Section 524.160  Certification

Approval of designated River Edge Redevelopment Zones shall be effectuated by the Department by certification of the designating ordinance.

a)         The Department shall promptly issue a certificate for each approved zone.  The certificate shall:

1)         be signed by the Director of the Department;

2)         make specific reference to the designating ordinance, which shall be attached to the certificate;

3)         be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State Index Department; and

4)         be recorded in the office of the recorder of deeds in the county in which the River Edge Redevelopment Zone lies.

b)         A River Edge Redevelopment Zone shall be effective upon its certification.  A certified copy of the ordinance and certification shall be filed with the Legal Service Bureau of the Illinois Department of Revenue and with the designating municipality.  Upon certification, the terms and provisions of the ordinance shall be in effect and may not be amended or repealed, except in accordance with Section 10-5.4 of the Act.

c)         A River Edge Redevelopment Zone shall be in effect for the period stated in the certificate, which shall in no event exceed 30 years.  Zones shall terminate at midnight on December 31 of the final calendar year or the certified term, except as provided in Section 10-5.4 of the Act.

d)         In calendar years 2006 and 2007, the Department may certify one pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone in the City of Aurora, one pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone in the City of East St. Louis, and one pilot River Edge Redevelopment Zone in the City of Rockford.  The Department shall not certify any additional River Edge Redevelopment Zones, but may amend or rescind certifications of existing River Edge Redevelopment Zones in accordance with Section 10-5.4 of the Act.

e)         A municipality in which a River Edge Redevelopment Zone has been certified must submit to the Department, within 60 days after certification, a plan for encouraging the participation by minority persons, females, persons with disabilities, and veterans in the zone.

f)         The Department may assist the municipality in developing and implementing the master plan.