============================================================ Health Options Digest February 22, 2003 Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield ============================================================ * EDITOR'S LETTER * NEWS SUMMARY * PULSE POLL 1.sn - Pulse Poll: Limit new PeaceHealth hospital to 60 feet tall? * CALENDAR 2.sn - Mon 2/24 - Springfield City Council 3.sn - Wed 2/26 - Lane County Board of Commissioners * PEOPLE SPEAK OUT ON NEW HOSPITALS 4.rg - Hands off our fairgrounds 5.rg - Fairgrounds a priceless asset 6.rg - Triad should tote six-guns 7.rg - Community deserves RiverBend 8.sn - Hospital will change view from McKenzie 9.rg - Hoobyar, Reed: RiverBend should provide McKenzie 'Gateway' * SPRINGFIELD REVIEWS PEACEHEALTH'S REQUEST 10.rg - Council preps for hospital hearing 11.rg - Hospital opposes project limits 12.rg - Height talk tops hospital hearing 13.sn - PeaceHealth public hearing reaches new heights * MCKENZIE-WILLAMETTE/TRIAD PARTNERSHIP 14.ew - Hospitable Hospital 15.rg - McKenzie-Willamette Hospital Reelects Board of Directors * AMBULANCE BOUNDARY RULES 16.sn - Springfield Fire & Life Safety feels the burn 17.rg - Ambulance boundary rules draw complaints 18.sn - Springfield affected by new Eugene emergency dispatch * TRANSPORTATION ISSUES 19.sn - City and county agreement moves Pioneer Parkway extension ahead 20.rg - Fill 'er up? 21.sn - Gas tax on city agenda * OTHER NEWS 22.sn - Gateway Mall experiences many changes in uncertain economy * KEY, CREDITS, MORE INFO ===================== Editor's Letter ==================== In the game of chess, it is essential to look several moves ahead. One move taking a strong position or threatening an opposing piece can easily be followed by a countermove shifting the balance of power. While health care is Lane County is certainly not a game, the various moves and countermoves by the key players certainly have the appearance of a high-stakes chess game. PeaceHealth makes a favorable agreement with a health insurance company. McKenzie-Willamette counters with a lawsuit. PeaceHealth wants to move to the Crescent area. The City of Eugene counters with calls for PeaceHealth to stay in downtown Eugene. PeaceHealth makes a deal with Arlie and counters with a surprise move to Springfield that threatens McKenzie-Willamette Hospital. McKenzie-Willamette responds with a partnership with Triad. Arlie responds with an offer to swap land for the Lane County Fairgrounds. The flurry of moves leave many of us confused or paralyzed. So where's the game now and what is likely to happen next? The Springfield City Council is expected to decide on PeaceHealth's request to build a hospital in the Gateway on March 31. Just about everyone expects the Springfield City Council to approve the request. But the Lane County Board of Commissioners, the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development and others have expressed strong concerns over PeaceHealth's plans. Any of the individuals or groups who have testified could appeal Springfield's decision. Meanwhile, McKenzie-Willamette is acting as if the PeaceHealth move is a "done deal." Not a single person from McKenzie-Willamette testified last week on the PeaceHealth request. It appears as though McKenzie-Willamette has written off the City of Springfield and is moving forward with its own plans to move to Eugene, trying to put as much distance as necessary between it and PeaceHealth's new hospital. It is conceivable that a new McKenzie-Willamette hospital could gain the necessary approvals and be up and running before a new PeaceHealth hospital. But in Eugene, not much happens quickly, so don't hold your breath. Perhaps more likely is that the fate of the new PeaceHealth hospital is thrown into doubt for one reason or another, causing McKenzie-Willamette to reconsider where it wants to invest in a new hospital. As anyone who has been following this long saga knows, surprise moves have become commonplace. Look for more surprises in the coming months. CHOICES continues to see that health care is too important to leave up to these sorts of games. We call on our elected officials to form a Hospital Siting Commission charged with ensuring that Lane County continues to have access to quality health care without requiring undue public investments in infrastructure. If you aren't content to be a spectator and still want to have a say in how the game is played, the Springfield City Council is still accepting written testimony until Wednesday, February 26, at 5 p.m. Send testimony to: Springfield City Council c/o Colin Stephens Springfield Development Services Department 225 Fifth St., Springfield, OR 97477 Email: cstephens@ci.springfield.or.us Voice: 726-3759 Fax: 726-3689 Rob Zako, Editor 343-5201 rzako@efn.org ====================== News Summary ====================== This week's Pulse Poll in the Springfield News asks whether it is a good idea to limit the height of the new PeaceHealth hospital to 60 feet (#1). On Monday, the Springfield City Council will hold a public hearing on imposing a 3-cent per gallon local gas tax (#2, #20-21). The Springfield City Council will also discuss the I-5/Beltline Intergovernmental Agreement (#2). On Wednesday, the Lane County Board of Commissioners will discuss the Crescent Avenue Nodal Development area, the Jasper Road Extension, the County/City Road Partnership Program, and other transportation issues (#3). People write to the editor about whether it is a good idea to swap the Lane County Fairgrounds to build a new hospital an about the merits of the RiverBend site (#4-8). Paul Hoobyar, a principal of Watershed Initiatives, LLC in Eugene, and David Reed, the president of David Reed & Associates Inc. in Springfield, comment in The Register-Guard that PeaceHealth's vision for creating a healing environment should include the health of the larger community on the river it finds so attractive (#9). When the Springfield City Council opened a two-night public hearing Tuesday on PeaceHealth's requests to rezone acreage it owns in the Gateway area, the focus of testimony turned from the once-threatened status of McKenzie-Willamette Hospital to the height of PeaceHealth's proposed medical complex (#10-13). While Sacred Heart has taken an adversarial approach to the city of Eugene in siting its new hospital, McKenzie-Willamette's approach so far has been cordial (#14). McKenzie-Willamette Hospital has reelected members to its board of directors (#15). In an abrupt course change from the long-standing "automatic aid" agreement under which Eugene and Springfield ambulances operated almost as a single entity within the two cities, the Eugene department has now laid claim to all medical calls within its service boundaries -- unless none of its own paramedics are available to send (#16-18). An intergovernmental agreement for a Pioneer Parkway extension from Harlow Road to Beltline Road was signed this week by county and city officials, stating the county will provide $5.2 million in capital improvements funds and the city of Springfield will provide $9.3 million for the project (#19). The storefronts at Gateway Mall continue to change as businesses leave and others arrive. In the past year, the roster of mall stores has changed each month and now stands at about 60 (#22). ======================= Pulse Poll ======================= ------------------------------------------------------------ 1.sn - Pulse Poll: Limit new PeaceHealth hospital to 60 feet tall? ------------------------------------------------------------ Q&A: The Planning Commission recommends that the new PeaceHealth hospital should be no more than 60 feet tall. Do you agree? To vote, visit: http://www.springfieldnews.com/ http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/21/opinion/news4.txt ======================== Calendar ======================== ------------------------------------------------------------ 2.sn - Mon 2/24 - Springfield City Council ------------------------------------------------------------ Monday 5:30 p.m. -- Work session, Jesse Maine Room, City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield, 726-3700. 1) Committee Briefing from the Intergovernmental Housing Policy Board [Jodi Peterson] (20 min.) 2) I-5/Beltline Intergovernmental Agreement [Nick Arnis] (30 min.) 3) Rivers to Ridges: Metropolitan Regional Parks and Open Space Study [Greg Mott] (30 min.) 7 p.m. -- Special regular session, Council Meeting Room, City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield, 726-3700. Public Hearings 1) Public hearing on Local Fuel Tax [Len Goodwin] (45 min.) 2) Public hearing on Vacation of Public Rights-of-Way Lithia Toyota [Mel Oberst] (20 min.) Ordinances 1) Ordinance Adopting EngineerŐs Report for Project P20328, Installation of Sanitary Sewer in 21st Avenue from Harrison Avenue East 100 Feet and Vicinity -- 2nd Reading [Al Peroutka] (5 min.) 2) Council Adoption of Ordinances with Corrected Legal Descriptions of Property Subject to Previous Council Action Regarding Metro Plan and Gateway Refinement Plan diagram Amendments and Rezoning [John Tamulonis/Greg Mott] (5 min.) Business from the City Manager 1) Annual City Manager Contract [Bill Spiry] (15 Minutes) 8:45 p.m. -- Executive (non-public) session, Jesse Maine Room, City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield, 726-3700. 1) Springfield Utility Board Payment in Lieu of Taxes [Mike Kelly] (30 min.) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/21/calendar/news1.txt Agenda: http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/CMO/2003Council/022403%20agenda.pdf See also: #20.rg - Fill 'er up? #21.sn - Gas tax on city agenda ------------------------------------------------------------ 3.sn - Wed 2/26 - Lane County Board of Commissioners ------------------------------------------------------------ Wednesday 9 a.m. -- Lane County Board of Commissioners, 125 E. Eighth Ave, Eugene, 682-4203. 2) Public Comments. (Maximum time 20 minutes: Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes and may not yield their time to other speakers.) 7a) Discussion and action on Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Program Policy (Ollie Snowden and Mike Perkins) (30 mins.) 7b) Order to reappoint one member and appointing two members to the Parks Advisory Committee (Rich Fay) 7c) Order to revise park schedules and emergency rules and add Howard Buford Recreation Area and increase park fees (Rich Fay) 7d) Order to authorize county administrator to execute agreements for the County/City Road Partnership Program for FY 03/04 with each city in Lane County (Ollie Snowden) 7e) Oral report on Jasper Road Extension (Ollie Snowden) (10:00 A.M. TIME CERTAIN) 7f) Fourth reading and deliberation on ordinance to amend Eugene-Springfield Metro Plan diagram for property within Crescent Avenue Nodal Development (Jerry Jacobson and Jan Childs) (9:30 A.M. TIME CERTAIN) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/14/local/news8.txt Agenda: http://www.co.lane.or.us/bcc_info/Meeting_Info/2003/Agenda03-2-26.htm ============ People Speak Out on New Hospitals =========== ------------------------------------------------------------ 4.rg - Hands off our fairgrounds ------------------------------------------------------------ By Michael Weiss, Eugene Letter to The Register-Guard, 2/16/03 What part of "you can't have our fairgrounds" don't developer John Musumeci (aka Arlie & Co.) and his letter-writing friends understand? Aureole Stephens (letters, Feb. 11) attacks Lane County Board Chairman Pete Sorenson and, by extension, his fellow commissioners who rejected Musumeci attempt to swap his 100 rural acres outside the urban growth boundary for the Lane County Fairgrounds. According to a recent letter submitted to the commissioners by fair board Chairman Charles Warren, our fairgrounds are conservatively estimated at $70 million. As county board chairman, Sorenson is required to protect the public's investments and property. The fairgrounds doubles as a convention and events center -- 600 events take place each year -- from conventions to flea markets, holiday fairs, hockey games, etc. Stephens says the location is too crowded. Nonsense. There is room to expand. Why else was the planetarium going to be housed there? Nine other possible hospital sites have been identified by city staff as suitable for McKenzie-Willamette's move. No other choice would have a $70 million price tag. As a South Eugene resident, I applaud Sorenson and his colleagues for turning thumbs down to a preposterous offer. Musumeci should go on to his next wild scheme and leave our irreplaceable fairgrounds alone. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/16/ed.letters.0216.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 5.rg - Fairgrounds a priceless asset ------------------------------------------------------------ By Susan Applegate, Yoncalla Letter to The Register-Guard, 2/21/03 Hats off to the Lane County Board of Commissioners and its chairman, Peter Sorenson, for refusing to be bullied and bamboozled by a developer who wants to help solve the hospital crisis he helped orchestrate. With friends like this, who needs enemies? As an Oregonian who has spent hundreds of delightful hours at the fairgrounds and its numerous events, I can't imagine citizens losing this priceless community asset. Where else can we country mice so enjoyably mingle with you city mice? And to think that a slick developer wants to grab one of Oregon's most beautiful community gathering places -- as rural Commissioner Tom Lininger says -- for pennies on the dollar. Tradition must always have a place here if we want to keep Oregon, Oregon. The commissioners seem to know this. McKenzie-Willamette's new hospital partner, Triad Hospitals Inc. of Plano, Texas, also waltzed into Roseburg several years back with heralded hoopla about saving Douglas Community Hospital. The result? The hospital went belly-up, the Texans left town, and a barbed-wire-enclosed forlorn ex-hospital is all we have left. The Lane County Fairgrounds hosts hundreds of events and tens of thousands of people every year. Sorenson and the other commissioners showed courage in choosing people over the shortsighted forces of greed. Keep it up. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/21/ed.letters.0221.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 6.rg - Triad should tote six-guns ------------------------------------------------------------ By Tony Massengill, Eugene Letter to The Register-Guard, 2/22/03 Those hospital folks from Texas had better come to town with their six-guns loaded when they face Eugene politicians about building a new hospital somewhere in the city. Surely the Triad people are completely aware of the shameful fiasco that drove PeaceHealth out of Eugene in the first place. What assurance could possibly be given that the same thing won't happen again as the Texans attempt to cope with the anti-business atmosphere that has dominated our business landscape? http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/22/ed.lettersmain.0222.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 7.rg - Community deserves RiverBend ------------------------------------------------------------ By Debi White, Eugene Letter to The Register-Guard, 2/22/03 As an employee of Sacred Heart, I see firsthand the need for a new hospital every single day. We are bursting at the seams! Patients are being transported through busy lobby areas, and patient floors are at full capacity. Several of our buildings are outdated and are not up to current building codes. Sacred Heart is a regional medical center, serving five Oregon counties, more than 100 communities (large and small), 17,000 square miles and nearly 1 million people. We need to be located where we are easily accessible to all of these communities, where we can provide expansion for the future and, most importantly, where we can provide health care of the highest possible quality in a healing environment for all mid-Oregon residents. RiverBend is just that site! It is located within the urban growth boundary and will allow us to be current with the latest technology. The site lends itself to development of the best possible medical facility to serve the community and region today and well into the future. Isn't this what we all deserve? http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/22/ed.lettersop.0222.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 8.sn - Hospital will change view from McKenzie ------------------------------------------------------------ By Aaron Helfrich, President, McKenzie River Guides Association, Springfield Letter to The Springfield News, 2/22/03 Being a 30-plus-year resident of the area near the proposed hospital, I thought I should weigh in. I would first hope a site could be found that had existing zoning for a hospital. If not, I hope we can keep PeaceHealth (height) to 60 feet. Springfield's logo has a drift boat and mountains, not buildings. The lower stretch of the McKenzie has more wildlife (deer, ducks, beaver, herons, mink, etc.) due to the non-buildable floodplain and is a gem. It is a great day float from Hayden Bridge to Armitage and gives the sense of being in the wild. That will forever change with a huge building along the banks. That run also gets substantial use. Does PeaceHealth realize there is a lot of duck hunting done along that section? Shotguns at daylight may not be the best thing for recovering hospital patients. If the City Council would like to see the view from the river, I would be glad to take some or all out anytime. http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/21/opinion/news3.txt ------------------------------------------------------------ 9.rg - Hoobyar, Reed: RiverBend should provide McKenzie 'Gateway' ------------------------------------------------------------ By Paul Hoobyar and David J. Reed Commentary in The Register-Guard, 2/17/03 Two great American rivers flow through the Eugene-Springfield area and join each other on the northern edge of Eugene. One of these rivers, the McKenzie, has received numerous national designations and supports one of the last viable populations of the federally protected Upper Willamette River spring chinook. On the lower McKenzie River, however, few meaningful connections with the urbanized area exist -- a few boat landings, parks and natural areas. As growth and development pressures increase along the lower McKenzie, identifying large parcels of riverfront property for public uses will become increasingly difficult. This state of affairs should inform the Springfield City Council in its deliberations regarding PeaceHealth's proposal to build a hospital at RiverBend. The council has an opportunity to provide new meaning to Springfield's "Gateway to the McKenzie River" moniker. The RiverBend development may be one of the last chances to significantly embrace the river in the metro area. The Gateway Mall has thus far failed in its relationship to the river. Big-box industrial buildings sit with their backs to the lower river; the Interstate 5 interchange tourist center functions solely as a transportation hub; past councils' proposals for golf courses and office complexes have little relation to the river. Upriver, subdivisions have been planned in ways that convert the McKenzie's riverbank from a public resource to the exclusive use of homeowners. In view of the McKenzie's national significance, apart from all other land use issues, one can argue that the comment letter from the state Department of Land Conservation and Development is correct in concluding that elected officials from Eugene and Lane County should have a say in the PeaceHealth review. In addition, the Metro Regional Park and Open Space Study recently produced a "Rivers to Ridges Vision Map" that clearly supports this approach. The map recognizes the McKenzie River as a metropolitan "blueway" with key water-based connections and a riverside trail that extends from the end of Pioneer Parkway to the confluence with the Willamette River, as well as the highly visible scenic values of the Coburg Hills and Camp Creek Ridge. This farsighted proposal underscores the need for a more global approach to the public process on rezoning issues associated with placing a new regional facility on such a strategic site as RiverBend on the McKenzie River. To the city of Springfield's credit, a staff review determined that the Gateway Refinement Plan was vague with regard to public access along the river and has revised the text so that all future development will be required to provide public access to the McKenzie. PeaceHealth planners have also acknowledged its prime river location with the goal of "maintaining the natural beauty of the RiverBend site in order to take advantage of the healing environment." Views of the river and existing trees have been incorporated into the design, and natural swales have been proposed to enhance green space and preserve open space. Yet PeaceHealth describes hospitals as "among the most function-driven facilities built" and states that "for most medical centers, these functional relationships have driven designs with large floor plates or footprints." How will the hospital reconcile a healing environment with large-building "floor plates" near the river? What is PeaceHealth's obligation to embrace the river in friendly ways that will contribute to the health and welfare of the entire community, and the affected biological communities, as well as its own clients and visitors? RiverBend can provide PeaceHealth with a splendid opportunity to step into a real leadership role. Invite the city of Springfield, the city of Eugene, Lane County, the Willamalane Park District and other key decision-makers to help make this project not only a showcase regional hospital, but part of a vision for reconnecting the broader community to its rivers. The RiverBend site can be designed in ways that support patients and non-patients alike in sharing with family and friends while enjoying natural beauty of the river. At the same time, the design can recognize the regional significance of this prime location and make it part of the "Gateway to the McKenzie River." PeaceHealth's vision for creating a healing environment should include the health of the larger community on the river it finds so attractive. Paul Hoobyar is principal of Watershed Initiatives, LLC in Eugene; David Reed is president of David Reed & Associates Inc. in Springfield. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/17/ed.col.hoobyar.0217.html ======== Springfield Reviews PeaceHealth's Request ======= ------------------------------------------------------------ 10.rg - Council preps for hospital hearing ------------------------------------------------------------ By Matt Cooper The Register-Guard, 2/17/03, Page B1 Springfield -- The PeaceHealth endgame is about to begin. The City Council will open a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday on PeaceHealth's controversial proposal to build a $350 million regional medical center, offices and housing on 165 acres of residential land in the Gateway area. The hearing will likely be continued Wednesday evening, after which the council will ruminate on arguments for and against until March 31, at which time councilors are expected either to approve or deny the proposal. If approved, PeaceHealth hopes to open the new facility in early 2007, pending appeals. Four of the five city councilors who will decide the matter said this week they won't be considering the future of Springfield's McKenzie-Willamette Hospital when they vote on PeaceHealth's proposal, called Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. The fifth councilor, John Wood-row, didn't return a reporter's calls seeking comment. McKenzie-Willamette officials have said approval of the PeaceHealth project at a site scarcely 2 1/2 miles away could deal a deathblow to the 47-year-old Springfield institution, but the hospital has since formed a partnership with a national hospital company that appears to give it financial stability. Regardless, councilors said, questions about McKenzie-Willamette are irrelevant in determining whether PeaceHealth's proposal is suitable use of the Gateway-area land. "It's not our privilege to determine how free enterprise functions," said Councilor Stu Burge, whose ward includes the hospital site between Game Farm Road and the McKenzie River. "We've got to deal with whether or not the proposal meets the criteria" for development. Two other councilors -- Dave Ralston and Anne Ballew -- said they weren't convinced that PeaceHealth's project would hurt the local hospital. "No matter where PeaceHealth goes, (McKenzie-Willamette) can compete and expand in their current location," Ralston said. "I would like to strongly urge them to stay in Springfield." Ralston, Ballew and Burge all have specific questions they'll hope to see addressed during the upcoming public testimony. Burge questioned whether the city can support the project with infrastructure in a reasonable and cost-effective manner, and Ballew said the project's transportation impacts and compatibility with the area top her list. Ralston questioned whether the project will detract from the area's supply of housing land and, like Ballew, he wants a clear understanding of the effects on Gateway-area traffic. "I'm concerned with the traffic as it relates to the Belt Line interchange," Ralston said. "I expect to have answers to that." The Springfield Planning Commission voted 4-2 in January to recommend approval of the project, although the commission suggested a 60-foot height restriction that is less than half that in PeaceHealth's plans for the facility. What's Next * Hearing: The City Council will hold a public hearing on the PeaceHealth project at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 225 Fifth St. The hearing will likely be continued Wednesday evening, to begin at a time to be determined Tuesday night. * The vote: The City Council plans to vote on the project March 31, in the council chambers. The time has not been scheduled. * More information: Call the Development Services Department at 726-3753. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/17/b1.cr.peacehealth.0217.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 11.rg - Hospital opposes project limits ------------------------------------------------------------ By Matt Cooper The Register-Guard, 2/19/03, Page A1 Springfield -- PeaceHealth's proposal for a $350 million regional medical center in northwest Springfield would honor a deceased city councilor but it can't respect a suggested 60-foot height restriction, CEO Alan Yordy said Tuesday night, opening the final stage of review for the biggest development project in Eugene-Springfield. Yordy spoke before about 200 people at City Hall for a public hearing on PeaceHealth's controversial proposal to build a regional medical center, offices and housing on 165 acres of residential land in the Gateway area. [PHOTO: PeaceHealth CEO Alan Yordy (left) and Mark Radabaugh of the Department of Land Conservation and Development talk.] The City Council will continue the public hearing tonight, then vote either to approve or deny the proposal on March 31. If approved, PeaceHealth hopes to open the new facility in early 2007, pending appeals. Yordy said City Councilor Lyle Hatfield, who died last month of cancer at age 45, "shared a greater vision" for the project called Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend, and PeaceHealth means to preserve Hatfield's memory if the project goes forward. "We all miss him," Yordy said, "and we have resolved to find a way to honor him at the Springfield campus." Yordy also criticized a 60-foot height restriction suggested by the Springfield Planning Commission, which tacked the condition onto its support of the project last month. PeaceHealth plans call for buildings that would reach 130 to 145 feet; by comparison, Eugene's Ya-Po-Ah Terrace is 212 feet tall. "Obviously, we cannot design a world-class facility within a 60-foot height restriction," Yordy said. "Flexibility will provide the greatest opportunity for success at that site." More than 50 people signed up to speak Tuesday night, and supporters -- most of them associated with PeaceHealth -- outnumbered opponents roughly 2 to 1. PeaceHealth says the larger facility is crucial in providing regional health care for the next 100 years, but opponents counter that relocating the health care hub from Sacred Heart Medical Center in downtown Eugene to the suburban fringe in Springfield warrants review by all local governments, not just Springfield. Versions of these arguments were delivered all evening, but they were captured succinctly early on by the night's seventh and eighth speakers: Carol James, a Springfield resident, and Richard Hicks, a Sacred Heart physician. James challenged virtually every aspect of the planned medical center -- its height, proximity to the McKenzie River and potential to create traffic, for example -- then asked, sarcastically, "but hey, what could be wrong with that?" Then came Hicks, who said the project is critical for the hospital's growth and ability to serve the region. "We need a community hospital," Hicks said, referring to Springfield's McKenzie-Willamette Hospital, "but we also need a regional medical center. We need it. "As Winston Churchill says, 'Give us the tools and we will do the job,' " Hicks said. One of the strongest critics, Mark Radabaugh of the state Department of Land Conservation and Development, said concerns about the project's threats to economic development, housing and transportation throughout Eugene-Springfield can be resolved if PeaceHealth does three things: make the hospital the centerpiece of an area with housing, stores and jobs within walking distance; designate the hospital land as commercial in the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Plan, the area's blueprint for growth; and increase the amount of medium- and high-density housing. But Philip Farrington, director of land use, planning and development for PeaceHealth Oregon Region, dismissed all three recommendations, describing them as premature and unnecessary. While speakers from land-watch groups generally criticized the project and people associated with PeaceHealth generally supported it, there was at least one notable exception. Sue Wolling, a Sacred Heart nurse, called her employer's proposal "a nine-story monolith on the edge of the McKenzie River" and said "it comes at an enormous cost to be borne by the citizens of Springfield." Christine Lundberg, a former city councilor whose ward included the hospital site, said extensive planning to expand the Interstate 5/Belt Line interchange was approved last year with the PeaceHealth project in mind. "I would never have voted for it if I thought that development in that area could not be accommodated -- this one, specifically," Lundberg said. What's Next * Hearing: The City Council will continue a public hearing on the PeaceHealth project at 7 p.m. tonight in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 225 Fifth St. * The vote: The City Council plans to vote on the project March 31, in the council chambers. * More information: Call the Development Services Department at 726-3753. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/19/a1.peacehealth.0219.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 12.rg - Height talk tops hospital hearing ------------------------------------------------------------ By Matt Cooper The Register-Guard, 2/20/03, Page D1 Springfield -- Two members of the Springfield Planning Commission said Wednesday night that a 60-foot height limit may be unrealistic for PeaceHealth's RiverBend proposal, one month after the commission based its support on that condition. Speaking on the second and final night of a public hearing before the City Council, Commissioners Tim Malloy and Bill Carpenter suggested that 60 feet may be extreme, but the project, if approved, should be capped at a certain height. "The council should not give PeaceHealth the literal sky," Carpenter said, "because PeaceHealth will take it." About 40 people were in attendance after the crowd approached 200 a night earlier, when roughly 35 folks spoke out on the project. None of the five city councilors would discuss the project, but they'll question staff March 17 on PeaceHealth's proposal to build a regional medical center in northwest Springfield. The council plans to vote on March 31; if approved, PeaceHealth hopes to open the facility in early 2007. The project's height has been a talking point since the commission voted Jan. 22 to recommend the 60-foot restriction with its show of support. Some want to protect views from the neighboring McKenzie River, but PeaceHealth CEO Alan Yordy said Tuesday the restriction would preempt plans for a "world class facility" of between 130 and 145 feet in height. Malloy, a hospital supporter who abstained from the commission's vote due to his employment with a division of PeaceHealth, said a height limit is warranted but added, "I'm not sure it's 60 feet." Carpenter, who called himself the swing vote in favor of the project, suggested 90 feet might be acceptable, but not 135 feet. "We really do not need this for a legacy," Carpenter said, holding aloft a caricature of the city logo with a towering building imposed on one bank of the familiar drift boat scene. Dave Carvo, a Glenwood plumber, suggested that five stories -- as opposed to the eight or nine that PeaceHealth plans -- should be adequate. Glen Love, of the McKenzie Fly Fishers, said his group supports the 60-foot limit. Bob Bumstead, of Eugene, said a tall structure would overshadow Springfield's small-town character. PeaceHealth says the new, larger facility -- Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend -- is crucial for providing regional health care for the next 100 years. Opponents counter that relocating the 2,200-employee hospital from Sacred Heart Medical Center in downtown Eugene to the suburban fringe in Springfield warrants review by all local governments, not just Springfield. Cynthia Hart sought to distinguish herself from a vocal group of hospital opponents who, like her, live in the Game Farm Road area near the hospital site. Hart, who used to fish and ride horses on and around the land in question, said PeaceHealth will be "awesome stewards of this land." Carmen Urbina, executive director of Centro LatinoAmericano in Eugene, also called PeaceHealth a good neighbor, saying the health organization has supported Latino health-care issues. What's Next * Public record: Written testimony will be accepted through 5 p.m. Feb. 26. Send letters to the attention of the City Council at Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield, OR 97477. * Rebuttal: PeaceHealth must submit a rebuttal within seven days of March 5. * Q&A: The City Council will discuss the project with staff at 6 p.m. March 17 in the council chambers. * The vote: The City Council will vote on the project March 31. * More information: Call City Hall at 726-3700. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/20/d1.cr.peacehealth.0220.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 13.sn - PeaceHealth public hearing reaches new heights ------------------------------------------------------------ By Jaime Sherman The Springfield News, 2/22/03 When the City Council opened a two-night public hearing Tuesday on PeaceHealth's requests to rezone acreage it owns in the Gateway area, the focus of testimony turned from the once-threatened status of McKenzie-Willamette Hospital to the height of PeaceHealth's proposed medical complex. In prior public hearings on the rezoning requests, public testimony centered on comments made by McKenzie-Willamette CEO Roy Orr that PeaceHealth's move into McKenzie-Willamette's "key" zip code would put the smaller, community hospital out of business. But the recent announcement that Texas-based Triad Hospitals Inc., a for-profit hospital organization with 48 hospitals in 16 states, will become majority owner of McKenzie-Willamette turned testimony away from the hospital's future. When the Springfield Planning Commission voted to recommend PeaceHealth's land use requests to the City Council, commissioners set a height limitation of no more than 60 feet for any hospital construction even though height restrictions are often not placed on a project until a master plan is approved. "You just can't make a rule like 60 feet and not bend it," said John Hyland, owner of Springfield-based John Hyland Construction. Sue Wolling of Eugene, who is a nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center, said she doesn't want a new hospital built at the Gateway site, but if the rezoning is approved, she said a height restriction must be stipulated. A nine-story hospital is "the height of arrogance," she said. PeaceHealth would like to build a $350-million regional medical facility on 165 acres between Game Farm Road and the McKenzie River, but the hospital organization cannot move forward with its plans because the current land use designations don't provide for a hospital. As a result, PeaceHealth has asked for 33 acres of medium density residential land to be rezoned mixed use commercial. The land use changes would amend the Metro Plan and the Gateway Refinement Plan text and document. Glen Love of Eugene represented McKenzie Flyfishers at the public hearing. The group wants the Gateway site to retain its natural beauty. "We are here to speak for the river," Love said. "We are sorry to see the magnificent (McKenzie) river claimed by urban growth." If the City Council approves building a hospital, Love said his group favors height restrictions. About 120 people gathered Tuesday for the first of two nights of public testimony, and about 40 people reconvened Wednesday to hear additional people speak. In total, 51 people voiced their concern or support for the proposed project in the Gateway area -- 24 from Eugene, 19 from Springfield, one from Glenwood and seven from outside the Springfield-Eugene area, including San Francisco, Beaverton and Portland. Of those who spoke, 28 favor the proposal, while 18 prefer the hospital be built in another location. Five people presented neutral, fact-based reports. Planning Commissioner Tim Malloy testified Wednesday in support of the rezoning. Malloy, who works for PeaceHealth, didn't participate in the Planning Commission's deliberations on the PeaceHealth requests, citing a conflict of interest. "This is a good fit for this area," he said of the rezoning. Malloy urged the City Council to reconsider the height limitation and postpone a decision for the master plan phase. Since the Planning Commission first tackled the PeaceHealth requests, people throughout the Springfield-Eugene area have voiced concern that any decision should be made by a body of Lane County public officials, not just officials from Springfield. The city of Springfield disagrees, however, saying the Metro Plan specifically states a city has full authority to make a decision within its jurisdiction. Several citizens who testified Tuesday and Wednesday continue to differ with the city's stance, saying the hospital project will ultimately impact everyone within Lane County. Lane County Commiss-ioner Peter Sorenson said he believes the decision needs to be made regionally and take into account the opinions of all Lane County residents. Anne Heinsoo of Springfield also expressed a concern that the larger metropolitan community hasn't been considered. "Our City Council is being asked to make this decision simply on its own authority, but this should not simply be a Springfield decision," she said. "This entire matter should have been under consideration by a much larger group of area decision makers from the very first." Two Eugene city councilors -- Jennifer Solomon and George Poling -- expressed support for the rezoning and for Springfield to remain the sole decision-maker. "Our loss is your gain," Solomon said concerning PeaceHealth's decision to build in Springfield, not Eugene. Malloy said he questions Lane County residents who don't live in Springfield but who think they need to be part of the decision-making process. "Why did this only become a regional decision when it came to Springfield? Why not when it was still in the Eugene jurisdiction?" Malloy said. "I think the people up here (the city councilors) are very capable of making the right decision. I have no doubt about that." The City Council will accept written testimony concerning PeaceHealth's land use requests through 5 p.m. Wednesday. The council will reconvene on March 17 for a work session on the proposed rezoning and then meet on March 31 to deliberate on the requests. The following people provided testimony at the City Council's public hearings on PeaceHealth's land use requests: * Susan Ban, executive director Shelter Care, Springfield * Peter Sorenson, county commissioner, Eugene * George Poling, Eugene city councilor * Dennis Shine, Lane Community College board member and community member, Springfield * Jennifer Solomon, Eugene city councilor * Bonnie Ullmann, Game Farm Neighbors Association, Springfield * Carol James, Springfield resident * Richard Hicks, Eugene surgeon * Alice Verret, Game Farm Neighbors Association, Springfield * Monica Heeran, Volunteers in Medicine director and and former PeaceHealth director, Eugene * Anne Heinsoo, Game Farm Neighbors Association, Springfield * Christine Lundberg, former Springfield city councilor * Greg Shaver, Springfield planning commissioner * Lauri Segal, 1,000 Friends of Oregon, Eugene * Alex Bonutti, San Francisco architect for PeaceHealth * Tim Herrmann, Eugene resident * Vernon Katz, vice chief of staff at Sacred Heart, Eugene * Roscoe Lawless, Beaverton architect * Richard Attanasio, PeaceHealth floodplain analyst, Portland * Alice Wagner, Sacred Heart employee, Springfield * Gary LeClair, Eugene gynecologist * Casey Woodard, PeaceHealth board of directors, Eugene * Art Paz, Springfield architect * Sue Wolling, Sacred Heart nurse, Eugene * Roger Saydack, Eugene attorney * Tom Boyatt, Oregon Department of Transportation planner, Springfield * Greg Harris, Springfield resident * John Hyland, owner John Hyland Construction, Springfield * Robert Wulwyne, Springfield engineer * Clark Cox, Sacred Heart library volunteer, Eugene * Lisa VanWinkle, PeaceHealth employee, Coburg * Larry Reed, Arlie & Co., Eugene * Matthew Fish, Eugene doctor * Rob Handy, Eugene resident * Tom Bowerman, Eugene resident * Rob Zako, 1,000 Friends of Oregon, Eugene * Dave Carvo, Glenwood plumber * Mike Schmid, Portland civil engineer * Bob Bumstead, Eugene resident * Glen Love, McKenzie Flyfishers, Eugene * Mark Radabaugh, Department of Lane Conservation and Development, Salem * Tom Lininger, county commissioner, Vida * Cynthia Hart, Springfield resident * Martin Thiele, Springfield resident * Jan Wilson, Coalition for Health Choices in Central Eugene-Springfield, Eugene * Robin Jaqua, Eugene resident * Bill Carpenter, Springfield planning commissioner * Carmen Urbina, Central Latino Americano director, Eugene * Hanalei Rozen, Springfield resident * Jim Hale, Eugene resident * Tim Malloy, Springfield planning commissioner http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/21/local/news1.txt ========== McKenzie-Willamette/Triad Partnership ========= ------------------------------------------------------------ 14.ew - Hospitable Hospital ------------------------------------------------------------ By Alan Pittman Eugene Weekly, 2/20/03 While Sacred Heart has taken an adversarial approach to the city of Eugene in siting its new hospital, McKenzie-Willamette's approach so far has been cordial. City councilors thanked McKenzie-Willamette officials for volunteering to meet with the council and said they were glad of the prospect of a new hospital in Eugene to replace departing Sacred Heart. "I'm delighted," said councilors Betty Taylor and Scott Meisner. Councilor David Kelly said he was "very pleased." "It's great," said Councilor George Poling. And "We're very happy," said Councilor Bonny Bettman. McKenzie CEO Roy Orr said the non-profit hospital was doing 90-120 days of "due diligence" on a deal to partner with the for-profit Triad hospital chain. Triad will put $80 million into building a new hospital and control 80 percent of the interest in the new venture with the non-profit McKenzie holding 20 percent, according to Orr. Orr said he was not concerned that a similar hospital merger in Roseburg had resulted in Triad closing a community hospital. When Triad acquired the Roseburg hospital it had been in "dire straits" for years, Orr said. "They pumped a lot of money into that hospital, much more and much longer than many others would have." The new McKenzie hospital will likely move from its Springfield site to compete geographically with the new hospital Sacred Heart is planning to build in north Springfield, according to Orr. Orr promised the hospital would work closely with the council and public in siting the new facility. The siting is a "potentially contentious and somewhat difficult process," he said. "Not everyone will agree with" the final choice, he said, but he hopes the public will understand how the decision was made. Orr said cost and road access would be important criteria for choosing a site. A site with roads clogged by seasonal shopping and football game traffic would be problematic, he said. A redeveloped industrial or city center site could offer advantages of being "closer to population centers" and nearby amenities such as coffee and book shops, Orr said. Councilor David Kelly said that the city should reduce a list of 10 possible hospital sites that planning staff identified last fall. Many councilors expressed concern that some of the sites along the riverfront and in neighborhoods and at the edge of the city were unworkable or undesirable. City Manager Jim Carlson said the city needs more information from McKenzie/Triad before doing more work to identify the best sites. For example, Carlson said he's heard the hospital may be looking for 35 acres, but right now, "none of the sites [on the city list] have 35 acres." If the city of Eugene does trade McKenzie/Triad for departing Sacred Heart, it could mean a tax windfall. As a non-profit, Sacred Heart doesn't pay property taxes. But for-profit Triad is entirely taxable. A $100 million taxable hospital would be the city's largest taxpayer, generating about $700,000 a year in revenue. Of course, that revenue could be reduced or eliminated if Triad demands tax breaks and subsidies for its new facility. http://www.eugeneweekly.com/news.html#shorts2 http://www.eugeneweekly.com/archive/02_20_03/news.html#shorts2 ------------------------------------------------------------ 15.rg - McKenzie-Willamette Hospital Reelects Board of Directors ------------------------------------------------------------ Compiled by Mauria Banducci The Register-Guard, 2/20/03, Page B2 McKenzie-Willamette Hospital has reelected the following members to the board of directors: board chair, Maureen Weathers, Lee Beyer, Dr. Terrence Carter, Dr. Richard Abraham and Ron Peery. They join: Donna Buell, Dr. Robert Gunderman, John Halgren, Jamon Kent, John Lively, Bill McCabe, Frances Jean Phelps and Dr. Larry Vinis. Compiled by Mauria Banducci. Business Beat runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. It covers promotions, new hires, professional achievements, new businesses, relocations and other news. Fax items to Business Beat, 683-7631; e-mail to mbanducci@guardnet.com; or mail to Business Beat, The Register-Guard, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/20/b2.bz.bizbeat.0220.html ================ Ambulance Boundary Rules ================ ------------------------------------------------------------ 16.sn - Springfield Fire & Life Safety feels the burn ------------------------------------------------------------ By Jaime Sherman The Springfield News, 2/19/03 For nearly 22 years, Springfield Fire & Life Safety and the Eugene Fire Department have shared several administrative duties through intergovernmental agreements, but the close-knit relationship is about to end. The city of Eugene has announced it will pull out of several agreements on June 30, leaving Springfield to pick up the pieces and find new sources of revenue. For two decades, the Springfield fire department has handled Eugene's ambulance billing and FireMed administration, while the city of Eugene remained responsible for the two agencies' ambulance dispatching. But in the past few months, something has changed between the two cities, and on June 30, Eugene will sever some ties with Springfield by taking control of its own billing and administration. "Currently, to this point, it's been unilateral on the part of the city of Eugene to dictate what they're willing to do or not do," Springfield City Councilor Tammy Fitch said. "My hope is once again that we can sit down and talk and see what makes sense for all of the citizens. " The city of Eugene's pull-out from the intergovernmental agreements is an effort to save as much as $600,000 a year but it will mean a loss of revenue and jobs for the city of Springfield. Three to six Springfield Fire & Life Safety employees will likely lose their jobs in Springfield, fire Chief Dennis Murphy said. In addition, Springfield will likely have to pull out of its communications agreement with Eugene as early as January. This year Springfield is paying $350,000 for Eugene to dispatch Springfield medical calls. Preliminary solutions call for the Springfield Police Department to dispatch Springfield's fire and emergency medical services, which could mean a delay in services, Murphy said. By pulling out of the communications agreement with Eugene, Springfield Fire & Life Safety wouldn't be showing retribution but simply saving money, Murphy said. "It's a money issue," he said. "We recycle each other's money. It's, in every real regard, a balance of trade." Eugene City Councilor David Kelly said his council discussed the changes at a budget committee meeting Monday evening. "It was told to us as a done deal," he said. The Eugene council hasn't weighed the value of pulling out of the agreements because Eugene City Manager Jim Carlson has presented the changes as a financial and management issue -- not a policy decision for the council to make, Kelly said. Carlson and Eugene fire Chief Tom Tallon didn't return a reporter's calls, seeking comment on the decision. One partnership between the two cities, which has broken down in the past years, concerns ambulance service boundaries and which city's ambulances will respond in the event of an emergency. Eugene's policy to dispatch a Eugene ambulance in the event of an emergency within the city even if a Springfield ambulance is closer was also discussed at Eugene's budget meeting Monday, Kelly said. In Springfield, the nearest ambulance is called to an emergency scene -- even if the ambulance belongs to the city of Eugene. "Every emergency ambulance call always gets the closest ambulance," Murphy said. "When you need help and there's an ambulance in your area, you'll get the closest ambulance." Springfield firefighter union president Jeff Kronser agrees. "Our position was and has never changed," he said. "Despite some of the necessary cuts, we're in the business of emergency response, and our first response is to the people we serve." Which means the closest ambulance and the fastest response time, Kronser said. For Eugene firefighter union president Gary Nauta, the position is no different even if city of Eugene staff disagree with him. "I will never get away, I will never back off from response times are everything," he said. "This is all about taking care of patients." Springfield's Fitch said she is concerned about patients having to wait for an ambulance. "I don't want to be the person who said, 'I'm sorry you had to wait on the street for 10 minutes when there was an ambulance two minutes away,' especially if it's a Springfield patient," she said. The Springfield Fire Department began providing ambulance service to Springfield residents in 1981. For 26 years, a private ambulance company, Medical Services Inc., had provided ambulance transportation services to Springfield and Eugene patients. But in 1981 as the company failed to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the owner of Medical Services walked out of a meeting with local city officials on May 5, 1981. As he left, he said his company would immediately cut off ambulance service to the metropolitan area. The sudden announcement didn't catch the Springfield and Eugene fire departments off guard, however, because their fire chiefs had a contingency plan in place. The two cities formed intergovernmental agreements, stating they would share ambulance services. The city of Springfield began billing for ambulance services in both cities, and the city of Eugene began handling communications and dispatch. In 1986 as the city of Springfield formed FireMed, the two cities once again agreed to share services, and the Springfield fire department became responsible for the administrative duties associated with FireMed. FireMed ensures its members' ambulance bills will be covered in full no matter where they are in central Lane County and much of Oregon. A membership for an entire household costs $45 a year and expires June 30 of every year. FireMed is jointly operated by Eugene, Springfield and Lane Rural Fire/Rescue District. Without FireMed, the average costs of an ambulance trip is $700 to $800. Medicare covers only 50 to 80 percent of the fees. FireMed is available to anyone who registers regardless of one's insurance status. Fitch said she is hopeful the Springfield and Eugene city councils will work together to find a solution to ensure quality emergency response in the coming years. "It's a chapter I think we'll have to play out," she said. "I think we need to listen clearly to the individuals who have chosen that as a career and their dedication to providing efficient and fast service." http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/20/local/news2.txt ------------------------------------------------------------ 17.rg - Ambulance boundary rules draw complaints ------------------------------------------------------------ By Joe Mosley The Register-Guard, 2/22/03, Page A1 It struck Springfield paramedic Jeff Kronser as just plain wrong. He had delivered a patient to Eugene's Sacred Heart Medical Center a few weeks ago, when his radio rattled to life about someone suffering chest pains in a doctor's office around the corner. Kronser offered to respond, but was directed to return his ambulance to Springfield while a Eugene medic unit a mile away at the downtown fire station was sent instead. That's what prompted the Springfield Professional Firefighters Union's executive board, as well as that of the Eugene Firefighters Union, on Friday to condemn a "hard boundaries" policy adopted last summer by the Eugene Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department. "Our position is, was and will remain that the closest (medic) unit ought to respond to these calls," said Kronser, who is president of the Springfield union. In an abrupt course change from the long-standing "automatic aid" agreement under which Eugene and Springfield ambulances operated almost as a single entity within the two cities, the Eugene department has now laid claim to all medical calls within its service boundaries -- unless none of its own paramedics are available to send. "That position is quite simply indefensible," Eugene's firefighters' union president Gary Nauta said Friday. "In this line of work, response times are everything. "I think what's driving this is revenue, and I don't think we can allow a poor economy to dictate poor policy decisions. This is about transporting patients, and making 700 bucks every time you do it." Eugene Fire Chief Tom Tallon doesn't deny that financial efficiency was behind the Aug. 1 policy change. But he maintains that public safety has not been compromised, and in fact may have been enhanced through an emergency services reorganization that includes the new boundary policy. "We have stabilized our (ambulance) fund balance, mainly due to these changes we've put in place," Tallon said. "But the fact of the matter is that we're still providing good, solid service. "Value number one is patient care, and we will not compromise patient care under any system we design." Tallon said he found an emergency medical system that "was broken" when he became Eugene's chief three years ago. A pair of nationally known consultants was hired and helped determine that both the financial and operational structures of the department were due for overhauls. A change in federal standards resulted in lower Medicare payments for ambulance service, while a decision last year by the Lane County Board of Commissioners authorized the Lane Rural Fire District to begin operating its own ambulances from west of Santa Clara to Junction City and beyond. The area was previously served by Eugene ambulances. "Every city has a scarcity of resources, and you have to triage the things you do," Tallon said. Traditionally, the Eugene department had four ambulance crews on duty at all times, made up of cross-trained firefighter/paramedics who worked 24-hour shifts. Under Tallon's direction, a new job classification of "civilian paramedics" was created to work eight-hour shifts that allow a higher concentration of ambulance crews to be on duty during higher-demand periods such as afternoons. The result is six ambulance crews on duty in Eugene during the day -- four of the traditional firefighter/paramedic crews, along with two of the civilian medic units. Three firefighter/paramedic crews remain on ambulance duty through the night, along with one "swing crew" that can operate either as an engine company or an ambulance crew. In addition, all engine companies -- the fire trucks that are positioned at each Eugene fire station and are dispatched first to any emergency call -- include at least one paramedic, who can initiate advanced life support procedures before an ambulance arrives on an emergency scene. So Tallon contends that the proximity of ambulance crews has been made more-or-less moot. Prior to establishment of the "hard boundary" policy, the average response time by paramedic-staffed ambulances in Eugene was seven minutes and 43 seconds; since the changes, the average time for paramedics to arrive on-scene has been cut to six minutes and 12 seconds -- even if the ambulances themselves show up somewhat later, Tallon said. "The gold standard is not how quickly you can transport (patients) back to the emergency room," Tallon said. "It is how quickly you can get appropriate treatment at the scene." However, Tallon's methods have drawn detractors, and not only from the metropolitan area's two firefighter unions. Eugene City Councilor David Kelly questioned Tallon about the hard boundaries policy during a Budget Committee meeting earlier this week after hearing of deteriorating relations between the Eugene and Springfield fire departments. "I was really surprised by that, because long before I got on the council I heard a lot of very positive stories about the almost seamless way Eugene Fire and Emergency Services worked with Springfield," Kelly said. "What's certainly of importance to the council now is that Eugene residents get the very best medical and fire care we can provide, regardless of which jurisdiction happens to handle the call." And across Interstate 5, Springfield Fire Chief Dennis Murphy makes no bones about his uneasiness with Eugene's hard boundary policy -- even if he defends Tallon's right to make the decision. "Eugene is making lawful decisions that are within their purview," Murphy said. "We have no comment that's critical of Eugene and their decisions. But I believe the public will be the final judge. That's been absolutely missing up to this point -- there has not been a public dialogue on this." Murphy said that despite the Eugene policy on ambulance boundaries, his own department has decided to continue asking Eugene ambulances to respond when they happen to be closer to emergency scenes within Springfield's jurisdiction. "We've got principles that are applied in Springfield, and they are the ones that have been applied in Eugene for the past 22 years (prior to last August)," Murphy said. "The financial problems that are being dealt with by both cities are not sufficient to change that. Money is a serious consideration. But we cannot allow financial concerns to dictate deployment of ambulance apparatus." http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/22/a1.hardboundary.0222.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 18.sn - Springfield affected by new Eugene emergency dispatch ------------------------------------------------------------ By Jaime Sherman The Springfield News, 2/22/03 Picture this: You are a Springfield resident who drives into Eugene to visit friends, but on the way to their house, a truck slams into your small car on Harlow Road just over the freeway into Eugene. You suffer serious injuries and wait on the brink of unconsciousness as a passerby calls 9-1-1. You wait for what seems like an eternity and eventually a Eugene fire engine arrives with a paramedic crew on board. As you recover in the coming days, you learn a Springfield engine from the Gateway Station was actually closer to your accident than the Eugene engine, but the Springfield unit was never called. The scenario can and does occur. Eugene Fire & Emergency Medical Services has followed a new dispatch policy since August of sending only Eugene units to emergencies within Eugene even if a Springfield emergency unit is closer, said Gary Nauta, president of the Eugene firefighters union. "There is absolutely no excuse for not sending the closest medic unit. In my line of work, response times are critical," Nauta said. "The sooner we can arrive on scene, the sooner we can mitigate the incident." This week the union came out in opposition of the city's dispatch policy. "The policy decision that has been implemented by Eugene fire administration is revenue-based," Nauta said. The Eugene and Springfield fire departments gather revenue each time they transport a patient to the hospital. If Springfield transports, it gets the money. If Eugene takes a patient to the hospital, it gets the money. When it comes to the revenue, a city's boundary lines don't matter. Springfield can gather money whenever it takes a Eugene patient to the hospital and visa versa. Eugene fire Chief Tom Tallon agrees that response times are key, but he defends the policy of not necessarily sending a Springfield emergency unit first. He said in the above scenario Eugene will first dispatch an engine from the Willakenzie Station next to Sheldon High School in Eugene, but if the unit isn't available, dispatchers would send an engine from downtown Eugene. If both of those engines were on other calls, the Springfield unit from the Gateway Station would be dispatched. "We're not necessarily going to send the first ambulance. We've never had the closest unit being an ambulance. The closest unit is an engine," he said. "We have no time problem in terms of getting care to patients." Tallon said it is "a total incorrect statement" made by his firefighters that city policy is that every Eugene unit must be called before a Springfield unit is dispatched. Tallon said Eugene's redesign of its emergency response system has actually improved service. "I acknowledge it's doing a lot of changing right now," he said. "We're actually improving and enhancing our services." He contributes his firefighters' recent opposition to the dispatch policy to stressful economic times and on-going contract negotiations. "There are hard times, and I empathize with our employees who are feeling the stresses of change," he said. "I care deeply about our employees and appreciate the tension they are under." Nauta said he is insulted that Tallon "would say somehow this has to do with contract negotiations." "Our commitment to the community we serve and our commitment as firefighters is to provide them the very best care we can provide them," he said. Jeff Kronser, who represents Springfield's firefighters, said Eugene's dispatch policy impacts Springfield residents. "It's detrimental to the citizens of the community," he said. "We don't want citizens to feel we share the Eugene chief's opinion." http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/21/local/news3.txt ================== Transportation Issues ================= ------------------------------------------------------------ 19.sn - City and county agreement moves Pioneer Parkway extension ahead ------------------------------------------------------------ By Jonni Gratton The Springfield News, 2/22/03 An intergovernmental agreement for a Pioneer Parkway extension from Harlow Road to Beltline Road was signed this week by county and city officials, stating the county will provide $5.2 million in capital improvements funds and the city of Springfield will provide $9.3 million for the project. Plans include constructing a new section of Pioneer Parkway from Harlow Road to Beltline Road; modifying the existing section of Pioneer Parkway from Harlow Road to approximately 1,000 feet south and constructing new intersections along Pioneer Parkway, including a new connecting road north and adding improvements, such as soundwalls, traffic signals and drainage facilities. Public Works Director Ollie Snowden said the agreement also calls for the county to do design and let contract bids for the project. Commissioner Bill Dwyer said that by the county administrator, along with the city manager, signing the agreement, "all the money will be released to allow the thing to move forward." He said concerns about the location of the north link remain. "We still didn't resolve the issue of alignment. That will be in future negotiations. I still have serious concerns about the north link and how it will affect the senior mobile home park," said Dwyer of Patrician Mobile Home, located at 3530 Game Farm Road. Dwyer said a current agreement calls for the extension to go to Game Farm Road, but he would like to establish a new north link to Deadmond Ferry Road. Springfield traffic manager Nick Arnis said the north-link issue remains on the agenda of stakeholders and ideas will later go before the city and county. "I think it has a lot to do with the design and master plan of Sacred Heart. I think the change will be concurrent," Dwyer said. "Sacred Heart is going to contribute to it, too." The county and city also entered into a revenue agreement to install a guardrail at 48th Street, just off Main Street, in the amount of $60,000. The city will reimburse the county for work it does on the project, which is expected to begin in several months, City Engineer Al Peroutka said. http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/21/local/news5.txt ------------------------------------------------------------ 20.rg - Fill 'er up? ------------------------------------------------------------ By Matt Cooper The Register-Guard, 2/22/03, Page B1 Speaking of roads, the other part of the city's plan to raise street maintenance funds will go before the public on Monday: a 3-cent a gallon gasoline tax, similar to the one Eugene passed in January. The tax would generate $675,000 locally for Springfield streets, but that's not the only reason the City Council is likely to approve it. If it doesn't, Eugene gas station owners will be hurt if motorists migrate to Springfield en masse for cheaper gas. Although the public will be allowed to weigh in on the issue Monday, the tax is likely to be approved. In fact, the ordinance is modeled on the measure that was approved in Eugene. Springfield's version would be a 3-cents-a-gallon business license tax on all city gasoline dealers, Technical Services Manager Len Goodwin has said, but it's expected that dealers would pass the cost on to retailers, and retailers to customers. Matt Cooper can be reached at 338-2317 or mcooper@guardnet.com. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/02/22/b1.cr.spcitybeat.0222.html ------------------------------------------------------------ 21.sn - Gas tax on city agenda ------------------------------------------------------------ By Jaime Sherman and Jonni Gratton The Springfield News, 2/22/03 A proposed 3-cent-a-gallon gas tax will be the topic of a public hearing Monday evening at City Hall. City staff have recommended the city begin collecting the tax to help provide $675,000 annually to the city's ailing street fund. In early December, the City Council approved another revenue source for road maintenance by passing the transportation system maintenance fee. The fee is expected to raise an additional $1 million a year for the fund, beginning in July. Residents could be charged up to $1.75 a month and businesses between $20 and $550. In the past three years, the city has drawn from the street fund reserve, which has shrunk and is no longer a viable option for funding street maintenance. The shortfall is due in part to the state gas tax revenue remaining stagnant since 1993 and because Lane County's ability to fund road projects has gradually declined. The fee has been under fire by Lane County Commissioner Bill Dwyer, who contends the fee should not be tied to households but to road use. He has filed a petition with the city of Springfield, the area he represents, to repeal the fee. "The city attorney will review the language, then certify the ballot title," Dwyer said. "I'll have at least 90 days to gather 1,190 signatures. I've got lots of people that are going to help." He said he is filing the petition to form a political action committee as a citizen and hopes to gather enough signatures to take the vote to the people on the fall ballot. The city of Eugene also passed a transportation fee ordinance in December that could charge residents up to $2.90 a month and businesses from $20 to $1,150 monthly. Commissioner Bobby Green, representing North Eugene, planned to file a referral petition in Eugene, but he failed to gather enough signatures within the time limit. The Oregon Grocery Association filed a lawsuit against the two cities in early February, claiming the fees are basically a property tax and therefore illegal under Oregon law, which limits property taxes. In addition to passing the transportation maintenance fee, the city of Eugene passed a 3-cent gas tax last month, and now the city of Springfield is modeling its proposed tax after Eugene's tax. The combination of a gas tax and a transportation fee would "permit each to be imposed at a lower rate and would provide a more equitable solution to revenue needs than would either alternative alone," according to the city. Citizens will have a chance to voice their views on the proposed gas tax at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall. http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/21/local/news2.txt ======================= Other News ======================= ------------------------------------------------------------ 22.sn - Gateway Mall experiences many changes in uncertain economy ------------------------------------------------------------ By Jaime Sherman The Springfield News, 2/22/03 The storefronts at Gateway Mall continue to change as businesses leave and others arrive. In the past year, the roster of mall stores has changed each month and now stands at about 60. Mall manager Dana Vugteveen said Lane County's uncertain economy has presented challenges for business owners. "We're facing an interesting year. We'll have to wait and see about Oregon's economy," he said. "I think it will be a good year, but there are some uncertainties out there." In the past weeks, Limited Brands has closed its Bath & Body Works, Structure and Express stores as leases expired. In the coming weeks, Internation-al Furniture Faire will move into the space left empty by Limited Brands and then open America for Kids at the current furniture location, Vugteveen said. Diet Light and Centerville Country & Western Store have also closed, leaving empty storefronts. Navy Recruiters has moved out, but the Marine Recruiters will soon take its place near the north end of the mall. Heavenly Scent, a fragrance store once located near the food court, has left the mall and taken up business in Eugene. A temporary vendor at the mall is Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, which will serve customers at the mall through April, Vugteveen said. Another change at the mall is Kris' Hallmark is now operated by Coach House Gifts as the Hallmark Store. Magickal Gardaen, an apparel and gift store, opened this month, and the teenage apparel store, 20 Below, will open soon next to Ross Dress for Less. In the food court, a Mongolian grill will open in May, replacing the Teriyaki Garden. Vugteveen said one positive for the mall is Target's newly-begun remodel of its store. Target will add a pharmacy and rearrange its products to better accommodate customers. An uncertainty for the mall comes as bankruptcy courts decide the fate of Troutman's Emporium, which recently announced it will liquidate its merchandise and sell off its store leases. Emporium's store lease expires in 2011. "We expect, unfortunately, a going-out-of-business sale soon," Vugteveen said. Store management is uncertain whether another company will buy the Springfield Emporium and continue to operate it. http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/02/21/business/news3.txt =========================== 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 ac = Arlie & Company For some stories, 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 every week or so 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. ======================== More Info ======================= Please visit our web site for info about how you can contact us, the local papers, elected officials, PeaceHealth and McKenzie-Willamette: http://www.efn.org/~choices