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1 Shipyard Legacy Fund: Designing a Quasi-Public Entity Community Workshop Victor Rubin Director of Research PolicyLink November 4, 2006 Copyright 2006 PolicyLink

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2 What is a Quasi-Public Entity? The Enhanced Community Benefits Program called for establishment of a Quasi-Public Entity (QPE) to carry out the Investment Roadmap mission and programs Quasi-public entities carry out certain functions on behalf of government. The QPE will administer the Shipyard Legacy Fund for the benefit of the community The QPE is to be representative of the BVHP community and to conform to all laws and regulations governing conflicts of interest and open public meetings Copyright 2006 PolicyLink

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3 Goals for Creating a Quasi-Public Entity This entity must be capable of implementing the activities contained in the initial Investment Roadmap: Community Benefits Project Working Families Center Environmental Justice Fund Signature Project for Economic Development Community Parcel Use Project It needs to be flexible and to respond to the changing needs and priorities of the community And it needs to be Independent, Transparent, Accountable, Inclusive, and Effective Copyright 2006 PolicyLink

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4 1.What sort of governance? Structure of the governing board Additional advisory board(s) 2.What type of entity? Legal and tax status Compliance with conflict of interest and public meeting requirements Four Major Decision Areas for QPE Structure 3.How will things get done? Which programs will be internal versus external? Core staff size and functions Use of consultants and/or partnerships 4.How will funding work? At start-up Plans for long-term sustainability Copyright 2006 PolicyLink

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5 Responsibilities of the QPE Board The board of the QPE will have many responsibilities: Overseeing and monitoring all of the programs and activities Providing leadership, setting broad policy, and ensuring the mission is accomplished Hiring and supervising an Executive Director Being responsible for using SLF funds for the benefit of the BVHP communityexercising fiduciary responsibility Other functions like fundraising and community relations Copyright 2006 PolicyLink

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6 Many elements of a board of directors need to be determined: 1)What size will it be? 2)Who will serve as members? 3)How will they be selected? 4)How will board officers be selected? 5)How often will the board meet? 6)Will there be committees? 7)What policies will govern it (e.g., conflict of interest)? 8)Will there be advisory boards to provide input or expertise on certain issues or activities? Question about the Board of Directors Copyright 2006 PolicyLink

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7 Board Membership and Selection Key questions to decide about the QPE board: Who should be the members? How will they be selected? Some guidelines: The DDA and the RFP state that the board of the QPE shall have meaningful community-based representation with members recruited and selected through an open and fair public process Board members should represent a range of different skills, experiences, knowledge, expertise, and connections The best board members are those who are passionate about furthering the mission of the organizationwho care deeply about the future of the BVHP community Copyright 2006 PolicyLink

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8 Methods for Selecting Board Members Recreated from: Hurwit & Associates, Nonprofit Law Resource Library, http://www.hurwitassociates.com/l_charts_methods.html 1) Ex-Officio Appointment Public officials and others who serve by virtue of their position 4) External Nominating Committee Board of Directors 3) Election by membership, constituents, or community base 5) Appointment by a political body, e.g., the Mayors Office Copyright 2006 PolicyLink 2) Self-generating through Nomination Committee

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9 Copyright 2006 PolicyLink Examples: Member Composition and Selection Methods on Governing Bodies that have Relevance for the QPE

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10 Board Composition and Selection How many board members? 34 members Who is represented? 16 residents from each of the 4 major ethnic groups (African-American, Latino, Cape Verdean, White) and 2 additional Board-appointed residents, 3 youth, 7 nonprofit agencies, 2 churches, 2 businesses, and 2 CDCs How are they selected? The membership of DSNI elects all but two of its board members Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) Copyright 2006 PolicyLink Nonprofit community-based planning and organizing entity serving the Roxbury/North Dorchester neighborhoods in Boston. DSNI is structured as a membership organization, with 3,000 residents and neighborhood organizations serving as dues-paying members.

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11 Dudley Neighbors Incorporated Copyright 2006 PolicyLink Urban community land trust created to implement the revitalization plans of Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) and preserve housing affordability. The Boston Redevelopment Agency worked with DSNI to create a new urban renewal area for the Dudley Triangle and then gave DNI authority over vacant land in the area. Board Composition and Selection How many board members? 11 members Who is represented? Community Organizations and Officeholders How are they selected? By appointment DSNI appoints 6 members Each of the following appoint 1 member: Mayor of Boston, Roxbury Neighborhood Council, City Councilperson, State Senator (non-voting), State Representative (non-voting)

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12 Sawmill Community Land Trust Copyright 2006 PolicyLink Community land trust founded in 1997 to bring affordable housing and economic activities to the Sawmill neighborhood adjacent to downtown Albuquerque, protect low-income residents from gentrification, and enable them to make decisions and to benefit from the redevelopment of the area. Governance is based on CLT membership model. Board Composition and Selection How many board members? 10 Who is represented? Resident-majority, Business, Public/Nonprofit 3 Leaseholder Residents 3 Non-leaseholding Residents 1 Commercial Leaseholder 3 Public/nonprofit Representatives How are they selected? Nominated from and elected by members

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13 Empower Baltimore Management Corporation (EBMC) Copyright 2006 PolicyLink Nonprofit organization created by the City of Baltimore to manage the Baltimore Empowerment Zone effort aimed at employment, economic development, and homeownership. EBMC established 6 new community-based organizations (Village Centers) to facilitate programs and contracted with other organizations. Board Composition and Selection How many board members? 30 members Who is represented? Residents (36%), Businesses, Churches, Non-profit agencies, and City and State agencies How are they selected? Mix of Elected and Appointed Members 19 Mayoral appointments include Representatives from 6 Village Centers established by EBMC 11 Members elected by the public

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14 Neighborhood Connections Fund Copyright 2006 PolicyLink An affiliated fund of the Cleveland Foundation created in 2002 to provide small grants ($500-$5,000) to community groups working to improve Clevelands neighborhoods. All grant evaluation and funding decisions are made by a Grant Making and Monitoring Committee comprised of residents. The Fund was allocated $2.5 million in 2005 and supported 87 projects that year. Committee Composition and Selection How many members? 18 members Who is represented? Residents How are they selected? Nomination and approval by Committee Original members nominated by neighborhood organizations and designed to be broadly representative of Cleveland New members are nominated by neighborhood groups, complete an application, and then are interviewed by Committee members

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15 Questions? Comments? Please contact us: Victor Rubin, Director of Research, victor@policylink.orgvictor@policylink.org Sarah Treuhaft, Program Associate, sarah@policylink.orgsarah@policylink.org Copyright 2006 PolicyLink