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COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Nebraska Information Technology Commission
Friday, June 1, 2001, 1:30 p.m.
State Office Building, Conference Room 6Z, 301 Centennial Mall, South
Lincoln, Nebraska

MINUTES

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Len Benson, Health (via phone bridge)
Bruce Thiel, Health
Ron Heezen, Libraries
Michael Nolan, Local Government
Jeanne Saathoff, Libraries (via phone bridge)
Craig Schroeder, Resource
Bob Sweeney, Business
Jim Lowe, Agriculture
Ted Schultz, Health
Lance Hedquist, Local Government (via phone bridge)

MEMBERS ABSENT:
Chris Anderson, Local Government; Anne Boyle, Resource; Gary Warren, Resource; Gerry Kluck, Agriculture; Ted Smith, Libraries

OTHERS PRESENT:
Michael Winkle, NITC Executive Director; Anne Byers, NITC Community Council IT Manager; and Lori Lopez Urdiales, NITC Administrative Assistant.

ROLL CALL, INTRODUCTIONS, NOTICE OF POSTING OF AGENDA

Co-chair, Craig Schroeder, called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. Roll call was taken. Nine members were present at the time of roll call. A quorum existed to conduct official business. There were no agenda changes or additions.

APPROVAL OF MAY 4, 2001 MINUTES

Mr. Hedquist moved to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Heezen seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion was carried by voice vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

APPROVAL OF ACTION PLANS (PDF 13k)
Anne Byers, Community Information Technology Manager

Changes were suggested to the two of the bullet point under the action plan addressing local government I.T. needs.

The third bullet was revised to read:

"Identifying the implications of LB 827 and developing information resources to help local governments utilize the tools this bill offers communities."

The fourth bullet was revised to read:

"Developing local government policies and procedures that would

  • Reduce duplication of effort
  • Ensure appropriate compatibility of equipment and software both within a political jurisdiction and between other jurisdictions."
  • Establish adequate and meaningful planning, and
  • Establish uniform public policies and procedures which promote uniformity, resource sharing, standards and guidelines, support services, training, and cooperative development of geographic information systems.

Mr. Schultz moved to approve the Community Council Action Plan with the recommended changes. Mr. Thiel seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Benson-Yes, Sweeney-Yes, Schultz-Yes, Schroeder-Yes, Saathoff-Yes, Lowe-Yes, Heezen-Yes, Hedquist-Yes, and Thiel-Yes. Motion was carried by majority vote.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP AND PARTICIPATION IN SUBCOMMITTEE (PDF 7k)
Anne Byers, Community Information Technology Manager

Ms. Byers proposed a change in the membership make-up that would include sector representation and the formation of subcommittees in the following areas: Rural and Community IT Development (7); Local Government which would include Libraries (7); Telehealth (7); and an At-Large (1). Another proposed change was for the Council to meet quarterly with the subcommittees meeting more regularly to work on action items. Discussion and questions followed.

Mr. Nolan arrived at 1:57 p.m.

Mr. Heezen moved to approve the change in the Community Council membership, participation in subcommittees and meeting frequency. Mr. Hedquist seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Thiel-Yes, Hedquist-Yes, Heezen-Yes, Lowe-Yes, Nolan-Yes, Saathoff-Yes, Schroeder-Yes, Schultz-Yes, Sweeney-Yes, and Benson-Yes. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.

APPROVAL OF REVISED COMMUNITY COUNCIL CHARTER (PDF 21k)
Anne Byers, Community Information Technology Manager

With approved change in membership make-up and meeting frequency, the charter will be updated accordingly. The Council made the following changes and/or additions:

  • 6.1 Number of Members. Instead of a specific number, changed it to read “up to 24 members or a minimum of 18 members”.
  • 6.2 Sector Representation. Instead of exact numbers include a sentence about maintaining a balance in representation. Change “Local Government” to read “Local Government and Libraries”. Also include "others" as a sector.

Ms. Byers will work on rewording the document.

Mr. Heezen moved to approve the revised Community Council Charter with the recommended changes. Mr. Sweeney seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lowe-Yes, Heezen-Yes, Hedquist-Yes, Thiel-Yes, Benson-Yes, Sweeney-Yes, Schultz-Yes, Schroeder-Yes, Saathoff-Yes, and Nolan-Yes. The motion was carried by unanimous vote.

UPDATE – RURAL AND COMMUNITY IT DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE (PDF 11k)
Anne Byers, Community Information Technology Manager

The Committee met a couple of weeks ago with representatives from the congressional offices, Public Service Commission, Department of Economic Development, University of Nebraska, League of Municipalities and NACO. A joint meeting with NIDCAC is schedule for June 15th. Mr. Byers will let members know the specifics.

UPDATE – LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUBCOMMITTEE (PDF 10k)

Ms. Byers has been in contact with Ron Bowmaster regarding NIDCAC (Nebraska Intergovernmental Data Communication Advisory Council) and possible collaboration efforts.

UPDATE – TELEHEALTH (PDF 9k)

Ms. Byers has been working with Denny Berens, Health and Human Services Systems Rural Health Division, on the Telehealth charter.

Ms. Byers announced Mr. Winkle’s resignation as the NITC Executive Director. Mr. Winkle shared some departing comments and Council members shared their thanks and comments.

TARGET INDUSTRY STUDY
Jack Ruff, Department of Economic Development

Mr. Ruff provide a PowerPoint presentation that can be viewed in it’s entirety at http://www.neded.org/summary.pdf (or click on the link above). The study was conducted by Deloitte & Touche Fantus.

Key findings from the study include:

  • The target industries that seem to be frontrunners at this point are value-added agriculture, biotechnology and electronics.
    - Additional research needs to be conducted to identify specific target industries for each region in the state.
  • White papers were written on the following issues:
    – Youth Retention. Many of the creative minds and risk takers are leaving the state.
    – Encouraging entrepreneurship.
    • The existing network of support services, financing, and incentives to assist with the generation of new entrepreneurial businesses is limited.
    • The state was established by entrepreneurs who started farms and businesses. Now people see opportunities elsewhere.

Mr. Ruff entertained questions and comments.

NEXT MEETING DATES AND LOCATIONS AND ADJOURNMENT

The next meeting of the NITC Community Council was tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 21, 2001, 1:30-3:30 p.m. The meeting has since been scheduled for Friday, September 28, 9:30-12:00.

Mr. Schroeder adjourned the meeting at 3:35 p.m.

Meeting Minutes

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