O-2002-2539 - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e CITY OF LA PORTE November 20,2001 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Mayor and City Council ~ Robert T. Herrera, City Manage~1" BEACON Community Network Grant Program (aayshore Equitable Access Community On-line Network) In September of this year, La Porte Independent School District was awarded a $525,000.00 grant from the Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund (TIP) for a community network to be known as BEACON. $25,000.00 is for the planning phase and $500,00.00 will be available upon approval of the community's network plan. City staff has been attending various meetings with Jim Schul, LPISD Executive Director for Technology to discuss the BEACON Grant. The intent of the program is to provide as much computer I Internet access to information for our community as possible, especially, for our underserved populations/areas. Some locations (known as public access points) will be desirable for 24-hour access opportunities. This grant is not specific to LPISD. It is for the entire community. . Mr. Schul is asking the City not only to support the grant program's concept, but also to be an active participant. Also, Mr. Schul would like the City to seriously consider being a participant with TexasOnline (www.texasonline.com). which has the capability to help the City provide services through eGovemment (electronic government). Unfortunately, TIP has accelerated the deadlines for submitting proposed implementation plans. Mr. Schul has established the deadlines below. October - December 2001 December 17, 2001 Planning Meetings All information required for the grant gathered and submitted to the consultant (survey responses, community commitments for access points, etc.). Submit Community Network Plan to TIP. -"':"" .- February 1, 2002 Staffis in the process of gathering additional information and recommending selected City facilities as public access poiJ)ts for a .kiosk and I or personal computer. I have inc1ude'd attachments to update you on this project. Also over the next couple of weeks, the public will be asked to complete a written survey for the BEACON committee to determine and prioritize the community's actual computer I Internet access needs. The survey will be sent to you this week under separate cover. As I receive progress reports on this grant program, I will inform you. c John Joerns Carol Buttler Attachments (3) 1. Minutes from the kick-off meeting - September 26, 2001. 2. Excerpts from PowerPoint Presentations - public -meetings.