1. Alma Affordable Housing Project A Study in Collaborative Leadership Dr. Frank Benest frank@frankbenest.com www.frankbenest.com

2. Palo Alto Case Study

3. The Situation  Palo Alto has become unaffordable, elite community  Council had established goal of promoting affordable housing  Frank had personal goal & passion for creating very low-income family housing & promoting more balance & equity in community  What was typical reaction in Palo Alto to creating very-low income rental housing for families?  This was classic adaptive challenge

4. Palo Alto Case Study  Listen to case study as it unfolds  Note & jot down key elements of the collaborative leadership process

5. Palo Alto Case Study Alma Street Affordable Housing Project  Street Electrical Substation in downtown across from train station  Use city-owned land to create low-income family project  Engage Community Working Group (faith-based advocacy group) and Eden Housing, Inc. (non-profit developer) as partners

6. Palo Alto Case Study

8. The Problems 1. Stanford wanted $1.5 M to lease land for new substation 2. General Fund would lose $1 M/yr in lease revenue 3. Two key Council Members had conflicts 4. Site abutted newly-built million-dollar condos 5. Site was constrained; adjoining parcels were expensive

9. Palo Alto Case Study

12.  The “Team”  Disparate group  No commitment, little energy  Over time, struggled to overcome obstacles, find solutions together  Everyone made contribution

13. Palo Alto Case Study Leadership Solutions  Provided Stanford $1.5 M housing fee credit  Negotiated $1 M contribution to General Fund from adjoining condo developer  Purchased auto shop site with in-lieu funds from other developer  Created new non-profit entity not involving Council Members

14. Palo Alto Case Study Leadership Solutions  Swapped ownership interest with hardware and office owners to create mixed-use project  Engaged neighbors through Community Working Group  Project now included low-income family rentals over hardware store and low-income senior units over office and services

15. Palo Alto Case Study

21.  What collaborative leadership approaches did you discern from the case study?

22. Courage

23. Palo Alto Case Study  What happened?  What was Frank’s reaction?

24. Different Leadership Roles  Convener and conversation starter  Translator  Story teller and framer of issues  Dream-maker  Journey leader  Engager  Follower  Teacher  Learner  Cheerleader  Party host

25. Resources  Review packet materials  Books on promoting creative thinking Frans Johansson, The Medici Effect, 2004

26. Resources (con’t)  Cal-ICMA Coaching Program  Webinars www.cal-icma.org/coaching  One-to-one coaching match-ups  Women Leading Govt  Career Compass advice columns “Bouncing Back From Defeat” “Selling Your Ideas” “Smart Risks” www.frankbenest.com

27. Reaction Panel  What resonated with you?  What did not?  What do you have to add?

28. frank@frankbenest.com everetted@comcast.net