CCMinutes - 07/26/04 Mtg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Torrey closed the Public Forum and asked for questions and comments from the council. Councilor Bettman thanked those who spoke at the Public Forum. Regarding development of a Community Safety Center, she thought the nuance of the bond measure would be lost on most of the public. She opined that it would have been more beneficial to the community had the non-profit service providers had advocated for a replacement of City Hall, which should be the highest priority. She asserted that such a center was a '~fiscally short-sighted project." She said while she supported the services the agencies provided, she would not support this particular proposal. Councilor Bettman thanked the members of the WNACPC for speaking. She noted she had requested that staff provide some options other than Agate Street for hospital access and asked if staff had been able to find this information. She also asked that the timeline for public input be made available as soon as possible. She said the public needed opportunities to participate. Councilor Pap6 asked if it was known yet whether the access to the hospital would be an overpass or an 'Gat grade" crossing. City Manager Dennis Taylor responded that the work session scheduled for September 22 would address the issues of access, cost, and timing, and would provide an update on the hospital issue. Councilor Pap~ appreciated the diversity on the council as to what direction the City should take as far as planning for a Civic Center. He said a new police facility was needed that was up to seismic and safety standards. Given that the most likely site for the new Civic Center building was on the present City Hall site, he thought it prudent to move the police out and into a ~proper" facility first. He acknowledged the testimony in support of collocation and said it would help to get the bond measure passed. He hoped the service agencies would help to pass the measure. Councilor Taylor expressed admiration for the University students who were making a continued presence in support of housing standards enforcement. Councilor Taylor also thanked Mr. Sonnichsen and Mr. Love for trying to protect the river. She felt the placement of roads and buildings along the river would reduce access to it. Regarding the police station, Councilor Taylor thought it was the wrong time to place a bond measure on the ballot. Councilor Kelly commented that, because of the visibility of the issue on access to the proposed hospital, it would be beneficial to have information for the public as soon as possible. Mr. Taylor said he would work with Public Works Director Kurt Corey to provide the council with the latest information with regard to the work. Councilor Bettman commended the students working for housing standards for showing up in August. In response to a question from Councilor Bettman, Mr. Taylor affirmed that staff was working on access issues to the hospital area as well as barriers. Councilor Bettman asked if staff was soliciting options from other areas. Mr. Taylor responded that staff was working with the options adopted in the council work session. Mayor Torrey said he wanted a statement from Triad/McKenzie-Willamette Hospital clarifying what it was willing to accept regarding access routes. He stressed that if the hospital was not willing to accept the outcome of the discussions, there was no point in pursuing them. He added that this did not necessarily mean that the City had to accept what the hospital set forth either.