R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24.4-6: Designation of commission authorized.

The city council of any city that has established a special development district shall designate a commission that has been created by the general assembly, as a public corporation and instrumentality of the state, to adopt, implement, and administer a plan of development for the special development district. Upon that designation, the commission becomes an agency both of the designating city and of the state, and is known as a special development commission.