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95-1088a � � � � � � � Council File # S � � S 0 �� Gxeen Sheet # _����_� RESOLUTION � CITY OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA .�,:, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Piesented By Refeiied To Committee: Date WHEREAS, the consolidation of council and administrative video units has resulted in 1 savings; and WHEREAS, the Gity has electronic mail and network redesign needs which will communication and service responsiveness; and WHEREAS, Citywide Information Services has evaluated the repfacement of GroupWise; and WHEREAS, Citywide Information Services has engaged a consuitant for redesign project and is prepared to complete the project; and internal Office wiih phase of the network WHEREAS, $195,679 has been placed in Council Contingency and it ys�appropriate to use cable franchise revenues for communications-related requirements; and / WHEREAS, the Mayor pursuant to Section 10.07.4 of the City the 1995 Cable Communications Fund budget; and TRANSFER FROM: Cable Communication GL-166-31121-0548 Council Contingency TRANSFER TO: Cable Communications GL-166-31121-0219 Fees - Other ProfE GL-166-31121-0856 Data Processing - GL-166-31121-0857 Data Processing - All Other Fund Spending 195,679 Svs 32,246 e 2,000 re -0- 773.955 1 003.880 recommends the following transfers for Amended Chanpes Budaet (140,000) 55,679 � �• �� ��� :� ��� � 52,246 42,000 80,000 773.955 1.003.880 RESOLVED, that the Council appr es use of up to $60,000 in 1995 cable funds for citywide upgrading WordPerfect O�ce to GroupWis , and up to $80,000 to complete implementation of netwar� redesign. \ � �a � C��s�.f�.. � � ��{�� � Cl� � ��� � ��\ \� � i� � 95-�r�88' Q�1G��A� � �� � , \ �� c� � �� � �� � �� �� Requested by DepaYtment of: B Adopted by Council: Date Adoption Certified by Cour�il Secietary By: Approved by Mayox: FoZm Approved �y City By: � Appxoved b� p(ayos Poz Submission to Council te ✓ � ? By : � � �'t�� By: � ` . _� . DEPARTMENT/OFFICECOUNCII DATE INITIATED p Finance/Citywide I�formation Spcs 7_Z6-95 GREEN SHEET - 31302 CpNTAC7 PERSON 8 PHONE INITIAUOATE INITIAVDATE EPARTMENT DIFE 177 CITY COUNCIL Gregory J. Haunt 266-6787 ASSIGN CITYATfORNEV L OCITVCLERK MUST BE ON COUNqL AGENDA BY (DATE) ROUi1NGFOR BUDGET DIRECTOR � FIN. & MGT. SERVICES DIR OPDEA MAYOfl (OR ASSISTANT) f�l �__ t�J TOTAL # OP SIGNATURE pAGES CLIP ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE) ACSION RE�UESTED: Approval of resolution to amend the 1995 Cable:Communications Budget to use money conserved from the merger o8 two video offices to benefit the corporate e-mail and network redesign project. The money is currently in Council contingency. RECOMMENDATIONS: Approve (A) or Reject (R) FERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS MUST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUEST10N5: _ PLANNING COMMISSION _ EIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 1. Has this personRirm ever worked under a wntract for this department? _ CIB COMMITfEE _ �'ES NO _ 57AFF _ 2. Has this person/firm ever been a city employee? YES NO � DIS7RICT COURT _ 3. Does this personttirm possess a skili not normaily possessetl by any curreM city employee? SUPPORTSWHfCNCOUNC{LO&IECTIVE? YES NO Explain all yes answers on separate sheet antl ettach to green sheet INITIATING PROBLEM, ISSUE, OPPQRTUNIN (Who, Wheq When, Wheee, Why)' Lack of necessary funding for consultant fees, software upgrades and network equioment, will cause delays in � e mail develonment and imolementation of the n�e�t�wo�r�„�edesign. , n ��� �_��",�� pU� 09 1995 ����"� �F�6v� ADVANTAGESIFAPPROVED. The corporate e-mail system-will become more reliable, efficient and will improve internal communication and service resnonsiveness. DISADVANTAGES IF APPROVED: � � �4ix None AtlG a i9�� DISAOVANTAGES IF NOTAPPROVED: E-mail and network redesign will be indefinitely delayed. g � t' �`{'.:f� ! tL�'�'..��:`da""�''. 6��5.MY alt,+3� At! z � � i�95 TOTALAMOUNTOFTRANSACTION S 14�,�0� COSTfFlEVENUEBUDGE7ED(GHCLEONE) YES NO FUNDIHGSOURCE Special Fund ACTIVITYNUMBER 31125 PINANCIAUNFORMATfON: (EXPlA1N� O 7ANICE RETTMAN Couacilperson FINANCE 8� BUDGET COMMITTEE COMMITTEE REPORT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1995 Resolution - 95-1088 - Amending the 1995 Cable Budget. WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR CITY OF SAINT PAUL OFFICE OF T�iE CiTY C�3UNCIL �� YI��� f Members: �- �' Janice Rettm n, Chair pino Guerin Michael Harris Roberta Megard CPI'Y HALL SUITE 320A SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102 612l266-8650 5�q6 Pr"rnhd on Recyfled Papec �ts - /0�8 � - �� �,_ta�t.rf�: _ �.nr� CTTY OF SAINT PAUL TT�RU: Joe Reid TO: Council President David Thune FROM: Martha Larson � DATE: Wednesday, July 26, 1995 SUBJECT: 1995 Budget Amendment for Top-Priority Technology Investments Summarv The attached Council Resolution effects use of $140,000 in 1995 cable television franchise fee revenues for two key interdepartmental technology improvements. The two undertakings are (1) deployment of an upgrade to WordPerfect Office, our major interdepartmental electronic mail; and (2) completion funding of the network redesign begun with activity 01115 1994 end-of-year general fund dollars. Estimated costs for the two citywide technology improvements are up to $60,000 for the elecuonic mail upgrade and up to $80,000 for completion of the network redesign. The funds are available as part of the projected cost reduction for 1995 resulting from the merger of Council and Administrauon video units. Importance of Electronic Mail U�grade The City's electronic mail service is a mix of mail systems.' About 75% of the mailboxes are served by WotdPerfect Off'ice, version 3x. Version 3x has proven problematic given the way we aze using it. Its upgrade, called GroupWise, has been availabie for more than a year and has been reviewed and tested by C`itywide Information Services Division for several months. It is important to replace WordPerfect Office citywide for a number of reasons. GroupWise will ' WordPerfect Office does not track electronic mafl volume among WordPerfect Office message servers, but available partial data from the CIS message server indicates users are passing between 1,000 and 2,000 messages per day among departmenuJoffices. �S -l0$8 • Resolve the ve�ng "hangs" which have proven troublesome to all mail users and wluch ha�e delayed important document exchange between City Council members and City staff; • Reduce technical staff time spent on administration of user lists and alias lists and on troubleshooting WordPerfect Office idiosyncracies; • Improve reliability of incoming Intemet message processing, something which now contributes to a significant amount of down-time and which has proven frustrating for departmental and City CouncIl mail users; • Make sending of Internet messages easier for users; • Make available an efficient group meeting "5cheduler." Tt�e current WordPerfect Office Scheduler brings electronic mail to a halt, often for hours, when used; • Provide better inter-operation with other electronic mail softwaze packages now in use in the City (Fire's cc:Mail, Library's unix mail, Public Works's Eudora, and Health's Lotus Noteworks). Imoortance of Network Redesign The network redesign involves breaking our 1,100 station linkage into logical groups using either routers or switches. Accomplishing this has a number of significant advantages: The redesign shift us to registered Intemet electronic mail addresses for several hundred City desk-top machines. This will significantly ease the use of Intemet electronic mail at the desktop (in this respect, the rivo projects, electronic mail upgrade and network redesign, are closely linked); Redesigning and dividing our network will also pemut balancing of network loads by isolating local data traffic to its own segment. More efficient use of the cunent network use may heip us delay a year or two additional future network upgrade costs (from 10 megabit per second speeds to 100 megabit per second speeds) wlule maintaining for customers the level of network responsiveness to wluch they are accustomed; Redesigning and dividing our network will si�cantly assist CIS, and department technical staffs, in isolating and conecting network problems. 2 9s -��08'8` Although both of these initiatives support the organization's strategic need for agile, reliable communication among elected officials and staff, neither of them is "strategic" in the sense of a major shift in d'uection or technology. In both cases, we are building upon what is in place, refining it to reflect increasing usage and greater user sophistication. We risk nothing by going forward immediately and realizing the benefits of these badly needed upgrades. Alternative means of fundine Based on our quick survey at the time the 1996 department budget was proposed, the departments and offices support both of these needed improvements, but feel they should be budgeted cenually. I agree with my colleagues on this point. I would e�ect in the future — beginning in 1997, I wouid hope — to see this type of citywide initiauve funded through a central or citywide mechanism, rather than from a Finance Department-specific budget. This issue is part of the larger resource allocation issue that the Chief Information Officer can and should address. Today, with the need before us, and an appropriate identified source of funds, use of cable dollars is prudent and realistic. C:�BUDGE'I'11995\bfAII. NET.9S o � � � � � � � Council File # S � � Green Sheet � �.._ � RESOLUTfON CITY OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA � �� // c � , . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 >� �2 3 4 5 5 7 > > Pzesented By Referied To Committee: Date WHEREAS, the consolidation of council and administrative video units has resulted in savings; and WHEREAS, the City has electronic mail and network redesign needs which will communication and service responsiveness; and WHEREAS, Citywide information Services has evaluated the replacement of GroupWise; and WHEREAS, Citywide Information Services has engaged a consultant for redesign project and is prepared to complete the project; and internal Office with phase of the network WHEREAS, $195,679 has been piaced in Council Contingency and it ya�appropriate to use cable franchise revenues for communications-related requirements; and f WHEREAS, the Mayor pursuant to Section 10.07.4 of the City the 1995 Cable Communications Fund budget; and TRANSFER FROM: Cable Communication GL-16631121-0548 Council Continge�cy TRANSFER TO: Cable Communications GL-166-31121-0219 Fees - Other Profa GL-166-31121-0856 Data Processing - GL-16631121-0857 Data Processing - Ali Other Fund Spending 195,679 Svs 32,246 e 2,000 re -0- 773.955 1.003.8$0 recommends the following transfers for Amended Chanqes Budaet (140,0�0) 5b,679 20,000 40,00� 80,000 -0- -0- 52,246 42,000 80,000 773.955 1.003.880 RESOLVED, that the Council appr es use of up to $60,000 in 1995 cable funds for citywide upgrading WordPerfect Office to GroupWis , and up to $80,000 to comptete impiementation of netw�edesign. w+-c�t � ��� �/ �� Budg irecto . " D\ � � �� �� v� ��� �� q5- fo$g� �������,� Requested by Depastment of: B � Adopted by CounciL Date Adoption Ceztified by By Approved by Mayor. � v \�� L� � � � � Q � � � � �� �� Secretasy Form Appzoved �y City By: Appsoved b� rylayoi gox Submission to Council ✓ i sy: /�l� ��'fvt�;r-�!� By: tpwide Information Sycs Gregory J. Haunt 266-6787 7-26-95 I GREEN SHEET CITYATTORNEY TOTAL # OF SIGNATURE PAGES ACTION REDUESTED� MAYOfl (OR ASSIS ALl LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE) `ts - I og� N_ 31302 CITYCOUNqL �N�T�AVDATE CtTY CLERK FIN. & MGI SERVIC DIR. � _— Approval of resolution to amend the 1495 Cable.Communications Budget to use money conserv from the merger of two video offices to benefit the corporate e-mail and network redesign project. The money is currently in Council contingency. Approve (A) or qe�ect (R) _. PIANNING COMMISSION _ CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION __ CIB COMMffTEE _ STAFi _ OISTRIGT COURT SUPPORTS WHICH COUNCIL O&IECTIVE? PERSONAI. SERVICE CONTRACTS MUST ANSWER THE FOL40WINC. QUESTIONS: 1. Has this person/Firm evar worked under a coniract for Ihis tlepartment? - YES NO 2. Has this personttirm ever been a ciry employee? YES NO 3. Does this person/firm possess a skill not normally pos5essetl by any current ary employee? YES NO Explain all yes answ¢rs on saparate sheet and aKach to green sheet .ia�cm, issue, opr�RTUNITV (Who, What, WhBn. Where, Whyp Lack of necessary funding far consultant £ees, software upgrades and network eauipment, will cause delays in � e�mail develonment and im�lementation of the networ edesign. � " ������ �R����� $��}� 09 1995 ����"� �?�;�i :�. The corporate e-mail system-will become more reliable, efficient and will improve internal communication and service resnonsiveness. None y h.: � �lJC7 � �7�7� \DVANTAGES IF NOTAPPROVED� E-mail and network redesign will be indefinitely delayed. ��N3aau� �.�,��.F�+�."s��s .�a.��Y�Y AMOUNTOFTpANSAC710N S 14��(��� Ai!� � 1 :�95 COST/REYENUE BUDGETED (CIRCLE ONE) YES NO FUNDIfdG30URCE SPecial Fund AC71VIiVNUMBER 311Z1 FINANCIAL INFORMATION. (EXPIAIN) �S - t�g8 Resolve the ve�ng "hangs" which have proven troublesome to all mail users and wluch have delayed important document exchange between City Council members and City staff; Reduce technical staff time spent on administration af user lists and alias lists and on troubleshooting WordPerfect Office idiosyncracies; Improve reliability of incoming Internet message processing, something wluch now contributes to a significant amount of down-time and which has proven frustrating for departmental and City Council mail users; Make sending of Internet messages easier for users; Make available an efficient group meeting "Scheduler." The current WordPerfect Office Scheduler brings electronic mail to a halt, often for hours, when used; Provide better inter-operation with other electronic mail softwaze packages now in use in the City (Fire's cc:Mail, Librar�s unix mail, Public Works's Eudora, and Health's Lotus Noteworks). Importance of Network Redesign The network redesign involves breaking our 1,100 station linkage into logical groups using either routers or switches. Accomplishing this has a number of significant advantages: The redesign shift us to registered Internet electronic mail addresses for several hundred City desk-top machines. This will significantly ease the use of Intemet electronic mail at the desktop (in this respect, the two projects, electronic mail upgrade and network redesign, are closely linked}; Redesigning and dividing our network will also pemut balancing of network loads by isolating local data traffic to its own segment. More efficient use of the current network use may help us delay a year or two additional future network upgrade costs (from 10 megabit per second speeds to 100 megabit per second speeds) while maintaining for customers the level of network responsiveness to which they are accustomed; Redesigning and dividing our network will significantly assist CIS, and department technical staffs, in isolating and correcting network problems. 2 95 -Io8'�` Aithough both of these initiatives support the organization's strategic need for agile, reliable communication among elected officials and staff, neither of them is "strategic" in the sense of a major shift in direction or technology. In both cases, we aze building upon what is in place, re5ning it to reflect increasing usage and greater user sophistication. We risk nothing by going forward immediately and realizing the benefits of these badly needed upgrades. Alternative means of funding Based on our quick survey at the tiane the ? 996 department budget was proposed, the departments and offices support both of these needed improvements, but feel they should be budgeted centrally. I agree with my colleagues on this point. I would eacpect in the future — begnning in 1997, I wouid hope — to see this type of citywide initiative funded through a central or citywide mechanism, rather than from a Finance Department-specific budget. This issue is part of the lazger resource allocation issue that the Chief Information Officer can and should address. Today, with the need before us, and an appropriate identified source of funds, use of cable dollars is prudent and realistic. C:\BUDGET�1995\MAII, NET.95 3 � � � � � � � � Council File # � � � Gieen Sheet # 3�� 0�� RESOLUTION CITY OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA ' // c � ,s . % ...�'1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Pxesented By Refeiied To WHEREAS, the consolidation of council and administrative video units has resulted in 1 savings; and WHEREAS, the City has efectronic mail and network redesign needs which wilf communication and service responsiveness; and WHEREAS, Citywide Information Services has evaluated the replacement of GroupWise; and WHEREAS, Citywide Information Services has engaged a consultant for redesign project and is prepared to compiete the project; a�d 195,679 WHEREAS, $195,679 has been placed in Council Contingency and it j,� appropriate to use cable franchise revenues for communicaiions-related requirements; and / WHEREAS, the Mayor pursuant to Section 10.07.4 of the City the 1995 Cable Communications Fund budget; and TRANSFER FROM: Cable Communication GL-166-31121-0548 Council Contingency TRANSFER TO: Cable Communications GL-166-31121-0219 Fees - Other ProfE GL-166-31121-0856 Data Processing - GL-166-31121-0857 Data Processing - All Other Fund Spending RESOLVED, that the Council WordPerfect Office to Groupl Svs 32,246 e 2,000 re -0- 773.955 1.003.880 Committee: Date internal Office with phase of the network recommends the following transfers for Amended Chanpes Budaet (140,000) 55,679 � � � �� ��� :� ��� � 52,246 42,000 80,000 773.955 1.003.880 r4es use of up to $60,000 in 1995 cable funds for citywide upgrading and up to $80,000 to complete implementation of netw�edesign. � �� � . �� �\� ��� �� ���\ �� � ,� � `�S-:�o88` ► � � t?� � �� � �� �� � � �� �� ��,\ Requested by Department of: B � Adopted by Council: Date Adoption Cextified by Courybil Secietary By: Appxoved by Mayor. Foim Appxoved �qy City By: ' Approved b� qlayoz Poi Submission to Council te ✓�/� ' _/� �1� Sy: 7' \ � �%U� By `t5 —108� DEPARTMENT/OFFICE/COUNCIL DATE INITIATEO p FinanceJCitywide Information Sycs 7_26-95 GREEN SHEE �- 31302 CONTACT PERSON & PHONE INITIAIJDATE INITIAIJDATE EPARTMENTOIRECTOR I7lCITYCOUNCII Gregory J. Haupt 266-6787 ASSIGN CITVATTORNEY l OCITVCLERK MUST BE ON COUNCIL AGENDA BV (DATE) pOUTNG�OR BUDGET DIRECTOR � FIN. & MGT. SERVICES DIR. flDEP MAVOR (OFi ASSISTANT) � ���_ TOTAL # OF SICaNATURE PAGES (CLIP ALL LOCATIONS FOR SIGNATURE) ACTION REQUESTED: Approval of resolution to amend the 1995 Cable Communications Budget to use money conserved from the merger of� two video offices to benefit the corporate e-mail and network redesign project. The money is currently in Council contingency. RECAMMENDATIONS: Apprwa (A) or Reject (R) PERSONAL SERVICE CONTRACTS MUST ANSWER THE FOLLOWING �UESTIONS: _ PLANNING COMMISSION _ CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION �� Has this person/firm ever worked untler a contract for this depa�lment? _ CIB COMMITfEE _ YES NO 2. Has this person/firm ever been a ciry employee? _ STAFf — YES NO _ D15TRIC7 COUR'T — 3. Does this personttirm possess a skill not normall y possessed by any current city employee? SUPPORTS WHICH COUNGL O&IECTIVE? YES NO Explatn all yes answars on separete sheet and attach to green sheet INITIA7ING PROBLEM, ISSUE, OPPORTUNIN (Who. Wh31 When, Whera, Why). Lack of necessary funding for consultant fees, software upgrades and network eq_uipment, will cause delays in �� e mail development and imnlementation of the n�e�t�wo�r��edesign. � n ��� c���t� AUG 09 1995 ����as �5�����. ADVANTACaES IF APPROVED: The corporate e-mail system-will become more reliable, efficient and will improve internal communication and service resoonsiveness. DISADVANTAGES IF PPPROVED None � �� ���� ��� � 2��� DISAOVANTAGES IF NOT APPROVED: E-mail and network redesign will be indefinitely delayed. ���3�i;:� s;��3;�.-°d#' �r.�..�T�:s' AL� u 1 1995 TOTAL AMOUN7 OF TRANSACTION S 14O � OOO COSLREVENUE BUDGETED (CIHCLE ONE) YES NO FUNDIHGSOURCE Special Fund AC7IVITYNUMBER 311Z1 FINANCIAL INFORMATION: (EXPLAIN) Q . � � s ,, JANICE RETTMAN CouncIlperson FINANCE 8� BUDGET COMMITTEE COMMITTEE REPORT WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1995 Resolution - 95-1088 - Amending the 1995 Cable Budget. WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR �?�° i��� CI"PY HALL SU1TE 320A SAiNT PAUL, MINNESOTA 55102 CITY OF SAINT PAUL OFFiCE OF'I'HE CiTY CJUNCIL 5�66 Printed ov RecyGetl Paper Memben: �' � Janice Rettm n, Chair Dino Guerin Michael Harris Roberta Megard 612/266-8650 9s - ro�8 Memorandum CITY OF SAINT PAUL THRU TO: Joe Reid CouncIl President David Thune FROM: Martha Larson v'' 0 DATE: SUBJECT: Summarv Wednesday, July 26, 1995 1995 Budget Amendment for Top-Priority Technology Investments The attached Council Resolution effects use of $140,000 in 1995 cable television franchise fee revenues for two key interdepartmental technology improvements. The two undertakings are (1) deployment of an upgrade to WordPerfect Office, our major interdepartmental electronic mail; and (2) completion funding of the network redesign begun with activity 01115 1994 end-of-year general fund dollars. Estimated costs for the two citywide technology improvements are up to $60,000 for the electronic mail upgrade and up to $8Q000 for completion of the network redesign. The funds are available as pazt of the projected cost reduction for 1995 resulting from the merger of Council and Administration video units. Importance of Electronic Mail Upgrade The City's electronic mail service is a mix of mail systems.' About 75% of the mailboxes are served by WordPerfect Office, version 3x. Version 3x has proven problematic given the way we aze using it. Its upgrade, called GroupWise, has been available for more than a yeaz and has been reviewed and tested by Citywide Information Services Division for several months. It is important to replace WordPerfect Office citywide for a number of reasons. GroupWise will ` WordPerfect Office does not track electronic mail volume among WordPerfect Office message servers, but available partial data from the CIS message server indicates users are passing between 1,000 and 2,000 messages per day among departments/offices. �S'lo88 Resolve the vexing "hangs" which haue proven troublesome to all maIl users and which ha�e delayed important document exchange between City Council members and City staff; Reduce technical staff time spent on administration of user lists and alias lists and on troubleshooting WordPerfect Office idiosyncracies; • Improve reliability of incoming Intemet message processing, something which now contributes to a significant amount of down-time and which has proven frustrating for departmental and City Council mail users; • Make sending of Internet messages easier for users; • Make available an efficient group meeUng "Scheduler." The current WordPerfect Office Scheduler brings electronic mail to a halt, often for hours, when used; • Provide better inter-operation with other electronic mail softwaze packages now in use in the City (Fire's cc:Mail, Library's unix mail, Public Works's Eudora, and Health's Lotus Noteworks). Imnortance of Network Redesign The network redesign involves breaking our 1,100 station linkage into logical groups using either routers or switches. Accomplishing this has a number of significant advantages: The redesign shift us to registered Intemet electronic mail addresses for several hundred City desk-top machines. This will significantly ease the use of Internet electronic mail at the desktop (in this respect, the two projects, electronic mail upgrade and network redesign, are closely linked); Redesigning and dividing our nerivork will also pemut balancing of network loads by isolating local data tr�c to its own segment. More efficient use of the current network use may help us delay a year or two additional future nerivork upgrade costs (from 10 megabit per second speeds to 100 megabit per second speeds} while maintaining for customers the level of network responsiveness to wluch they are accustomed; Redesigning and dividing our network will significantly assist CIS, and department technical staffs, in isolating and correcting network problems. 2 95 -Io8'8' Although both of these initiatives support the organization's strategic need for agile, reliable communication among elected o�cials and staff, neither of them is "strategic" in the sense of a major shift in d'uection or technology. In both cases, we aze building upon what is in place, refining it to reflect increasing usage and greater user sophistication. We risk nothing by going forwazd immediately and realizing the benefits of these badly needed upgrades. Altemative means of funding Based on our quick survey at the time the 1996 department budget was proposed, the departments and of�ces support both of these needed improvements, but feel they should be budgeted centrally. I agree with my colleagues on this point. I would expect in the future — beginning in 1997, I would hope — to see this type of citywide initiative funded through a central or citywide mechanism, rather than from a Finance Department-specific budget. This issue is part of the larger resource allocation issue that tt�e Chief Information Officer can and should address. Today, with the need before us, and an appropriate identified source of funds, use of cable dollars is prudent and realistic. C:�BUDGE111993\MnII. NEf.95