CC Minutes - 04/12/99 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

is not needed. Ms. Mann said she is devastated that the fields, which so many people have worked hard to improve, will be destroyed and turned into a runway. Rocky Gothard, 1371 Sunny Drive, read into the record the following letter he wrote to the Secretary of the Department of Veteran's Affairs: "It was nice for you to take time with your busy schedule to visit with our reception in Washington, D.C. last week. Thanks for the praise you gave us for helping with this year's VA Budget. During our conversation, I explained a few problems of the new VA clinic in Eugene, Oregon. First, a state-of-the-art clinic for handicapped- accessible inside, but not outside. Second, we have a waiting list from 250-300 patients with little or no chance to get an appointment until well into the year 2000. Third, our homeless program is feeding 30-60 homeless veterans each day. This is being done with only four chairs, a table, and an additional nine other chairs. I am enclosing a few pictures of the route clients in wheelchairs or on foot have to use. When the clinic was built, something was forgotten: how to get to it. The only route by foot is through potholes or on the road. There are no sidewalks in, just the alley or the driveway. As you can see, that is not good enough for disabled veterans to get in or out. The clinic is less than a year old and already has more clients than the current doctors can handle. The waiting list has been from around 250-320 veterans since December of 1998. We need more staff for this clinic also. When the clinic was built, it was built to handle urgent care. Just one thing, the VA didn't add any full-time staff for this, so the veterans in one of the most populated per-capita counties in the country still have to travel more than 100 miles to Portland or Roseburg hospitals for urgent care. We spend more time and money traveling than we spend getting the services we need. I have been cooking for the homeless program since we opened the new clinic. We feed on the average 30-35 homeless vets each day, peaking at times to 60 or so. We only have one table with four chairs and nine other chairs. This is just not enough room for the veterans to enjoy the lunch. Standing and holding one's plate may fill an empty belly, but is neither comfortable nor appropriate. Sincerely, Rocky Gothard, President of Vietnam Veterans of America, Oregon State Council." Mr. Gothard submitted to the councilors a photo of the clinic and surrounding area, requesting that the City address the access-related issues and that councilors contact the Secretary of the Department of Veteran Affairs concerning the shortage of staff at the Eugene VA clinic. Mr. Kelly requested that City Manager Jim Johnson direct the Public Works Maintenance Division to evaluate the accessibility and overall condition of the access to the VA clinic. Mr. Johnson agreed to do so. Ms. Nathanson echoed Mr. Kelly's interest in referring to the Public Works Maintenance Division the accessibility-related issues raised by Mr. Gothard. In addition, Ms. Nathanson stated that the testimony by Diane Mann confirmed her belief that airline service to Eugene is presently unsatisfactory to many citizens and could be improved with the addition of a runway. With regard to the Bond Sports Complex softball fields, Ms. Nathanson expressed concern regarding the following points: 1) short notice given to Bond Sports Complex; 2) is the City "going back on its word?"; and 3) her experience of the level of use of the fields differs from claims in the materials provided to staff that the fields fail to generate enough use to justify retaining them. Mr. Rayor stated that he was unclear as to the connection between the Bond Sports Complex softball fields and the construction of an additional airport runway. He expressed support for utilizing a straight-forward process to identify and discuss the issues and provide accurate information to the parties involved. Mr. Rayor thanked Mr. Gothard for his testimony concerning MINUTES-Eugene City Council April 12, 1999 Page 3 7:30 p.m.