Chapter 2.127 Community Benefits Advisory Committee Ordinance

Chapter 2.127 COMMUNITY BENEFITS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

2.127.010 Established. There is hereby established a Community Benefits Advisory Committee (the "Committee") to accomplish the purposes set forth herein. 2.127.020 Purpose. The purpose of the Committee is to identify the community benefits needs of the residents of Cambridge based on the priorities established by the City Council and to solicit and evaluate applications with proposals to address the community benefits needs for the provision of said services by qualified applicants in order to make recommendations to the City Manager for the allocation of Community Benefits Funds for the award of grant agreements or contracts. for the provision of said services. 2.127.030 Definitions. "Applicant" shall mean a Community Based Organization applying to the City to provide Community Benefits subject to a grant agreement or contract. "Application" shall mean a proposal by an Applicant to enter into a grant agreement or contract to provide Community Benefits. "Community Based Organization" shall mean a non-profit entity registered pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) that provides Community Benefits. "Community Benefits" shall mean the provision of programs or services, or capital and/or operating expenses of a Community Benefits Organization that are related to an necessary for a Community Benefits Organization to provide programs or services, that directly benefit Cambridge residents including but not limited to human services, the arts, cultural enrichment, sustainability measures, public health, housing, educational programs focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics ("STEAM") and other areas of community enrichment provided by Community Based Organizations. "Community Benefits Advisory Committee" or "Committee" shall mean the Committee established by this Chapter and appointed by the City Manager. "Community Benefits Funds" or "Funds" shall mean any funds offered to and received by the City in connection with the enactment of an amendment to the City's Zoning Ordinance or other agreements entered into with the City which provide funds to the City and are held by the City to be expended for community benefits or other related purposes. "Community Benefits Stabilization Fund" or "Stabilization Fund" shall mean a stabilization fund established by the City to hold Community Benefits Funds. "Funding Priorities" shall mean funding goals declared by the City Council for the expenditure of Community Benefits Funds in Cambridge. Page 2 of 4 (Ord. 1375, 12/21/2015) 2.127.040 City Council Goalsetting—Appropriations. The City Council shall periodically review and update assess the City's Funding Priorities based in part on the Committee’s identification and assessment of a needs assessment conducted every three to five years and submitted by the City Manager in order to identify Cambridge's most pressing Ccommunity Bbenefits needs, which will be reported to the City Manager. In his report, tThe City Manager may shall make recommendations to the City Council regarding the appropriation of funds from to the Stabilization Fund. The City Council may make appropriations to the Stabilization Fund after it receives the City Manager's annual recommendations. 2.127.050 Powers and Duties of the Committee. To carry out its responsibilities under this Chapter, the Committee shall: Make recommendations to the City Manager for the award of grant agreements or contracts for Community Benefits to be paid for from the Stabilization Fund consistent with the City Council's Funding Priorities. Establish rules, regulations and guidelines to provide for the proper administration and implementation of the Committee's responsibilities in consultation with City staff and as approved by the City Manager. 2.127.060 Committee Process. The Committee shall conduct a public annual meeting and additional public meetings as needed to accomplish the following: Prioritize needs, possibilities and resources regarding Community Benefits based on the City Council's Funding Priorities. Subject to and consistent with the City Council's Funding Priorities, the Committee shall consider the following guiding principles:

Frame Needs Thoughtfully

1. Fund programs or services that directly benefit Cambridge residents. 2. Emphasize funding priorities established by the City Council informed by the Committee’s identification and assessment of needs. outcomes of the needs assessment. 3. Prioritize support for vulnerable and underserved populations. 34. Consider neighborhood(s) impacted by development projects.

Build on Existing Assets and Programs

54. Consider other public resources allocated to a neighborhood in order to better understand unmet needs. 6. Foster awareness of and connection to existing programs and services. 7. Prioritize approaches that leverage other private and public resources. 8. Encourage an asset-based approach that recognizes and builds on the resilience of Cambridge residents and communities. Page 3 of 4

Promote Holistic Approaches, Innovation and Collaboration

9. Recognize the inter-connectedness among community needs. 10. Emphasize holistic and creative ideas that promote prevention and coordination across systems and organizations. 11. Remain open to bold and innovative approaches to challenging issues. 12. Recognize that addressing community challenges takes time and provide the latitude for longer term interventions. 13. Prioritize funding for nonprofit applicants that promote collaboration, partnership and collective impact. 14. Encourage and incorporate program evaluation to identify which strategies work best.

Simplify the Application Process