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Mr. Pap6 recommended the City facilitate a study of the area similar to that done for the east campus area to help bring the different parties together. City Manager Taylor said he and Mr. Yordy had discussed the benefits of such joint planning, particularly as the hospital's plans become clearer. He believed there were many opportunities that could be realized in the area, and said that the concepts put forward by Peace- Health in regard to wider sidewalks, improved pedestrian safety, mixed use, improved linkages to other areas of downtown, and increased street level activities were consistent with the City's larger vision for the central area. Mr. Pap6 maintained such a study would benefit everyone. Ms. Taylor determined from Mr. Yordy that the urgent care function now housed at the Willamette Street site would move to the Hilyard campus, and that the number of employees at the Hilyard campus would increase in time to 1,500 to 1,800. Mr. Yordy said of 5,400 PeaceHealth employees in Lane County, approximately 3,000 worked at the Hilyard campus. Ms. Taylor. determined from Mr. Yordy that the employees now working in the buildings to be demolished would be working at the RiverBend campus instead. Ms. Taylor expressed concern about pedestrian and bicycle access in the area and was concerned that wider streets would change the nature of the area and make the area more difficult for pedestrians to cross. She did not foresee the City or County having road funds to expand the streets. Mr. Yordy agreed about the importance of bicycle and pedestrian safety. He pointed out many of the linkages that exist in the area evolved over time without any specific planning, creating many potential conflict points. He said PeaceHealth wanted to plan for those improved linkages. As a cyclist, he believed clearly marked intersections were a key to safe conditions. Mr. Yordy again emphasized that PeaceHealth and the University are the area's largest employers and offered community residents family wage jobs. He hoped that the council, when setting its priorities for expenditures, would consider those economic engines and consider the expenditure of City and County road funds to make conditions in the area safer, more accessible, and more effective, enhancing the ability of those employers to continue to provide good jobs. Ms. Taylor asked how much cafeteria workers and cleaners made working at PeaceHealth. Mr. Yordy said there were set wage scales and it depended on how long an employee worked at PeaceHealth. He said the average for the majority of jobs was well over $15 hour. He added that for lower wage workers, while wages might be somewhat above the general economy, PeaceHealth had special programs where those employees were provided additional benefits, including medical and educational benefits as well as emergency assistance. Ms. Solomon agreed with City Manager Taylor that there was a lot of opportunity in the area. She said it was clear that PeaceHealth spent some time thinking about that and about improvements needed to the corridor. She expressed appreciation to PeaceHealth for its commitment to the community and was happy it was to stay in the Hilyard Street area as she thought the ripple effect would be good for everyone. It appeared to Ms. Solomon that PeaceHealth was ready to do many of the things that Eugene wanted to see happen, including urban revitalization and redevelopment and creating connections to BRT. She hoped the council did what it could to help PeaceHealth realize its plans. Mayor Torrey complimented PeaceHealth on its presentation. He encouraged PeaceHealth to seek Road Fund money from the Lane County for road improvements. He pointed out that the University and PeaceHealth employed people from all over the county, creating a logical nexus to the County Road Fund. He did not want the council to be shortsighted because of its own funding problems. Mayor Torrey said the City needed to make that part of the city work, and an overlay was not sufficient to realize that goal. MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 11, 2004 Page 6 Work Session