CC Minutes - 09/22/03 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

potential changes to the language that, while retaining the spirit of the resolution, would help it be clear and acceptable in regard to what the council wanted to accomplish. Councilor Solomon left the podium. Mayor Torrey asked if the intent of the motion was not to allow one hospital to have any benefits unless it decided to build a full-service facility in the center of Eugene. He asked whether a hospital with a major certificate of need that had built a major facility at a location in Springfield would qualify for the incentives to locate in Eugene. Councilor Bettman responded that it would not, that the incentives were specific to a major full-service hospital with a certificate of need that would locate in Eugene. Mayor Torrey stated that he could not support the motion as written. Mr. Carlson said that, while he recognized that the intent of the motion was not action at this time, he wanted to speak to the geographic definition within the language. He stated that the PeaceHealth Hospital located at the Hilyard Street campus might not qualify for the incentives under the requirement to locate within a two-mile radius of 2nd Avenue and Chambers Street. He also pointed out that either of the hospitals were regional facilities and would not be ;;Eugene's hospital." He noted that over 50 percent of the patients at McKenzie-Willamette Hospital were residents of Springfield. Councilor Bettman asserted that the PeaceHealth move to the River Bend site would change the demographics of McKenzie-Willamette Hospital patients. Mr. Klein asked for clarification of the intent of the motion, for instance, whether counsel was to determine what the reduction of the SDCs should be. Mayor Torrey called for the vote. Roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously, 6:0, Ms. Solomon being out of the room at the time the vote was taken. Mayor Torrey called for comments on the published agenda item. Councilor Nathanson stated that she would not support the recommendation from the Planning Commission. She commented that she liked the suggested incentives in the language of the resolution. Regarding the concern that building on one side or another of the bridge system would compromise access to the hospital in the event of a natural disaster, Councilor Nathanson pointed out that millions of dollars had recently been spent on seismic upgrades to the Ferry Street Bridge. Councilor Nathanson remarked that it was in the best interest of the City to promote good access to health care by easing the process of locating a hospital. She reiterated her interest in a ~needed update" to the zoning code. Councilor Kelly opined that, should the current PeaceHealth campus be excluded by the two-mile radius rule, the City would likely fix the rule to include it. MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 22, 2003 Page 9 Regular Meeting