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Ms. Bettman thanked Mr. Johnson for the materials he provided. She said that they made a good <br />case for why cities have a stake in their communities' health care. Eugene needs a hospital and all <br />citizens need access to health care. Competition in health care gives the community a choice for <br />services. Without competitive services, the City is at a disadvantage. She suggested that the City <br />"bait the hook" to attract a downtown hospital. The opportunities before the City should be <br />publicized and then it can wait to see what happens. This does not include deciding what the <br />health care needs are for the next 50 years. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner said that the memorandum from Mr. Johnson was helpful, but did not provide the <br />answers to several questions. While the City may take action, the issue of "can the City" remains <br />to be seen, and the issue of "should the City" remains unanswered. He said he would like to ensure <br />that there is a good level of hospital service in Eugene. There are no guarantees with either <br />PeaceHealth or McKenzie Willamette. It is important to ensure that there is care within the city. <br />He suggested that there be an expression of support for the provision of hospital care facilities in <br />Eugene, without making a commitment of financial resources at this time or identifying the hospital <br />of choice. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly said that in this community, health services are provided privately, not publicly. He said <br />that it made sense for the health care community and the City to work together to determine how <br />health care services will be provided for the community. Although there will be a facility at <br />Hilyard, there will not be an emergency room, nor general health care beds for the hospital. Mr. <br />Kelly expressed his appreciation for Mr. Coyle's assessment of what the staff can and cannot do. <br />He asked that staff move forward with those things they can do and he hoped there would be a <br />motion to this effect. He echoed Ms. Bettman's remark that this was good for economic <br />development and redevelopment. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson said that she represents southwest Eugene, which will have the worst access to <br />medical facilities with the move to the Riverbend campus. She said that there are two critical <br />factors in emergency services: 1) the time it takes an ambulance to reach a patient and 2) the time <br />it takes an ambulance to get to the hospital. She asked if the City has adequate zoning in place or <br />are there appropriate changes that could be made that would help enable locating, relocating, or <br />expanding a hospital. Mr. Coyle said that one option was to provide for a specialty zone or an <br />opportunity zone. In addition, it could also be possible to change existing zoning uses from <br />conditional uses to principally allowable uses. He added that there may be policy issues which <br />need to be further addressed. Ms. Nathanson asked that staff further research this issue. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson asked if it was possible for the Planning and Development staff to determine what <br />was in the "tool kit" and what the City Council should be prepared to authorize. Mr. Coyle <br />responded that the infrastructure and land assemblage information can be brought forward quickly <br />at council direction today. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson said that she would be interested in pursuing those issues that were within the <br />City's purview to ensure good health care. <br /> <br /> MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 18, 2002 Page 6 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />