2010-11-03 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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MS. NICHOLSON: James Kiley and Burt Tsuchiya and Martha Rodillas from Corporation Counsel. MS. O’HARA: It was a very good meeting. Bill was also present. We learned a lot about the status of Laserfiche with the county. And we learned quite a bit about the video conferencing capabilities of the county. These are two comments that came up frequently in these questionnaires that we sent out. In addition, we talked about the ability of having to have a county wide technology plan that goes beyond Laserfiche and video connectivity. Also it would include how they purchase computers, how departments request electronic equipment, how that equipment is purchased or leased and we also looked at other areas of technology that need to be improved upon for the county such as the virtual county interface with the ability for the public to acquire and fill out and submit forms and request through a county website. These are all issues that Data System folks have considered. They have not had internal resources available to complete a county wide technology plan. They see the value in it. They have the capability in-house but as with most of the departments in the county right now, they are a little bit stretched and short staffed. We also discussed the possibility of perhaps a more centralized a data department that included some of the data systems that are currently independent such as the systems with the Office of Aging, Prosecutor’s Office, the Police and whether or not that would add benefit to save money for the county. So we discussed all of these issues. They are going to follow up by submitting to us through Bill, their comments, list of recommendations, things that they’ve considered so far in developing a county wide technology plan. And give us more specific information on the availability of certain technologies within the county and how they’re being used. And another issue that came up is changing culture. Some of the technology challenges are not just acquiring equipment but also the changing culture that it requires for the county to begin using this and the training that is necessary. So we also had discussions on that. I think that summarizes it. Marilyn, do you have anything to add? MS. NICHOLSON: That summarizes it pretty well. And if anyone would like to ask any questions, specific questions about that, especially how it might it relate to your subcommittee, and then we could address it right now while we’re on that topic. MS. GARSON: Well, actually, this is the report. MS. NICHOLSON: But we can talk about it when it’s in the minutes. MS. GARSON: Right. Next meeting. MS. NICHOLSON: Okay, so the document that we are going to get from the gentlemen we met with this morning will then go to Bill, and that will probably become a report that we will distribute then we’ll discuss it two weeks after that. MS. GARSON: We’ll put it on as a communication. It will be a communication. 31