Yes. It is still 19 our goal. And a lot of work has been 20 done, that we had to model all of the processes, we had to clean the data. So a lot of the work that is done is not throw-away work. The customization has had issues, and we continue to work through that and are waiting for 102 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. resolution.
Last question, because I've exceeded my time. The vendor, Oracle, are they back on track with us or is the relationship still strained?
We continue to negotiate with Oracle. Any time you get in this situation, it is a strained relationship.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell. 103 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC.
Thank you, Madam President. I have just one question, and, that is, are you involved in the Administration's plan for housing reorganization, and, if so, how?
We are not in the reorganization. We are supporting the Virtual Property Management Information System that tracks the use of parcels and land through the City, but we're not -- MOIS is not involved in the reorganization.
So let me ask you to talk a little further on that. Are you involved in any way of reprogramming housing information?
David Baldinger is the Project Manager on that. I'm going to put him on the spot and ask him to reply.
David 104 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. Baldinger, MOIS. What we have been working with with the housing agencies, the Redevelopment Authority, is a series of technology projects that would be designed to assist in managing the City's redevelopment activities, the acquisition of properties through the redevelopment process, the disposition of those properties. And we've talked about that as a series of activities around a project called VPMIS, which I think you're familiar with. The technology that we're developing really supports the agencies as they exist today and really doesn't depend upon whether there's reorganization either in any way. The things that have to be done for technology to support the housing activities are things that have to be done, aerobics. They have to be done regardless of how we organize the housing agencies. 105 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. So that's why we believe that we're not really part of the reorganization activities. These things have to be done however, whether there's a decision made to reorganize or not.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Ms. Neff, just to go back for one second to the place where we were before. You indicated with regard to the higher education reimbursement program that one other person had asked to participate in that program from your department. Did you say that earlier?
Was it approved? 106 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC.
And without getting all the details, but what was the nature of the request or what was approved?
I mean, what is the person pursuing? Where are they going? What does it cost?
This person also pursued a Master's degree, with a commitment to using that skill sets within MOIS and is a project manager in the City.
I get the impression from what you said this has already happened?
I'd have to let you 107 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. know. It was a local college. I believe it's Temple, but I'm not a hundred percent sure. I just don't recall.
Who administers this program? I mean, who is in charge of this?
And you just write to her? I mean, does she approve it?
There's a formal process that you have to go through. You 108 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. have to have your supervisor and your manager's approval, and it has to be related to your job. There's several elements involved in the program.
And are the costs paid out of central personnel or does it come out of the budget of the agency making the request?
I believe it's central personnel -- no? Oh, it does come out of the department's budget.
If someone made an application today, where would I find the funding for the cost in your present budget?
Is that Line Item 256? That's Seminar and Training Sessions.
No. I think there's 109 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. two categories, aren't there? I can get back to you, Councilman, with the specific line item.
The ASC. We're one of the first administrative services cluster that handles the finance for Finance, HR, Procurement, MOIS.
I'm Deborah Beatrice. I'm Director of the Administrative Service Center.
I'm sorry. 110 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. What's that last name again? Beatrice?
Okay. Well, I know you were paying very close attention back there, so can you tell me on which of these line items is the one that's used to pay for higher education reimbursement?
256. And you're anticipating $33,000 in costs for '07?
Yes. MOIS does provide a detailed budget of all their training that they anticipate in the fiscal year at the beginning of the fiscal year.
Are you anticipating anyone applying for tuition reimbursement?
For '07, that hasn't been provided just yet. They won't know until closer to the beginning 111 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. of the fiscal year what training they will be anticipating.
Well, if someone did make an application after July 1, 2006, the start of the fiscal year, I don't know how many other trainings you do out of that, but if the average cost of the one year of an MBA is about $29,000, that kind of takes all your money. So are you going to move it from somewhere else?
Yes. We would have to look at another area in the Class 200 budget if we needed to.
I'm sorry, Councilman, if I may. Just looking back at 256, you're estimating for 2006 $33,800 and you're estimating the same amount for '07. Would that have been for Mr. Dean's reimbursement?
Some of that would 112 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. have been, yes.
Well, I thought you indicated that it cost $29,000 for the two-year program.
So you're only spending approximately $4,000 for anybody else?
But we're talking about '06. We're talking about '06.
You're going to have to bear with us while we check it.
That's an awful lot of money for training. You're talking about almost $2 million. 113 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC.
Under Training Vendors, the Online Consulting, Inc. under Training Vendors, which is just one component of 251 --
I'm very confused. How does that pay for educational services for anybody?
There are different types of training. They're in the two pools.
Well, apparently there are, when you refer to, what number was that, for over a million dollars?
No. That's total professional services. When you go into the details, the supporting details, one 114 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. item under 251 is Training Vendors. There are two amounts, 10,000 and 30,855.
I'm sorry. That's as clear as blue mud to me. I just cannot understand --
-- how you're actually deciphering all of these figures. Somehow or other you're going to have to break that down for us.
Councilman Clarke. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I cut you off, Councilman?
That's okay. So I wanted to ask you about . There's a line item under -- we 115 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. have a couple 251's, but the first 251, you have a line for IT Security Consulting of $190,000.
Which appeared not to exist in Fiscal '05 or Fiscal '06.
That is part of the cost to help us set up the IT security program and office that we have submitted for approval.
Well, it's to be determined. We'll issue a request for proposal, as required under the new legislation.
As we put the program together, we looked at what we 116 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. thought the consulting costs would be and this is our estimate of that. You gather that by talking to multiple companies in this field.
One wireless question, and I apologize for the redundancy. I think Councilwoman Reynolds Brown may have asked you about the wireless contract.
I did not hear the answer, and I apologize. When do you anticipate that contract coming over?
It should be transmitted shortly, either this week or next week.
Yes. Well, the final sign-off is waiting and will come 117 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. with the transmittal.
Ten-year with two fives. The legislation you anticipate sending over with the two five-year options, they would be approved if the whole package is approved?
The Street Light Use Agreement includes the ten-year, and I don't recall specifically how the two five-year options are listed in that agreement.
So you don't know whether you'd have to come back for further approval for any of the --
I'd need to verify 118 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. that. That contract was worked through the Law Department.
All right. So you said you think it's coming over in a week or so?
Okay. Lastly, with regard to Mr. Dean, is it true that he is the integrity officer for MOIS?
That was an interim six-month -- my director of IT operations passed away, and until such time as we hired the new IT operations director, that is a part of that position. Mr. Dean was in there for approximately six months.
Applies the City policies and works with issues that come 119 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. up within the Department.
You have to admit that's kind of funny, don't you? You had trouble holding that one back, didn't you? Yeah. I won't even say anything about that one. Applies the City policies. Okay. And what else?
And works with the appropriate departments on issues to be resolved, and he interfaces with staff.
Okay. With regard to wireless, how much have we spent so far on getting wireless to the point of being, I guess, a week or two away from a contract being sent over to City Council?
No. That was an economic stimulus loan from PIDC. 120 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC.
Is it possible that that could be converted to a grant?
I don't know, sir. I'd have to check on that. Wireless Philadelphia's intention is to repay the loan.
I'm sorry. What was the figure that was given to us as to what has been spent to date? 121 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC.
We were disputing up here what we heard. Thank you.
Okay. Ms. Neff, thank you very much. It's been enlightening. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon. I just have a couple of quick operational questions. How many departments utilize online services for payment?
We have, I believe, six different departments that have different forms of online payment capabilities, whether it's police accident reports, taxes, permits, records. 122 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC.
When the decision was made to -- and I don't know if it was done all at once or if it was incrementally done -- to shift these services over to online services, was it done because the technology was available or was it done to reduce the cost of government, or was it a combination of those things?
It was a combination. There was quite a bit of study, about months, where we looked 14 at the technologies, we looked at the 15 potential interest, and we did a 16 return-on-investment analysis. We 17 received a productivity bank loan. To 18 date, we've had over 65,000 people use the system and over $8 million in revenue has been collected.
That's a part of my next question. So the portion of this decision that related to reducing the cost of government, do you know how much we save? I'm assuming this has 123 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. reduction of personnel so we don't have to have cashiers and people down in MSB.
The intent was never to replace people with this, because we still offer people that can come in and pay at the counters that can mail their bills in, and so this really was an enhancement and an opportunity for people to be able to pay online, which has been a part of Mayor Street's Electronic Government Initiative since he came into office.
It really is revenue enhancement, and anecdotally, we have heard from the departments that this has provided an opportunity for people not to go into default, because on the 89th day, they can go online, make a credit card payment. And so it really has been a benefit in revenue to us.
So it 124 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. really hasn't reduced the cost of government. The first question I asked you, I wanted to know was it a combination of these things, and you said yes. And my understanding, that a part of that was reducing the cost of government because you would not have to have as many cashiers to service people, and now you're saying that was not the case, it was not a component of this decision?
We certainly looked at that, and it's cost avoidance, not having to add additional, being able to collect those revenues. But until a city goes completely electronic, there would be no way to eliminate. Now, you may not have to replace, but I can't give you specifics on that. I certainly can share what the original analysis was.
I just think I remember having that discussion in one of your earlier budget hearings. So this is essentially a revenue 125 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. enhancement program, to some degree?
The fees vary by the type of transaction. I can get you a fee chart, whether it's a water bill or it's an accident report.
It's a very specific routine. I just can't enumerate that to you, but I'm more than happy to get you our rates and fees on this.
Okay. Can you tell me what it's based on? I'm assuming different departments may have different needs. Is it based on that particular department in terms of the fee structure or does your department 126 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. determine the fee structure? How does that work?
No. It's a coordinated program. We just implement it. The department that's the owner of that has the fee schedules, whether that's per report or per page or a dollar based like on the water bill, and then there are caps and routines. It's very complicated, but I'm happy to get a copy and share it with you.
I'm just interested, because I actually do get some complaints. Actually, we've been doing some forums out in the neighborhoods, and I was actually encouraging people to make payments online as a part of the presentation because we thought it was actually reducing the cost of government, because it was my understanding that we didn't have to have as many people working in the basement of MSB.
There is a cost 127 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. avoidance element in there.
All right. In terms of our libraries, can an individual go to a library, Philadelphia Free Library, and make a payment from the computer in the library?
Just no matter where you make your payment from, there is a fee. There's a transaction fee and a user fee, I believe.
So it's the same fee if it's in someone's home or it's at a municipally owned computer system?
It's the cost of that electronic transaction and repaying the productivity bank loan. And there is some legislation in regards to credit 128 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. card fees and whether the City can pay for that. You have to be able to collect that.
So there's no way to -- and I don't know. There may be a way. Is there a way that if you use a municipally owned computer system and you want to make a payment, that that fee structure couldn't be different than a person who has a personal --
Not just for the credit card. I'm assuming we're collecting fees separate and aside of the credit card fee.
The fees are to cover that credit card percentage that they charge.
And the payment for initiating the system itself has to be repaid, and so that's what the costs 129 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. are --
But do we have the wherewithal to eliminate that fee if you use a municipally owned computer system? The credit card is what it is. There's a fee associated with the credit card use. But if there is a fee associated with the productivity loan and the City administering the program, is there some ability to have flexibility in determining the fee structure as it relates to that?
Well, because there is no way for us to track whether you're using a municipally owned computer or if you're using a computer, a hand-held device or a computer at your home.
There's no 130 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. way to determine that?
Without adding fairly sophisticated software, which would be quite expensive. And our City policy has not been to track that. It's a privacy issue.
All right. So I have a little better ability to respond when I go out in the neighborhood and people are saying, Why do I have to pay? I'm paying online. Why do I have to pay a fee?
The City could determine to waive all of those fees to make it consistent.
And I, frankly speaking, wasn't able to answer that question.
You're welcome. 131 2/28/06 - WHOLE - BILL 060003, ETC. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.