Skip Main Navigation
Official Nebraska Government Website
NITC Logo
Skip Side Navigation

Information Resources Cabinet
(aka NITC Government Council)

Minutes of May 4, 1998 Meeting

 

IRC Members in Attendance:

Al Abramson, Dept. Of Motor Vehicles
Berri Balka, Dept. Of Revenue
Tom Conroy, DAS-Information Management Services Div.
Allen Curtis, Crime Commission
Dorest Harvey, GDE Systems
Yvonne Norton Leung, Governor's Policy Research Office
William Miller, DAS-Communications Div.
The Honorable Scott Moore, Secretary of State
Gerry Oligmueller, DAS-Budget Div.
Dayle Williamson, Natural Resources Commn.

Others in Attendance:

Rod Armstrong, State Information Technology Coordinator
Howard Boardman, HHSS-Information Systems & Technology
Randy Cecrle, Workers' Compensation Court
Scott Danigole, Legislative Fiscal Office
Keith Dey, Dept. Of Motor Vehicles
Lyn Heaton, DAS-Budget Div.
Steve Henderson, DAS-Information Management Services Div.
Chris Hoy, DAS-Communications Div.
Kris Leininger, Lieutenant Governor's Office
Greg Lemon, Deputy Secretary Of State
Terry Majewski, Game & Parks Commission
Jim McGee, HHSS-Information Systems & Technology
Jim Ohmberger, DAS-Information Management Services Div.
Randy Peters, Dept. Of Roads
R. Tony Peters, Dept. Of Water Resources
Joyce Pope, DAS-Transportation Services Bureau
J.L. Schmitt, Dept. Of Administrative Services (voting for Karen)

The Information Resources Cabinet meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. on May 4, 1998, by Yvonne Norton Leung, Chair. Meeting was held in the lower level conference room of the Executive Building. A quorum was present.

BRIEFINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT

NITC Community Council

Chris Hoy, Chair of the Community Council, explained that the Council has been charged to improve the communications between citizens and the government and to help define the appropriate role of the public sector in supporting community IT efforts. Four projects have been selected by the Council and approved by the NITC: (1) a statewide clearinghouse; (2) a statewide program for citizen teleliteracy; (3) an effort to catalyze the creation of a non-profit to deliver IT education to businesses, economic developers, and other IT users who live outstate; and (4) a tool to assist municipalities to determine their future bandwidth needs. The Council is exploring additional projects: (1) a telemedicine strategy, and (2) a research project to review the status and competitiveness of Nebraska's e-commerce policies relative to nearby states.

REGULAR REPORTS, DISCUSSIONS & ACTIONS

Re-adoption of Enterprise Goals

Bill Miller reviewed the three Enterprise Goals that the Information Resources Cabinet adopted on December 31, 1996. Miller asked if additional enterprise goals should be added, as the same are incorporated into the State Agency Information Management & Technology Plan Instructions, in Section 2. Discussion followed. Goal #2 was modified, Goals #4-6 were added.

1. Accountability--Measuring performance against an agreed-upon set of standards.

2. Cost-Effectiveness--Producing desired results using available resources.

3. Quality Service--Producing desired results in a manner that meets or exceeds customer expectation.

4. Access--Access to state government records and information for citizens.

5. E-Commerce--Enabling customers to conduct business with state government electronically.

6. Collaborate--Identifying and collaborating with other interested agencies and organizations both public and private.

Dorest Harvey made a motion to accept the above-listed six Enterprise Goals, but stated IRC should continue to review and enhance goals. Bill Miller seconded. Vote taken: Abbott-not present; Abramson-yes; Balka-yes; Conroy-yes; Curtis-yes; Boardman voting for Elliott-yes; Harvey-yes; Kilgarin-yes; Lecuona-not present; Miller-yes; Lemon voting for Moore-yes; Leung-yes; Oligmueller-yes; Schafer-not present; Williamson-yes; Zimmerman-not present. Motion carried.

Technology Planning & Budgeting

Gerry Oligmueller explained that the State Agency Information Management & Technology Plan (IM&T Plan) & Forms have been incorporated into the formal budget process. A short form has been created for agencies with no IT staff. Section 2 of the Plan will be modified to reflect the newly adopted six Enterprise Goals and other sections will be combined (re technology use). A checklist will be provided to agencies to assist staff in determining if their IM&T Plan is complete. Reviewers of plans will use a risk assessment tool and agencies are encouraged to use risk assessment in developing their IT plans.

Agencies can be moving forward with IT projects with existing resources.

Gerry Oligmueller made a motion to approve the modified State Agency Information Management & Technology Plan & Forms. Dayle Williamson seconded. Vote taken: Abbott-not present; Abramson-yes; Balka-yes; Conroy-yes; Curtis-yes; Boardman voting for Elliott-yes; Harvey-yes; Kilgarin-yes; Lecuona-not present; Miller-yes; Lemon voting for Moore-yes; Leung-yes; Oligmueller-yes; Schafer-not present; Williamson-yes; Zimmerman-not present. Motion carried.

Century Date Change

Steve Henderson had no report.

J.L. Schmitt distributed a memorandum outlining additional Century Date Change policy issues (e.g. health care equipment, such as breathing devices, could cease to function in year 2000). Schmitt should be contacted with any feedback.

Government Online

Yvonne Norton Leung reported that this subcommittee has not met since its last report to IRC. Rod Armstrong is working with Sam Somerhalder at Nebraska Online regarding automating state personnel applications, vital statistics requests, etc.

Standards

Jim Ohmberger reported that a state agency IT contact list will be posted on the IRC home page.

State Records Board

The Honorable Scott Moore reported that, according to state statute, rules and regulations concerning Digital Signatures are to be drafted by the end of year. He stated that a small working group will be created to draft same, Nebraska's rules and regulations may be modeled after California's, and a public hearing will be held. The Department of Roads will be included in the work group and any other agency or person interested in serving should contact Secretary of State Moore.

E-Mail Project

Tom Conroy reported on the status of the e-mail implementation project. See timeline table. He also reported that the first IT retraining class will begin in October with a maximum of 15-20 students.

Revised IRC Web Page

Rod Armstrong reported that the current IRC Web Page had been online for a year and it was time for a "new look". He will be posting the revised Web Page and requested members' review and feedback.

Individual Agency Reports

Terry Majewski of Nebraska Game & Parks Commission reported that the Commission had been online since October, 1994. After listening to the IRC reports, he was pleased that the Commission had already accomplished many of these goals. The Commission staff use Internet primarily for internal communication and training with district offices, but have also made considerable advances with e-commerce (i.e., sale/issuance of permits, magazine subscriptions, t-shirt sales, etc.)

Howard Boardman reported that HHSS accepts birth certificate requests via Internet, but the certificates are mailed to requestor because of the necessity of a raised seal on certificate.

The Honorable Scott Moore reported that his office will be providing election results on Election Night, May 12, 1998, via Internet.

Dayle Williamson corrected last month's minutes with the following report: The Nebraska Natural Resources Commission is developing statewide coverages of computerized aerial photography - called Digital Orthographic Quandrangle maps at a scale of 1:12,000 and recompiled soil survey maps called SSURGO Maps. Both coverages are part of the NRC's homepage and are potentially useful to automate and enhance county tax assessment.

Miscellaneous

It was announced that Rod Armstrong has accepted a position with AIM Institute. His last report to the IRC will be at the June 1, 1998 meeting.

Leung inquired whether IRC had developed a policy on appropriate links to web pages. The Honorable Scott Moore volunteered to look at the issue with the Web Page Guidelines Subcommittee.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m.

Minutes taken by Kris Leininger.

meeting minutes