup Vegetable Oil Icing: 1 stick M argarine, roo m temperature 1 8 oz. Crea m temperature Cheese, room 1 box Confectioners’ Su gar (I use less sugar—m ix until smooth)

Provided by Jorge Morales

16

STREET TALK WINTER 2016

NAME:

Pumpkin Cake

DIRECTIONS:

If you don’t like Pumpkin Pie….you’ ll love this!

Mix dry ingredients, add Pumpkin, oil, beaten eggs, and mix well.

Grease and lightly flour 9X13 pan. Pour in mixture and bake for 30 minucake tes on 350.

Mix ingredients well. Ice cake once it’s coole d.

Provided by Janet Wilson

INGREDIENTS:

1 Box - White or Vanilla cake mix 1 Large Box- Strawberry Jell-O 1 lb. -Fresh Strawberry’s-Washed and Sliced 1 Large Tub-Cool Whip

NAME:

Li gh t an d Re fre sh in g St ra wb er ry Ca ke

DIRECTIONS:

ructions Bake cake per box instadd Jell-O to 1.5 cups Oboiliisng While cake is cooling,er or ice) , stir until Jellwater (no cold wat dissolved holes in cake using Once cake is fully cool, generously poke a fork O mix all over the caket. , Then pour the entirewraJellrefrigerate overnigh and p tic plas h cover wit l Whip on cake and Coo of unts amo Spoon generous ‘Frost’. d strawberries.

Generously garnish withalslice refrigerated until ready to ays w and red cove Keep cake serve. y Cool Whip or as manyou Note: Use as much like can’t go e, p reci this h t wi you as s rrie strawbe wrong.

Provided by Peggy Ybanez

INGREDIENTS:

NAME:

M aple Bacon Bake d Brie

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400. In a small skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy, 8 minutes. Drain fat. Add maple syrup to skillet and stir until combined.

On a parchment-lined baking sheet, roll out puff pastry. Place brie on top and top with all but 1 or 2 tablespoons of maple-bacon mixture. Fold up each corner of puff pastry, brushing each with corner with egg wash.

Top with pecans and remaining maple-bacon mixture.

Bake until puff pastry is golden (cover with foil if too dark).

Serve immediately with bread or crackers of your choice

Provided by Courtney Black

2016 WINTER STREET TALK

17

divison

BY GRECIA WHITE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Neighborhood Partnering Program Seeks to Facilitate the Application Process for All Program introduces translated application materials to promote equity

A

s the Neighborhood Partnering Program (NPP) gains visibility, it is also having to evolve to accommodate its growing and diverse applicant pool. A great example of this is making the program more accessible to the Spanish speaking community.

NPP is continuously striving to understand the barriers that prevent folks from finding and accessing our program.

The need for Spanish materials has become apparent through our outreach efforts, and we are proud to announce that through our partnership with GO! Austin /VAMOS! Austin (GAVA) we now have Spanish application materials. Due to these efforts, we recently received not one, but two Spanish applications in our fall 2016 NPP Application Round. GAVA was not only instrumental in translating the application materials, they also introduced these applicants to the program, helped them develop their applications, and have provided ongoing support to our program. This is an

18

STREET TALK WINTER 2016

exciting time for us because now we have tangible evidence showing that by translating our materials, we have expanded our capacity to reach continuously underserved communities.

The good news doesn’t stop there, our brochure is now available in Spanish and can be found on our website, thanks to Susan Garnett, the unofficial translator for Public Works. We have taken our brochures to various neighborhood association meetings and events around the city to try to reach as many members of the Spanish speaking community as possible. It has been so great to have Spanish resources, which helps us be more inclusive and allows our Spanish speaking neighbors to feel confident in their understanding of NPP. This confidence empowers neighborhood members to submit an application and inspire positive change in their communities.

Our greatest improvement in our accessibility to the Spanish speaking community is our newest member on the

NPP team. Grecia White, an AmeriCorps Vista, started working with NPP in September and is the face of NPP to Austin’s Hispanic community.

Grecia has a can-do attitude and always makes herself available to work with members of the community on their applications. In the future, Grecia will give presentations on NPP in Spanish, a program first. Having a Spanish speaker on staff really connects NPP with this community and allows us to work through these projects more efficiently.

While we are ecstatic with the progress that we have made, we also hope that more initiatives in the future will continue to make our program more accessible for all. We hope that this initiative continues to empower neighborhoods and build community, or in the words of our Spanish speaking community, “empoderamos a los vecindarios y construimos comunidades.”

column

BY SUSAN DELGADO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Public Works Employees CARE

City of Austin Combined Charities Campaign 2016

P

WD staff held seven events throughout this year’s campaign and raised almost $3,000 for charity! This is in addition to the individual pledging.

To kick things off, Street and Bridge Operations organized three breakfast taco and sausage wrap events, they were all very successful!

The Office of the Director had an on-going “Giving Tree” that collected donations throughout the campaign, as well as a festive Halloween Photo Booth on October 31. The Construction Inspection Division held its annual cook out, where staff out did themselves, serving delicious food! The grand finale was the live music of Janet Lynn & Friends, which brought in donations from the crowds!

2016 WINTER STREET TALK 19

20 STREET TALK WINTER 2016

PHOTOGRAPHER | ISTVAN VOICULESCU 2016 WINTER STREET TALK

21

column

BY MICHELLE FRITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

How well Meet Your Neighbor! do you Patti Moreno know your Division | Construction Services Division neighbor? Title | Inspector C Michelle Frith profiles two employees that work hard for PWD every day who you may have never met!

T

alking with Patti Moreno, you immediately see a refreshing lack of pretense matched with an open heart and mind. Patti was born in Atlantic City, NJ, but moved back to her father’s home town in Junction City, KS at five. Her mom, Sandra, worked in nursing and her dad, Gary, a Vietnam Navy veteran became a corrections officer and retired Army National Guard. Patti’s grandmother’s house was behind theirs, so Patti and her two younger sisters had family bonds.

As a child, Patti always had a strong love of animals and wanted a horse more than anything.

She discovered recently that her grandmother was a trick rider in the rodeo. Patti never felt that she fit in at her small school. In the third grade, she began playing clarinet and sang in the high school choir for two years. At 14, she began bussing tables, eventually becoming a waitress. Throughout her youth, her mentor and family friend, Jay Nuzam, would ride horses with Patti, encouraging and guiding her through the difficult teenage years. Jay helped Patti get a temporary inspection position with the Kansas Department of Transportation Engineering Division.

“I love being a part of something big and lasting.

That highway is still there. My dad raised me to believe in equality and to fight my own battles, so this environment was a natural fit.”

Patti met her first husband, Darrell during this time. Both in construction positions, they worked in Kansas, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas.

Patti did work in surveying, learned to operate a roller, dump truck and loader, was a “rodman” (pounding rods into the ground), initiated work with GPS systems and obtained her CDL. She and Darrel spent two years in Guadalajara, Mexico then returned to Texas. Patti began attending college to get a degree

22

STREET TALK WINTER 2016

in surveying. She found she preferred inspection. Hired by TXDOT, Patti was an Assistant Project Manager for the IH35/290 project and spent seven years with the agency. She then became an Inspector for Travis County for the next three years. Darrell and Patti eventually divorced.

Patti joined Public Works in October 2009. The crown jewel of her career to date has been the Boardwalk at Lady Bird Lake project. In 2015, Patti was chosen to attend the Texas Women’s Conference. “I felt frustrated and stagnant, looking for something. I wanted to adopt a philosophy that life is good.

At this conference I learned that people have more similarities than differences, that women are stronger together and that I don’t need to be in a leadership position to be a leader.” With newly found confidence, Patti approached upper management with possible solutions for her work group and received a positive response. “It took a lot of courage, but our work group has worked together and with management to meet some challenges. Instead of complaining, we are taking positive action.”

Last year, Patti also found that daily meditation has helped her become more grounded and less stressed. Kickboxing at the gym, practicing Jiu Jitsu and Latin dancing also keep her centered. “I’m really learning to take good care of myself. Being happy is what it’s all about.”

Patti’s eyes light up when she talks about Ignacio (Nacho), her husband of 11 years. “He is the love of my life. He can do anything. He is amazing and fearless. He has shown me there are no limits and has helped me to believe in myself.” Patti has three stepchildren, Bernice (26), Judith (24) and Carlos (18), all living in Mexico. She and Nacho also have four dogs, Lucy, Emma, Gringo and Junior, all rescue pit bulls, and at long last, her own horse, Tango.

Patti is certified as a dog trainer who runs “Lucky Bones Dog Training” part-time.

Smiling softly, Patti says “I found most of what I was looking for. I’ll keep looking till I find the rest.”

“ IfThe ocean

Can calm itself So can you.

We Are both Salt water Mixed with Air

”

- Author, Nayyirah Waheed

column

S

uperheroes exist among us in disguise.

I recently unmasked one when I sat down with David McKinney.

Born and raised in Austin, David was youngest of eight. At 11, a new brother arrived joining four other brothers and three sisters.

They are the pride and joy of mom, Ruby Jackson, a loving and generous woman. David’s childhood passion was collecting comic books.

He spent four years in ROTC, drama, gymnastics and ran track at Reagan High.

In 1988, he joined the Marine Corps and was stationed in the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton. Signing up for Security Forces, he was transferred to Pearl Harbor to serve in Security Forces Special Weapons for two years. While in Hawaii, he learned to scuba dive and ran marathons, including a sevenman island perimeter challenge on Oahu. Running throughout the night, David was the final runner at the end.

In Okinawa, Japan, David became a Corporal machine gunner. When Mount Pinatubo erupted in the Philippines, he was deployed to assist. David re-enlisted and served in a weapons company at Camp Lejeune for four years.

They practiced airfield seizures and POW trainings. Field training at 29 Palms included being submerged in water while in a helicopter. David was one of the few who successfully got out of the helicopter without assistance. Later in Somalia, David conducted March Security and village sweeps for six months. One day, he stopped a vehicle which had bundles of cash, a known assassin and a target the military had been searching for. They were captured and turned in to intelligence.

Back at Camp Lejeune as a Senior Corporal and Platoon Commander, he volunteered to test cold weather gear in Anchorage, Alaska in -40 degree temperatures. He then went to a new battalion and cruised around South America, the Panama Canal, Venezuela, Chile, Brazil, West Africa and the Ivory Coast. As a Range Coach, he taught others to shoot 9mm Berettas and rifles and finally became the Barracks and Grounds NCO. He met his wife in 1996 and left the military in 1999.

Staying in South Carolina, David mentored troubled youth at Beaufort Marine Institute and obtained his CDL to drive trucks. In 2000, David’s first daughter, Heaven, tragically died shortly after birth. David and his wife separated and later divorced.

David drove 18-wheelers across 49 states for eight years. A second daughter, also tragically passed away in infancy. He returned to

Austin in 2008 and began writing a novel to deal with his struggles and studied Criminal Justice online while working at the Austin State Hospital.

While working at the State Hospital, David met the mother of his two daughters, Za’Niyah (5) and De’Shara (4). De’Shara “has a big heart, big hugs. She is sensitive and empathic; she’s smart but doesn’t like homework.

Za’niyah is shy, very smart, loves learning and helps her teacher with the class.” The girls took their own turn at being superheroes and dressed up as Wonder Woman and Super Girl for Halloween. David has been single-parenting his girls since they were very small. “God gave my daughters back to me. It’s different, but rewarding. Loss makes you stronger, and I have faith that God will get us through. The girls have softened me in many ways and have helped me to compromise when I need to.”

In June 2015, David joined Public Works

and quickly became a Tech II. He hopes to master all the skill sets and each overlay piece of equipment. He has high praise for the superintendent and each supervisor. “Overlay is a really good group of men. Each person is strong in his own area. Steven Robles is fair and honest and Joe Hernandez is hard-working. He pushes us to do well. Aaron Earls was my friend growing up, and now he teaches me the nuances of the work. Even though we will have a change in leadership, we need to stay focused on our mission, our core principles and directives. We should be flexible and seek self-improvement.”

“I change daily. I’m inspired by my daughters and by God. He carries me forward and my daughters inspire me to be and do more. I have to show them something positive every day,” David said.

That is the definition of superhero.

Meet Your Neighbor!

David McKinney Division | Street and Bridge Operations Title | Tech II – Overlay

2016 WINTER STREET TALK

23

Changes to One Texas Center Parking Coming Soon Validation available for guests; employees to park in garage

For a few weeks now, staff and visitors at One Texas Center (OTC) have been navigating the ins and outs of the new parking rules. In an effort to make parking more accessible to visitors, parking on the surface lot in front of OTC is now limited to non-City employees only. Staff are asked to park in the garage.

Here are 10 quick facts you need to know but not all changes have taken effect: 1 | OTC employees can continue to park in the garage free of charge

6 | The garage entrance/exit near the hotel is for employees only

2 | Employees parking in the garage must show their employee badge

7 | Reserved spaces will be on the first floor of the garage only

3 | The front lot is reserved for visitors

8 | Oversized vehicles may park in the back-in angle spaces on Haywood Street

4 | The first 45 minutes of parking in the garage will be free to visitors, departments will have the ability to validate parking 5 | The garage entrance/exit from Haywood Street is for employees and visitors

9 | City vehicles that must be parked in the garage must be parked on the top floor 10 | Methods of payment will be cash and credit cards

As with any change, it may take some time to adjust to the new parking guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact the Austin Transportation Department.

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STREET TALK WINTER 2016

December + January City of Austin Holidays and Payroll Calendar Dates:

| Dec. 23 + Dec. 26 | Christmas Holiday

| Dec. 2 | City of Austin Pay Day

City of Austin offices are closed for the holiday.

Enjoy the time with your family and friends!

| Dec. 16 | City of Austin Pay Day

| Jan. 2 | New Year’s Day

| Dec. 30 | City of Austin Pay Day

City of Austin offices are closed for the holiday.

Have fun and be safe!

| Jan. 13 | City of Austin Pay Day

| Jan. 16 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day

| Jan.27 | City of Austin Pay Day

City of Austin offices are closed to celebrate the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr .

Safety Training Calendar Dates:

| Dec. 12 | SBO Safety Plus 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. [ St. Elmo Utility and Structures]

| Dec. 14 | SBO Safety Plus 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. [ St. Elmo District/IMG]

New Employee Safety Orientation (NESO) 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Riverside Safety Rm 210T

CDL Orientation 12:00 p.m.—12:30 p.m.

Rm 210T—Riverside

| Dec. 15 | VCRB-OTC 8:00 a.m.

Rm 1070; A&B Special Events Office

VCRC 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.

George Washington Carver Museum

OTC Safety Plus

| Dec. 29 | New Employee Safety Orientation (NESO) 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Riverside Safety Rm 210T

CDL Orientation 12:00 p.m.—12:30 p.m.

Rm 210T—Riverside

8:30a.m.-9:30a.m.

OTC 325

| Dec. 16 | OTC Safety Plus 9:30a.m.—10:30a.m.

OTC 325

2016 WINTER STREET TALK

25

FEATURE

DESIRE WHAT YOU HAVE

BY MICHELLE FRITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

\\\\\\

A

//////

s 2017 approaches, we may start thinking about our resolutions for next year. Perhaps instead of losing those last five pounds, or cleaning out the garage, a more valuable resolution would be to be at peace with ourselves while aiming for a brighter future.

A wedding gift hangs in my window at home. It’s a beautifully painted glass chime that sings gently in the breeze. Often I find myself staring at the beautifully painted bird on the base and pondering the message below “Desire What You Have”. Is this the answer to the age-old question, “What is the meaning of life?” How do you balance living in the moment, appreciating exactly where you are against the human need to develop into the best version of yourself? How can we not only apply this manner of thinking to our personal lives, but our professional lives?

According to a recent Gallup study, unhappy workers in state and local governments are costing over $100 billion a year due to being disengaged, being involved in accidents, missing more work and disproportionately occupying more of their managers’ time. The good news is that engaged workers in states such as Mississippi, Arkansas, Wyoming and Texas outnumber the disengaged three to one.

If we are personally and professionally committed to desiring what we have, we could all benefit tremendously.

Just being present in the moment - learning to see the beauty in our surroundings and the goodness in our circumstances - can lead to contentedness. By looking behind at what has passed and what is no longer in our control, or looking only ahead to a future that is always just out of reach, we rob ourselves of the gift of our current reality. Always wishing for tomorrow, for more or something better than today’s circumstances, leaches the very life from our souls and joy from our hearts. The adage really is true, “Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.”

On the other hand, having a clear vision of what we want to happen can be motivating, and can lead to true personal evolution.

While seemingly contradictory, being content and wanting to make improvements in your life are not mutually exclusive. You can be perfectly content today while still planning and working toward a bright vision of tomorrow.

26

peace

STREET TALK WINTER 2016

BALANCING ACT Watch a small child taking her first steps, hesitant and uncertain.

She takes a single step; there is surprise, anticipation and curiosity. She takes a second and third step. She falls, but then tries again. She practices her balance until it becomes second nature. That same anticipation, surprise, curiosity and eventually pride in balancing contentment with inspiration can be yours with practice.

Contentment doesn’t mean you aren’t inspired about the future.

A good life is about appreciating the journey, not just reaching the destination. Develop yourself, but enjoy the process along the way.

This is not to say that we won’t take missteps along the way, but perception is critical. Mistakes or “failures” can be lessons learned to apply to future challenges, making us more confident and stronger in our abilities to accept change. Often a plateau is reached and tedious tasks need to be completed to reach the destination. Accepting these moments and looking for the value in each is integral to being content and developing simultaneously.

Fear of failure or of success can be paralyzing; but not trying is a failure in itself. Failure is natural and necessary to gain valuable insights. Think positively and envision your success instead. Fear of success can be just as crippling as it lurks in the subconscious mind.

Some are afraid that if they succeed, their current identity will change, that they may inherit more responsibility, that expectations for them will be raised even higher and that they may not handle the success well. It’s crucial to stay authentic and be happy with your decisions.

Self-talk has an incredibly strong impact. Silence the inner critic and eliminate any thought that doesn’t lift you. For that matter, stop judging and criticizing others. Just dump the negative energy altogether!

VALUE DRIVEN

TO FIND OUT, GO IN

The Learning Resource Center’s Lifelong Learning Academy offers a course called “Managing Your Development.” Students are asked to complete an exercise in one section which ultimately prioritizes their personal values. Identifying those values closest to your heart is key.

True happiness can’t be reached if you aren’t clear about what you value most. Once your highest values are determined, you can then write a personal vision statement for yourself, using the values you identified to help determine your best actions. Get out a pen and paper for this. By handwriting instead of typing your personal vision statement, you build neural pathways between the left and right sides of the brain to help you achieve your vision more easily.

Sounds a little too new age-ish? Scientific research supports the fact that analysis of values and creating a vision statement lead to a manifestation of desired outcomes. You’ve probably read about athletes who post their goals over their beds, meditate on those goals, then miraculously achieve the goal they posted. It can work!

Next step? Start planning. What practical steps can you take to make that vision a reality and not a dream? Identify relationships that can impact your journey and help you along your way. Determine internal work you need to do to be the best you. Do you need to develop patience, work on confidence or begin trusting? As the milestones on your journey become clearer, breathe and focus on the most important task first. The word “inspiration” comes from the Latin word “inspirare” meaning “to breathe into.” In the Middle Ages it meant “to breathe or put life or spirit into the human body; impart reason to a human soul.” Breathing physically can help breathe life into your vision. Conscious breathing is key in meditation practices. Meditation helps with being content and with being clear, so learning to meditate can help you realize your resolution faster.

While enjoying your path, only be concerned with a singular step at a time. Get rid of physical, emotional and mental clutter. By simplifying, you can maintain focus on the present and make the most memorable journey of your life. Many people find that keeping only the essential eliminates chaos and promotes peace, allowing them to spend time on the experiences, people and things that they value the most. A wise person once told me to “Value experiences more than possessions. You’ll always remember the trip you took to Hawaii in 2006, but not the sofa you purchased that year.” Spending time, money and thoughts wisely should be in alignment with your values.

Intuition can be your best compass, but it still pays off to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Relax and listen to that inner voice that can lead you to an amazing future. Reach further than you think you can and release anger and hurt; heal from past wounds.

Some of us suffer from depression and anxiety. Research shows that one amazing way to recover from these illnesses is to serve others.

Help a neighbor, volunteer or listen to a friend. In that way, you become part of the solution to the suffering of others. According to Gallup/Giving USA poll, 90 percent of people get a positive emotional boost from engaging in acts of kindness.

Conversely, learning to say no can be the best thing you can do, especially if those requests don’t fit your needs or if they cause you stress. If you find yourself agreeing to do something out of obligation, think twice. There are times to act, and times to sit back. Your intuition will help you make those decisions. One thing you should always make time and space for is having fun.

OPEN Learning should never end and is a key to lifelong happiness and longevity. Opening your mind to different perspectives from the young, the old and the wise can make you even happier. Try a radical idea, and put down the phone to hang out, face-to-face with positive people. Learning gives us a feeling of achievement and fulfillment. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. There are many options for learning.

Join a book club, take a cooking class, learn how to do woodwork or take an online class – the possibilities are endless!

person once told me “ Atowise ‘Value experiences more

than possessions. You’ll always remember the trip you took to Hawaii in 2006, but not the sofa you purchased that year.’

”

continued on pg. 28 2016 WINTER STREET TALK

27

BY MICHELLE FRITH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

continued from pg. 27

Oscar Wilde

IT’S A MATTER OF CHOICE Choosing happiness is something anyone can do under any circumstances. The very definition of faith is 1. A firm belief in something that has no proof 2. A strong belief in God or the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof. Gratitude for the blessings in your life, regardless of your spiritual beliefs is the surest and shortest way to happiness. Take time to appreciate what is, and have faith in what can be.

That’s not easy, especially during this time of tremendous upheaval, in light of recent political divisiveness, changes in our physical environment, rapid technological advances, roller-coaster economics and change in leadership at a national, local, departmental and divisional level. It is imperative that we individually choose happiness, peace and faith. Collectively we can unite in desiring what we have while we work toward a brighter future in Public Works.

My resolution for 2017? Desire what I have.

Growth Websites Lifehack.org - tips to make life easier Coursera.org, Edx.org, khanacademy.org – learn from hundreds of higher education institutions for free Udemy.com, Lynda.com – real world skills, low cost Stackoverflow.com, Codeacademy.com and Tutorialspoint.com– learn about programming eHow.com, Wikihow.com, Howstuffworks.com – how to sites TED.com (free), Curious.com (low cost) - lessons on wide varieties of topics from experts around the world Duolingo.com – learn new languages free, available for mobile download on Google Play and the App Store Instructables.com, Allrecipes.com – creative instruction Gutenberg.org – free ebooks online ZenHabits.net, BrainPickings.org – motivation

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STREET TALK WINTER 2016

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU: 1 | Your feedback and attendance at one meeting monthly.

2 | Participation as a beta user for anew Street Talk platform 3 | Information about your preferred user experience

Send an e-mail to Alex Bruton at alexandria.bruton@austintexas.gov or call 512-974-3569.

2016 WINTER STREET TALK

29

events 2

Public Works Connects You...

All Around Austin

Public Works builds our city’s future and celebrates our successes with PWD staff and events all around town.

1

Sidewalks and Special Projects Division wins 2016 Partnership Award

Congratulations to our Sidewalks and Special Projects Division! On October 17, the City of Austin Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities held their 37th Employment Awards Program and presented the Sidewalks and Special Projects team with the 2016 Partnership Award. This award was presented for “their enduring partnership and continued work in making Austin a barrier-free city.” Way to go team!

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STREET TALK WINTER 2016

Todd Lane receives two prestigious awards

On Friday, September 23, PWD hosted a Greenroads certification ceremony celebrating the completion of the Todd Lane Improvements Project from Ben White Boulevard to St. Elmo Road. This is the first completed project in the City of Austin to receive a silver Greenroads Certification.

The Greenroads Ratings system measures and manages the sustainability of transportation projects by providing a rigorous third-party assessment to ensure that projects save money, water, energy, and have a reduced carbon footprint.

In addition to the Greenroads Certification, the project also won first place in the 2016 EPA Region 6 Outstanding Green Infrastructure and Low Impact Development Project Competition.

The Todd Lane Improvements Project, designed by PWD Engineer Services Division, introduced a modern roundabout to improve traffic congestion, new bicycle lanes and sidewalks, drought-tolerant landscaping, a rain garden and a bio-filtration pond to improve water quality. These attributes not only benefit the public, but the environment as well.

Construction for this project cost approximately $7.8 million to construct and was managed by Clay Harris.

3

Public Works celebrates National Public Administration Day

Each fall, high school students from around Austin join City staff from various departments to celebrate National Public Administration Day, sponsored by the National Forum of Black Public Administrators. Students are given a glimpse into different projects and at the diversity of work environments and opportunities available to those who choose careers with the City of Austin.

This year, Public Works staff guided students as they tried their hand at the Public Workers University’s training simulators. The simulators feature real-world situations, jobsite hazards, safety violations, and replica machine controls.

Many students said how much the simulators reminded them of a video game but make no mistake, this is serious business! Staff made sure the guest trainees stayed vigilant at all times and operated safely and efficiently, just as PWD operators do every day on the job. When they weren’t on the simulators, the students got an up close look at the back hoe and motor grader.

From the abundance of interest and laughter, it was clear the day was a success. Thank you to Jesse Brown for organizing the activities and keeping the students entertained. Kudos to all who took time out of their schedules to inspire, share and educate.

4

Walking to the beat of the drum

On Wednesday, October 5, the City of Austin Safe Routes to School Program, in partnership with AISD and Safe Kids Austin, celebrated the 20th annual International Walk to School Day to help increase the amount of children walking to and from school, and to make neighborhoods safer for walking.

To celebrate this event, the Anderson High School Drumline led hundreds of Hill Elementary School parents, students, and staff on a walk from Hillcrest Baptist Church to Hill Elementary School. Safe Routes to School staff handed out reflective stickers and other giveaways to the children to promote a healthy and fun way to get to school each day.

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events

5

continued from pg. 31

Construction for Women’s Shelter Expansion to Commence in 2017 Additional beds, improvements to facility, and a new daycare center included in expansion

This winter, construction for the Austin Shelter for Women and Children will begin. This has been a long-anticipated project and is the result of a partnership between the Public Works Department, Health and Human Services, the Salvation Army and Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO).

The initial design concept was approved in 2014 and an interlocal agreement between the City of Austin and Travis County was negotiated, extending it to 2064. The shelter not only offers a safe place for women and children, but acts as a means of assistance for attaining and maintaining self-sufficiency. On average, clients stay 30-60 days, during which time, they are provided with the tools and resources necessary to heal and grow.

PWD Project Manager, Robin Camp, commente, “the need for expansion at this time is dire. At present, the shelter has a wait list of over 500 women and children in need of assistance. This project will really help to lessen some of the strain and create opportunities for those who need it most.”

The shelter operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Comprehensive services are provided in a caring, supportive and encouraging environment. The shelter focuses on obtaining safe and stable housing for its clients and helps provide them with the means needed to support personal stability. A high priority is placed on children’s services, including licensed child care, child/family therapy, specialized schoolage children’s groups, after-school tutoring and transportation to local schools.

City staff will host a media event on Jan. 13 to give members of the press a sneak peek into future improvements and tour the existing facility.

The new design includes the following: A new shelter wing with the increased bed capacity and flexible room arrangements with additional 32-34 beds (depending on family organization) Relocation of the childcare facilities to a separate new building on the site Relocation of the common rooms from the basement to the first floor Kitchen code upgrades Addition of a gender-specific bathroom for families with older boys, including the ADA-compliant upgrade Dining room expansion Roof replacement Fire suppression installation Plumbing upgrade Site irrigation and drainage system construction.

Access road upgrade ADA-compliance requirements New driveway and parking An Art in Public Places (AIPP) installation is nearing final design.

32 STREET TALK WINTER 2016

Milestones What Public Workers are doing out there to achieve, foster community, impress co-workers and citizens alike, and show we really are the ‘Department with a Heart’!

STREET + BRIDGE RETIREMENT

BRIAN WORKS RETIRES AFTER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE Brian Works, Division Manager of Pavement Operations, retires after 30 years of service with Street and Bridge Operations. Brian climbed the ladder of success while dedicating his service to Austin citizens and his co-workers. His determination and quiet demeanor allowed him to personally grow while helping Public Works Street & Bridge grow along with him. He helped establish what Pavement Operations is today by consistently meeting, if not exceeding, performance expectations associated with asphalt street mill and overlays, seal coat treatments, fog seals and crack seals.

He led by example by arriving early to work and leaving late every day and contributed to the growth of employees under his wing. He did this by teaching them the nuances of specialized equipment and making sure equipment was operational by the time the rest of the staff arrived to work, most of the time showing up to work as early as 6:00 am. He worked steadily and consistently and never complained about his roles and responsibilities, particularly during times he responded to emergencies.

He will be missed and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his life. And he should know that he will always be part of the Street & Bridge family.

Below is a list of positions he held with Street & Bridge 4/28/86

Date of Hire --Public Service Helper

2/24/91

Truck Driver II

5/17/92

Public Service Leader-Seal Coat I

12/13/92

Public Service Supervisor I

6/6/99

Street & Drainage Maintenance Supervisor

9/24/00

Street & Drainage Maintenance Coordinator

4/22/01

Street & Drainage Maintenance Supervisor II

1/13/02

Street & Drainage Ops Superintendent

10/24/10

Acting Division Manager-Infrastructure Ops

10/23/11

Division Manager-Infrastructure Ops

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OFFICE OF THE CITY ARCHITECT FAREWELL KIT JOHNSON

Milestones

Kit Johnson has accepted an opportunity at St. Edward’s University to be their Associate Vice President for Campus Master Planning and Construction. Kit has led many key initiatives for our department and he will be truly missed.

Continued from pg. 33

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES AWARDS

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Rick Glosson

PAT ON THE BACK

Mark Ellenberger Mark caught an Austin Water requirement that was left off plan notes of a project three months before the contractor was scheduled to begin work, saving time and money. Great job Mark!

Rick’s diligence, attention to detail and unwavering fiduciary responsibility helped the Todd Lane Improvements Project reach completion under the original budgeted amount.

Thanks for going above and beyond!

Patti Moreno

Over the last few months Patti has assisted her fellow co-workers by covering their projects as needed and has always been available when asked for help. On a few occasions she has covered for several inspectors on the weekends and late evenings, even though she did not earn overtime pay.

She has definitely gone above and beyond!

PAT ON THE BACK

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

Felicia has taken the initiative a countless number of times and has been able to balance her regular day-to-day duties while assisting inspectors out in the field. Most Felicia Teague recently, she assisted with the distribution of more than one hundred shut-out notices along 10 miles of the Elroy Road Rehabilitation project. She openly accepts the tireless challenges of the newly revamped and impending close-out process, along with other opportunities to learn new tasks. Felicia possesses a strong determination and the will to move toward a smooth operating process.

Peggy has been working on her Enterprise Architecture Certification for over a year, attending weekly classes that include presentations and homework, which she did during her evening and weekend hours. She has Peggy Howard learned a unique and valuable skillset to help shape our future enterprise and to become the best managed city. She is now part of the Enterprise Architecture Team for the department.

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES PROMOTION NAME David Menhard PROMOTED to Construction Supervisor Plant 4

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ABOVE AND BEYOND

STREET TALK WINTER 2016

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES YEARS OF SERVICE NAME Terry O’Connor DATE December 2016 YEARS OF SERVICE 10 years

street talk extra

UPDATES FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

NPP NEW AMERICORPS VISTA

ESD NEW EMPLOYEES NAME Ria Yamaguchi TITLE Graduate Engineer A TEAM ESD Design Team 1

In September, the Neighborhood Partnering Program’s Americorps VISTA, Will Snyder, left the program to pursue other opportunities. In early October, Program Grecia White Manager Justin Golbabai accepted a new position as Project Manager at College Station. We will miss them much, and we wish them all the best!

Welcome Grecia White, our new AmeriCorps VISTA from the bluegrass state of Kentucky! She has been making the rounds to neighborhood events and helped translate our first Spanish applications. She is looking forward to exploring more of the greenbelt and catching an indie movie at Alamo Drafthouse.

STREET + BRIDGE KUDOS MANY THANKS FROM SKYVIEW

NAME Diana Wang TITLE Engineer B TEAM ESD Design Team 2

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO STREET + BRIDGE Street and Bridge Operations’ Central District received a call about a pavement void on University Drive at West 20th Street at 11:15 a.m. and were able to make repairs and open the street up to traffic by 2:15 p.m. the same day. We would like to send a special thank you to the following crew members for such a speedy repair:

SUPERVISOR CREW LEAD TECHS

Johnny Colvin Adam Saucedo Carlos Luna Corey Jackson Mario Ruiz Kevin Tucker Robert Saldana Luis Monreal Charles Dunlap

Many thanks to the great team at Street and Bridge for repairing the pedestrian bridge at Skyview Road! After the Skyview Neighborhood Association inquired about the bridge during a site visit with the Neighborhood Partnering Program, Pirouz Moin and Craig Clayton followed-up on their inquiry by examining the bridge, making needed repairs to the bridge’s structure, and replacing the boards. The neighborhood was so happy that they threw their own ribbon cutting event for their “new bridge.”

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WRITE IN TO US WITH YOUR SUGGESTIONS REGARDING:

Milestones

NOMINATIONS

WRITING A GUEST COLUMN

PHOTO CONTRIBUTION SPECIAL EVENTS GOING ON IN YOUR DIVISION EMPLOYEE PROFILE NOMINATIONS ...AND ANYTHING ELSE WE MAY HAVE MISSED OR YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT

CONTACT US:

pwdpublicaffairs@austintexas.gov