Item 7 Staff Report Accept Report on Status of Town Internet ConnectionDATE:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE: 10/02/00
ITEM NO.
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
September 28, 2000
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
INTERIM TOWN MANAGER
ACCEPT REPORT ON STATUS OF TOWN INTERNET CONNECTION
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept report on status of Town Internet Connection
BACKGROUND:
1
On September 18, 2000, a member of the community expressed concern regarding the excessive amount of downtime
on the Library's Internet computers. Presently, the Library and some Town staff are connected to the Internet through
a wireless radio antenna donated by Steve Wozniak. This connection enables the Town to have a T1 (high speed)
connection to Mr. Wozniak's network and thus to his Internet Service Provider.
Presently, the Town has six library computers for public use and numerous Town staff computers connected to this
network. The Library's six computers are used heavily by the public. In February 2001, the library will upgrade its
computer system and the number of public Internet computers will increase to 22. Reference Librarians routinely use
the Internet to answer questions for the public. Town staff use has increased as well, particularly with the expansion
and update of the Town's government website. As a result of this increased usage, the impact of the system being down
is significant.
DISCUSSION:
The reasons for the Internet downtime vary, but often the problem occurs in route outside the Town's control and at
locations where there is no staff present to correct the problem. Since the Town has no control of the network, staff
decided to monitor the connection to determine the actual versus perceived downtime.
Since February of this year, the Town's Management of Information Systems (MIS) Manager has determined that for
the past eight months, we have experienced 92.5% uptime and 7.5% downtime and that the speed varies, with an average
between 200-400 kbps (kilobytes per second), rather than the 1.5 mbps (megabytes per second) expected with a T1
connection. The 7.5% downtime is high enough to cause complaints from the public who have come to rely upon and
expect that the service will be available. Another relevant factor is that the length of the downtime is sometimes quite
long. Some outages have lasted for five days.
As a result of this evaluation, staff has moved forward with obtaining a dedicated DSL Internet connection for the Town
which has a guaranteed 1.5 mbps speed for $6,000 per year. The installation will occur before the end of October and
will include the Library Internet computers.
i
PREPARED BY: Gloria Grimes, Library Director �ti_� 9rvin#..i Jim Piper, Assistant Town Mange
Reviewed by: Ok Attorney Finance Revised: 9/28/00 1:06 u
Reformatted: 10/23/95
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: TOWN INTERNET CONNECTION
(10/02/00)
CONCLUSION:
Staff should proceed with installation of a dedicated DSL Internet connection for the Town.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS:
Is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The adopted Fiscal Year 2000-01 Operating Budget has sufficient funds available in the Management Information
System Internal Service Fund to cover this expense.
Attachments: None
Distribution: None
Town Council Minutes October 2, 2000
Redevelopment Agency Los Gatos, California
COUNCIL CALENDAR OF MEETINGS/OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2000 (02.10)
Informational item presenting future Town Meetings for Council and other Town Boards and
Commissions for October -November 2000, was received and filed.
RATIFICATION OF PAYROLL/SEPTEMBER 2000 (03.V)
Motion by Mr. Pirzynski, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council ratify the check registers for the
payroll of September 3 through September 16, 2000 paid on September 22, 2000, in the amount of
$455,736.18. Carried unanimously.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/RATIFICATION/SEPTEMBER 2000 (04.V)
Motion by Mr. Pirzynski, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council ratify the accompanying check
registers for accounts payable invoices paid on September 15 and September 22, 2000 in the amount of
$305,635.67. Carried unanimously.
MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2000 (05A.V)
Motion by Mr. Pirzynski, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council approve the Minutes of September
11, 2000 as submitted. Carried unanimously.
MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2000 (05B.V)
Motion by Mr. Pirzynski, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council approve the Minutes of September
18, 2000 as submitted. Carried unanimously.
CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT EQUIPMENT PROGRAM/CLEEP (06.36)
Motion by Mr. Pirzynski, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council authorize the Town Manager to
accept funds from the State of California allocated to the Town of Los Gatos and the share allocated to
the City of Monte Sereno and authorize an increase in the Police Department budget in the amount of
$211,726 to purchase automated external defibrillators (AED'S), and mobile data computers and related
software for use in each police patrol vehicle. Carried unanimously.
TOWN INTERNET CONNECTION (07.42)
Motion by Mr. Pirzynski, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council accept report on status of the Town
Internet Connection. Carried unanimously.
SHANNON ROAD 14411/EQUESTRIAN FACILITY/RESOLUTION 2000-116 (08.15)
Motion by Mr. Pirzynski, seconded by Mr. Attaway, that Council adopt Resolution 2000-116 entitled,
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS GRANTING THE APPEAL OF A
PLANNING COMMISSION DECISION APPROVING A REQUEST TO DEMOLISH A PRE-
1941 RESIDENCE AND TO CONSTRUCT A NEW RESIDENCE AND A CARETAKERS UNIT
FOR A HORSE BOARDING AND TRAINING FACILITY ON PROPERTY ZONED HR-5.
Carried unanimously.
TC: D 10: MM 100200 3