HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7050 4NFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7050
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 27, 2985
Subject: PROJECT E.L.F.
The 259 Solution to Paperwork Expenses
In October, 1980, management consultant Alan Negus, at that time the
International President of the Association of Records Managers and
Administrators, issued a challenge to all records professionals to join
him in Project E.L.F. (eliminate legal-sized files) in order to help
reduce the administrative operational paperwork costs of business and
government by twenty-five percent. Through a survey of over six hundred
firms , Mr. Negus concluded that the companies could operate more
cost-efficiently by eliminating the use of legal-sized files. The
project has gained momentum, and the following events have occurred:
'The Business Forms Management Association, the Association for
Information and Image Management, and the Securities Industry
Association have endorsed the project.
'The Judicial Conference of the U.S. has adopted letter-size paper
as a standard for all Federal Courts, and the decision is binding
on all those choosing to do business with the Federal Courts.
Pik
'The General Services Administration has advised all Federal
departments and agencies to eliminate legal-size files and forms.
'Thirty state court systems have adopted the letter-size standard,
in whole part.
OThe State of Delaware became the first state, and the City of
Alexandria, Virginia, the first city, to adopt the letter-size
standard. Other states and cities have followed suit.
OThe State of Texas passed HB 756 prohibiting the use and purchase
of legal-size paper supplies and legal-size file cabinets in any
state agency.
OThe State of Arizona passed State Law 39-103 adopting the
letter-size standard for all public records, including state, local
government, and school district records. Violation of the standard
by a public officer is considered a class B misdemeanor.
The reason for this trend is a clearcut recognition of the unnecessary
extra costs of using legal-size paper, which average out to about ?5%
more than letter-size paper. Some examiles determined by the E.L.F.
Project staff are:
legal-size typing paper - about 49% more
legal-size file cabinets - 37% to 43% more
postage - up to 469 - 85% more
office space required for legal-size file cabinets - 20%
L ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7050-Page 2
UP To the Mayor and Members of the City Council August 27 " 1985
x Subject: PROJECT E.L.F.
~`^ The 25% Solution to Paperwork Expenses
The City Of Fort Worth wishes to support Project E.L.F. by proclamation,
and by adopting the letter-Size standard wherever it 1s practical . A
8UrV2y will be made t0 determine the impact of a letter-size standard on
City Departments, and to determine those areas of exception where it
will not he advisable to adopt the standard.
Should additional information be desired, it will be furnished upon
request.
ugl/Ha
City Manager
� .
000h,
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS