IT is organized into six work groups, including: 1) Administration, 2) Geographic Information Systems, 3) Help Desk/Print Shop, 4) Network /Telecommunications, 5) Application Development, and 6) Application Support.

Through these work groups IT provides computerization, telephony, a web presence for all departments and other entities, collaboration with the IT Advisory Board, assistance to all City staff with technology concerns, and a liaison to Sedgwick County IT.

IT supports over 2,600 internal users of 20+ major systems at 70+ City facilities. These systems permit and expand the citizen service capabilities of all City departments.

System access is available 24 hours a day through over 2,000+ personal computers (PCs). Telecommunications services are provided through more than 2,100 telephone lines, 1,300 telephone instruments, and 160+ pagers & advanced wireless devices to City staff.
Systems supported by IT include: Internet applications, Police, Fire, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), document management/imaging, office automation (including electronic mail and Microsoft Office productivity software), water billing, permitting (Central Inspection), park and recreation registration, human resources, finance, wireless devices, Fleet management, asset management and telecommunications, including long-distance service, pagers and voice mail.

IT was organized as separate City department in 2005. Previously it had been a division of the Finance Department. Oversight of IT is provided by the IT Advisory Board. One of the Assistant City Managers chairs the IT Advisory Board which also includes several department directors. The Board is charged with establishing and maintaining strategies that maximize the use of technology at a reasonable cost to the organization.

The IT Department operates on a charge for service basis, separate from the General Fund, much like a private business. Other departments are charged a fee from a catalogue of available services.  Service charges and staffing levels increase only with added or expanded service provisions.  Rates are examined annually. This market model is called an internal service fund. This promotes efficiency by:

1. Making agencies pay the costs associated with providing the services.
2. Insuring that consumers of IT goods/services will think critically about whether or not their business case justifies the expense.
3. Ensures activities are managed in a businesslike manner. It allows departments to scrutinize IT services for cost and quality. Each service comes at a predefined cost. Departments can weigh whether the value of that service is greater than the cost. Does the service have a positive return on investment (ROI)? If the ROI does not support the purchase, IT loses customers, which encourages keeping costs as low as possible.
   

Back to Top