Ubits May /June 2019
New electric rides
WORD ON THE WEBS
July 17 Taste of TPU Benefitting the TPU Senior Assistance Fund
Dedication of first electric vanpool in South Sound celebrates cleaner commute TPU and Pierce Transit dedicated the county’s first-ever electric vehicle vanpool in late May during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at TPU. As a long-standing employer in Pierce Transit’s Vanpool Program, TPU was honored to be selected for the pilot to use eight plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica vans for its vanpool service. The pilot will provide vanpoolers with a clean commute powered by nearly carbon-free electricity. The vans will reduce emissions and keep more
In this issue
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Leadership accountability at TPU
money in rider’s pockets. Vanpool drivers will drive their assigned vans to work, charge them on site during the day, and drive home emission free depending on total round trip miles. Pierce Transit acquired the vans through a state grant. Transportation is Washington’s number-one contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The pilot encourages cleaner transportation habits while supporting the state’s goal of decarbonozing the transportation sector.
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Employees tattoo fish
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New email newsletter
— ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU —
Leaders outline five commitments to a culture of leadership accountability at TPU Feedback from TPU’s Employee Survey helped develop five key behaviors the utility aspires to have all leaders model in their roles. Those five behaviors are now part of the TPU Leadership Promise in our Leadership, Engagement, and Development (L.E.A.D) program. Leaders at TPU commit to modeling those five behaviors with the intent of contributing to and building a positive, supportive work culture. Their goal is to inspire employees to do their best work. “After careful review of employee survey results, TPU leadership developed five key behaviors that we aspire to have all leaders model in their roles at TPU. Those behaviors are the focal point of the year two training for TPU managers, supervisors, and leads,” said Director Jackie Flowers. The utility trained all employees in L.E.A.D. last year. Managers, supervisors, and leads attended a 40-hour training focusing on five areas to impact employee morale and engagement. Employees who did not participate in the leadership sessions participated in a 3.5-hour training regarding topics that most affect workplace culture. This year, managers, supervisors, and leads are taking a deeper dive during three-day workshops to focus on the five key behaviors identified from the TPU Employee Survey results. TPU is now spreading the word in print and practice about these five behaviors: 1) Create a culture of feedback. In our culture, it will feel safe to provide authentic feedback. Managers will know how they are doing, because they will ask, listen, and continually grow and improve. Employees at all levels will feel empowered to give feedback, ask for feedback, receive feedback non-defensively, and hold one another accountable. Upper management will be committed to seeking feedback regarding organizational culture, policies, and practices.
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2) Effectively hold ourselves’ and employees’ accountable for professional behaviors and work product. We will provide clear expectations, and employees will know how they are doing, including the areas in which they are succeeding and the areas in which they need continued growth. Managers will have the courage, skills, and empathy required to provide effective coaching when an employee does not meet expectations. 3) Communicate effectively and transparently with our employees. We will distribute information accurately, timely, and thoroughly, so employees feel well informed, respected, and equipped. 4) Treat employees fairly and equitably. We will work to ensure that we treat employees and their peers fairly, managers do not engage in favoritism, and the system provides equity for all. 5) Improve decision-making practices and find ways to give employees ownership and autonomy. We will make efficient and effective decisions; find ways to hand off decision-making authority to others; give autonomy; ask for ideas and opinions before deciding; give away areas of control. As part of this ongoing effort, employees will begin to see progress in various forms around the L.E.A.D. initiatives and new ways of incorporating L.E.A.D into daily work. “I am committed to enhancing TPU’s workplace culture and value the feedback received from employees in the Employee Survey,” Jackie said. Using this input to customize this year’s leadership training allows TPU leaders to acknowledge opportunities for improvement and commit to enhancements organization-wide.”
Fish get tattoos at Cushman Hydro Project smolt trap
Employees at Tacoma Water showed their fast-paced skills and won first prize in three out of four categories at the 2019 Pacific Northwest Section American Water Works Association conference in Vancouver. The Women and Men’s Tapping teams raced against a clock to tap a pressurized pipe and install a water service line. The Meter Madness competitors assembled a water meter while the Hydrant Hysteria team put together a hydrant from a pile of parts. The honor makes them some of the smartest, strongest, and fastest water employees in the Pacific Northwest and qualifies them for nationals. Our teams compete at the AWWA national conference tournament in Denver in June. KING5 reporter, Ted Land, videotapes our Women’s Water Tapping Team.
bits & pieces
Employees at our Cushman smolt trap have clipped, tagged, and dyed Chinook, coho, and steelhead for study purposes, but now they are trying something new: tattooing. No, they are not drawing hearts with “Mom”— they just make a mark about the size of a pinhead on a fish’s belly to learn whether tattooing will prove to be an effective option for identification. Testing different colors on the fish before releasing them “inked” will ensure the tattoos remain visible long enough, do not affect fish behavior, or increase the likelihood that predators would see it.
Tacoma Water teams take top honors
New hydration stations quench people and pups People and their pets can beat the heat this summer with new watering stations at the STAR Center playground and in the Lincoln Business District in Tacoma. A partnership between Tacoma Water, Metro Parks Tacoma, and the City of Tacoma Public Works Department made the water bottle filling stations equipped with water fountains and bowls for dogs possible. The partners plan to install up to five more stations throughout the city. Signs at the sites will also share water-saving tips as the public, and “puplic” enjoy clean, reliable Tacoma Water. The STAR Center playground station is located at 3873 S. 66th St. and the station in the Lincoln District is at South 38th Street and Yakima Avenue. Click’s Rebecca King and dogs Fiona (left) and Jake (right) took a break in the Lincoln District for a quick sip.
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There is nothing screwy about Tacoma Power’s Cushman smolt trap When it comes to restoring and enhancing fish runs on the North Fork Skokomish River, there are many pieces to the puzzle. One is the smolt trap (also known as a rotary screw trap). The trap is cone-shaped and floats on two pontoons in the river several miles downstream of Tacoma Power’s Cushman No. 2 Dam. Our employees use the trap to capture juvenile fish as they migrate downstream. They mark or tag some of them, release them back upstream of the trap, then count how many the trap recaptures. They use this information to tell how effective our trap is, shed light on migration patterns, and calculate abundance estimates. They also use the trap to capture about 12,000 coho fry each year for hatchery broodstock. In 2018, they caught more than 729,000 fish, including: Natural-origin salmon • Coho • Spring Chinook • Fall Chinook • Chum • Pink • Sockeye
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Other species • Steelhead • Cutthroat trout • Sculpin • Lamprey • Three-spined stickleback
The juvenile salmon range in age and size: • Fry: These newbies are less than 2 inches long, originate from the previous spawning season, and are not strong swimmers. They drift more than swim. Depending on the species, they may continue to the ocean or hang out in the river for another year. • Parr: Between 2 inches and 4 inches long, they have all of their fins, so they are stronger swimmers. Some parr will become smolts and leave the river that year. • Smolts: Depending on the species, they reach between 5 inches and 6 inches long. They are making a beeline to the ocean. Their age depends on the species. “The information we gather at the trap helps us get a pulse on the river,” Fisheries Biologist Megan McCormick said. “It informs us on how many juvenile salmon are moving downriver and when, plus it helps us determine the effectiveness of our supplementation and restoration efforts.” They also share the data with other interested parties. “This is a collaborative effort with other agencies,” Megan said. “For example, we provide genetic samples to the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group for their coastal cutthroat trout study.” They generally staff the trap from Dec. 1 to Aug. 15 but may expand operations this year to better monitor the spring Chinook that they have reintroduced into the North Fork Skokomish River.
Take your kids to work day highlights From lessons about water and electricity to shop talk and “boring meetings,” our employees’ kids got the message: they are important to us. As your kids told us on Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, Tacoma Public Utilities isn’t necessarily the “funnest” place to be, but they did have a favorite part and it was being with you.
Kennewick wind project sees spotlight with Evergreen Options campaign Our series on renewable energy projects blew us East beyond the Cascades to south-central Washington, just outside of Kennewick. It’s here that the hills overlooking the Columbia River Gorge can produce up to 95 megawatts of power thanks in part to our Evergreen Option members. Built in 2002, Nine Canyon Wind Project is one of the largest public power wind projects in the nation. Sixty-three turbines line the ridge tops positioned to take advantage of persistent strong winds off the river. These 200-foot giants turn and pivot to match the wind’s direction and speed. Miniature weather stations built into each turbine monitor wind speed and direction while motors and brakes rotate the massive blades to harness the wind’s energy created. “It doesn’t take much wind, it’s only 3.5 meters per second (approx. 8 mph) and they start turning. Five meters a second (11 mph) and they start making power,” said Tracy McPherson, Energy Northwest’s wind generation site-lead technician at the project. Tracy and a handful of technicians are responsible for keeping the turbines running, which at times means climbing to the very top. “You can see everything. It’s nice when you get out there. Best office in the world,” Tracy said. Tacoma Power staff witnessed this spectacular view when they toured the project in June. “A genuine thank you needs to go out to customers who have invested in Evergreen Options,” said Mike Paoli with Energy Northwest. “These are people who care about our environment, lowering carbon, and going after climate change — the future our children are going to have.”
Tools to Grow Into: Gideon and Alana take a tour of our hydro projects.
Jarrod Kaiser waters the STEM seed with his son Tae.
Future Board Members: Mason, Khloe, David Jr., Bryson, and Isla see what it’s like to sit in the hot seat.
Piper, Jude, and Kaiser get a lesson about electricity from Chad Edinger.
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Community Connection
Trade professionals make first Women Build and Rebuilding Together South Sound a success Women from Tacoma Public Utilities recently participated in a Habitat for Humanity Women Build. They helped build a home while practicing construction skills in a safe environment under the guidance of trade professionals. The partnership gave employees and other women a chance to see a wide-range of jobs available to them in the utilities. It was a great opportunity for them to grow, both personally and professionally. In other construction news, Community Connection’s 10-year partnership with Rebuilding Together South Sound helps make homes safer and more efficient for seniors and people with disabilities. “Our employees have incredible construction skills and huge hearts,” said Community Affairs Manager Erika Tucci. “This partnership has transformed many lives through the years.” In April, about 80 TPU employees of all skill levels came together to paint, clean, and do light construction on two homes in our service territory. They also planted shade trees as part of TPU’s conservation program.
Photos courtesy of Al Martinez and Wei Zhang.
Bowl-a-Thon donations reach a record total Thanks to TPU employees and their families, this year’s Bowl-a-Thon for the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound met strikeout success. Employees raised nearly $18,000 for the organization. Contributions for the cause will help the club provide youth a safe, fun, and nurturing environment after school and throughout the summer. The Boys & Girls Club of South Puget Sound strives to enable young people, especially those in need, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The unrestricted donations will allow the organization to fill gaps in programs and funding as they see fit.
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Welcome new employees
Jeffrey Blattler Facilities Maintenance Mechanic Tacoma Public Utilities
Michael Catsi Business Development Manager Tacoma Public Utilities
Jennifer Chadick Management Analyst Tacoma Water
RECENT RETIREES
Thank you for your service Nicole Edwards Management Analyst Tacoma Power
Alan Fraser Engineer Tacoma Power
Michael Brown, Tacoma Power engineer technician, retired in April after 37 years. Kevin Carver, Tacoma Water heavy equipment operator, retired in March after 23 years. Wayne Faulkner, Tacoma Public Utilities human resources assistant, retired in April after 13.5 years. Thomas Martin, Tacoma Power analyst, retired in April after 22 years. Kurt Myking, Tacoma Public Utilities IT analyst, retired in April after 33.5 years.
Kyle Gadberry Hydro Project Electrician Tacoma Power
Katherine Hoyt Office Assistant Tacoma Public Utilities
Randy Ketter Carpenter Crew Leader Tacoma Power
Gary Maguire Customer Service Representative Tacoma Public Utilities
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Tacoma Public Utilities PO Box 11007 • Tacoma WA 98411
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Enhancements to web engagement continue with email newsletter Ubits is a publication for Tacoma Public Utilities employees and is provided as a courtesy to retirees. ubits@cityoftacoma.org • 253-502-8754
Employees, customers, and community members can now experience the next phase of digital engagement at TPU with a monthly email newsletter sent to those who wish to receive information directly via their inbox. The newsletter includes a list of events, new promotions, and utility updates. We can also ask customers for feedback about the information they desire. Employees who are TPU customers can subscribe to the newsletter at MyTPU.org/Email and share preferences about frequency and topics. TPU re-launched its website, MyTPU.org, in April to offer customers a more intuitive and modern experience when connecting with us online. Refinements to the site continue as the Communications team collects data about user behavior and explores new capabilities.