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COUNCn M^riTING <br />JAN 1 \ 1999 <br />CITY OF QRONO <br />REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />DATE: January 7, 1999 <br />ITEM NO: <br />Department Approval: <br />Name Lin Vee <br />Title City Clerk^ <br />Administrator Reviewed: Agenda Section: <br />City Administrator's Report <br />Item Description: Adopt Policy Statement Regarding Year 2000 (Y2k) Efforts and Appoint <br />Year 2000 Project Coordinator - Resolution <br />Y2k Problem <br />The majority of Y2k problems stem from systems and equipment originally programmed to read and <br />calculate the years as a two-digit number (such as "98" to represent "1998"). Decades ago, when the <br />computer industry was rapidly developing for the consumer market, memory and storage were very <br />costly. Computer manufacturers used this two-digit date system to make their products more <br />affordable. Unfortunately, with two-digit dates, computers and microchips cannot distinguish <br />between centuries. The resulting problem is that when the year 2000 is encountered, the "00" will <br />be interpreted to mean the year 1900. This mistake is predicted to cause a wide variety of problems, <br />ranging from equipment failures, to malfunctions, minor nuisances, or no impact at all. <br />Because the Y2k problem has the potential to disrupt essential City services, the City has organized <br />a team of staff members to represent all City operations in the process of analyzing and resolving <br />Y2k problems. <br />Y2k Policy Statement <br />To establish the City’s goals and intentions related to the Y2k problem, staff recommends adopting <br />a formal policy statement regarding Year 2000 efforts in the City of Orono. Attached is a policy <br />statement for Council's review and adoption. <br />Y2k Project Coordinator <br />In addition to the policy statement, to ensure that hie City’s Y2k efforts are properly coordinated and <br />timetables are adhered to, a staff member should be designated as the City’s Y2k Project <br />Coordinator. The League of Minnesota Cities has also requested that cities designate a contact <br />person to receive information related to the Y2k problem. It has been suggested that Lin Vee, City <br />Clerk and Information Systems Assistant, be appointed to coordinate the Y2k project. Attached is <br />a resolution appointing Lin Vee, City Clerk, to serve as the Year 2000 Project Coordinator for <br />Council's review and adoption. <br />COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED: <br />Motion to adopt the attached Policy Statement Regarding Year 2000 Efforts in the City of Orono. <br />Motion to adopt the attached resolution appointing Lin Vee, City Clerk, to serve as the Year 2000 <br />Project Coordinator for the City of Orono.