Should City Buy iPads For Mayor, Council Members?

At its meeting Tuesday, the Temple Terrace City Council is scheduled to discuss whether or not to “go paperless.”

According to the meeting agenda, Rita Brizendine, administrative assistant to City Manager Kim Leinbach, will present the benefits of buying fourth generation Apple iPads—the most current version—for Mayor Frank Chillura, each of the five City Council members, Leinbach, City Clerk Lisa Small, and the city’s attorney. They would receive meeting agendas on the devices instead of in 4-inch binders as they currently do.

The measure would cost $4,800 and pay for itself within 14 months, according to a memo from Brizendine to Chillura and the council. Currently, the city spends about $4,400 annually to prepare, print and deliver agenda packets. The 16GB iPads would have 3-4 year life spans.

“Each iPad will only have Wi-Fi capabilities, since free Wi-Fi is available in most locations,” the memo reads. “Incorporating 3G data plans (which also requires more expensive iPads) would negate any savings realized from switching to the devices.”

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast, sign-up here.

The Temple Terrace City Council meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. It will be televised live on Verizon Channel 39 and Bright House Channel 950 and rebroadcast on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays at 2 p.m.

Prior to the City Council meeting, council members will meet in a workshop at 5 p.m. to discuss the hiring of a new city manager.

Click here to see the full agenda for the March 5 City Council meeting.

Click here to see the agenda for the March 5 City Council workshop.