Health Options Digest
March 21, 2004
Amended March 24, 2004
Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES)
In This Issue
From the Editor
Week in Review
The big news this past week was that the Oregon Court of Appeals heard legal arguments about how -- or whether -- siting a major hospital in Springfield's Gateway area is consistent with State and local provisions. Don't expect to hear an answer until May or even later. Meanwhile, PeaceHealth's plans to bein construction are effectively on hold.
Also this past week, the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) heard legal arguments about whether Eugene can change its zoning to allow a hospital just about anywhere. The big mystery is why PeaceHealth is so concerned with the issue when McKenzie-Willamette/Triad isn't. With PeaceHealth planning tomove to Springfield, one would think they wouldn't care what Eugene does to attract another hospital. Yet an attorney for PeaceHealth appeared on Thursday to argue that a hospital can be allowed just about anywhere. In contrast, McKenzie-Willamette/Triad, which is presumably the hospital that would take advantage of the relaxed zoning standards, is not a party to the case, did not request that Eugene relax its zoning standards, and doesn't appear to be much concerned one way or the other. So why is Eugene spending taxpayer money to defend a zoning change that may not be needed, and what's PeaceHealth's interest?
Also in the news, Springfield approved a roundabout for the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway (formerly the Pioneer Parkway Extension) but nixed setting aside a dedicated lane for Bus Rapid Transit. This would be one of two routes to get to the new PeaceHealth hospital. Some have said that BRT without dedicated lanes is just buses running in traffic. Running buses on streets is a fine idea, but not something that should require millions of federal dollars and expensive new buses to implement.
(top...)
Looking Ahead
This coming week is Spring Break. Although the Springfield City Council and the Eugene Planning Commission are meeting on Monday, few public meetings are scheduled and not much is happening. If you can't get out of town, at least take the enjoy our magnificient rivers, either from a raft or from the banks by foot or bicycle. The judges will still be deliberating when you get back.
(top...)
Rob Zako, Editor
343-5201
rzako@efn.org
Calendar
Monday, March 22 -- Eugene Planning Commission
Atrium Building, 99 West 10th Ave., Eugene
11:30 a.m., Work Session, Sloat Room
1. Public Comment for Non-Agenda Items
2. Discussion: Nodal Development
Contact: Allen Lowe, 682-5113, allen.d.lowe@ci.eugene.or.us
(agenda...)
(top...)
Monday, March 22 -- Springfield City Council
City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield
Contact: Amy Sowa, City Manager's Office, 726-3700
5:30 p.m., Work Session, Jesse Maine Room
1. Matricula Consular.
2. Advance Knowledge About Urban Renewal Districts and Efforts in Redevelopment of Downtown and Glenwood.
(agenda...)
(top...)
Opportunities
Position available on budget committee
| The Springfield News | March 19, 2004 |
The city is seeking applications for one position on the Springfield Budget Committee.
The Budget Committee reviews the city's financial plans and policies, including the annual budget. The person who is appointed will serve until Dec. 31, 2004, at which time he or she will be eligible to re-apply for a full three-year term. Meetings are typically held weekly between April and June.
The current vacancy, which must be filled by a Ward 1 resident, is due to the resignation of Christine Larson, whose term expires on Dec. 31, 2004.
City councilors will interview applicants on April 12 and make an appointment on April 19. Application forms are available in the City Manager's Office at City Hall, 225 Fifth St. The deadline for submitting applications is 5 p.m. March 26. For more information, call Norma Barton at 726-3698.
(top...)
PeaceHealth
Hospital appeal given an extension
By Diane Dietz
The Register-Guard | March 17, 2004 |
The Oregon Court of Appeals gave combatants two more weeks to sling legal arguments about how -- or whether -- Springfield's Gateway area is an OK place for a major hospital.
A three-judge panel heard oral arguments Tuesday but ruled that the case was so complex that the 10 attorneys representing parties in the matter can file supplemental briefs until March 31.
At this point, the dispute is the single major impediment to PeaceHealth starting construction of its planned $400 million medical complex and other development alongside the McKenzie River.
The key issue in the dispute is how such big projects are synchronized with major road upgrades necessary to handle their traffic. PeaceHealth argues that so long as major road upgrades are completed a number of years after the hospital and related commercial development and housing is built, all is well. But opponents argue that the project must be synchronized to coincide with roadwork to accommodate the added traffic. (more...)
(top...)
Brief case 'tacky,' says Vicki Elmer
| Eugene Weekly | March 18, 2004 |
Responding to last week's news story on Eugene's city attorney and an amicus brief he wrote regarding a PeaceHealth and Springfield court case, former City Manager Vicki Elmer says, "I think it's tacky."
City attorney Glenn Klein has been criticized by city councilors and land-use activists for writing a legal document for the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) that is viewed as helping facilitate PeaceHealth's move to Springfield. (more...)
(top...)
Cost of Health Care
Low-income workers in Oregon might lose health insurance
SALEM -- Thousands of low-income workers in Oregon could lose their health insurance this summer, if legislators sign off on a plan presented by the Department of Human Services.
The cuts come in response to the voter rejection of Measure 30, a temporary income tax measure that would have staved off some cuts in public safety and education, as well as millions of dollars in cuts planned for the Oregon Health Plan.
Under the agency's proposal, which will be considered by the Legislative Emergency Board in April, other threatened health care services will continue. Those include prescription drug benefits, mental health care, and alcohol and drug addiction treatment for about 300,000 children, pregnant women and people with disabilities enrolled in Oregon Health Plan. (more...)
(top...)
Nearby Developments
Commentary: City Council should commit financially to riverfront redevelopment
| By Steven Korth | March 17, 2004 |
The news that McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center is considering relocating to the Eugene Water & Electric Board's current site alongside the Willamette River near the Ferry Street Bridge has generated considerable interest on the part of the Eugene City Council and others. Interest should be at least as great among those of us who would like to see more productive and beneficial use made of the river as one of Eugene's greatest assets.
Whether it is a private hospital or some other taxpaying entity that replaces EWEB, everyone in Eugene should be excited by the prospect of a greater diversity of uses along the river -- not to mention more taxpaying development within one of Eugene's longest-standing urban renewal districts. But to make this happen, the city of Eugene must be prepared to leverage the future tax increment generated by such private development to assist in the relocation of EWEB as a necessary condition for making this happen. (more...)
(top...)
Petitions taken out on urban renewal
| Eugene Weekly | March 18, 2004 |
A local citizen group opposed to the City Council's expansion and renewal of an urban renewal (UR) district along the Willamette River has filed to refer the issue to the voters. Organizers have less than four weeks to gather and submit 3,722 valid signatures.
Paul Nicholson and Howard Bonnett are the chief petitioners and Ruth Duemler is organizing the petition drive.
Duemler says the group is looking to get at least 4,500 signatures from 45 signature gatherers, and she's found 30 volunteers so far. (more...)
(top...)
Urban renewal district under fire
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | March 19, 2004 |
Critics of Eugene's urban renewal efforts have begun their quest for votes to repeal the urban renewal district along the Willamette River. (more...)
(top...)
Transportation
Briefly: Street to be transferred to city for improvements
| The Register-Guard | March 15, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- A portion of South 42nd Street will officially be turned over to the city today -- along with a $4.1 million check to modernize the roadway.
A ceremonial "handoff" between state Department of Transportation and city officials will occur at today's City Council meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
The portion of the street going to the city extends from Main Street to Jasper Road. The stretch of roadway, while officially part of the Springfield-Creswell Highway, is primarily a city street that carries local traffic through a developing neighborhood with school and parks.
The transfer will allow the city to improve the street to city standards and make it safer for children who use it walking to and from school, Mayor Sid Leiken said in a statement.
(top...)
Council narrowly OKs roundabout
By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard | March 16, 2004 |
SPRINGFIELD -- The proposed Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway will bring a two-lane roundabout to the north end of town under a plan narrowly adopted Monday night by the City Council.
The council approved design elements for the $9.3 million road project, the largest in the city in a decade, after a 90-minute public hearing in front of a standing-room-only crowd that was clearly skeptical of roundabouts and large public projects (more...)
(top...)
Council approves parkway roundabout
By Jaime Sherman
The Springfield News | March 17, 2004 |
The city of Springfield is one step closer to building the county's first two-lane roundabout at Hayden Bridge Road and Pioneer Parkway.
Before a room full of boisterous north Springfield residents, councilors voted 3-2 Monday to build a roundabout as part of the parkway extension known as Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Lane County commissioners must approve the four-lane parkway design before construction can begin on the $9.3 million project in 2005. (more...)
(top...)
Public Hearing on LTD Route Changes
By Yuno Kim
KVAL | March 17, 2004 |
Eugene -- Lane Transit District officals want to hear what you think about the elimination of some routes. (more...)
(top...)
LTD Cuts
By Yuno Kim
KVAL | March 18, 2004 |
Eugene -- Some changes are on the way for the Lane Transit District.
LTD's Board of Directors outlined the service cuts it plans to make this fall, blaming an anticipated shortfall in operating revenues.
At last night's public hearing, the Board listened to bus riders who are concerned about the cutbacks. Board members then approved the cuts including beginning service later and ending service earlier in the day, and cutting routes with very few riders. (more...)
(top...)
Bus passes for disabled may be spared
By Edward Russo
The Register-Guard | March 18, 2004 |
John Antram and Evette Patt, about to board a Lane Transit District bus at the Eugene Station on Wednesday afternoon, were unhappy to hear their bus discounts were possibly on a financial chopping block.
Both disabled years ago from traumatic head injuries, the Eugene couple rely on the $17.50 a month passes to travel to work, shopping and each other's homes. (more...)
(top...)
Transit will suffer cutbacks in fall
By Christopher Stollar
The Springfield News | March 19, 2004 |
Lane Transit District will reduce services this fall.
Board members voted to cut services by about four percent after a public hearing at LTD's Glenwood headquarters Wed-nesday night. The service package includes beginning service later and ending earlier, shortening some routes and reducing frequency on others during portions of the day, eliminating routes 68 VRC/Green Acres and 77 UO/Eugene Station and cutting the Saturday Breeze service.
The package will provide LTD with an additional $100,000 annually, according to Andy Vobora, LTD's service planning and marketing manager. (more...)
(top...)
Editorial: Preserving a lifeline: LTD shouldn't raise fares for disabled riders
| The Register-Guard | March 20, 2004 |
One at a time, they approached the podium to address the Lane Transit District Board, and the journey held different challenges for each speaker.
Some navigated the packed public hearing Wednesday night at LTD's Glenwood headquarters by expertly tapping white canes on the backs of chair legs, crossing the carpeted path to the front of the room with gentle coaxing from the audience -- "Just a couple more feet, right in front of you." Others rolled in electric scooters or manual wheelchairs to open spaces beside the podium, where they wouldn't be hidden behind a set-up designed for standing speakers.
A few stumbled forward hesitantly, as much from shyness in the crowded environment as from the traumatic head injuries that bedeviled their balance.
Despite their different disabilities, speaker after speaker shared a common -- and profound -- appreciation for the freedom and independence LTD's bus system made possible in their lives. And each one implored the board not to raise fares for disabled riders, many of whom subsist on meager, fixed incomes. (more...)
(top...)
Springfield City Beat: Petition opposes plan for Seward Avenue
By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard | March 20, 2004 |
Unhappy neighbors of the proposed Springfield roundabout that will join Harlow Road and the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway are circulating a petition to block traffic engineers from opening up Seward Avenue to through traffic during construction.
The city council voted 5-0 on Monday to open the narrow neighborhood street during construction to allow people near the roundabout easier access to their homes. The vote came as the council approved a series of design elements for the $9.3 million parkway project.
But Carol Fairbourn, who lives in the area, doesn't think opening Seward is a great idea.
"It was a rude awakening that (the City Council) even made a motion to open it when it hadn't been an issue before," she said.
The petition, she said, will go to Lane County commissioners as the affected area lies in Lane County.
(top...)
Letter: Fix Roosevelt, abandon parkway
| By Randy Webb, Eugene | March 18, 2004 |
Yet another setback for the West Eugene Parkway. Even if you favor the project, it's pretty clear that we are never going to get this thing built in any reasonable time frame.
Why don't we just fix up Roosevelt Boulevard and use it? We can improve it incrementally and turn it into a four-lane freeway with a lot less trouble than the parkway. Roosevelt is practically a two-lane expressway now. It just needs a little expansion and some work at either end to be able to carry a lot more traffic.
The parkway project looks more stupid every month that goes by. Let's get Roosevelt fixed up and solve the problem.
(top...)
Commentary: Pothole problems just get deeper: Our streets are beyond repair after years of neglect and inaction
| By Paul Holbo | March 21, 2004 |
It's time for the citizens of Eugene to become street-wise. The potholes are upon us, and more are coming. Weather is one reason, but behind the problem lies years of neglect. (more...)
(top...)
Elections
County Beat: Candidate fires salvo at incumbent
By Randi Bjornstad
The Register-Guard | March 19, 2004 |
Don't assume that "attack" ads happen only in big national political campaigns.
This week, right here in Lane County, East Lane County commissioner candidate Faye Stewart sent out an e-mail denouncing incumbent Commissioner Don Hampton for using money from his county discretionary fund to print and mail a "Report From Your Lane County Commissioner," delivered to constituents as an insert in several newspapers in his district. (more...)
(top...)
Commentary: Hampton, a savvy vet on economic development
| By Tom Lininger, Eugene | March 19, 2004 |
Last week I read a guest column in the Springfield News by Joe Miller of Marcola, who suggested that County Commissioner Don Hampton has no interest in rural economic development. Everyone is entitled to his opinion, but I think the guest column really missed the mark. Don Hampton is strongly committed to increasing employment in our rural communities. (more...)
(top...)
Other News
Slant: Register-Guard
| Eugene Weekly | March 18, 2004 |
We're slowly unraveling the mystery of who's doing what in the newsroom at the R-G. But if you're colorblind you might have trouble following this. Christian Wihtol is heading up the Blue Team covering city and county government, growth, timber, environment and development. The Black Team under Jim Murez is a peculiar combination of columnist Bob Welch and cop and court reporters. Margaret Haberman's Green Team has a pack of general assignment reporters or "rovers" fetching news. The Purple Team under Mark Johnson covers food, entertainment, arts and culture. Diana Elliot's Red Team covers education, health care and state government. So, will Oregonian-style team reporting be an improvement over old-fashion news beats and hierarchy? We'll see. We suspect the motivation is to provide broader coverage with fewer people. But hard-hitting stories are most likely to come from iconoclastic journalists spending years doggedly working beats, playing hooky from endless staff meetings.
(top...)
Distaff diners of downtown
By Jaime Sherman
The Springfield News | March 19, 2004 |
Four feisty women rule the kitchens of the better-known diners in downtown Springfield, and they're proud of it.
The restaurateurs -- Rose Zehner of Rose's Diner, Trudy Logan and Eva Moreland of The Pump Cafe, and Christine Lundberg of Snappy Service -- have carved out a niche for themselves in the downtown core and say they're thrilled to share customers. (more...)
(top...)