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Public Safety Commission hears Y2K emergency plan
By Leigh Ann Maze
The city of Saratoga is ready for the fast-approaching millennium, according to Chris Korn, city staff liaison to the Public Safety Commission.
At the commission's meeting Nov. 10, Korn announced that all old, noncompliant machines in City Hall have been replaced with Y2K-compliant ones, ensuring that the city will remain operational when the New Year rings in. The City Council in March set aside $25,000 to seek solutions to potential problems from Y2K bugs in the city's computer systems.
The city's Y2K task force, assembled by City Manager Larry Perlin, has met regularly since the spring to tackle Y2K problems. The task force has formed an emergency operators plan so that key city employees will be prepared to respond in case of a Y2K emergency, Korn said.
Although most experts indicate that the possibility of computer failures still exists, any problems would likely be minor.
Nonetheless, the city wants its emergency operators' plan team prepared. A Y2K emergency plan drill is scheduled for the city offices on Dec. 2. City employees will practice responding to hypothetical emergencies, such as power outages, dead phone lines and other utility disruptions, Korn said.
Saratoga Fire Chief Ernie Kraule said the fire department is Y2K-compliant and will be on full alert on Dec. 31, as will other public safety agencies, including the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department. "We feel pretty comfortable at this point, and we're not anticipating any major problems," Kraule said.
City and emergency officials answered many of the town's Y2K questions and concerns during a forum on Oct. 28 at the Saratoga Community Center.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
