CC Minutes - 02/15/06 Work Session

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Ms. Bettman moved to amend the motion by changing Level 3 to Level 2. The motion failed to receive a second. Ms. Bettman explained her interest in the motion was to ensure that the city had a Level 2 hospital. Ms. Taylor agreed to second Ms. Bettman’s amendment. Ms. Bettman said she had not discussed the issue with McKenzie-Willamette Medical Clinic but had heard early in the process that if the City wanted a higher trauma level, the hospital would be willing to provide it. She thought the City had little leverage in the discussion and should at least insist on a Level 2 trauma center. Ms. Ortiz could not support the motion. She said the City did not need to be prescriptive and tell the organization what it should do in order to give it what it needed to locate in Eugene. If those who staffed the organization believed it was necessary, they could request a higher level through the Trauma Site Survey when audited. City Manager Taylor indicated that amendment proposed by Ms. Bettman was not acceptable to the hospital. Mr. Poling asked the level rating of the hospital proposed to be on the Eugene Water & Electric Board site. City Manager Taylor believed it was the same as was being proposed. Ms. Bettman said the hospital could build a Level 4 facility if it wanted. The MOU before the council addressed what the City would do for the McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center, and she thought the MOU should also discuss what the McKenzie-Willamette Medical Clinic would do for the City. In the context of negotiations, she thought the City should ask for what it needed. She maintained the hospital was asking for special consideration, and in exchange for that special consideration, the City Council should levy that to benefit the public it served. The amendment to the motion failed, 5:2; Ms. Taylor and Ms. Bettman voting yes. Ms. Solomon, seconded by Mr. Poling, moved to extend time for the item by five minutes. The motion passed unanimously. Ms. Taylor did not think it appropriate for the City to devote staff resources to expedite the development review. She believed the public would object. She maintained that even if the hospital paid the extra staff costs, “something would get shoved out the way,” given that the council continually heard about resource shortfalls in the Planning Division. Ms. Bettman opposed the motion. She said any entity was welcome to apply for development under the current code and receive what the City provided to all entities. In this case, she thought the City should remain neutral. She believed the MOU implied a certain approval and an extraordinary commitment on the part of the City, and she thought the City should remain neutral in the issue. Ms. Bettman believed there were other locations for the hospital under consideration that would better serve the medical needs of the community. That might not result in increased tax revenue to the City, and might MINUTES—Eugene City Council February 15, 2006 Page 4 Work Session