============================================================ Health Options Digest May 26, 2002 Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield ============================================================ * EDITOR'S LETTER * CALENDAR 1.xx - TUE 5/28 - Springfield City Council 2.xx - TUE 5/28, THU 5/30 - PeaceHealth Drop-in Sessions * MAJOR NEWS 3.ph - New hospital planning begins 4.rg - Officials seek best path to get Belt Line funds * LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 5.rg - Consider big picture 6.rg - Be part of community 7.rg - Protect LCC area * CONTACTS, OTHER LINKS, KEY, CREDITS ===================== EDITOR'S LETTER ==================== PeaceHealth is moving forward with plans to build a new hospital. On Tuesday, the Springfield City Council will be reviewing the annexation agreement (#1). Next week, the Boundary Commission will be decide whether or not to approve the proposed annexation. Also, PeaceHealth is hold a pair of "drop-in" sessions to present some preliminary design concepts to the community (#2). Call PeaceHealth if you are interested in attending: 686-6868. PeaceHealth reports on their progress (#3). But where will the money come from to handle all the traffic in the area (#4)? One citizen suggests considering the big picture (#5). Another wonders what will happen to the small town of Coburg, which is just up the road from the planned new hospital (#6). And another questions the motives of Arlie & Co. in trying to work another land deal, this time with LCC (#7). Meanwhile in Eugene, other questions about traffic are being debated. On Wednesday, May 29, at 6 pm in the Eugene City Council Chambers, officials from Eugene, Springfield, Lane County and LTD will hear public testimony on plans to build the West Eugene Parkway. This discussion might have more to do with plans to build a new hospital in the Gateway area than many might think. Eventually all roads merge into one -- or at least they all compete for the same limited state highway funds. Can Eugene-Springfield afford both a new hospital with an expanded Beltline/I-5 interchange and a new West Eugene Parkway? The jury is still out... Rob Zako, Editor 343-5201 rzako@efn.org ======================== CALENDAR ======================== ------------------------------------------------------------ 1.xx - TUE 5/28 - SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL ------------------------------------------------------------ Tuesday, May 28 5:30 p.m. - Springfield City Council work session. Review of Peace Health Annexation Agreement [Colin Stephens] (15 Minutes). Council Meeting Room, City Hall, 225 Fifth St., 726-3700. Agenda: http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/CMO/2002Council/052802%20agenda.prn.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------ 2.xx - TUE 5/28, THU 5/30 - PEACEHEALTH DROP-IN SESSIONS ------------------------------------------------------------ In advance of submitting an initial master plan to the City of Springfield, PeaceHealth is holding a pair of "drop-in" sessions to present some preliminary design concepts for their new hospital site: Tuesday, May 28, 3-6 p.m., Sacred Heart Medical Center/Hilyard in the North Dining Room, 1255 Hilyard, Eugene. Thursday, May 30, 3-6 p.m., Sony Disk Manufacturing, Multimedia Room, 123 International Way, Springfield. Although these are billed as "drop-in" sessions, if you are interested in attending, PeaceHealth asks that you RSVP by calling the PeaceHealth Public Affairs office at 686-6868. ======================= MAJOR NEWS ======================= ------------------------------------------------------------ 3.ph - NEW HOSPITAL PLANNING BEGINS ------------------------------------------------------------ Prepared by PeaceHealth Public Affairs, 686-6868 PeaceHealth Progress, 5/6/02 Planning for the second Sacred Heart campus at RiverBend has begun in earnest. More than 500 people, on 34 different internal design committees, have met with architects and planners over the last several months. Staff members from throughout the hospital -- plus physicians, patients, and community members -- have provided valuable input to architects and professional space planners about square footage requirements. The next phase of this process will begin in June when the architects and designers, along with the internal team, will begin designing the actual department configurations and building elevations. Preparing for construction While there are many steps to be completed before we break ground next year, we remain on target to open the new hospital within five years. A construction manager/general contractor, Turner Construction Company, has been retained, and the necessary regulatory approvals have been identified and charted. In March, PeaceHealth began discussing a preliminary master plan for the RiverBend site with city of Springfield staff. Final master plan designs will be submitted in the fall, after additional public input has been received. How is Sacred Heart involving the home and business owners in the area around RiverBend in the planning process? Hospital staff continues to meet with neighbors to the project. Ultimately, the planning process will involve a broad range of people, with a focus on residents whose properties are adjacent to or near the new hospital site. Over the next few months there will be a number of opportunities for neighbors, businesses in the area, and community members to comment on concepts related to the site plan. If you are interested in being informed of specific opportunities for input and involvement, please call PeaceHealth's Public Affairs department at 686-6868 or register via e-mail on PeaceHealth's Web site, www.peacehealth.org/willamette. What kind of development is planned for the RiverBend site? Does PeaceHealth intend to lead the development of the entire site? In its preliminary design description, PeaceHealth described the use of the land to include a hospital and associated medical and professional facilities, multi-story parking structures, small-scale commercial operations, and residential housing. Although it's likely that PeaceHealth will retain ownership of most of the 160 acres of land, we do not expect to lead the development of all non-medical uses. PeaceHealth would prefer that the commercial and residential projects be executed by developers who have qualified expertise in these areas. Will PeaceHealth's ownership of the land in Springfield take all of it off the tax rolls? No. Only real property that is in service for a non-for-profit purpose of the organization (i.e., health care) is tax-exempt. Any activity on PeaceHealth property that is for housing, commercial offices, medical offices, and is not owned or operated by PeaceHealth or similar tax-exempt entities, will be subject to property taxes. A recent study showed that the property taxes assessed this development at full build-out will generate more than $16 million -- more than twice the amount generated than if the property was assessed under its current designation as medium density residential. PeaceHealth paid $456,298 in property taxes in Lane County in 2001, one of the top 10 largest property tax bills in the county. How will PeaceHealth address the flood plain issue on the RiverBend campus site? The potential hospital site itself is not in a flood plain right now. In fact, the new hospital and related critical structures at RiverBend will be built above the 500-year flood elevation. All other development on the RiverBend site will comply with flood plain management guidelines and regulations. PeaceHealth is currently conducting an analysis of three miles of the McKenzie River to verify the accuracy of the flood plain maps. As part of its development proposal, PeaceHealth will ensure that flood-related issues are appropriately addressed to protect people and property from potential flood hazards. What are the plans for the existing Sacred Heart campus at Hilyard? Sacred Heart plans to spend more than $40 million to upgrade and enhance the Hilyard campus over several years. After the new hospital opens, about 1,800 employees will remain or be relocated on this campus, providing a variety of clinical and administrative services, including primary and specialty care administered by PeaceHealth Medical Group physicians and other providers. In addition, the Hilyard campus will house a variety of administrative functions for PeaceHealth's regional operations. The Willamette campus (home of PeaceHealth Medical Group) will be held until it is vacated later in the decade. What's the plan for emergency services for south Eugene? We're in the process of determining just what form emergency services will take at the Hilyard site. A task force of emergency physicians and other staff has been meeting to review all of the issues related to this complex project, including state rules. To date we are committed to providing round-the-clock services on the Hilyard campus. Which is it -- PeaceHealth or Sacred Heart? We know it's confusing, and we often use the terms interchangeably. Sacred Heart refers to the hospital. The new hospital at RiverBend will likely be known as Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, while the existing hospital may be called Sacred Heart Medical Center at Hilyard. PeaceHealth is Sacred Heart's nonprofit parent organization. PeaceHealth has six hospitals and six medical groups and related services in Alaska, Washington and Oregon. Sacred Heart Medical Center is the largest hospital in the PeaceHealth organization. (end) http://www.peacehealth.org/std/default.asp?content=/Community/owv/News/peacehealth_progress_May02.htm [Ed. Note: If you would like to receive facility updates from PeaceHealth via email, send a message to: FacilitiesUpdates@peacehealth.org] ------------------------------------------------------------ 4.rg - OFFICIALS SEEK BEST PATH TO GET BELT LINE FUNDS ------------------------------------------------------------ By Matt Cooper The Register-Guard, 5/22/02, Page 3D Springfield -- Local leaders huddled Tuesday to talk about the obstacles to winning $17 million in state money they want for redesigning the Interstate 5/Belt Line Road interchange. The state Transportation Commission is considering how to dole out $50 million in bond proceeds that are being financed through fee increases approved by the 2001 Legislature. Oregon's Region 2 -- which runs from Lane County north to Clatsop County -- is set to receive $17 million. Tuesday's meeting was called after the commission said last week that, to be in the running, local governments must contribute at least $5 million -- and perhaps as much as $15 million -- and improve their process for obtaining public input on the redesign. If the commission spreads the money throughout the region, Lane County could expect just $2 million, a scenario that didn't sit well with Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey. "If we don't decide to move forward on the $17 million," he said, "we are really getting hammered." Commissioner Randy Pape, who represents the region on the five-member transportation commission, said afterward a process for resolving public concerns about the Gateway/Belt Line intersection just east of I-5 has to be identified before the commission meets in late June if he is to recommend earmarking the money for the Eugene-Springfield interchange. There are three options for redesigning the intersection to improve traffic flow, but area stakeholders prefer only one of them -- a couplet of one-way roads -- to preserve businesses they believe essential to the area's draw. Lane County Commissioner Bill Dwyer said he couldn't support going after the money if it means locking the area into a redesign plan that can't be changed later to meet business needs. "The money is important," Dwyer said, "but it's just as important we don't throw the baby out with the bath water." The redesign process will allow for changes that could come years down the road, Pape said. Bob Pirrie, state Department of Transportation area manager, said concerns about redesign options for the Gateway/Belt Line intersection can be addressed at a public hearing June 5 at the DoubleTree Hotel on Gateway. The Belt Line/I-5 interchange was designed to accommodate about 40,000 vehicles per day but now carries 90,000 vehicles, officials said. Traffic is expected to rise as commercial and industrial development continues along Eugene's Coburg Road and in the Gateway area. Plans call for a "fly-over" ramp that will connect motorists northbound on I-5 directly to westbound Belt Line, without the current looping off-ramp. Eugene City Councilor David Kelly, a member of a team that is overseeing redesign options for the interchange and intersection, generally supports the plans. But he said they don't account for recent land developments in the Gateway area -- namely, PeaceHealth's planned $350 million hospital complex and potential rezoning of land by the freeway for business development. Kelly questioned whether pursuit of the $17 million would lock in a redesign that doesn't address the area's changes. "Several of us have raised concerns, `Is the interchange, as designed, adequate?' " he said. WHAT'S NEXT The state Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on redesign proposals for the Belt Line Road/Interstate 5 interchange and the Belt Line/Gateway Street intersection at 6:30 p.m. June 5 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 3280 Gateway St. For more information, call project leader Karl Wieseke at 744-8080. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2002/05/22/3d.cr.beltlineI5.0522.html ================== LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ================= ------------------------------------------------------------ 5.rg - CONSIDER BIG PICTURE ------------------------------------------------------------ By Robert A. Olsen, Eugene In The Register-Guard, 5/23/02 Since returning to Eugene after 30 years elsewhere, it has become apparent to me that city planning has lost the integrated, big-picture focus that seemed to prevail in the late 1960s and early '70s. Suppose City Hall had been relocated to the west side of downtown, near the new library, where the city already owns land, and the federal government built on the City Hall site near its existing structure. This would have been more convenient for the feds. The city core, especially on the west side, would have benefited from more pedestrian and commercial activity. This might also have kept PeaceHealth downtown. I suspect the downtown area's image played a major role in its relocation goals, and that it would have been very happy to relocate to the old cannery site near the river. Hospitals see themselves as high-tech medical organizations, deservedly located in pleasing natural settings, and not as inner city dwelling public servants. Consider also the west side highway issue. Why not just connect Sixth and Seventh avenues to Belt Line Road instead of Green Hill Road, and finish Belt Line as a divided highway to West 11th Avenue? This would avoid most environmental problems, cost less and get through traffic off West 11th. Most of the land involved is already zoned industrial or commercial, with some parcels already vacant and for sale. It might even be possible to use Roosevelt Boulevard as one side of a divided highway to Belt Line. I hope that the pending relocation of the downtown fire and police stations will be considered in a broader context than just the needs of these two agencies. Research demonstrates that urban growth and health is as much a function of enhancing interconnectedness as it is meeting the idiosyncratic needs of each party. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2002/05/23/ed.letters.0523.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 6.rg - BE PART OF COMMUNITY ------------------------------------------------------------ By Judy Volta, Coburg In The Register-Guard, 5/22/02 I am one of those strange people who live, work, play, worship and send my kids to school in a small town. As a city council member, I am intrinsically involved in my town's present and future. I moved here to be a part of this community, to sense its ambience and to benefit from it. However, due to the pressures of Eugene growth, there are many who have come to our little town and have soaked in its ambience but not part of it. They sleep and eat here, but do not send their kids to school here. They leave early in the morning and return late at night. To them, it is a bedroom community. This may offend some of my neighbors, but it has to be said: To live in a community (specifically a local small town) and yet not give back -- either in participation or involvement -- is to be a user of the worst variety. Our local school is fighting for its very existence, and yet if all the local citizens would just try sending their children to our wonderful school its demise could very likely be averted. I appreciate the many who do support our town and who volunteer in the schools, the city government and the local organizations. They are the ones who are the givers. They deserve the special joy that comes from walking down the street on a hot summer day, kids in tow and ice cream cones in hand, enjoying the small town ambience that is Coburg. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2002/05/22/ed.letters.0522.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 7.rg - PROTECT LCC AREA ------------------------------------------------------------ By Craig Shelby, Eugene In The Register-Guard, 5/20/02 My appreciation to The Register-Guard and reporters Christian Wihtol and Greg Bolt for exposing the latest Arlie & Co. clandestine attempt to move the urban growth boundary (Register-Guard, May 9). Congratulations to Lane Community College President Mary Spilde and the LCC Board of Education for declining the offer and keeping developer John Musumeci at arms length. Does anyone really believe this "gift" to LCC does not have some very significant strings attached? For example, building a sewage system for LCC that Arlie & Co. would then share would be a violation Oregon State Land Use Goal 11, unless, of course -- and it is all so clear now -- you move the urban growth boundary. The students, staff, administration, faculty, and the community at large have shown during the recent budget problems that we are willing to support LCC without selling off parts of the campus. In other recent news involving the LCC area, the Oregon Military Department has told Lane County that it wants to go ahead with approving access to the site of a proposed armed forces reserve center near LCC and not wait for the public's right to the appeal process to run its course. This was a direct attempt to circumvent the citizen appeal process. The issue is now scheduled for a Lane County public hearing to be held at 10 a.m. June 4 in Harris Hall. It is a constant chore to be on the lookout for these kinds of actions. Common sense tells us if we continue to remove farm and forest land from production for subdivisions, our economy will suffer. After all, it was Oregon's farmers who realized this back in the 1970s and authored the comprehensive land use laws we have today. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2002/05/20/ed.letters.0520.html ======================== CONTACTS ======================== ------------------------------------------------------------ CHOICES ------------------------------------------------------------ P.O. Box 70753, Eugene 97401 choices@efn.org Jan Wilson, Coordinator 341-1380 jswilson@efn.org Rob Zako, Editor, Email List Manager 343-5201 rzako@efn.org Steering Committee choices_steering@efn.org Announcements and Discussion Email List choices-l@efn.org ------------------------------------------------------------ SPRINGFIELD NEWS ------------------------------------------------------------ 746-1671, 746-0633 (fax) 1887 Laurel St., Springfield 97477 news@springfieldnews.com http://www.springfieldnews.com Shinabarger, Tim 746-1671 x316 ------------------------------------------------------------ REGISTER-GUARD ------------------------------------------------------------ 485-1234, 683-7631 (newsroom fax) http://www.registerguard.com Register-Guard Mailbag (Letters to the Editor) 485-1234 x2351, 338-2828 (fax) P.O. Box 10188, Eugene 97440-2188 RGLetters@guardnet.com McCowan, Karen (Columnist) kmccowan@guardnet.com Christie, Tim (Health & Medicine) tchristie@guardnet.com Cooper, Matt (Springfield and East Region) 338-2317 mcooper@guardnet.com eastnews@guardnet.com Dietz, Diane (Eugene City Government) ddietz@guardnet.com Haberman, Margaret (City Editor) rgnews@guardnet.com Wihtol, Christian (Business Editor) cwihtol@guardnet.com ------------------------------------------------------------ EUGENE WEEKLY ------------------------------------------------------------ 484-0519, 484-4044 (fax) 1251 Lincoln St., Eugene 97401-3418 http://www.eugeneweekly.com Ted Taylor (Editor, Letters to the Editor) editor@eugeneweekly.com ------------------------------------------------------------ SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL ------------------------------------------------------------ 726-3700, 726-2363 225 Fifth St., Springfield, OR 97477 http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/ http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/calendar.htm http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/dsd/dept_dsd.htm http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/dsd/Planning/index.htm http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/dsd/Planning/Planning_Commission.htm Ballew, Anne (Ward 3) 744-9324 953 C St., Springfield, OR 97477 aballew@clippernet.com Fitch, Tammy (Ward 2) 747-6287 1102 West D St., Springfield, OR 97477 tfitch@ci.springfield.or.us, Fhins@fitch-huggins.com Hatfield, Lyle (Ward 6) 746-6684 518 North 68th Pl., Springfield, OR 97478 lylehatfield@attbi.com Leiken, Sid (Mayor) 726-9848 196 38th Pl., Springfield, OR 97478 mayor@ci.springfield.or.us, sid@maoregon.com Lundberg, Christine (Ward 1) 747-0571 127 Woodlane Dr., Springfield, OR 97477 CKLundberg@Prodigy.net Ralston, Dave (Ward 4) 746-7081 2114 L St., Springfield, OR 97477 chess714@msn.com, Simmons, Fred (Ward 5) 747-4283 312 South 52nd Pl., Springfield, OR 97478 fsimmons@ci.springfield.or.us ------------------------------------------------------------ EUGENE CITY COUNCIL ------------------------------------------------------------ 682-5010 777 Pearl St., Room 105, Eugene 97401 mayorandcc@ci.eugene.or.us http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/ http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/Council/Agenda/AGENDA.htm http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/council/agenda/CCAGENDA.pdf Bettman, Bonny (Ward 1) 344-3150 2191 Friendly, Eugene 97405 Bonny.S.Bettman@ci.eugene.or.us Farr, Pat (Ward 6) 689-0542 1929 Praslin St., Eugene 97402 Pat.M.Farr@ci.eugene.or.us Kelly, David (Ward 3) 686-3343 2988 Chandler St., Eugene 97403 David.S.Kelly@ci.eugene.or.us Meisner, Scott (Ward 7) 338-9946 66 North Adams St., Eugene 97402 Scott.Meisner@ci.eugene.or.us Nathanson, Nancy (Ward 8) 686-3446 2516 Hawkins Lane, Eugene 97405 Nancy.L.Nathanson@ci.eugene.or.us Pape, Gary, (Ward 5) 349-9939 355 Goodpasture Island Rd., Suite 400, Eugene 97401 Gary.D.Pape@ci.eugene.or.us Rayor, Gary (Ward 4) 343-5070 2373 Washington St., Eugene 97405 Gary.E.Rayor@ci.eugene.or.us Taylor, Betty (Ward 2) 338-9947 1051 East 36th Ave., Eugene 97405 Betty.L.Taylor@ci.eugene.or.us Torrey, Jim (Mayor) 682-5882 Jim.D.Torrey@ci.eugene.or.us ======================= OTHER LINKS ====================== PEACEHEALTH - WILLAMETTE VALLEY http://www.peacehealth.org/Community/owv/ MCKENZIE-WILLAMETTE HOSPITAL http://www.mckweb.com/ OREGON DEPARTMENT OF LAND CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT http://www.lcd.state.or.us/ ARLIE & COMPANY http://www.arlie.com/ =========================== KEY ========================== "Health Options Digest" is best read with an email program that recognizes links to web pages. It includes leads from and links to stories and opinions from the following publications: rg = The Register-Guard sn = Springfield News ew = Eugene Weekly cn = Comic News ode = Oregon Daily Emerald cce = City Club of Eugene Newsletter or = Oregonian For some stories (in the Springfield News and the Eugene Weekly), two links are given. Use the first link if the story is still current; use the second if another issue has since been published. ========================= CREDITS ======================== "Health Options Digest" is published once or twice a week by the Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES) as a service to the community. It is intended as an unbiased digest of news and opinion related to proposed changes in health care options for the community. The purpose of "Health Options Digest" is to inform, not editorialize. Please forward your copy of "Health Options Digest" to a friend. If you know of someone who should be on the CHOICES email list, or for questions about your subscription, send email to rzako@efn.org.