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· That the council supported and welcomed the siting of a hospital in <br /> Eugene. <br /> · That the council appreciated the hospital board had many factors to <br /> consider in choosing an appropriate site. <br /> · That the council appreciated that siting decisions can have a positive <br /> impact on the health of Eugene residents as well as creating significant <br /> costs and obstacles to the residents of Eugene. <br /> · That the council realized that a hospital location within the central City <br /> (defined as within a two-mile radius of 2nd Avenue and Chambers Street, <br /> south and west of the Willamette River) would result in a principal <br /> public benefit in terms of better access to all levels of health services for <br /> the residents of the City of Eugene, and reduced City expenses for <br /> providing services and infrastructure to the hospital. <br /> · That the council resolved to provide the following incentives in order to <br /> achieve the above objectives at a site within the central City (as defined <br /> above): <br /> 1) Assistance with land assembly. <br /> 2) Reductions in transportation systems development charges <br /> (SDCs). <br /> 3) The provision of a facilitator to act as a direct liaison between the <br /> City Council and the hospital entity. This "point person" would be <br /> wholly supervised by the City Manager and solely dedicated to <br /> working with a hospital entity. The facilitator would provide the <br /> expertise, collaborative support, and credibility necessary to navigate <br /> a successful siting decision. <br /> <br /> Councilor Kelly provided the second. <br /> <br />Councilor Bettman advocated for the provision of incentives specific to the enticement of a hospital to <br />locate in a place that was in the best interest of the City. She asserted that the resolution would tell <br />hospital entities and the community that the City wanted the hospital in the heart of the city and was <br />willing to do what it could to facilitate this. She clarified that the three incentives she listed were not <br />necessarily exclusive. <br /> <br />Councilor Kelly voiced his enthusiastic support. He noted that Councilor Pap6 had requested no action <br />occur at the present meeting on this item. He reiterated that this was not an action but direction to staff to <br />bring back language for the council to discuss. He stressed that there were only two hospital providers <br />and a facilitator could be the mechanism to work with them directly and honor the confidentiality that <br />would be involved in doing that. He felt the incentives were in line with the Growth Management <br />Policies of the City. <br /> <br />Councilor Meisner conveyed his support for the motion. He emphasized that the council was not voting <br />on the merits of the resolution. He likened the recommendation from the Planning Commission to a club <br />as opposed to a carrot and a stick. He felt the resolution would allow the City to actively encourage and <br />work for what it wanted to see in the community. He asked staff to estimate the cost for a facilitator and <br />to inform the council if a budget amendment would be needed to fund this. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 22, 2003 Page 7 <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> <br /> <br />