“MARLENE BREENE (incumbent)
”I believe that digitizing is great for improving accessibility of documents. However as anyone with an old computer knows, the technology eventually becomes outdated. Our paper documents are valuable and should be archived for preservation. I would support applying for grants to get this process in gear. So I see a two-pronged approach, digitize for accessibility, and archive for preservation. I had the opportunity to bring a group of architecture students to the PVHA board room to view an original Olmsted drawing with his handwritten notes and overdrawn pencil sketches. To have available the actual paper that he touched with his hand and to see his work in process just gave everyone goose-bumps. It was an inspiring experience.””

“GAYNE BRENNEMAN
”I’m 100% in favor of digitizing all current records, archives, and meetings, going back as far as practical. I would like to see a more user-friendly website where homeowners can easily locate all documents and communications.””

“DICK FAY (incumbent)
”We are working on this now. My understanding is the limitations are time and money. We should continue with the effort. We have a small staff and are trying to keep expenses in check so some desirable projects take longer than we would like.””

“JOHN HARBISON
”There is a very big risk to the community if the PVHA office were damaged by fire – this is quite possible given both the ever-present earthquake and fire risks that are accelerating due to climate change. If the records of previous architectural plans were lost through such an event, it is hard to imagine how PVHA could perform its role adequately. We need to be better prepared. I would support giving priority to scanning all architectural records as well as PVHA correspondence and governance documents and storing these safely in the cloud. It would also be beneficial to include OCR scanning of the governance documents and correspondence to be able to search for precedents. Digitization is mission critical for PVHA, not a ‘nice to have.’””

“L. RIED SCHOTT
”Digitizing records should be a priority for the PVHA. It’s a great service for our current and future residents to have building plans and other documents accessible to them that date back when their property was built. In addition, some of these documents are historical. They simply need to be preserved. This will be an expensive and time consuming process. Plans need to do this will probably need to be made over a period of possibly a few years. A policy to do this should begin with current submittals.
Further, there should be more transparency in providing access to records. For example, in the past the PVHA has restricted member access to financial information and meeting minutes. This is unacceptable.””

“CHARLES TANG (incumbent)
”In this world of digital technology where it is both economically feasible and operationally efficient to have all information digitally archived and readily accessible, I would enthusiastically support digitizing of all records currently kept on paper by the PVHA. I would enlist the assistance of the PVHA staff augmented by community volunteers and interns to scan the volumes of legacy data. In addition, I would explore the feasibility of accepting future submissions such as drawings/blueprints to be made electronically.””