Multimedia Zilch

Though a start, such efforts do not account for decades of uncomputerized records, and do not guarantee even recent documents will be computer-accessible any time soon.

The Association of Bay Area Governments hosts Web sites for 16 regional cities. Dan Stone, the group's Web services manager, says posting public documents online is a great idea, but takes significant funding. Despite San Francisco's recent fiscal boom, its Web site has remained "pretty static," Stone says.

The city's computer managers agree the situation is in need of an overhaul. So does a scathing 1996 civil grand jury investigation that concludes the information technology efforts of San Francisco government are "an invitation to mediocrity, at best."

"For decades," the grand jury reported, "information technology has not received high priority attention in the City and County. Cumbersome decision-making processes and lack of vision ... have kept the City and County from implementing technological solutions which could save millions of public dollars, substantially increase levels of service, and open access to City Hall."

In neighboring San Carlos, where Internet information works, Moura says online success requires a citywide commitment.

"For this stuff to really take, you need a champion on both the elected and staff sides to get it moving together," Moura says. At the very least, it's clear San Francisco could use a few more champions on its digital team.