HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 01 27 Informational Item A
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COMMISSION AGENDA
ITEM A
REGULAR
CONSENT
INFORMATIONAL XX
January 27, 1997
Meeting
MGR. fAin IDEPT ~
Authorization
REQUEST: The Management Information Services and Finance Departments informing
the City Commission on the conversion of the Utility Billing process from the ITX system
to the UNIX system.
PURPOSE: The purpose ofthis Board item is to inform the Commission ofthe intent to
convert the Utility Billing progtam from the old ITX system to the present UNIX system, the
length of time estimated and the estimated cost to do so.
CONSIDERATIONS:
A. The ITX system was replaced in 1994 with the UNIX system because the ITX
operating system was an obsolete system, with no updates to the program.. We have all of the
other programs, i.e., Accounting, Payroll, Purchasing, Occupational Licenses, Fixed Assets, on
the UNIX system, and only the Utility Billing on the ITX system.
B. We have attempted on five different occasions to convert these files by electronic
methods and have been unsuccessful in doing so, either (1) because of miscommunications
between the computer support people for the ITX system and the support people of the UNIX
system, (2) finding a source to convert the data so the UN1X system could read the data, and (3)
just finding the right time to complete the process of down loading and up loading.
C. After having exhausted what we feel is all of our options, we have decided the
only way to complete this project is to employ part time data entry persons and let them enter the
complete database. Once that is done, our people will update and maintain the information in
both systems. After we have verified the balances and are sure the UNIX system has all the
information entered, we will make parallel runs until such time that the UNIX system is
operating properly.
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FUNDING:
A. No new funds are required to cover the estimated $7,000 to build the database.
B. The cost to complete this project is not currently included in the budget as a line
item.
1. Funding source would be a transfer from Regular Salaries of money originally
budgeted for a Customer Service Representative, which will not be hired this year.
2. This transfer will be included in the proposed Budget Revision and would not
increase the current budget totals.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. None required
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE:
This project would begin February 10th and will be completed in approximately 90 days.
ATTACHMENTS:
COMMISSION ACTION: