William McDonough is best known it seems for designing the Ford Motor Company’s plant with a vast green grass roof. But in the last ten years, with his book “Cradle to Cradle,” he has, according to Forbes Magazine, “unleashed a design revolution that began examining not just what things look like, but also the chemical makeup of things: water bottles, carpet, countertops.”He believes that “waste can be eliminated by making products that can be either recycled or re-used.”
On the one hand, Time Magazine lauded him in 1999 as a “Hero for the Planet,” crediting his architectural projects with a “utopianism grounded in a unified philosophy that in demonstrable and practical ways is changing the design of the world.”
In 1996, McDonough became the only individual to receive the Presidential Award for Sustainable Development, the nation’s highest environmental honor, presented by President Clinton.
Sometimes his projects have gone horribly wrong, such as his efforts to develop 400 sustainable homes in the rural village of Huangbaiyu in northeast China.
What does all of this have to do with Davis? This week, a newly sworn-in Davis City council will approve a rather modest $15,000 contract with William McDonough + Partners to “develop a visioning process to establish shared principles, goals, and an implementation strategy for long-term economic vitality consistent with the community’s values.”
The city staff report notes, “Interest has been expressed by UC Davis as well as the business community in partnering with the city in funding this initial scope. Based on preliminary discussions, it is anticipated that the city’s share of the contract would be approximately $5,000 with the balance coming from non-city sources.”
The city’s staff report notes recent efforts to engage with the community and private sector business partners to identify and advance strategic initiatives to enhance the local economy. They city the Davis Economic Health and Prosperity Report, DSIDE Community Forum, the Business Park Land Strategy, and UC Davis Request for Concepts.
Writes city staff, “Each of these efforts have touched directly or indirectly on the benefit of having a vision that could help guide the individual and collective goals for economic development in Davis. Most recently, in framing the community outreach process for the CEDS, it became apparent that a well structured and engaging process with the community is needed to establish a shared longterm vision for a sustainable and innovative Davis economy.”
The key here is innovative, because many support economic development in concept but fear losing the unique and progressive nature of this community.
Enter William McDonough and Partners.
“The proposed Vision process with McDonough + Partners will provide an opportunity to think more holistically and deliberately about what we want our economy to look like in the future and what steps need to be taken to ensure we achieve the desired outcomes,” city staff writes.
“This process will seek to bring into alignment the community’s economic development aspirations with its commitment to environmental stewardship,” they continue. “This effort is also timely as the University brings into focus its 2020 Initiative and will provide a venue for identifying opportunities for strategic partnerships that support our shared visions for the future. Community partners, both public and private as well as business and environment, are prepared to support and engage in this important topic.”
“This effort will demonstrate the city’s ability to take a leadership role in bringing these interests together on issues of mutual concern and benefit,” staff writes.
Writes City Staff, “Based on several exploratory conversations with William McDonough + Partners, it was shared that a visioning process for this effort would: facilitate a dialogue between community stakeholders, articulate the shared values in the community and define the guiding Principles to frame action plans to achieve long-term economic vitality in Davis.”
The city envisions three work products to result from this process. First, “a document of Principles and Goals for economic evolution in Davis.” Second, a “roadmap with actionable steps for achieving goals” And finally, communication and visualization tools that will help to articulate these goals, actions, and monitoring efforts.
Writes city staff, “This process would likely consist of five phases of work; Initial Roadmap, Inventory, Definition of Principles and Goals, Opportunity Assessment, and Implementation/Optimization.”
Is William McDonough what Davis needs to innovate and develop its economic base while remaining true to its small, college town and progressive roots? It is an interesting idea and at $15,000, it’s a project modest in scope.
Mr. McDonough has his critics. He has been hailed as “the environmental architect of our time.” At the same time, according to a 2008 article, the truth is far more complicated, which argued that, while Mr. McDonough has made a tremendous contribution to the green movement, he has also been “overly protective of his certification process, and in some instances has not inspired cooperation with other individuals and businesses.”
His China project featured in Frontline was “not inhabited due to design flaws, including conflicts between Feng Shui and passive solar design standards, appending garages although no villagers can afford cars, failing to provide space for grazing livestock, and building the houses out of potentially unsafe compressed coal dust.”
But then again, none of this really applies to what Davis is trying to do. All Davis appears to want his firm to do is facilitate a dialogue between stakeholders that can articulate a vision of shared values and create an action plan based on those shared values to achieve long-term economic vitality in Davis.
From this perspective it is an interesting idea even if – as we have discovered – there is a good deal of tension between some of those values and an economic vision for Davis and a good deal of distance between some of the stakeholders.
The city’s ability to bring these diverse interests and values together will largely determine its success in moving forward.
—David M. Greenwald reporting
This should not be funded with public money at this time.
From wikipedia:
[quote]After being named one of Fast Company Magazine’s “Masters of Design” in 2004,[28] the same magazine followed up in 2008 with a more critical look at McDonough entitled “Green Guru Gone Wrong.”[29] While acknowledging McDonough’s contributions to the green movement, the article suggests that McDonough has been overly protective of his certification process, and in some instances has not inspired cooperation with other individuals and businesses. McDonough’s Huangbaiyu, China project has not been inhabited due to design flaws, including conflicts between Feng Shui and passive solar design standards, appending garages although no villagers can afford cars, failing to provide space for grazing livestock, and building the houses out of potentially unsafe compressed coal dust.[30] And McDonough’s Nike’s shoe project was never realized, due to McDonough’s unwillingness to share cradle-to-cradle specifications with suppliers,[29] although he continues to promote it.[/quote]
I have to wonder if this guy will really be able to address local issues with any kind of sensitivity and actual knowledge. Wouldn’t a citizens advisory group of some sort be a better choice? Not sure…
The City does need to address critique of its business climate.
“The city’s staff report notes recent efforts to engage with the community and private sector business partners to identify and advance strategic initiatives to enhance the local economy.”
Perhaps, Mr. McDonough will look at the City Attorney spending about one million dollars on a strategic initiative to drive a local cooperative foundation out of Davis.
The DACHA debacle is a blot on any Davis “strategic initiatives to enhance the local economy.”
More emphasis needs to be on home grown economic development. The $40,000 grant I co-wrote for the Davis Food Co-op in the 1980’s has been the largest return of any city funds to any business in Davis, in jobs, volume, sales tax created.
David Thompson, President, Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation
So in 2010 the city spent $5000 (I think) on the DSIDE conference to “… articulate a community vision for Davis’ future economy….” and “…create a timeline for specific actions to be taken by the city, the business community, and other partners.”
Now the staff wants to spend $15,000 to “facilitate a dialogue between stakeholders that can articulate a vision of shared values and create an action plan….”
No matter how bad the economy, no matter how bad the budget situation, it seems the desire to hire consultants and host workshops never ends. And the jargon never changes.
We didn’t get much for our first $5K. So what are we going to get for $15K?
I urge the council to reject this proposal.
[quote]The DACHA debacle is a blot on any Davis “strategic initiatives to enhance the local economy.”
[/quote]
Ordinarily, with as much division in the community about how best to procede with economic development,
I would agree with the concept of getting an “outside opinion” or set of fresh eyes to look into our situation and make recommendations. I am just not sure that this is the wisest use of this money at this point in time.
Am very interested in the opinion of others both within and outside the business community.
I am also wondering if it would be economically worth it for some of our business leaders to step up and put some funds forward to pay for such as assessment. The advantage for the business community would of course be that the results would not be tied to the views of the “slow growth” crowd. Likewise, for the slow growthers, the results would not be tied directly to those trying to enhance business without necessarily appreciating all the concerns of those who choose to make Davis their home for life.
What say you business leaders ? Kemble Pope ? David Thompson ? DT Businessman ? Did I miss anyone ?
Many were willing to put up money to influence an election. How about to obtain a fresh look at city development ?
“Now the staff wants to spend $15,000 to “facilitate a dialogue between stakeholders that can articulate a vision of shared values and create an action plan….””
I would point out Davis’ share is $5000 not $15,000. I’m not necessarily defending that, just stating the fact.
The Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation provided lots of assistance to create Davis Mutual Housing and see it grow into 179 units of affordable housing in Davis. That housing created hundreds of construction jobs, million in impact fees and $20 million in local assets. We did the same for DACHA, we financed the solar on Solar Community Housing Association, financed De Colores. TPCF has been a great leverager of dollars.
Yet we are blackballed from local activity by City staff.
Until the City cleans up its costly messes and waste of public funds we have no faith in the present city staff.
It does not matter who we might bring in there have been too many senior staff screw ups at City Hall that have not been dealt with.
I agree with Don this is not the place to spend funds at this time.
David Thompson, President, Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation
Don, I wasn’t aware that the city put up any money for the DSIDE conference. I’m not 100% certain, but pretty sure it was private sector funded. I do know my firm was a sponsor. The sponsors were all listed on the conference literature.
-Michael Bisch, Davis Commercial Properties
Glad to see the Council isn’t just sitting around waiting for things to miraculously change. Whether you agree or disagree with this move, at least they are trying something. But, I’d rather have the $15,000 used differently.
[quote]Yet we are blackballed from local activity by City staff. [/quote]
David,
Please accept this as the honest question that it is since I have no personal involvement with the city staff or any of the businesses or principles involved. Do you think that part of the difficulty in working with the city might have to do with the law suits against the city in which you are involved ? And do you think that a gesture of good will such as helping to finance an outside look at the city might not promote some good will especially in view of the new council ? Or do you find that to be hopelessly naive ?
Good question medwoman (I say that as a supporter of David Thompson). With a new City Council, I wonder if a relationship could be formed. David?
Green Visionary Economic Development is the title of today’s blog.
Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation and our work with cooperatives in town is a good representation of the Green and Visionary role we have played in town.
Co-ops in town assisted by TPCF have more solar than any other apartment owners.
We have created the most community gardens than any other apartment owners.
Co-ops (Credit Unions)keep more money local than any other lender.
YFCU is the only LEED certified building of any financial institution in Davis.
The Davis Food co-op has more solar on the roof than many other food retailer in Davis (Some of the solar done by a grant from TPCF).
Dos Pinos is the best example of sustainable living of any apartment building in town.
TPCF is the largest equity funder of cooperative development organizations in the USA.
During the last 30 days the City Attorney spent about $25,000 of our city funds on legal actions that the Court threw out.
I had told the Council that the City Attorney was foolishly spending public funds but the Council did nothing to stop the waste and the Judge’s decision against the City provied it.
That wasted money (about $150,000 this year alone on legal fees) could have addressed the “tree trimmers”, the Neighborhood Watch, the dropped Arts program, etc.
I have seen too much excess waste by rogue senior city staff. I think that the City Manager is not aware of what City staff hide from him.
Deep cleaning is needed at City Hall and that should be the first order of the day.
I thank Medwoman and concerned citizen for your remarks and do accept them as an honest question and in that spirit.
But if the City Attorney spends City funds at the rate she is month after month then economic development seems a very empty promise on green activities for which we were a leader.
David Thompson, President, Twin Pines Cooperative Foundation
Hopefully, we will see real change and like Mike Harrington I too am looking for three person fire crews. When there is we will join in.
Davis doesn’t have a problem with ‘visioning’ as we have no shortage of people who want to talk. Our problem is implementing, which is why we are still talking about our water problem (among other issues) 10 years later.
A proposal to create a new action plan is just another way of not acting.
Mark West
Well put.
David Thompson
I think Mark West makes an interesting point. That said I’m a bit intrigued at least with the concept, though there is a some indication we may be buying into fools gold. I do find it interesting that people are questioning the relatively innocuous cost.
[quote]…the relatively innocuous cost…[/quote]
Watch the pennies and the $$$ take care of themselves…
That’s silly. If you think this is going to help the city, then the money is not cost prohibitive. If you think it is not going to help the city, then don’t do it regardless of the costs.
Mark West
[quote]Davis doesn’t have a problem with ‘visioning’ as we have no shortage of people who want to talk. Our problem is implementing, which is why we are still talking about our water problem (among other issues) 10 years later.
A proposal to create a new action plan is just another way of not acting.
[/quote]
Agreed in principle. And since we are very divided as far as our vision, what concrete steps would you recommend that we take as a community to get beyond “the divide” ?
On a 2010 thread about DSIDE, I linked to a city report from 1992:
[url]http://cityofdavis.org/cdd/gp/004-05-Economic-And-Business-Development.pdf[/url]
We have commissions, we’ve done visioning. It doesn’t lead to anything. There are specific economic development ideas that have been discussed on this thread that any councilmember could put forward soon and the council could act on. There are areas of agreement. The voters have made their wishes very clear with respect to peripheral residential growth. So what is the ;point of a visioning process?
It’s not going to help the city.
[quote]erm: Watch the pennies and the $$$ take care of themselves…
dmg: That’s silly. If you think this is going to help the city, then the money is not cost prohibitive. If you think it is not going to help the city, then don’t do it regardless of the costs.[/quote]
As someone else noted, this city has a penchant for hiring consultants at the drop of a hat. It all adds up…