Thread by @Toon_Dreessen

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West This is complex. I’ll try to answer, and take this from my perspective w/the challenges I see. This is, some some greater or lesser degree and repeat of the many things I’ve said over the years. 1/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West To begin, infrastructure projects are hugely complex to finance and approve. Often they’re approved based on a budget that everyone knows is never going to happen but is the budget that CAN be approved. Months/years later, revised budgets get submitted and at point, too late 2/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West The public is excited, or other partners are on board, so City can’t pull out, or decisions are made based on this project that then drive others. So officials get resentful of the “supposed” budget overages that are blamed on the consultant. Really, fixing this is easy 3/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West If we reformed #procurement such as the @FCM_online infraguide suggests: if city says we have a budget of $50m a library, and want LEED silver, (barely better than code min), then instead of bidding that, and knowing it will change, have a transparent discussion or 4/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online Design competition to see what you can get for that. Or, like Calgary did, a competition with clear goals, and then budget it afterwards to get the result we want, at a price we know up front. 5/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online Then there’s the problem of “shovel ready” projects; consultants need to be hired up front to get studies and reports ready so that they are shovel ready when funding is announced. That can take years. By the time the $ is there, the report might be so old it no longer applies 6/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online Or the report is wrong to begin with, bc the wrong consultant was hired for the report, did a poor job, that the second consultant is told to rely on, and it all goes wrong. Solution? Hire better, (reform #procurement) and have continuity 7/ bit.ly/3bh3NT3

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online Then there’s design leadership. After the airport bridge fiasco, largely led by poor PM on the part of the city staff involved, city is reluctant to do any sort of creative innovative pedestrian bridge. Flora was an exception and even that has stories. Highway crossings? 8/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online Don’t make me laugh, they are of a singular design and (to be fair, City has little influence) but pedestrian crossings (harmer etc) could be interesting but won’t be bc city is so worried about risk that it’s comfort level is in “basics, just a plank across the road” 9/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online (Quoting one leader who shall remain nameless). It takes design leadership to do better, push consultants and advocate for design excellence. That’s a theme in the new OP but who’s going to push for it? /10 bit.ly/2Pw3Y41

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online It’s also a position of accountability: if I, as an architect, was months behind schedule and the moment a building opened it was rife with problems, my client (city) would be on my case. Why do we not hold same accountability for roads? Sidewalks? 11/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online If want things to be durable, we have to invest in design. This sidewalk is 5 years old and failing. Pad was placed for a bus shelter that never showed up, massive breaks in road right at a bus stop. 5 years old. 12/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online What if we change our perspective and build for 7 generations? Plan infrastructure as social infrastructure, designed to last, uplift the human spirit and create lasting value? 12/ building.ca/feature/archit…

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online What if we funded infrastructure in a way that allows for public engagement, design quality and social benefits? What if we reformed #procurement so that marginalized voices were heard and could play a role? Or create a community? In short 13/

@daveyslimmon @ottawacity @Wellington_West @FCM_online If we want better outcomes, we need to reform our approach. It starts with the concept, design, management and approach. Reform #procurement