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- . . . . - Colima officials would love to have some Redwood City students attend their soccer camp. She said the possibilities for cultural and business exchanges are endless. - Mayor Howard said she was so proud of the Redwood City delegation and what they brought to the experience. She thanked the following people for their efforts in making this Sister City relationship happen, most of whom traveled to Colima to witness the signing of the treaty: Georgi La Berge, Dani Gasparini Devincenzi, Pete and Paula Uccelli, Pat Valentine, Lewis Miller, Jennifer Kuhn, Ed Everett, Carlos Bolanos, Maria Rivera-Pena, Speer and Shirley McClelland, Joan Jordan, Ruth Waters, Bert Peralta, Julie Reite, Maria Laval and Magda Gonzalez. Mayor Howard described the beautiful rendering of Redwood City created by Speer McClelland, which was presented to the Mayor of Colima. She said the Mayor was very moved by the gift and said it would be hung in Colima's City Hall. She said Speer was planning to replicate the rendering and it would grace Redwood City's City Hall. Mayor Howard said the whole trip was a rewarding experience, and she looked forward to working with the City and State of Colima and the Port of Manzanillo. Council Member Hartnett thanked Mayor Howard for her leadership on the delegation's trip to Colima, and for being such an outstanding representative of Redwood City. MEMO 3/17/98 -------------______n________----_n______--------------------------______n______------------------------------------------- - 8. STAFF REPORTS A. Consulting services for acquisition of new financial software at a cost not to exceed $66,705. (304) REPORT: Director of Finance and Financial Planning, March 16, 1998 Finance Director Ponty said staff was recommending that Council authorize hiring "The Warner Group to assist us in beginning the process that will result in replacing our financial software system which was installed in 1981." Director Ponty described Council's previous actions authorizing staff to engage a consultant to conduct an evaluation of the City's financial software and provide a recommendation. He said the consultant has advised that the City should replace the system, based on specific and technical items outlined in the Council report. Director Ponty said the IT Division has only four programmers, two of which are paid for by outside agencies. He said it is becoming very difficult in this hot market to recruit and keep technology professionals, and in the past year, two have left to take higher paying jobs in private industry. Director Ponty said with new financial software there will be s9me new operating efficiencies, but "a new system will not allow us to reduce staff or save money. The issue is really one of keeping a mission critical piece of the organization's business and - technology infrastructure stable. After almost 17 years of writing code on top of a single REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 MARCH 16, 1998 MINUTES Page No. 335 PAGE 17