2007-047 RES-Approving an application for a recreational trails grant through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

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Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Texas Recreational Trails Fund PROJECT DEVELOPMENT Reimbursement Procedures Approved Projects The grant recipient may only initiate activities to undertake the approved scope of work after a Project Agreement is signed. This includes not taking title to lands or easements that are included in the project costs. The sponsor will not be reimbursed for project costs incurred prior to the date of the signed Agreement. Unlike the Texas Recreation and Parks Account grants, the TRTF does not allow application preparation, site design, and other pre-application costs to be recovered retroactively. For this reason, applicants need only develop project concepts well enough to have a reasonable budget. The Project Agreement is the contract between TPWD and the sponsor setting forth the approved work, allowable costs, and the sponsor's commitment to follow required procedures. Compliance with Federal and State Requirements During the application period, sponsors are not being asked to obtain all the necessary permits and clearances which the project ultimately will need. Projects approved to receive federal funds must meet any number of federal and state requirements. If selected, sponsors must be prepared to submit many federal forms; undergo environmental reviews and possibly prepare mitigation plans; obtain all permits and permissions; comply with the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policy Act of 1970 and other acquisition requirements (if acquisition is involved); follow required procurement procedures, expect audits, and supply progress reports. If you are not deterred by this, we look forward to being your partner in providing more recreations! trail opportunities! In general, TPWD will reimburse the sponsor for 80 percent of the project's total cost provided: (a) The costs are for allowable expenditures as outlined in the sponsor's application and approved in the Project Agreement signed by TPWD and the sponsor, and (b) Sponsor supplies adequate documentation that fully accounts for out-of-pocket expenditures and any donated labor, land, or materials, and certifies that the expenditures have been incurred on the project. (c) The amount of donated labor, land, or materials does not exceed 20 percent of the total project costs. Sponsors may bill TPWD on an interim basis by submitting receipts and other documentation of expenditures and work undertaken provided the sum of the interim billing totals at least $5,000. If the entire project cost is below $5,000, only one final billing will be accepted. After processing the billing, TPWD will make a payment to the sponsor for 80 percent of the amount submitted. It can take up to 60 days for reimbursement payments to reach sponsors. RETENTION AND USE Property acquired or developed with TRTF assistance shall be retained and used for public recreation. Any property so acquired or developed shall not be wholly or partly converted to other than public recreation uses without the approval of the TPWD. Such approval will be given only upon conditions as TPWD deems necessary to assure the substitution of other outdoor recreation properties of at least equal fair market value and of reasonably equivalent usefulness, quality, and location. An exception to the requirement for permanent public recreation use and dedication will only be made for lease TRPA-assisted properties after the term of such leases expire. (See "Guidelines for Conversion of Fund Supported Properties" for more information.) A. Proposed Uses - Non-recreational uses anticipated at the time of approval, or for which a request for conversion will be made subsequent to project approval, will be subject to the conditions above. vii