From COH Employees News, 8:33 AM:

City of Houston and HOPE Joint Communication Compensation Update

The 2018 Meet and Confer Agreement between the City of Houston and the Houston Organization of Public Employees (HOPE) provides that beginning the first full pay period after July 1, 2018, every bargaining unit member with the exception of Police and Fire Trainees will receive a 3% across-the-board pay increase. Employees covered by this provision will see the pay increase on their August 3, 2018 paycheck. To review the current 2018 Meet and Confer Agreement between the City of Houston and HOPE, please click here.             If you have any questions regarding the 2018 Meet and Confer Agreement, you may contact a HOPE representative by phone at 832-962-4506 or visit the HOPE website at www.HOPETX.org or send an email to HOPE at hopeinfo@hopetx.org or contact your Human Resources representative.

Important COH Policy Regarding Employee Use of Social Media

From Ophelia Gomez, 5:03PM:

Please take a moment to review the City of Houston Executive Order 1-18, Use of Social Media http://houstonlibrary.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=42930458

This Executive Order details allowable and appropriate use of social media by city of Houston employees. Please be reminded of the following key responsibilities:

10. APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

10.1 Employees assigned to maintain City social media sites shall adhere to the principles articulated in this policy. Employees shall not work on departmental social media sites during off-duty hours unless specifically pre-approved to do so in writing on a day-to-day basis by the employee’s supervisor. All such time worked outside the employee’s normal work scheduled shall be reported and included in the employee’s 40-hour work week. Any work in excess of 40 hours will be paid overtime as required by law and City policy.

10.2 Consistent with the City’s policies on use of the City’s telephone and email systems, incidental and occasional personal use of social media is permitted during work hours provided it is very limited in duration and does not have a detrimental effect on employee productivity.

10.3 City resources, work time, social media tools, and a City employee’s official position shall not be used for personal profit or business interests or to participate in political activity. For example, a building inspector may not use the City’s logo (or its likeness), email, or work time to promote a side business as a plumber.

10.4 Personal or business venture social media account names shall not be tied to the City. For example, CityofHoustonCop would not be an appropriate personal account name.

10.5 If commenting on City business, employees should use a disclaimer which establishes that their comments represent their own opinions and do not represent those of the City of Houston.

10.6 Employees may not attribute personal statements or opinions to the City when engaging in private blogging or postings on social media sites.

10.7 Employees, City contract employees, and City volunteers shall not use their City email account or password in conjunction with a personal social networking site.

10.8 City employees, contract employees for the City, and City volunteers shall not post images, files, or text depicting City property, equipment, or personnel in any manner that would adversely affect the reputation of the City or a City department.

10.9 The following guidelines apply to personal communications using various forms of social

10.9.1 Use common sense when using social media sites. Remember that what you write is public, may be public for a long time, and may spread to large audiences. Refrain from posting information that you would not want your supervisor or other employees to read or that you would be embarrassed to see in the newspaper or on television.

10.9.2 The City expects its employees to be truthful, courteous, and respectful toward supervisors, co-workers, citizens, customers, and other persons associated with the City. Employees shall not engage in name-calling or personal attacks or other such demeaning behavior.

If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor or the human resources, employee relations team at 832-393-1341.

Open Enrollment Starts Soon!

From City of Houston Wellness Connection, 3/15:

Don’t forget to update your address in Employee Self-Service (ESS)
so that you don’t miss out on any important updates from the City of Houston.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

During Open Enrollment April 1-13, choose the best option:

OPTION 1:

NO BENEFIT PLAN CHANGES

If you are not making any changes to your benefits elections, other than *enrolling or re-enrolling in the Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HFSA), you do not need to log on to ESS. You will keep your current plan selections. See Option 4 for details regarding HFSA.
 

OPTION 2:

ENROLL / CHANGE BENEFIT ELECTIONS

If you are enrolling or changing your benefits, log in to ESS to make your selections.
 

OPTION 3:

WAIVE BENEFIT COVERAGE

If you are waiving coverage, please log in to ESS and elect the waive option for medical, dental or vision.
 

OPTION 4:

* ENROLL / RE-ENROLL IN HFSA

You must enroll or re-enroll in the Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (HFSA).

 

IMPORTANT!
You will not automatically be re-enrolled into the HFSA if you did not elect it. There will be no exceptions.

Houston Veterans Day Celebrations

From CityNet, 2:06 PM:

Houston Salutes Veterans Day Celebration & 9/11 Heroes Run

Saturday, November 11, 2017

 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

In honor of Houston's veterans, first responders, and volunteers who have led Houston's recovery efforts from Hurricane Harvey, Mayor Sylvester Turner will host the annual "Houston Salutes American Heroes" Veterans Day Celebration and the Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Heroes Run on Saturday, November 11, 2017.

The celebration will begin at 8 a.m. with the nationally recognized Travis Manion Foundation 9/11 Heroes Run, originally scheduled for September 9, 2017. 

The salute continues with the AARP Veterans Job & Resource Fair starting at 8 a.m.- 12 p.m. in Hermann Square at City Hall. Symbols of Freedom, presented by Wells Fargo, will feature military exhibits at City Hall.

The traditional Veterans Day Ceremony presented by H-E-B will begin at 10:00 a.m. on the steps of City Hall with a 21-Gun Salute. The ceremony will end at 11 a.m. with a moment of silence in memory of the signing of the WWI Armistice. Don Nelson, retired military and formerly with ABC13, will emcee the ceremony. 

All proceeds from registration (excluding costs) will be donated to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.

To register and to learn more about the 9/11 Heroes Run, please visithttp://www.travismanion.org/community-engagement/911-heroes-run/2017-houston-tx/

About the Upcoming Bond Election

From Mayor Turner, 

Early voting starts Oct. 23 for the Nov. 7 election on five city bond propositions. The City of Houston urges all registered voters to cast ballots on these important propositions.

Passage of the bonds would not require a tax increase.

Proposition A is part of what is called the Houston Pension Solution. It would allow the city to issue bonds that are part of a reform plan that shrinks the city's debts to the pension funds that benefit police, fire and municipal employees. The reform plan has already been approved by the Texas Legislature and saves the city millions of dollars.

But if voters say no, pension officials would have the option of unwinding the pension reforms they agreed to, which included the reduced payments by the city. Rejection of Proposition A would cost the city $159 million in the next budget year and more later.

That's why I consider Proposition A to be crucial to the financial health of our city.

Proposition B, the Public Safety Improvement Bond, would provide about $159 million for improvements at neighborhood police stations and fire stations citywide.

Proposition C, the Parks Improvement Bond, would provide $104 million for improvements at parks citywide. These include pavilion replacements, swimming pool upgrades, ball field lighting upgrades, and replacement of aging playground equipment.

Proposition D, the Public Facilities Improvement Bond, would provide $109 million for renovations to health facilities, sanitation/recycling and essential improvements at city facilities.

Proposition E, the Library Bond, would provide $123 million in funds for library improvements. These include replacement and/or rehabilitation of existing neighborhood libraries.

Please go to http://www.houstontx.gov/2017election.html to:

• Read the official wording on the ballot in English, Spanish, Vietnamese or Chinese.

• Find links to early voting locations, election day voting locations and voting by mail information.

• View a sample ballot.

• See where to call with voting questions.

More information is also located here: http://lwvhouston.org/

Thank you for staying engaged in our community,

Sylvester Turner
Mayor

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NOTE: Early Voting Locations and Schedule. Early voting starts next Monday, Oct. 23. Any Harris County resident can early vote at any of the locations listed below; the highlighted locations are the closest to Walter and Southwest Express.  Karen

Early Voting Locations - Harris County

SRD	Location	Address	City	State	Zip
1	Harris County Administration Building	1001 Preston,1st Floor	Houston	TX	77002
2	Moody Park Community Center	3725 Fulton St.	Houston	TX	77009
3	Kashmere Multi-Services Center	4802 Lockwood Dr.	Houston	TX	77026
4	Ripley House Neighborhood Center	4410 Navigation Blvd.	Houston	TX	77011
5	H.C.C.S Southeast College, Learning Hub	6815 Rustic St., Parking Garage	Houston	TX	77087
6	Young Neighborhood Library	5107 Griggs Rd.	Houston	TX	77021
7	Fiesta Mart, Inc.	8130 Kirby Dr.	Houston	TX	77054
8	Metropolitan Multi-Services Center	1475 West Gray St.	Houston	TX	77019
9	Harris County Public Health Environmental Services	2223 West Loop South	Houston	TX	77027
10	SPJST Lodge #88	1435 Beall St.	Houston	TX	77008
11	Northeast Multi-Service Center	9720 Spaulding St., Bldg 4	Houston	TX	77016
12	Alvin D. Baggett Community Center	1302 Keene St.	Galena Park	TX	77547
13	John Phelps Courthouse	101 S. Richey St.	Pasadena	TX	77506
14	Sunnyside Multi-Purpose Center	9314 Cullen Blvd.	Houston	TX	77051
15	Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center	3810 W. Fuqua	Houston	TX	77045
16	Bayland Park Community Center	6400 Bissonnet	Houston	TX	77074
17	Tracy Gee Community Center	3599 Westcenter Drive	Houston	TX	77042
18	Trini Mendenhall Sosa Community Center	1414 Wirt Road	Houston	TX	77055
19	Lone Star College – Victory Center	4141 Victory Dr.	Houston	TX	77088
20	Acres Home Multi-Services Center	6719 W. Montgomery Rd.	Houston	TX	77091
21	Hardy Senior Center	11901 West Hardy Road	Houston	TX	77076
22	Octavia Fields Branch Library	1503 South Houston Avenue	Humble	TX	77338
23	Kingwood Community Center	4102 Rustic Woods Dr.	Kingwood	TX	77345
24	Rosewood Funeral Home – Atascocita, Community Rm	17404 W. Lake Houston Pkwy.	Atascocita	TX	77346
25	Crosby Branch Library	135 Hare Rd.	Crosby	TX	77532
26	North Channel Branch Library	15741 Wallisville Road	Houston	TX	77049
27	Baytown Community Center	2407 Market Street	Baytown	TX	77520
28	Kyle Chapman Activity Center	7340 Spencer Highway	Pasadena	TX	77505
29	Freeman Branch Library	16616 Diana Lane	Houston	TX	77062
30	Scarsdale County Annex	10851 Scarsdale Boulevard	Houston	TX	77089
31	Alief ISD Administration Building	4250 Cook Rd.	Houston	TX	77072
32	Harris County MUD 81	805 Hidden Canyon Rd.	Katy	TX	77450
33	Nottingham Park	926 Country Place Drive	Houston	TX	77079
34	Katy Branch Library	5414 Franz Rd.	Katy	TX	77493
35	Lone Star College – Cypress Center	19710 Clay Road	Katy	TX	77449
36	City of Jersey Village – City Hall	16327 Lakeview Drive	Jersey Village	TX	77040
37	Richard & Meg Weekley Community Center	8440 Greenhouse Rd.	Cypress	TX	77433
38	Juergen’s Hall Community Center	26026 Hemptstead Highway	Cypress	TX	77429
39	Prairie View A&M University – Northwest	9449 Grant Rd.	Houston	TX	77070
40	Fallbrook Church	12512 Walters Rd.	Houston	TX	77014
41	Klein Multipurpose Center, Room 402	7500 FM 2920	Klein	TX	77379
42	Tomball Public Works Building	501B James St.	Tomball	TX	77375
43	Lone Star College – Creekside Center	8747 West New Harmony Trail	Tomball	TX	77375
44	Spring First Church – Teen Center	1851 Spring Cypress Rd.	Spring	TX	77388
45	Lone Star College North Harris – CDC Building	2700 W W Thorne Drive	Houston	TX	77073

Hours for Early Voting by Personal Appearance - Harris County Voters Only

Monday                        October 23, 2017           8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday                        October 24, 2017           8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday                   October 25, 2017           8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Thursday                       October 26, 2017           8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Friday                           October 27, 2017           8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Saturday                       October 28, 2017           7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Sunday                         October 29, 2017           1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Monday                        October 30, 2017           7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday                        October 31, 2017           7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday                   November 1, 2017         7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Thursday                       November 2, 2017         7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Friday                           November 3, 2017         7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.