HomeMy WebLinkAbout19 REVIEW PURCHASE OF IPAD TABLET COMPUTERS• Agenda Item 19
,_~ AGENDA REPORT Re~,eWed:
~, City Manager
Finance Director ,~ ~r
MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 7, 2010
TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: PAMELA ARENDS-KING, FINANCE DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: REVIEW THE PURCHASE OF IPAD TABLET COMPUTERS
SUMMARY:
At the City Council's August 3~d meeting, Council directed staff to review the feasibility of
a paperless option for the City Council.
RECOMMENDATION:
Pleasure of the City Council
FISCAL IMPACT:
Should the City Council move forward with the purchase of five (5) Apple iPad tablet
computers (model MC496LUA) with AppleCare protection plans, the cost would be
approximately $5,000. Additionally, the City Council will need to decide on who shall be
responsible for the costs of additional optional equipments for the tablet computers, i.e.
carrying case, accessories, 3G data plans, and etc.
The Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget does not include provisions for these computers.
Therefore a supplemental budget appropriation from unappropriated reserves would be
required.
BACKGROUND:
At the City Council's August 3~d meeting, Council directed staff to review the feasibility of
a paperless option for the City Council. The acquisition of a tablet computer, Apple
iPad, would allow the City Council to review agenda reports and minutes in a digital
format that would eliminate the need to produce paper agenda reports.
Staff evaluated various devices from eBook readers to laptops for an easy user-friendly
device that allows for electronic agenda review and access to emails. In this regard, the
Apple iPad was the device that met all these criteria. Additionally, the Apple iPad is
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able to integrate with the City's Microsoft Exchange email server to provide off-site
access to emails and calendar options.
The Apple iPad offers a wide variety of storage capabilities that would allow for the
storage and retrieval of agenda reports (including maps, plans, drawings, and other
supporting documentations) and minutes. The Apple iPad also offers a Wi-Fi and 3G
connectivity, which allows for access to agenda reports from virtually any location. The
Apple iPad model MC496LL/A is equipped with 32GB (gigabytes) of storage with Wi-Fi
and 3G connectivity options.
r ~ ~
Pamela Arends-King
Finance Director