Renovation of a stadium in Peoria, Illinois. Completed plans call for the renovation of a stadium.

https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2023/07/12/peoria-civic-center-seeking-to-sell-naming-rights/70406369007/ The Civic Center hosts a variety of events throughout the years, including concerts, stand up comedy shows and other live events. The Civic Center is also the homes to Bradley University basketball and the Peoria Rivermen hockey team. Receiving funding from both the state and city government, the Peoria Civic Center is slated to undergo $40 million in renovations over the next two years. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://www.wcbu.org/local-news/2023-02-23/civic-center-authority-board-considers-city-proposal-to-close-capital-needs-funding-gap Civic Center Authority board considers city proposal to close capital needs funding gap At its monthly meeting Thursday afternoon, the Peoria Civic Center Authority board discussed a proposed $20 million investment from the City of Peoria to address a funding gap for the venue's wish list of capital needs. "That, combined with the DCEO (Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity) grant that we've already received of $25 million, gets us close to that $47 million of capital improvement projects that we still need to do," said PCCA board chair Yvonne Greer-Batton. "But with that (grant award) being in 2019, the cost of almost everything has gone up. So, it doesn't mean all of the problems are solved. It just means we're better prepared to address them." Since the Civic Center Authority cannot levy taxes on its own, it needs to rely on the city for additional funding. The city's proposal would use revenue from existing Hotel, Restaurant and Amusement (HRA) taxes for the plan. A final agreement on any deal has not been finalized. The city council is expected to discuss the proposal at its next meeting on Tuesday, with a potential vote likely on March 14. The Civic Center Authority scheduled a special meeting on March 13 to vote on possible changes to its intergovernmental agreement with the city. Among the upgrades on the venue's $47 million needs list are a new roof, heating and cooling system, carpeting and various other upgrades. Additionally, the outdated and faulty ice plant at Carver Arena needs to be replaced. The lack of a long-term solution for the ice plant has been one of the sticking points delaying a new lease agreement between the Civic Center and the Peoria Rivermen hockey team. The current contract expires at the end of the current Southern Professional Hockey League season. "Even though we would have the money to replace the ice plant, that is not a guarantee that the team would stay at the Peoria Civic Center," said Greer-Batton. "We at the authority have agreed to negotiate in good faith, and we hope that the Rivermen are going to do the same and see if we can come up to a successful contract agreement. But right now, we don't have a contract that extends beyond the end of the current season." About 30 Rivermen fans attended the meeting. Three spoke during the public comment portion and pleaded with the board to make sure the team doesn't leave. "When you walk through those doors and into that arena, you become part of the Rivermen hockey family," said longtime season ticket holder Jeremy Allen. "Don't let yourselves be the one that breaks up that family." The ice plant was not high enough on the priority list to be covered by the $25 million state grant, so the city money would cover that cost. Original estimates placed the cost of a new ice plant at $2.5 million, but under this proposal, the Civic Center would set aside $4 million. However, Greer-Batton noted a potential new ice plant would not be in place before the next hockey season begins. "Ordering a new ice plant takes several months, and so we would not be able to get a new ice plant ordered and brought to us before the start of the 2023 season for the Rivermen," she said. The venue's event calendar also doesn't have a clear window for installation. Asked if the Carver Arena rink can make it through another season with the current leaky ice plant, Greer-Batton said, "It is my guess -- I couldn't say without the full authority chiming in on this -- it is my guess that we would be able to make whatever investment was needed to buy whatever Freon has leaked out to successfully continue a season." __________________________ Prevailing wage law: this contract calls for the construction of a "Public work," within the meaning of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/.01 Et seq. ("The act"). The act requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers, workers and mechanics performing services on public works projects no less than the current "Prevailing Rate of Wages" (hourly cash wages plus amount for fringe benefits) in the county where the work is performed. The department publishes the prevailing wage rates on its website. The contractor/subcontractor has an obligation to check the department's web site for revisions to prevailing wage rates. For information regarding current prevailing wage rates, please refer to the Illinois Department of Labor's website. All contractors and sub-contractors rendering services under this contract must comply with all requirements of the act, including but not limited to, all wage, notice and record keeping duties. The bidder shall have a written sexual harassment policy in place in full compliance with section 2-105 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.