Robert Allen Graham (Bob)
Bob Graham Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Recently, retired Albert Lea City Planner Bob Graham was the recipient of the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Minnesota Chapter of the American Planning Association. The award was presented to Graham on Wednesday, September 18, during the Upper Midwest Planning Conference held at the Rochester Civic Center. A special reception was held at the Rochester Art Center in honor of his achievements.
Graham has served as treasurer and president of the Minnesota Planning Association and is a charter member of the American Planning Association. He served more than 20 years on the Minnesota Chapter Board of Directors and was the author of the first planning commissioner training manual entitled “So You’re a Planning Commissioner, Now What?”
Graham is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and has been a professional city planner for 46 years, of which 34 years were serving in Albert Lea as the City Planner and Community Development Director. He is continuing his career as an independent planning consultant. You can find more information on his website, www.thecenterforcreativity.com.
On being a pilot
I am fortunate to be a private pilot for single-engine land aircraft, having met all the requirements for qualification in January 1078. Constant updating and a bi-annual flight review with a certified instructor or examiner are required to fly legally and safely. I am also a city planner, and constant updating is necessary in order to lead decision-making effectively. One significant difference between a pilot and a planner is that a pilot has and must take final responsibility for all decisions. A planner must make good decisions and then lead others to make the best decisions. Both are leaders.
A leader is a person who is able to encourage, motivate, mentor, and sell abstract concepts to a group, team, or community and have the team reach and implement a project or process. However, the leader must also take responsibility for the team’s success, and taking that final responsibility equates with being a pilot.
I encourage those in leadership positions to be pilots. Public leadership is how we make collective decisions that help create a good life for everyone and affirm the core values of our democratic society.
“Called to Plan!”
After nearly 46 years of public city planning, I have “retired” from the public sector and opened my consulting business and marketplace, “thecenterforcreativity.com.” My purpose in community planning is to help prepare communities to take advantage of inevitable change and assist in managing and facilitating that change. Although I am available for all areas of community planning, I will focus on assisting communities with the establishment of structures to become healthier and more vital places. We all have a life calling, and I have been called to plan, therefore continuing my profession and service in place of retirement. I will also be sharing this webpage with other professionals in the creative arts.
Projects
Grant Manager:
This is Phase II of a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, Growing Up Healthy, Kids and Communities. I created the “Peer Family Visitor” concept to create a system of peer family visitors to strengthen families with children ages pre-birth to 5, including successful entrance into kindergarten. Peers who have been successful in this phase of family development will be equipped through training and coaching to be mentors who are able to help families navigate through systems, provide appropriate social networks, and teach appropriate parenting skills. In addition, community partners and family stakeholders will be encouraged to make program, system, environmental, and policy changes. The project includes documentation of change and the design of a replicable model. Phase I was $25,000, and Phase II was $150,000.
During my public career, I managed over $20,000,000 in Federal and State grants, including acquisition, renovation, demolition, redevelopment, and housing.
Building Renovation:
Project manager for the award-winning exterior renovation of the historic Freeborn Bank and Jacobson buildings in historic downtown Albert Lea. These projects included cleaning and replacing terra-cotta, tuck pointing, roof replacement, replacement of all windows and doors to historical standards, installing a skylight over the original open light shaft, and interior demolition and cleaning. This project also included
the interior renovation of the Jacobson Building to create the National Vitality Center and The Interchange, a coffee shop. Over 80% of the funding for this project was raised from institutional grants, private donations, and contractor construction donations. The building was restored to its early historic concept, including the restoration of brick walls and floor tile.
Administrative:
Creation of the Development Review process and chart for the Albert Lea Planning, Zoning, and Inspection program's one-stop process.
Development of policies and procedures for historic building renovation grants from the City of Albert Lea.
Development of a new zoning concept for the central area of Albert Lea, including the historic central business district and surrounding area of about 50 acres. This concept is the Diversified Central District and allows mixed and diversified land uses within the downtown and surrounding area. It replaces business zoning that is actually developed with very old homes, not historical ones, and increases development density, including residential density, to as high as 87 units per acre, making new development financially feasible. Land uses may be mixed within buildings and the neighborhood. The zoning recognizes and includes the main business core, Public Square, and use area, including parks, churches, public offices, and the Mayo Clinic Health Systems-Albert Lea campus.
Presentations:
Over 30 local, state, and national presentations on the Albert Lea AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project that was sponsored by United Health Foundation.
Presentations on community development structure and processes for communities.
Consulting:
Land Use Planning: I currently have seven sites under the same ownership, and I am doing land use planning, management, and marketing. These are industrial, commercial, and residential sites within the City of Albert Lea, MN.
Housing Development: I am the grants and project management consultant for a non-profit housing non-profit, Uplift Housing Project, which is doing single-family renovation and new construction.
Income Survey: I prepared an income survey for a subdivision in need of public sewer and water. The survey is required to apply for State grants.
Recent and Current Activity:
Albert Lea, Minnesota: Zoning amendment creating Diversified Central District around historic CBD, Airport Zoning, grants for historic facade improvements, community development process structure, flood plain zoning, flood plain acquisition, streets cape project, AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project co-chair.
Grant Management: Currently managing a “Growing Up Healthy Kids and Communities” grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation. This grant was awarded to the Freeborn County Family Services Collaborative. I served as chair of this collaborative board for 16 years and prepared this grant application. The purpose of the grant is to train and establish a program for “peer family visitors” for families with newborn children.
I am also managing grants for historic facade improvements.
Focus Areas:
Land use planning, community organization and structure, grant preparation and management (over $16,000,000), community health and vitality, historic preservation, site development, family growth and development, and building strong and connected family-friendly communities.
Professional Employment:
Chemung County/Elmira, NY, Associate Planner (1967 – 1969)
City of St. Louis Park, MN, Assistant Planning Director (1969 – 1979)
City of Albert Lea, MN, City Planner/Community Development Director (1979 – 2012) retired from city employment on December 7, 2012.
Professional Education:
University of Wisconsin, Madison, BS Planning and Political Science (1967)
Certifications:
Organizations:
Leadership:
Other Interests:
Poetry (writer)
Music:
University of Wisconsin Band (1958-1960)
Trinity Lutheran Choir/Praise Team
Trinity Lutheran Brass (trombone)
“Soldiers and Senders” (Hymn for mission sending)
Aviation
Christian missions
Lamp Ministry
SEND, Odessa, Ukraine, 1996
Quotes
Eagles fly - egos don't.
The sunburst is that brilliant moment when the solution is apparent.