Washington Report Archives

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
National Community Development Association
Minutes
June 3, 1999

Steve Gartrell, Chair

Newton, MAsgartrell@ci.newton.ma.us

Greg Hoover, Vice-Chair

Davenport, IAghoove@netexpress.net

Vicki Covey

Amarillo, TXvcovey@ci.amarillo.tx.us

Barbara Ross

Denton, TXblross@cityofdenton.com

Rita Pribyl

Davenport, IArpribyl@netexpress.net

Peter Garbati

Malden, MAredauth@aol.com

Jacqueline Howell

Monroe, LAcodol@monroe.la.us

Gracie Hall

Monroe, LAcddo4@monroe.la.us

Mattie A. Morebund

Monroe, LAcddo5@monroe.la.us

Luisa Rodrigues Garcia

Denton, TXlrgarcia@cityofdenton.com

Carol Poe-Harris

Blum, ALcppoeharris@aol.com

Linda Parris

Blum, AL

Phyllis Brown

Lubbock, TX

Ken Brunsvold

Minneapolis, MNkenneth.brunsvold@ci.minneapolis.mn.us

Mark Merlino

Providence, RImark_merlin@ids.net

Gail M. Lewis

Brookline, MAgale_lewis@brookline.mec.edu

Brenda Richard Montgomery

Jefferson Parish, LA

1. Website

  • Usage continues to increase. Online forum is most popular, with Washington Reports e-mail address list, and special news flashes receiving heavy use.

  • Yellow Pages needs outreach. Need more listings to reach a critical mass of effectiveness. Need to re-examine rate structure for large listings. Our fees are too low for some potential large listers, such as banks.

  • Use of Credit Cards - Chandra investigated the level of charges needed, about $10,000 per year, which is way more than we expect to be able to do at this time. Would need people to pay dues, as well as conference fees, online to reach. Too few cities have the capability of paying with credit cards. We will monitor the situation.

  • Online distribution of Washington Report and Most Other NCDF Documents to start on July 1st. Those choosing to continue to receive hard copies will be charged $250 additional per year. This will be indicated on dues notices to be mailed out soon.

We expect to have documents downloadable in PDF format and possibly Word format as well as on Webpage. All attachments will be included.

John noted at the board meeting that people should be aware that while the Washington Report is usually printed every two weeks, it is actually on a variable schedule depending on news availability. For example, it isn't put out during long Congressional recesses.

2. E-mail List

  • All postings to the Webpage - Washington Report, Newsflashes, etc., should be accompanied by an e-mail notice to the memberlist. Time sensitive newsflashes especially are not useful if no-one knows they're there, most people don't check into the webpage that often. In fact, important messages like newsflashes should be sent out to list as well as posted on the webpage.

3. Technology Education

As usually happens, we couldn't get the technology to work so weren't able to offer this. But we will make sure it works at the January meeting.

4. Recommendations

  • To encourage use of email by members:
  • NCDA should ask for the email address on all application forms, whether for membership or conference.
  • NCDA should include people's email addresses on all listings including the attendance list at conferences and the next published memberlist.
  • Members should be encouraged to post messages to email list as well as the forum and staff should monitor the list and respond when appropriate.

5. IDIS/DGMS Update

  • For those not in attendance at IDIS/DGMS (Dept Grant Management System) unlike HUD folks at Consolidated Plan Meeting - IDIS folks are listening to us.

DGMS

  • Going online 7/2000 - all over in 18 months 2 ½ years from now
  • Available 24/7

  • Will be put in place only after field testing with pilot grantees

  • A lot of good things
  • Internet based
  • Accrual function
  • Use latest technology
  • Change over from IDIS - should be intuitive should not need manual
  • Training for regions - everyone online within two weeks

Reports

  • HUD will be asking us which we want, but they will have simple design for your own needs.

IDIS

HUD will continue to fix problems since we'll be using up to 2 ½ years from now.

  • Internet availability by December
  • HUD will be sending out notice to mayors that you will need internet access
  • IDIS will have accrual accounting soon
  • Working on voucher totals
  • NCDA will continue to be a part of HUD working group on IDIS/DGMS
  • Finally - software demonstration - may be useable to some cities that don't have techies on their staff who can download and manipulate IDIS reports or databases. This will likely become obsolete when DGMS is implemented.

Respectfully submitted,

Steve Gartrell

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