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B. WORK SESSION: Downtown Hospital <br /> <br />Mr. Carlson informed the council that this was a work session, called by four members of the City <br />Council, was an opportunity to talk about a downtown hospital. Planning and Development <br />Department Director Tom Coyle provided the initial presentation and consultant Jim Johnson was <br />present to provide additional background material he provided at the request of Mr. Carlson. <br /> <br />Mr. Coyle spoke to three components regarding downtown hospitals: <br /> <br />1) What Planning and Development staff was capable of doing, subject to council direction. <br />2) What Planning and Development staff was currently doing. <br />3) What Planning and Development staff cannot do. <br /> <br />Mr. Coyle said that Planning staff can provide land use information to any potential hospital <br />advisor who seeks its counsel. Staff is familiar with the policy direction from City Council to <br />encourage downtown and nodal development. Staff is currently providing McKenzie Willamette <br />Hospital these services and will provide the same services to PeaceHealth as it goes through its <br />renovation. Staff is capable of going further with medical providers by assisting, facilitating, or <br />inducing medical service delivery in an area that is not otherwise being presented in the market <br />environment. Staff is not currently providing this service, but could with direction from council. <br />Finally, staff was not an expert on the current status of medical administration. It is an area that <br />staff would typically have to contract for service. As such, it would be difficult to provide the City <br />Council with good advice relative to downtown hospital opportunities. Mr. Coyle said that <br />Planning and Development staff would be happy to participate in the proposed dialogue with a <br />citizens group involving the different governmental agencies. He expressed concern that the <br />output will not give the City Council the technical information that it might desire. Mr. Coyle <br />noted that Mr. Johnson's memorandum was included with the packet of materials. <br /> <br />Mr. Rayor reported that the McKenzie Watershed Council had a presentation from the <br />PeaceHealth organization regarding the Riverbend campus. He expressed disappointment with the <br />plan. The Hilyard campus, if developed as promised, will be good for the community. He <br />expressed concern that citizens of Eugene do not have the freedom to choose from difference <br />reproductive service providers. Mr. Rayor said that he supported putting this item on the agenda <br />because he would like to provide development assistance, in the form of a hospital zone, in several <br />areas of the city. This zoning would change a hospital from a conditional use to an allowed use. <br />This a no-cost way to assist with potential hospital development, and might be used in C-2 zone or <br />within the downtown core. <br /> <br />Mr. Farr said that in 2008, when PeaceHealth completed its move to Riverbend, there will still be a <br />hospital in the City of Eugene. Fifty to sixty percent of the citizens from the Eugene area will be <br />able to get to the new hospital faster than they could reach the old hospital. He acknowledged that <br />there was an argument regarding emergency care. To keep open the possibilities for the future, he <br />would support the "allowed use." <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 18, 2002 Page 5 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />