HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-201 Southeast Florida Ca C
Regional Partnership
Indian River - SL Lucie - Martin
Palm Beach - Broward - Miami- Dade - Monroe J _
Sustainable Communities Grant Consortium
Consortium Agreement
WHEREAS, In June 2009 , the U . S . Departments of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) ,
Transportation , and the Environmental Protection Agency announced the creation of an interagency partnership
and Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program that would support regions who committed to
work collaboratively across jurisdictional boundaries to create " Regional Plans for Sustainable Development" ;
WHEREAS, the South Florida Regional Planning Council ( SFRPC ) , working in partnership with the
Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council ( TCRPC ) , entered into memoranda of understanding ( MOU ) with 130
organizations, with an additional 70 organizations providing letters and resolutions of support, to create
the
Southeast Florida Regional Partnership ( Partnership ) ;
WHEREAS on behalf of the Partnership, the South Florida Regional Planning Council ( SFRPC ) , as lead
applicant, submitted an application to the U . S . Department of Housing and Urban Development and was
subsequently selected as one of 45 recipients of the first round of Sustainable Communities grants in 2010 ;
WHEREAS, as part of the application process a subset of Partnership members were organized to form
the nucleus of a strong leadership consortium called the " Sustainable Communities Grant Consortium " that
would be expanded over time to include additional Partnership members ;
WHEREAS, initial Consortium participants include approximately 45 local governments , metropolitan
and transportation planning organizations, nonprofit community- based organizations, professional associations ,
public and private sector organizations , and educational institutions ; and
WHEREAS, at the time of the application the Consortium participants agreed to enter into formal
Consortium Agreements ( Agreement ) with the SFRPC within 120 days ( June 21 , 2011 ) of the formal Cooperative
Agreement entered into with HUD on February 21 , 2011 .
NOW THEREFORE, the Parties hereto agree as follows :
I . Consortium Participants : This Agreement is entered into by members of the Southeast Florida Regional
Partnership' s Sustainable Communities Grant Consortium ( Consortium ) .
II . Goal : The Consortium will work together to successfully carry out the activities outlined in the Southeast
Florida Regional Partnership' s work plan to create a " Regional Vision and Blueprint for Economic Prosperity, "
( Regional Vision and Blueprint ) approved by the U . S . Department of Housing and Urban Development ( HUD ) on
May 11 , 2011 , The work plan , milestones , and schedules will be more fully developed by the
Partnership ' s
Executive Committee , the chief governing board for the Partnership and the Consortium ; Partnership and
Consortium participants ; and work groups . Please see Attachment A — Abstract and Work Plan Summary . The
Partnership and Consortium will take the following six steps to achieve and sustain the Regional Vision
and
Blueprint :
■ Build long term collaborative partnerships ;
■ Build and support the region ' s leadership capacity;
■ Measure where the region currently is and where it will likely be if trends continue ;
■ Identify a vision of the future with better outcomes than identified in the current conditions and trend
analysis ;
■ Engage communities in developing plans to achieve the Regional Vision and Blueprint with emphasis on
equitable and achievable outcomes ; and
■ Develop strategies to implement the Regional Vision and Blueprint and measure progress towards the
Regional Vision and Blueprint outcomes .
III . Purpose of the Agreement : The purpose of this Agreement is to formalize the roles and commitments of the
Consortium participants as they are known today . The Partnership and Consortium will work over the next three
years to create and lay the foundation for implementation of the Regional Vision and Blueprint .
IV . Roles / Commitments : Please see Attachment B for specific commitments of in - kind , cash , or
additional
leverage fund contribution .
Partnership and Consortium participants, as regional leaders, commit to develop and implement the Regional
Vision and Blueprint unless it is detrimental to their organization and /or the region . Specifically Consortium
participants agree to :
■ Assist and participate in the development of strategies, plans and tools ;
■ Assist in engaging stakeholders, particularly local and hard -to - reach populations ;
■ Help assess, analyze, and evaluate plans, strategies, tools , and projects ;
■ Play specific roles in implementing local projects providing leadership, staff support, research , oversight,
or financial support ;
■ Participate in educational and outreach opportunities through classes, meetings, conferences , and
workshops; and
■ Assist in developing and refining the visions and plans that constitute the elements of a sustainable
region and integrating these visions .
Furthermore , Consortium participants reaffirm :
■ The SFRPC will act in the representative capacity with HUD on behalf of all members of the Consortium
and the SFRPC agrees to assume administrative responsibility for ensuring the Consortium ' s program is
carried out in compliance with HUD requirements and the Federal Funding Accountability and
Transparency Act of 2006;
■ To work cooperatively with the SFRPC ( lead applicant ) , the TCRPC, and other Partnership and
Consortium participants to develop the Regional Vision and Blueprint;
• To work with the Executive Committee established as the overall governing body for the Partnership to
ensure full participation by Partnership and Consortium participants in developing and implementing
the Regional Vision and Blueprint, and to involve additional committees, organizations, and groups as
part of the community engagement work that is integral to this effort; and
■ To commit leveraged resources in terms of staff, financial investment, or other resources in support of
carrying out the work program to the best of their ability .
Consortium participants will designate a primary delegate and a backup delegate to serve as points of contact
for the participating organization and to participate in meetings of the Consortium . The Consortium delegates
or their designees will meet at least three times a year to receive reports on the work of the Consortium and
the
Partnership and will function as an advisory board for the development of the Regional Vision and Blueprint and
related work plan activities . The SFRPC, as lead fiscal agent, will maintain a list of all Consortium delegates
and
their primary designees .
Any Consortium member may terminate its membership in the Partnership upon written notice from the
organization ' s Executive Director or Chief Executive Officer, with hard copy by U . S . Mail , to
the Executive
Director of the SFRPC . Termination of Consortium member status shall not relieve a member of any
responsibilities or liabilities already incurred .
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V . Governance Structure and Decision - making :
The following principles guide the Partnership ' s organization :
o Build an enduring consensus and constituency for the Regional Vision and Blueprint ;
o Develop a clear organizational structure and decision - making protocols for the Partnership ;
o Create multiple , meaningful opportunities for engagement , input and decision - making from the full
range of public, private , and civic/ nonprofit partners in the region , including traditionally
underrepresented stakeholders ;
o Enable "joinability" so that the Partnership and Consortium can continue to grow over time ;
o Build on the strengths of existing institutions in the region ;
o Engage and build ownership among implementing agencies and stakeholders early and throughout the
process;
o Ensure transparency and clear lines of accountability and reporting ; and
o Adapt the Partnership' s organizational model over time as the project shifts from visioning to
implementation .
Southeast Florida Regional Partnership
Organization Mission Statement
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The Southeast Florida Regional
Partnership will create and implement
a a "Regional Vision and Blueprint for
Economic Prosperity" to support the
creation of a vibrant and resilient
economy; socially inclusive,
sustainable, and equitable
communities; and environmental
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sustainability.
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The core elements of the organization include the following :
Southeast Florida Regional Partnership : Provides a regional forum for discussion and consensus building on
issues of importance to Southeast Florida . The Partnership will develop and approve the Regional Vision and
Blueprint, and support long-term implementation of Regional Vision and Blueprint through individual and
collective action . During the visioning process the Partnership will primarily conduct its work through
issue -
specific Work Groups , augmented by at least four summits of the entire Partnership during the
visioning
process . In parallel with the visioning process, the Partnership will explore options for a long-term optimal
structure to assist with implementation , progress review, and future updates . The intent is for the Partnership
to develop a long -term structure for its ongoing operations by the conclusion of the visioning process .
To join the Partnership , organizations must sign an MOU and commit to work collaboratively to advance
the
region ' s livability and sustainability through implementation of the work program developed by the Partnership
with support of the Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program . Partnership members who are not
currently Consortium participants and have pledged leverage and in - kind support, or other interested
Partnership members , may wish to become Consortium participants with additional responsibilities in
the
development and implementation of the work plan .
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Partnership Work Groups : Serve as regional subject matter experts in identified issue areas, and
develop
technical and policy recommendations and draft products for review by the Partnership . Work Group
membership will be open to Partnership members ( individuals and organizations ) interested in the
subject
matter . The Partnership Executive Committee will ensure the membership of each Work Group reflects a mix of
perspectives among the public, private , and civic sectors; among subareas and types of communities
in the
region ( coastal , urban , suburban , and rural ) ; and among socioeconomic/ethnic groups including traditionally
underrepresented groups . The chair and vice chair of each Work Group will be identified by the Partnership ' s
Executive Committee .
Sustainable Communities Grant Consortium : Serve as the core team within the Partnership for meeting HUD
requirements and carrying out activities to develop the Regional Vision and Blueprint . Consortium participants
will support key activities as defined in this Agreement under IV . Roles and Commitments .
Consortium participants agree to the basic commitments and responsibilities outlined for Partnership members,
as well as the additional commitment of leveraged resources in terms of staff, financial investment, or
other
resources .
Certain Consortium participants will be identified as Subgrantees with a commitment to provide specific
program assistance funded through grant funds . All Subgrantees will have a contract with the
SFRPC that
specifies specific deliverables and time frames and passes through all HUD grant requirements . These contracts
will be more clearly defined following appointment of the Project Director and Program Manager .
Executive Committee : Serve as the overall governing board for Partnership . The Executive Committee will
oversee the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant administration ; establish the project
organization ; approve the overall work plan ; recommend the selection of staff and consultants to the Regional
Planning Council boards for action ; provide guidance to the Project Director and Program Manager;
provide
policy direction for the Regional Vision and Blueprint ; ensure all constituencies have meaningful opportunities to
engage and shape the process ; identify and resolve significant issues arising during the process ; recommend the
final Regional Vision , Blueprint, and implementation plan ; and recommend the long-term structure for
Southeast Florida Regional Partnership . The Executive Committee has 17 initial members as identified in
the
grant application . The Committee is designed to expand as needed to ensure representation of segments of the
region as needed to make the Executive Committee more responsive to the needs of all residents and
businesses . The Executive Committee has established two subcommittees to guide its initial work : an Operations
Subcommittee and an Organization and Equity Subcommittee .
Regional Planning Councils / Project Management Team : The SFRPC will act as the fiscal agent for the grant .
The SFRPC will work with the TCRPC to manage the work program , including hiring the Project Director, Program
Manager, and other staff and consultants; developing consultant scopes of work and budgets; and providing
technical and consensus- building assistance to Consortium and Partnership members .
The intent for these committees and work groups is to use a consensus decision - making process . This entails
substantial engagement of all parties, full transparency, extensive dialog, and ultimately crafting policies and
decisions that are acceptable to all parties . The process takes longer, but produces results that when embraced ,
will provide the foundation for continuing work . If full consensus cannot be reached then the Executive
Committee will be in a position to take a majority vote on a specific issue as well as a super-
majority vote to
approve the final Regional Vision and Blueprint .
VI , Partner Roles / Commitments : The members of the Southeast Florida Regional Partnership will belong to
one of three tiers .
TIER 1 — Partnership Member. Basic tier of participation . All Partnership members have signed a
MOU and
committed to work collaboratively to advance regional livability principles through implementation of the
work
program developed by the Partnership with support from the Sustainable Communities Grant Program .
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TIER 2 — Sustainable Communities Grant Consortium Member. This includes the basic commitments
and
responsibilities outlined for Partnership members, but also includes additional commitment of leveraged resources in
terms of staff, financial investment, or other resources . To be a Consortium member, a Partnership member must
execute a consortium agreement to formalize their greater level of commitment and direct involvement in
the
development and implementation of the Regional Vision and Blueprint for Economic Prosperity .
TIER 3 — Consortium Subgrantees . In addition to general Consortium participant commitments and responsibilities, a
subset of Consortium participants may be asked to perform specific work program tasks . In
addition to this
Agreement, Consortium Subgrantees will be required to enter into a contract with specific deliverables and
time
frames, and meet all HUD requirements .
As the Regional Vision and Blueprint for Economic Prosperity initiative unfolds, work groups meet,
and the
Executive Committee makes decisions on process and content, new roles and responsibilities may emerge
.
These new roles and responsibilities will be captured in project scopes and new agreements .
VII . Accountability : To ensure successful completion of the project activities, Consortium participants
will
designate a primary delegate and a backup delegate to serve as points of contact for the participating
organization with the SFRPC and participate in meetings of the Consortium . Consortium participants
shall
participate in meetings and provide leverage and in - kind reporting forms to the SFRPC as requested to meet
all
HUD requirements . Guidance regarding general reporting for leverage and in - kind funds will be provided once it
is received from HUD . Subgrantee contracts will contain specific deliverables, time frames , and reporting
requirements .
Overall initiative accountability will be managed by a three level project management system .
Level I - The highest level is reporting periodically on individual project progress and how that relates to the overall
initiative progress . This will be done through the website and quarterly status reports .
Level II - Project management of specific work tasks or projects will include identified tasks and timelines which will
be captured and monitored . The Project Director and Program Manager will be responsible for ensuring that work
tasks undertaken by Consortium participants, who may also be subgrantees , are tracked , recorded , and incorporated
into an overall project management system to ensure timely completion of delegated tasks .
Level III - The third level of project accountability will be the oversight of the Executive Committee , which will meet at
least once per quarter to review progress on individual projects as well as the overall initiative .
VIII . Joinability : The Southeast Florida Regional Partnership and the Sustainable Communities Grant Consortium
will continue to grow over time . An ongoing task will be to reach out to potential new partners and seek
their
membership and active involvement . New partners will be asked to sign the Partnership MOU or Consortium
Agreement as appropriate . Interested stakeholders who have not joined the Partnership will be able
to
participate in appropriate work groups and the regional summits and community workshops, and
will be
encouraged to join the Partnership as members .
VIIII . Public Engagement : All meetings of the Southeast Florida Regional Partnership and the Consortium are
publicly noticed . On most occasions, interested persons can participate by phone , webinar, or in person . The
Consortium will implement a wide ranging public engagement process throughout the region that prioritizes the
engagement of all community residents and stakeholders, particularly groups traditionally underrepresented in
public planning processes . This process will include community outreach , written and visual materials and
information accessible to disabled populations . The public involvement component will ensure the participation
of a wide range of stakeholders to ensure a diversity of population , viewpoints , and issues .
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X . Other Considerations : As indicated above , Subgrantees ( Tier 3 ) will have individual contractual instruments
specific to their circumstances, responsibilities, and commitments . Special circumstances requiring governance
changes , representation , changes or other alterations to agreements or process will be reviewed by the
Executive Committee and final action taken by SFRPC, the lead fiscal agent .
Benefits for participation in the Partnership and Consortium are the enhanced ability of the region and
individual communities to develop and implement the Regional Vision and Blueprint for Economic Prosperity . By
participating in the Partnership and Consortium , work partners will be able to influence the development
of
plans, strategies, and tools and access those tools for their own use . In addition , partners will have the potential
opportunity to access additional federal and other funds to advance their own prosperity , livability, and
sustainability goals as long as they also further the regional priorities .
By my signature below, my organization / agency reaffirms its commitment to serve as a member
of the
Sustainable Communities Grant Consortium in accordance with the terms outlined in this Agreement . I
understand that this Agreement will be executed in one or more counterparts , each of which will be deemed an
original , but all of which will constitute one and the same instrument . The executed Agreement will be kept on
file at the South Florida Regional Planning Council .
This Agreement will become effective upon signature by any two parties and may be terminated upon written
notice to the South Florida Regional Planning Council . The provisions of this Agreement will be
reviewed
periodically and amended or supplemented , as appropriate , as may be mutually agreed upon .
Signature Signature
Bob Solari , Chairman James F . Murley, Interim Executive Director
Indian River County Board of County Commissioners South Florida Regional Planning Council
Date : . \' i ' k,-r' f' L3 �t � I Date :
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Please return executed agreement to : �* • .
STATE OF FLORIDA
■ _ INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT THIS IS
A TRUE AND CORRECTCOPY OF
Mr . James F . Murley °.�/ '•, - :�Q�� THE ORIGINAL ON FILE IN THIS
Interim Executive Director d.L9 ' �C;`' OFFICE
South Florida Regional Planning Council
` R cou "OJjEF REY K . TON , CLERK
3440 Hollywood Boulevard , Suite 140 BY
Hollywood , Florida 33021 DATE i � ^
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