Peoria County: Downtown Peoria Riverfront Museum

On Thursday, November 8th 2007, the Peoria Riverfront museum officials came to the County Board to ask for our participation in the museum block project.  They've requested the County's assistance in closing the $24 million gap to keep this project moving forward.

To keep you informed regarding this unique request, we've gathered some of the articles, presentations and other information available for your consideration:  

 Peoria Museum Square Project (Details about the project including components, plans, video and news archives).

County Board Meeting Audio and Video: November 8th, 2007 meeting (also available as a podcast in the iTunes store, search for Peoria County).

PJ Star: Moment of Truth for Museum (archived).

WEEK TV: Peoria County Board Gets $24 Million Museum Question (includes video of museum presentation).

 On Thurday, Novermber 29th, 2007, the Peoria County Finance Committee will consider a number of options for action and will make a recommendation to the full board in December.

On April 7, 2009, Peoria County voters passed a one quarter of one percent (1/4%) sales tax for public facilities purposes.  This would mean that a consumer will pay an additional twenty five cents ($0.25) in sales tax for every $100 of goods bought at retail.  This additional tax will cease on January 1, 2030.

The proceeds of the tax will be utilized to help finance the construction of the Peoria Riverfront Museum. 

On February 4, 2010, the County Board held a Committee of the Whole to discuss an update to the project.  The following documents are listed here:

• The presentation by County staff, museum officials, and the museum architects;
• The By-Laws of the Peoria Riverfront Museum, an Illinois not-for-profit corporation; 
• The Capital Facility, Lease and Operating Agreement between Peoria County and the Peoria Riverfront Museum.

On May 6, 2010, Peoria County posted an "Invitation to Bid" for the parking deck of the museum. The mandatory, pre-bid meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on May 17, 2010 at the Illinois Department of Transportation office on Main Street in Peoria. Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. on June 1, 2010 at the Peoria County Highway Department; bids will be opened immediately afterwards.

• Legal Notice of Invitation to Bid

The County's Museum Committee will meet at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, August 6, 2010.  They will consider 5 different resolutions.  Here is the background information for each item:

Design Concepts, Amended and Restated Redevelopment Agreement
Capital Facility Development, Lease and Operating Agreement
Bid Award for construction of the Peoria Riverfront Museum parking structure, and Engineering Agreements for material testing and construction support are available for download here:

http://www.peoriacounty.org/county/files/show/Peoria%20Riverfront%20Museum

We'll be adding information about the decision making process as it occurs, so check back often.