Dear CHOICES Subscribers, CORRECTION: Alert readers identified three errors in Dave Barry's column last week: 1) The "Mighty Ducks" is the actually the name of a fictitious hockey team in a series of movies starring Emilio Estevez. 2) Roy Orr isn't actually a doctor. 3) I have never worn tie-dye -- nor inhaled. We regret Mr. Barry's errors. This past week, we received a lot of inquiries from curious readers. Yes, I really do know Dave Barry from when I lived in Boca Raton, Florida. He's not as tall in person, and he always looks like a kid in the body of a middle-aged man in blue jeans. Despite what some believe, Dave doesn't have a huge research staff -- just lots of alert readers. He writes all of his own columns. Similarly, ("Deep Dish with") Dinah depends on alert readers for tips but writes all her own columns. Dave and Dinah are two of my heroes. I have always believed that fact is funnier than fiction, and humor is a way to deal with the insanity and tragedy of life. Of course, while we can sometimes laugh, maintaining and enhancing health care options in Lane County is a serious issue. On Tuesday, the Springfield Planning Commission will begin reviewing PeaceHealth's master plan for its new hospital. A public hearing is scheduled for November 12. In theory, this is the moment we have all been waiting for. According to PeaceHealth and the City of Springfield, this is the moment when all our questions will be answered and the public will finally get a chance to weigh in on if and how siting a hsopital on residential land in the Gateway area is in the public interest. On Wednesday, the Eugene City Council will discuss Arlie & Company's plans for its Crescent site, which is where PeaceHealth waspreviously planning to build their new hospital. The council is also scheduled to adopt code changes making it possible to build a hospital just about anywhere in Eugene. As Stu Burge has resigned as Springfield City Councilor for Ward 1, the city is looking for a replacement. Those interested have until October 31 to apply. While not reported, last Wednesday parties appealing the PeaceHealth hospital siting to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) filed their arguments. The City of Springfield and PeaceHealth now have until two weeks from this Wednesday to file their responses. A decision is expected later this year. Meanwhile, in the antitrust lawsuit against PeaceHealth, McKenzie-Willlamette Hospital finished up presenting its arguments. Next week, PeaceHealth will begin presenting its defense. The case is expected to conclude in a few weeks. McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center -- the new name of the joint venture -- is buying up options on potential sites for a new hospital, including a site near Valley River Center. Meanwhile, the City of Eugene has retained former city manager Jim Johnson to help McKenzie-Willamette site a hospital in Eugene. Work on the I-5 replacement bridge over the Willamette River shifted into high gear... and a new report by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) may put the West Eugene Parkway (WEP) back into gear. Surprisingly, a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) assessment last spring cast doubt on whether the parkway would qualify for federal funding and threatened to kill the project. Finally, Lane County has a new commissioner, Don Hampton; and State Senator Tony Corcoran has a new job. In his humor, Dave Barry pokes fun at almost everything, but especially at government and large corporations, which he sees as often inefficient, lacking common sense, and not acting in the public interest. As we can't depend on Dave Barry to look out for the public interest in Lane County, it falls on each of us to do so. Write a letter to the editor of one of our fine local newspapers or to your elected officials; attend a city council meeting; or testify at a public hearing. If we don't speak out, who will? Rob Zako, Editor 343-5201 rzako@efn.org ================================================================================ Health Options Digest October 19, 2003 Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALENDAR Monday, October 20 - Springfield City Council Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St. Springfield, 726-3700. 6 p.m. -- Work session, Jesse Maine Room * Sanipac annual report. * Marketing Sony plant. * Mill Race restoration. 7 p.m. -- Regular session, Council Meeting Room. * Grasshauer property annexation. * Main Street special transportation area. * Mill Race restoration. * CDBG funds for downtown redevelopment. Agenda: http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/CMO/2003Council/102003%20agenda.pdf Tuesday, October 21 - Springfield Planning Commission 6:00 p.m., Jesse Maine Room, Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St. Springfield, 726-3753. * PeaceHealth Master Plan -- Staff will present the PeaceHealth master plan and zone change applications to the Planning Commission and discuss the staff recommend conditions of approval. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the master plan and zone change requests on November 12, 2003. The Planning Commission's decision on these applications is advisory to the City Council. Any questions or issues raised by the Commission during this work session will be incorporated into the staff presentation at the public hearing. [Colin Stephens] (120 min.) Agenda: http://www.ci.springfield.or.us/dsd/Planning/PC%20Agenda%20&%20Minutes/2003/Work%20Agenda/October%2021,%202003.pdf Wednesday, October 22 - Eugene City Council McNutt Room, Eugene City Hall, 777 Pearl St., Eugene, 682-5010. Noon -- Work session: An Ordinance Amending the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan Area General Plan Diagram and the Willakenzie Area Plan Diagram and Text; Amending the Eugene Zoning Map and the Eugene Overlay Zone Map; Amending Sections 9.2741, 9.4280 and 9.9700 of the Eugene Code, 1971; Adopting a Severability Clause; and Providing an Effective Date (City Files: MA 03-1, RA 03-2, CA 03-2, and Z 03-3). 12:45 p.m. -- Action: An Ordinance Amending Chapter 9 of the Eugene Code Regarding Hospital and Related Medical Uses; and Adopting a Severability Clause. Agenda: http://www.ci.eugene.or.us/council/agenda/A031022P.pdf Tuesday, October 28 - Community Benefits Task Force Noon - 2:00 p.m., Sloat Room, Atrium Building, 99 West 10th Ave., Eugene. To prepare for a meeting with the new McKenzie Willamette Medical Center regarding their revised charity care policies in light of the required charity policies set out by the Oregon Attorney General in his ruling on the merger of McKenzie-Willamette Hospital with Triad Hospitals, Inc., a national for-profit hospital chain of 55 hospitals. For more information, contact Mary Ann Holser, mahols@efn.org, 343-5132. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OPPORTUNITIES Seats open on council, historic commission SPRINGFIELD -- The city is seeking applications for a position on City Council and another on the historic commission. The council position is Ward 1, which represents northwest Springfield. The applicant will be appointed until a successor can be elected in the 2004 election cycle. That candidate will fill the remainder of the term that expires Dec. 31, 2006. The City Council sets overall city policies and goals, and makes all law and ordinances that govern the city. Applications are available in the City Manager's office at City Hall, Fifth and A streets. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. For more information, call Amy Sowa at 726-3700. The city also has extended the application deadline until Nov. 14 to fill one position on the seven-member Historic Commission. Preference will be given to Springfield residents with technical expertise and a background in restoration, construction and craftsmanship. The commission promotes stewardship for historic preservation through education and participation. Applicants do not need to be residents or property owners in Springfield but must meet State Historic Preservation Office guideline standards. Applications are available at the City Manager's Office; the deadline to apply is 3 p.m. Nov. 14. For more information, call Kitti Gale at 726-3632. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/14/d2.cr.rg.briefs.1014.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PEACEHEALTH PeaceHealth gets green light for excavation The state Land Use Board of Appeals won't force PeaceHealth to stop excavation on its 160-acre parcel along the McKenzie River. The board last week denied a motion from attorney Al Johnson, who is representing John and Robin Jaqua, to halt work on the site. The Jaquas, who farm along the McKenzie River, argue that PeaceHealth is outside the law by moving soil on its property before the city of Springfield approves a master development plan for the hospital. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/10/15/local/news07.txt Concern level for site flooding risk varies SPRINGFIELD -- When PeaceHealth officials announced their purchase in 2001 of open land in the city's northwest corner for a state-of-the-art hospital, they touted the healing power of being close to the scenic McKenzie River. But opponents say the river would also mean greater risk for the hospital and its neighbors if -- or when -- it floods. The flooding risk is just one of the issues that will play out in public meetings and court challenges over the coming months: The state Land Use Board of Appeals is expected to rule by the end of the year whether to overturn the city's March approval of the 160-acre RiverBend project, and the City Council should vote in February whether to approve the development plan for the regional medical center slated to open in 2007. Gauging the level of concern about flooding at RiverBend, however, is as tough as predicting the next deluge. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/13/b1.cr.peacehealthflood.1013.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MCKENZIE-WILLAMETTE MEDICAL CENTER Fast & Painless Update Replacement Hospital Site -- What's Next? The City of Eugene has retained former City Manager Jim Johnson to act as "facilitator" in conversations with us about locating inside a target area where the city hopes to see a replacement hospital sited. The target area emanates from the 2nd and Chambers population center in all directions, stopping on the south side of the Willamette River. The Eugene Council is slated to take action October 22 on amendments to its land use code aimed at facilitating hospital development. We told officials at both Eugene and Springfield we will send each a detailed description of the criteria we plan to use to evaluate potential sites, as soon as possible. We also will convene a second round of "Let's Start Talking" open houses to update community members about our criteria. In brief, our criteria include 1) timing-an opportunity to acquire the land swiftly so we can provide certainty to the greater physician community who must make choices of their own about the location of their offices, 2) access-we must support the needs of both the general public and physicians, as well as our employees, and 3) size-it's important that we secure enough land to accommodate the medical offices and other support services that desire to co-locate with us, and to grow over time without disrupting our neighbors. We're working with Sue Prichard, Prichard Evans Elder, to secure options on properties of interest. This does NOT mean we have selected a site; it means we want to keep our options open if a property of interest should emerge as the preferred site. Our search has become the subject of such intense scrutiny we feel we must take steps to preserve access to or ensure we can afford whatever site is ultimately selected. Antitrust Trial Continues Tom Triplett, our Portland antitrust legal counsel, continues to interview witnesses as he presents our case to the nine remaining jurors. He has asked us not to speak with reporters at this time. Triplett may finish our case as early as Friday. Before PeaceHealth starts its response next week, they may move for dismissal, on the grounds that we have not proven our case. We understand it is common for a defendant to move for dismissal at that point. Judge Haggerty may rule on the spot, or take his time. Questions? Contact Rosie Pryor, 744-6164 Terrorism Drill Imminent McKenzie-Willamette will participate in a full scale, multi-agency disaster drill slated for October 29th. Lane Transit District is sponsoring the drill, that will include the Lane County Sheriff's and Public Works Depts, and Medical Examiner's Office, as well as City of Eugene Fire, Police and Public Works Depts, University of Oregon, Sacred Heart, Red Cross, FBI, Springfield Fire and Life Safety, and Oregon State Police. McKenzie-Willamette's Emergency Preparedness Committee has been discussing the upcoming tabletop and full scale drills. Updated Charity Care Policy Available Our Charity Care and Financial Assistance Policy and Procedure has been updated to ensure it conforms with the requirements of the recent Attorney General approval of our transaction with Triad. The stated purpose is to "provide a means of identifying patients that require medical services but do not have the resources to pay for those services." Festival of Trees Just a Month Away The new beneficiaries of this popular event are people who cannot afford to purchase much-needed prescriptions. Board members of the former McKenzie-Willamette Hospital Foundation spent many weeks early this year re-tooling the Foundation's mission. Now, instead of supporting the hospital, the focus is on meeting the healthcare needs of people throughout Lane County. This expanded capacity is one of the unexpected benefits of our Triad venture. Funds raised through Festival of Trees will be used to pay for prescriptions for persons who are on fixed incomes. A similar program operated by the SHARE Foundation in El Dorado, ARK (capitalized with funds from their transaction with Triad) now pays for prescriptions for over 2,000 community members! McKenzie-Willamette Co-Sponsors "Ultimate Drive" for the Cure How bad can it be: drive a BMW anytime on Wednesday, October 29th, and the local BMW dealership will contribute a dollar for every mile you drive to the Susan G. Komen Fund to find a cure for breast cancer. McKenzie-Willamette Women's Health and Birth Center is co-sponsoring this effort to raise awareness about the need to find a cure. Tell your friends to visit the dealership (7th and Chambers, Eugene) anytime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and drive for the cause. Rosie Pryor Director, Marketing and Planning McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center 1460 G Street, Springfield, OR 97477-4197 541-744-6164 rospry@mckweb.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANTITRUST LAWSUIT Surprises top testimony as antitrust suit continues for local hospitals Surprising testimony continues to emerge in the antitrust trial that pits McKenzie-Willamette Hospital against its major rival PeaceHealth. Mark Ganz, the president of Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, testified on Tuesday that the exclusive contract for preferred provider status could have been McKenzie Willamette's but the hospital declined to join. The contract, which is at the heart of the battle in a Portland courtroom, makes it cheaper for patients using a Regence preferred provider plan to go to Sacred Heart Medical Center -- operated by PeaceHealth -- for service. McKenzie-Willamette alleges that the plan has driven people away from the Springfield hospital and jeopardized the hospital operations. In response, the hospital filed the lawsuit and found a financial partner. Earlier this month, it signed a joint venture agreement with Triad Hospitals Inc. Ganz stated that McKenzie-Willamette declined to sign up on a similar plan with Regence because the insurance reimbursement for care would be too low. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/10/15/local/news03.txt PeaceHealth deals with doctors debated in antitrust testimony PORTLAND -- PeaceHealth executives defended their practice of employing physicians in Lane County, as lawyers for McKenzie-Willamette Hospital suggested it was a tactic intended to funnel patients to PeaceHealth-owned hospitals and control the local health care market. Questions about PeaceHealth-employed doctors came Wednesday, the sixth day of trial in McKenzie-Willamette's federal antitrust lawsuit against PeaceHealth. The suit alleges that PeaceHealth wielded its dominant market power to compete unfairly for health insurance contracts. McKenzie-Willamette is seeking $7.7 million in damages, which would be tripled under antitrust law, as well as punitive damages. If it prevails, McKenzie-Willamette is expected to ask the court to order PeaceHealth to divest its medical groups. PeaceHealth employs about 150 physicians in Lane County, including about 110 at PeaceHealth Medical Group in Eugene. It owns smaller physician practices in Cottage Grove and Florence, where it also owns hospitals. PeaceHealth executives testified that PeaceHealth Medical Group, established in 1995, has been a consistent money loser, costing the corporation $9 million in 2000, $6 million in 2001, and $4 million in the most recent fiscal year. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/16/d1.cr.hospitalsuit.1016.html Hospital CEO tells of talks on insurance PORTLAND -- In early 2001, Roy Orr was growing concerned about the declining number of patients at McKenzie-Willamette Hospital who had commercial insurance and the effect it was having on his hospital's bottom line. Hospitals rely on insured patients to make up for losses they suffer when treating patients on Medicaid and Medicare. Orr, McKenzie-Willamette's chief executive officer, blamed two preferred provider insurance plans -- one offered by Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, the other by Providence Health Plans -- which directed patients to Sacred Heart Medical Center and discouraged them from going to McKenzie-Willamette. In early 2001, at one of their regular monthly lunch dates, Orr told Alan Yordy, his counterpart at PeaceHealth, Sacred Heart's corporate parent, about the problem and the effect it was having on McKenzie-Willamette. Yordy seemed genuinely surprised and offered to help get McKenzie-Willamette in the preferred plans, Orr told jurors Thursday in U.S. District Court. "He felt he could take care of the Providence preferred plan with a phone call," Orr said. "He didn't feel strong about keeping exclusivity in the Regence plan." But months later, McKenzie-Willamette officials still found themselves on the outside looking in, which is why they ultimately filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against PeaceHealth. McKenzie-Willamette alleges that PeaceHealth used its dominant market power to compete unfairly against its smaller rival. One way PeaceHealth officials did that, McKenzie-Willamette alleges, was by coercing health insurers to keep McKenzie-Willamette out of its preferred provider plans. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/17/d1.cr.hospitalsuit.1017.html Economist says chain exercises monopoly PORTLAND -- McKenzie-Willamette Hospital rested its federal antitrust case Friday after an economist told jurors that PeaceHealth is a monopoly that used its power to harm McKenzie-Willamette. PeaceHealth will begin its defense Monday in U.S. District Court in Portland, first by asking Judge Ancer Haggerty to dismiss part or all of the case. The trial ended its second week with testimony from Ed Whitelaw, a University of Oregon economics professor and president of ECONorthwest, a Eugene-based economics consulting firm. McKenzie-Willamette hired Whitelaw to analyze the local health care market as it relates to McKenzie-Willamette's allegations against PeaceHealth. Whitelaw told jurors that a monopoly is a seller of goods or services that has the power to jack up prices and restrict the quality or quantity of products, or both. PeaceHealth, corporate parent of Sacred Heart, has monopoly power in the local health care market, he said. Sacred Heart is the only local hospital that offers cardiovascular care and neonatal care. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/18/b1.cr.hospitalsuit.1018.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HOSPITAL SITING War of the wards: Hospital conflict has a new front Two local hospitals are not confining their battle to the courtroom. Rumors now dot the contentious landscape. While attorneys for McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center and PeaceHealth are locked in an anti-trust suit in Portland, a rumor -- which bears at least some truth -- is flying around town. McKenzie-Willamette plans to make an offer on land in north Eugene between Willagillespie Road and Delta Highway to build an $80 million hospital, but it hasn't made an official offer yet. The interim pastor at Valley River Assembly of God on Robin Hood Avenue has confirmed a real estate agent for the hospital contacted him earlier this week to say her client plans to submit an offer on the church's eight acres along Delta Highway. (more...) http://www.springfieldnews.com/articles/2003/10/17/local/news02.txt Hospital shows interest in church-owned parcel Church property in north Eugene has emerged as a possible front-runner in McKenzie-Willamette Hospital's search for a new home. The Springfield-based hospital "desires to make an offer" on eight acres owned and occupied by the Valley River Assembly of God, interim Pastor Rick Hanneman said Friday. The land sits between Delta Highway and Willagillespie Road, northeast of Valley River Center. Representatives of McKenzie-Willamette have indicated that they are also interested in making an offer on an adjacent 20 acres or so owned by the local Gheen family, Hanneman said. McKenzie-Willamette and its partner, Texas-based Triad Hospitals, are searching for about 35 acres on which to build an $80 million hospital and medical offices to replace the McKenzie-Willamette facility in central Springfield. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/18/a1.hospitalsite.1018.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COST OF HEALTH CARE Insurer Regence BlueCross BlueShield will drop its low-premium health plan The state's largest health insurer is pulling the plug on one of its insurance plans designed to make consumers more aware of the actual costs of health care. Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon launched the plan, called DirectBlue, as a pilot project in Lane County in May 2002, but it notified employers last month that it was dropping the plan at the end of the year. Even with 12,000 subscribers, the plan wasn't working the way Regence thought it would, said Jeff Brown, Regence's assistant vice president for sales in Oregon. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/15/d1.cr.insure.1015.html Insurance: Health care at core of new labor fights LOS ANGELES -- Rising health care costs, more than any other issue, lie at the heart of current labor disputes, and nearly every worker, business and government agency will face problems with health care expenses in the next few years, experts said. Double-digit increases in health care premiums have resulted in management passing more of the cost on to employees, and many workers are not willing to part with the rich benefit packages that have been largely picked up by their employers for decades. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/19/f2.bz.insure.1019.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEARBY DEVELOPMENTS Grass-roots effort saved facility Letter by Mary E. Clark, Cottage Grove I am very glad that we shall continue to have a local hospital to serve not only residents of Cottage Grove, but those of rural South Lane and North Douglas counties as well. The new facility is much needed, as a high proportion of its clientele already live at distances far more than an hour away for transport to one of the Eugene-Springfield area's hospitals. I was deeply engaged in maintaining a hospital here from the first glimmerings of the bankruptcy that threatened to close the old hospital and was among that first group, Citizens Supporting Healthcare, that fought to save it. For more than a year, we donated hundreds of hours, thousands of dollars and a great deal of passion into getting information, looking for help from outside providers and working with our lawyer to help prevent the closure of the hospital. We marched, phoned, wrote letters, raised money, had meetings and worked and worked. Without the dedication of dozens of active local people from all the outlying towns, as well as here in Cottage Grove, the new hospital would never have happened. Indeed, it was only toward the very end of the entire bankruptcy proceedings that some of the more influential people in Cottage Grove persuaded PeaceHealth to consider maintaining hospital facilities here. Long live the heart and spirit of all those in the grass-roots of Cottage Grove and of South Lane and North Douglas counties. Without them, this area would be nothing more than a handful of Wild West ghost towns. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/16/ed.letters.1016.html Glenwood is ripe for discovery Letter by Gene Thompson, Eugene How long can Springfield and Eugene ignore Glenwood? It has beautiful river frontage, small cottages in a rural setting, and is bordered by Eugene and Springfield. You would think that the culture of the two bigger communities on either side of Glenwood would influence the people who live here. Wrong. Glenwood is very different and ripe for discovery. Put in the new federal courthouse, a large for-profit hospital, 12 different espresso bars and a high-speed bus system, and suddenly Eugene and Springfield looks to Glenwood with envy. No? How about a new basketball court, baseball stadium or theme park? Sushi bar? When I walk through Glenwood, I am appalled by the total lack of consideration by cars entering the pedestrian crosswalks before I reach the other side. Now there is something Eugene, Glenwood and Springfield share in common: A real Jekyll-and-Hyde complex. Put a pedestrian in a car and suddenly you have a whole new attitude. (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/17/ed.letters.1017.html Build arena in Springfield Letter by Thomas Collet, Eugene The solution to the bickering over the sighting of the new University of Oregon arena is obvious: Build it in Springfield. It might look really nice next to the hospital, or possibly the federal courthouse. Those who object that it's too far away can ride one of our new million dollar buses. http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/19/ed.letters.1019.html Game time for GSA: Eugene has answered courthouse concerns Register-Guard Editorial It's almost World Series time, so it's hard to resist a baseball analogy when considering the General Services Administration's decision nearly a month ago to put on hold its plans to purchase city-owned land for a new $70 million federal courthouse. The city has spent the last few weeks answering questions raised by the GSA regarding transportation, parking and private development for the proposed site. City officials have provided a thorough, complete response that addresses every concern raised by the federal agency. The response includes details on funding for new streets, plans for private development in the courthouse district and renewed commitment from Oregon's congressional delegation to secure federal transportation funding. Now it's time for the GSA to play ball. Regional Director Jon Kvistad should move immediately to fulfill the commitment his agency made in March 2001 when it signed an agreement with the city to acquire the site and build the courthouse. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/14/ed.edit.gsadelay.phn.1014.html High interest expected at 'up-and-coming' land auction The city of Eugene is putting up for auction a 16.5-acre parcel of land in Danebo that was at the center of a long legal battle and controversial settlement. The land is zoned for medium-density residential use -- low-rise apartments -- and the city expects much interest from developers attracted to the fast-growing Bethel-Danebo area, said Emmy Jenson, the city's property and lease manager. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/14/b1.bz.develop.1014.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRANSPORTATION I-5 bridge work goes into high gear Like a construction video on fast-forward, local motorists will see detour bridges go up on Interstate 5 over the Willamette and McKenzie rivers in the next year as transportation officials scramble to return heavy-haul trucking to the state's main north-south freeway. Crews working for Hamilton Construction Co., a longtime Springfield-based bridge builder, have begun work on a temporary bridge over the Willamette and are aiming to finish detour bridges over both rivers by Sept. 5 next year, said Jeff Payne, Oregon Department of Transportation project manager. It should be quite a show, he said. Public tours of the projects will be held on the first Thursday of each month. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/13/a1.bridges.1013.html Street designation could ease the path to progress It's not an idea you hear every day -- arguing for more traffic in an area. But that's what the city will consider on Monday. The City Council will debate making Main Street a "special transportation area" between Mill and 10th streets. It could be good for downtown, Transportation Manager Nick Arnis said, and here's why: If the city so designates the road, the state Department of Transportation will relax its restrictions on the amount of traffic the area can handle. Currently, the area must adhere to a service level of "D." That means if there is more development downtown, the city might have to add an additional lane to maintain flow -- no easy task considering how tight things are downtown, Arnis said. With the change, the service level would be downgraded to "E": Downtown could continue to grow, continue to generate more traffic, without the need of major traffic remedies, Arnis said. "We'd like to have a lot more business downtown," Arnis said. "If we redevelop some big sites, (changing the designation of Main Street) would give us more flexibility." (end) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/18/b1.cr.spcitybeat.1018.html Report may put parkway in gear The controversial West Eugene Parkway project, which was put in jeopardy last spring when the federal government threatened to pull funding, seems to be back on track -- by way of bureaucratic maneuvers likely to renew debate over the 5.8-mile bypass. An upcoming report from the Oregon Department of Transportation, based on an update of future traffic projections, is expected to counter federal concerns that the parkway would be insufficient to handle at least 20 years of growth in west Eugene. While the proposed project is currently held up by a land use appeal, the ODOT report is seen as a major step forward by parkway proponents. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/18/b1.cr.parkway.1018.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OTHER NEWS Oakridge mayor takes office as new Lane commissioner Improving public safety in rural areas and civil discourse during county deliberations will be among Don Hampton's goals in office, the new East Lane County commissioner said after his swearing-in on Tuesday. (more...) http://www.registerguard.com/news/2003/10/15/d1.cr.hampton.1015.html Tony the Tiger: Corcoran has been a tough, honest legislator; he'll be missed. Commentary by Tom Lininger Tuesday, October 7: Arnold Swarzenegger wins his first elective office, and Tony Corcoran resigns from the Oregon Senate. On balance, there is a net decrease in the toughness of America's politicians. Arnold may be "the Terminator," but Tony is "the Terminator Stout." (I stole this nickname from a beer at McMenamins, where Tony and I used to compare notes on our political campaigns in 2002). (more...) http://www.eugeneweekly.com/archive/10_16_03/views.html#view1 So Long, Tony Letter by Jack Roberts, Exec. Director, Lane Metro Partnership I was disappointed to see that Tony Corcoran is resigning his state Senate seat, although I am pleased with his appointment to the Employment Appeals Board. His confirmation by the Senate should be a no-brainer (which, in today's political climate, may mean a one or two vote margin). As a Republican, I certainly haven't always agreed with Tony, but I've always respected his candor, his commitment and his integrity. No matter how wrong-headed I sometimes thought he was, I always knew he was doing what he thought was right and not just what was politically expedient. And no one ever had to wonder where he stood on an issue after talking to him. When he was selected to head the PERS reform committee in the Senate, my Republican friends in Salem were saying that this was either the best possible selection or the worst. While many of them feared the latter, I predicted it would be the former. I was right. Thanks to Tony, the impetus for legitimate PERS reform did not degenerate into public employee-bashing. Nor did he allow the full cost of bringing the system in compliance with fiscal realities fall entirely on new hires and future public employees. I was reluctant to write this letter because I'm sure Tony is tired of having Republicans congratulate him on the courageous and principled stand he took on this issue. But what I would like to point out is that this was not an anomaly for Tony. Throughout his years of public service -- which are by no means over -- he has never been afraid to stand up for what he thinks is right. Unfortunately, too many of us are willing to acknowledge this only when we agree with what someone is doing. I figure this is a good time to belatedly confess that I have admired this quality in Tony even when we disagreed. And, I'm pleased to say, I don't expect him to change. (end) http://www.eugeneweekly.com/archive/10_16_03/letters.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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