Section 3070.70  Program Compliance Requirements

a)         Any property acquired or developed through assistance from the Illinois PARC grant program must be open to the public for indoor/outdoor recreation use as set forth in this Part without regard to race or color, creed, national origin, sex or disability.

b)         All development projects receiving grant assistance shall be bound by the terms of this program for a period of 20 years. All properties acquired with PARC assistance are required to have a covenant placed on the deed at the time of recording that stipulates the property must be used, in perpetuity, solely for indoor/outdoor recreation purposes and cannot be sold or exchanged, in whole or part, to another party without approval from the Department. 

c)         Property acquired or developed with PARC funds may not be converted to a use other than public outdoor recreation use as provided in this Part without prior Department approval.  Approval for property conversion will be granted only if the project sponsor substitutes replacement property of at least equal fair market value and comparable outdoor recreation usefulness, quality and location.

d)         For projects receiving acquisition assistance, an appraisal must be provided by the sponsoring agency and submitted to the Department for review and certification to establish the fair market value of the property.  The appraisal must be accepted as complete by the Department.

e)         For projects receiving development assistance, the sponsoring agency must possess either fee simple title or other means of legal control and tenure (easement, lease, etc.) over the property being improved for a period of 20 years.  The Department will consider, on a case-by-case basis, lease arrangements for shorter periods when State statute prohibits a unit of local government from entering into such a long-term agreement, or other circumstances beyond the control of the unit of local government prohibit such arrangements.  The sponsor must also adhere to applicable local bidding and procurement requirements and make available to the Department, upon request, all working plans, specifications, contract documents and cost estimates for review prior to commencing work.  The format for any advertisement or prospectus soliciting and inviting bids, indicating submission deadlines, must also be presented, upon request, to the Department for review prior to publication. 

f)         The local project sponsor is required to enter into an agreement with the Department for an amount agreed upon as necessary to complete the approved project, specifying the related grant reimbursement amount and program compliance regulations.

g)         Upon project completion, the project sponsor must submit a certified project billing request (expenditure statement) listing/verifying all funds expended on the project for which grant reimbursement is sought, as well as required billing documentation, as follows:

1)         Acquisition Project:  Proof of good faith negotiations or fair market value offer to land seller, copy of property deed and title insurance policy (Judgement Order in case of condemnation) showing ownership transferred to the local project sponsor, and copies of canceled checks showing proof of payment to seller.

2)         Development Projects:  Copy of construction as-built drawings (no larger than 11" x 17") and verification of actual project costs.

h)         All financial records on approved projects must be maintained and retained, in accordance with the Grant Funds Recovery Act [30 ILCS 705] and the State Records Act [5 ILCS 160], by the project sponsor for possible State audit after final reimbursement payment is made by the Department.

i)          The sponsoring agency must permanently post a PARC grant acknowledgment sign at the project site.  The wording for the PARC sign will be provided by the Department.

j)          Projects assisted with PARC grant funds shall be implemented in accordance with all applicable federal, State and local laws, ordinances and regulations relating to public agency expenditure of funds for public works projects.

k)         The sponsoring agency must observe and comply with the provisions of the Prevailing Wage Act [820 ILCS 130/4], which apply to the wages of laborers, mechanics and other workers employed in any public works, and with the prevailing wage requirements of the Illinois Procurement Code [30 ILCS 500/25-60].

l)          It shall be understood by the project sponsor that a Department representative may make periodic inspections of the project as construction progresses and that a final inspection and acceptance of the completed project may be made by a representative or agent of the Department prior to final payment of grant reimbursement to the local sponsoring agency.

m)        The sponsoring agency shall indemnify, protect, defend and hold harmless the Department from any and all liability, costs, damages, expenses, or claims arising under, through or by virtue of the construction, operation and maintenance of PARC assisted facilities.

n)         In connection with and prior to the construction and the subsequent operation and maintenance of PARC assisted facilities, it shall be understood that the project sponsor is responsible for obtaining any and all necessary construction permits, licenses or forms of consent, as required by law.  Failure to obtain any required permits may jeopardize approved grant funding.

o)         The sponsoring agency must comply with and abide by the following operation and maintenance provisions:

1)         All lands and facilities assisted with PARC funds shall be continuously operated and maintained by the sponsoring agency in a safe and attractive manner at no cost to the Department and be operated and utilized in such a manner as to maximize the intended benefits to the public.

2)         The Department shall have access to PARC assisted facilities at all times for inspection purposes to ensure the project sponsor's continued compliance with this Part.

3)         The sponsoring agency may enter into a contract or agreement with responsible concessionaires to operate and/or construct facilities for dispersing food to the public and/or any other services as may be desired by the public and the sponsoring agency for enjoyable and convenient use of the PARC assisted site. 

4)         Any and all concession revenue in excess of the costs of operation and maintenance of the PARC lands and/or facilities shall be used for the improvement of those lands or facilities or similar nearby public facilities.  All sub-leases or licenses entered into by the sponsoring agency with third persons relating to accommodations or concessions to be provided for or at the PARC facility for benefit of the public shall be submitted to the Department, upon request, for its approval prior to the sublease or license being entered into or granted by the sponsoring agency.

p)         Conflict of Interests

1)         No official or employee of the local political subdivision who is authorized in his or her official capacity to negotiate, make, accept, or approve or to take part in decisions regarding a contract or subcontract in connection with an approved PARC grant project shall have any financial or other personal interest in any such contract or subcontract.

2)         No person performing services for the local political subdivision in connection with an approved PARC grant project shall have a financial or other personal interest other than his or her employment or retention by the local political subdivision in any contract or subcontract in connection with an approved PARC grant project.  No officer or employee of such person retained by the local political subdivision shall have any financial or other personal interest in any real property acquired under an approved PARC grant project unless that interest is openly disclosed upon the public records of the local political subdivision and the officer, employee or person has not participated in the acquisition for or on behalf of the local political subdivision.

q)         The project sponsor certifies that it provides a drug free workplace and related employee assistance as defined and required by the Drug Free Workplace Act [30 ILCS 580].

r)          Pursuant to Section 2-105(A)(4) of the Human Rights Act [775 ILCS 5/2-105(A)(4)], the project sponsor certifies that it has a written sexual harassment policy that includes, at a minimum, the following information:

1)         the illegality of sexual harassment;

2)         the definition of sexual harassment under State law;

3)         a description of sexual harassment utilizing examples;

4)         the contractor's internal complaint process, including penalties;

5)         the legal recourse, investigation and complaint process available through the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Human Rights Commission and directions on how to contact both; and

6)         protection against retaliation as provided by Section 6-101 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.  A copy of the policy shall be provided to the Department of Human Rights upon request.

s)         Program Violations and Project Termination

1)         The State will unilaterally rescind project agreements at any time prior to the commencement of the project in the event that State funds are not appropriated for the grant program.  After project commencement, agreements may be rescinded, modified or amended only by mutual agreement with the local political subdivision.  A project shall be deemed to be commenced when the local political subdivision makes any expenditure or incurs any obligation with respect to the project.

2)         Failure by the local sponsoring agency to comply with any of the program terms listed in this Section shall be cause for the suspension of all grant assistance obligations, unless, in the judgement of the Department, the failure was due to no fault of the local sponsoring agency (e.g., statutory changes, acts of God).