CCMinutes - 09/22/04 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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while Alternative 3 was projected to cost $19.5 million. He noted the City Manager's recommendation for Alternative 1, the extension of Patterson Street. Mayor Torrey called on the council for questions and comments. Ms. Bettman, seconded by Mr. Poling, moved to direct staff to pursue a development agreement for the benefit of providing access to McKenzie- Willamette Medical Center via Patterson Street. Ms. Bettman said it appeared from the letter from Mr. Orr that the Patterson extension was acceptable to the hospital, so she saw no reason to consider the additional costs that would be created by the Agate Street extension alternatives. She was prepared to support the motion. Ms. Bettman suggested that in the future, given that the hospital was advocating for no particular access routing, the City consider those access options that had the broadest community benefit. She suggested that the proposed improvements to the 3rd/4th connector and the addition of an access over the tracks that was equally spaced between the Chambers overpass and the Ferry Street Bridge would assist in creating additional, unimpeded access to the hospital site. Ms. Bettman recalled that the last motion the council passed regarding the topic had indicated the council's support for the project was contingent on the $85 million project being built. That was not mentioned in the staff-crafted motion before the council; she asked if the motion should be amended to convey the council's intent. Mayor Torrey advised Ms. Bettman to craft an amendment to the motion to convey that intent. Mr. Kelly thanked Mr. Orr for his correspondence. He termed the proposed alternative a ~win-win" situation as it allowed the council to save money by avoiding the Agate extension at this time, it meant there was one less road project needed for the hospital to begin operations, and it avoided community controversy about the potential for a road north of the railroad tracks. He supported the motion. Mr. Kelly noted McKenzie-Willamette Hospital's late-2007 target date mentioned in the letter from Mr. Orr and urged City Manager Taylor to return to the council if there was anything that the council could do to help the hospital achieve that target. He said dealing with the railroad could be a challenge and suggested there might be a need to get Oregon's congressional delegation involved at some point. City Manager Taylor indicated staff's belief it would take four years to complete the project because of the nature of the project and the other parties involved, especially Union Pacific Railroad. He urged the council not to focus on any particular date. The target date mentioned was dependent on many, many things. Mr. Kelly emphasized that his interest was on partnering with the hospital, and being of assistance if that assistance was needed. Mr. Kelly determined from City Manager Taylor that the development agreement mentioned in the motion would be between the City of Eugene and McKenzie-Willamette/Triad. City Manager Taylor did not know if EWEB would be an eventual party to the agreement. Mr. Pap~ determined from City Manager Taylor that McKenzie-Willamette/Triad needed to have a hospital site before it could apply to the State for a certificate of need. He asked where EWEB was in the process of finding a new site. City Manager Taylor indicated that EWEB was actively working to identify sites and had narrowed its list of possible sites. The utility was involved in active negotiations for site acquisition. Mr. Pap~ asserted that people in the local medical community was very interested in knowing where the hospital would be %ooner rather than later" and he suggested the City apply what pressure or leverage it MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 22, 2004 Page 2 Work Session