HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9845 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 9845
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 9, 2016
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*a SUBJECT: COMPUTER LABS AT NEIGHBORHOOD AND RECREATION
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This Informal Report is being provided to respond to questions raised by city councilmembers
during the FY2016 budget process regarding the Budget Reduction Package to eliminate
computer labs at all neighborhood and recreation centers.
The Park and Recreation (PARD) and Neighborhood Services (NSD) Departments provide
computer labs as a service to citizens, primarily youth. The labs are available typically any time the
centers are open except when structured programs are using the labs such as during Summer Day
Camp and After School Programs. Frequency and purpose of usage by participants varies from
location to location. Currently, usage data is obtained manually by staff and the purpose for usage is
anecdotal. Each lab contains at least six computers with internet access and one printer. Internet
access is provided outside of the City's network system, sometimes through T-1 lines, cable service
or DSL.
Information Technology Services (ITS) Department, NSD and PARD staff completed a review of
the center computer labs' infrastructure. Based on City Council input last fall that we continue this
service, staff recommends that we invest in the equipment necessary to do so. The network
upgrade project will improve speed; however, many of the computers have exceeded their useful
life. The most cost-effective option is to replace the current 120 desktops with virtual desktops
(VDI), similar to the library public access computers, in FY2017. Based on the age of the current
equipment, following the installation of 120 units, 79 of the existing units would be disposed and
41 would be redeployed across the workforce.
Full VDI migration would promote the fastest technology adoption, and still cost less than the
lowest cost option for a full hardware refresh on a standard schedule. Projected cost for this
option is $226,000.00 and would require refresh on a 7-year cycle. A decision package to
authorize funding will be submitted for consideration during the FY2017 budget process.
Staff is also researching the computer reservation system that is used by the Library Department.
The system tracks usage that would be evaluated for deployment and assignment of computer
units. The Library provides approximately 400 public computers. Library users "reserve"
computers for two hours using their library card through the EnvisionWare PC Reservation
system. In addition to hardware costs mentioned above, there would be charges to purchase
additional seats in the EnvisionWare program.
If additional information or clarification is needed, please contact Richard Zavala, Park and
Recreation Department Director at 817-392-5704, Kevin Gunn, ITS Department Director at 817-
392-2015, or Aubrey Thagard, Neighborhood Services Department Director at 817-392-8187.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS