Mayor’s Column

John J. Collins

Several residents have asked me and other council members about the

city’s readiness for the Y2K problem. The main concern, of course, is

whether the “Y2K Bug” will cause a disruption in city services.

I know that some folks don’t fully understand the Y2K problem. Before I

discuss the city’s readiness, I think it’s appropriate to give an

overview of the Y2K problem and the reason it causes such concern.

The issue has to do with the way computers read dates. In the 50s and

60s, when computers first began to be used for business, memory storage

was very expensive.

Programmers were interested in saving as much space as possible, so they

used lots of abbreviations. Computers were designed to read the year by

using only the last two digits, such as 62 for 1962.

Computers were programmed to “understand” that the first two digits were

19. This worked fine, and projections were that many of these computers

would be replaced as years went by. However, many of these outdated

systems are still sound. In a few months, computers will read the year

2000 as “00.” If the computer reads the “00” as 1900, it may become

confused and stop working.

Like most businesses, the city prepared a game plan to ensure it would be

Y2K compliant. Like few other businesses, we have little or no margin for

error because we provide life-critical products, such as water, and

important public safety services, police and fire protection.

The city council’s Y2K goals are to eliminate any potential failure

points before problems arise and to provide uninterrupted city services.

Over the last two years, the city council and the city’s executive team

have worked to address potential Y2K computer problems.

To ensure there will be no computer system or infrastructure problems in

our city, problems have been examined that may originate with outside

suppliers, a comprehensive review and assessment of the city’s Y2K

readiness has been completed, and contingency plans have been developed

to help avoid any Year 2000 problems. The city continues, however, to

reach out in dialogue with experts, citizens, customers and suppliers.

As mayor, I am pleased to announce that Y2K problem areas have been

addressed and remedied or will be remedied before the new year.

Like all organizations, however, Fountain Valley receives some vital

services from outside providers. Since identifying its most crucial

vendors and suppliers, the city has obtained many agencies’ Y2K-readiness

statements and urged others to identify how the city’s needs will be met

and what, if any, alternatives are in place.

Likewise, when external organizations inquire about the city’s Y2K

readiness, a compliance statement is forwarded.

Fountain Valley expects all internal systems and business processes

identified in the Year 2000 Project Plan will be ready by Nov. 1, and

will operate smoothly for the millennium transition. Our city is

committed to providing its citizens with fire and police protection,

traffic maintenance, water use, and other city services without

interruption ... well into the new millennium.

John J. Collins is mayor of Fountain Valley