Agenda Packets - 1999/02/01 - Laserfiche WebLink

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/..N .NN .NMNNMNMNNNN /`NNIMNNS, YEAR 2000 PROBLEM You're susceptible if: • You have any central or mainframe computer that stores data vital or important to your local government. • You have a local area network(LAN)over which data and files are shared,thus allowing dates to be entered in a variety of ways. • You use personal computers.The device inside the PC that retains date and time when the system is turned off often cannot store a four digit year. It will give your operating system an invalid date after January 31, 1999(perhaps something like 1/1/80). • You electronically store any data with a two-digit year. • Your telephone system has programmable switches. Phone systems are almost all controlled exclusively by software,and if the date clocks are not Y2K compliant,the whole system is not Y2K compliant. • You have automated security systems with computers that automatically lock and unlock doors and elevators at night,open them in the morning,and keep them locked on holidays and weekends. • You use global positioning systems(GPS)to locate emergency vehicles. GPS devices deter- mine distance by measuring how long it takes to get a signal from several satellites in sta- tionary orbit. On August 22, 1999,many will fail to calculate time correctly. • You use automatic data collection systems,found,for example,on city-owned electric meters. A Mandate for Leadership The mandate for leadership by local officials is compelling. Should systems fail,the frustrations and ire of citizens will be directed at city and county leaders. Unfortunately,the liability will extend beyond the walls of city hall. To ensure that the public is as prepared as it can be, local officials need to enlist support from and galvanize the community at large: business,industry,civic organizations,schools,and neighboring jurisdic- tions. It is not just a local government challenge: It is a problem that may negatively affect everyone if not properly managed. Local elected officials are well positioned to capture the attention of and form strategic partnerships with stakeholders whose contributions help make communities work. Community forums, busi- ness roundtables,media strategies, and even personalized contacts will all be needed to ensure that the community is informed and prepared to respond to Year 2000 problems. Public Safety The first thing you may notice on January 1,2000,is that the computer on your desk may tell you that the date is January 1, 1980. Or it may give no date at all. Looking beyond the computer on your desk,and even beyond those on desks throughout local government offices,there are some far-reaching ways that the Year -2-