The Information Resources Department develops and maintains an internal network of over 200 desktop workstations, an AS/400 host server and the networking equipment, operating systems and servers to tie them together. An external ATM network running on fiber optic cables at 155 Mb/sec between seven City facilities is implemented as Phase I of the CyberCity Initiative in cooperation with our partner TELUS-TAC, along with high-speed, enterprise-wide Internet access and other dial-in, dial-out and ISDN connections. Additional descriptive information may be found in the Related Links section.
With just over half a dozen staff our department also maintains a suite of financial business systems including water utility billing, tax, assessment, maintenance management, recreation program registration, facilities booking and other systems. We also provide a first-level Help Desk function for assistance to City staff with use of MS Office Professional and related software, including Internet Explorer, Exchange e-mail and other applications.
"Coaching the City of Grande Prairie through the Information Age"
PURPOSE - WHY WE EXIST:
Because quick access to reliable information is essential to performance - a critical factor that ensures effective customer service, good decisions and efficient administrative practices.
Because specialized coordination is required to ensure that the City invests wisely in information technologies, benefits from full utilization and protects investments made in the system.
The Information Resources Department strives for excellence in the following critical areas:
- maintaining and servicing of the 'information infrastructure' to upgrade information systems and hardware, maintain currency, minimize disruption of service and protect the City's investment;
- providing security and 'back up' - protecting the integrity and continuity of City data;
- facilitating 'self reliance' and 'self sufficiency' - helping users develop the skills to effectively employ information technologies within their operations - through training, ongoing coaching and responsive results-oriented problem solving;
- anticipating solutions - to information handling problems, especially where new information technologies can be identified and proposed;
- coordinating access - finding, providing and integrating systems (both hardware and software) that ensure easy, quick and reliable access to information--providing the R&D wing that keeps the City current in Information Technologies; and
- providing advice and consulting assistance during planning - helping users assess their needs, identify relevant solutions and become familiar with applications.