Springfield Pulls Surprise, Denies PeaceHealth
January 11, 2005
Coalition for Health Options In Central Eugene-Springfield (CHOICES)

By Bob Keefer
The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD -- Monday night in a stunning reversal, the Springfield City Council denied approval for a $380-million regional medical center at the RiverBend site in the Gateway area of Springfield.

The meeting began with Mayor Sid Leiken asking members of the Springfield Planning Commission to share their collective wisdom.

Commissioner Lee Beyer, who has served Springfield for many years, explained, "The PeaceHealth proposal isn't good business for Springfield. It's too big. It requires too many new roads. And the fact that PeaceHealth is a not-for-profit means that Springfield will get stuck paying for police coverage and other public services without the benefit of property taxes."

Commissioner Greg Shaver, who lives near the RiverBend site, continued, "I was involved in the development of the Gateway Refinement Plan. Citizens worked for over a year to craft a vision for the area now known as RiverBend. It wasn't easy and nobody got all that they wanted, but we ended up agreeing that the site should be primarily residential with no more than 3 acres of small, neighborhood commercial to serve the needs of the neighbors."

Commissioner Bill Carpenter, a local attorney, noted, "I don't even think this application -- if it is an application -- is legal. What is this? A remand? A new application? Is our staff now in the role of making applications on behalf of developers? I don't get it, and it doesn't smell right."

Commissioner Steve Moe, who is the unofficial Mayor of Glenwood, suggested, "Springfield already has a hospital: McKenzie-Willamette. I know because my own sweat and blood is in that hospital -- our hospital. It is a source of pride to Springfield that we came together to make sure that we had our own hospital, and I believe that we should be true to our own. Now that we have a Glenwood Urban Renewal District and sewer lines are going in, it makes sense to help McKenzie-Willamette relocate to Glenwood."

At which point, Mayor Leiken interrupted, "You know. I think Steve is right. I don't think Springfield needs or wants two hospitals. We already have one. Unless legal counsel objects, I'd like to change the order of speakers signed up to speak and call on former Mayor Maureen Weathers."

Maureen Weathers, who was the head of the McKenzie-Willamette board of directors until it merged with Triad, said, "Thanks, Sid. I appreciate your invitation and how we in Springfield have always been practical and have looked after our own. As it happens, we have been having trouble relocating to the EWEB site in Eugene. More importantly, we really don't want to leave our home, Springfield. We don't want to leave all the great doctors, nurses and patients we know here. We don't want to leave the community that makes us a community hospital. We'd love to have an opportunity to work closely with city staff to relocate our facilities in Glenwood."

At this point, the crowd of 200 people let out an audible gasp.

Council president Tammy Fitch continued, "Mayor Leiken, with your permission, I'd like an opportunity for the council to question representatives of PeaceHealth. First, I'd like to hear from PeaceHealth CEO Alan Yordy."

At this point, Jill Hoggard Green, the new head of local operations for PeaceHealth stepped up to the podium. "Mayor Leiken, Council President Fitch, I apologize but Alan Yordy isn't here this evening. He's been promoted to head up all of PeaceHealth and now lives in Bellevue, Washington. But I'd be happy to answer any of your questions."

An agitated mayor interrupted, "What? Alan's not here? We had a handshake agreement. Actually, the late city councilor Lyle Hatfield -- God rest his soul -- and Alan had a handshake deal." Mayor Leiken began to tear up and had to dry his eyes. "Oh, I miss Lyle so. He was a good man. He loved Springfield more than life itself. He and Alan should have both been here to close the deal."

After collecting himself, Mayor Leiken announced, "You know, this whole thing doesn't feel right to me. I don't mean to sound superstitious, but I think this is a bad omen. If God had wanted Sacred Heart to come to Springfield, He would have paved the way -- literally. I mean, He would have relieved the traffic in the Gateway area. He would have held back the floodwaters of the McKenzie River and caused it to flow around the Coburg Hills." Then Mayor Leiken called for a 10-minute recess.

When the mayor and council returned, Mayor Leiken called Jill Hoggard Green and Maureen Weathers to the podium. "I want to see your two organizations kiss and make up."

Ms. Green took Ms. Weathers hand in her hand and began, "I pledge to bury the hatchet. From this day forward, let our two organizations -- PeaceHealth and McKenzie-Willamette -- be like sisters, caring for and nurturing our community rather than fighting over who controls the most land and business. Let us agree that Interstate-5 shall be a dividing line between our two territories. But let us always know that doctors and patients are always welcome at both institutions, and that we can provide better health care by providing better choices to the community."

Ms. Weathers continued, "Thanks, Jill. But where will you go? McKenzie-Willamette can't handle all the overflow that PeaceHealth generates. You need larger and improved facilities. We don't want to see you leave Springfield if you have nowhere else to go."

Just then, a third woman approached the podium. "Mayor Leiken, with your permission, I'd like to make an announcement. I'm Kitty Piercy, the new mayor of Eugene, and I, too, want to bury the hatchet. Eugene will never be the community it wants to be until Springfield is the community it wants to be. Yes, Interstate-5 divides us. But our two great rivers, the Willamette and the McKenzie, connect us together. We are one people, with one heritage, and one set of dreams for the future. In the spirit of a new collaboration, I would like to announce a new deal."

Just then, UO president Dave Frohnmeyer appeared, with aide and PeaceHealth board member Jan Oliver at his side. Mayor Piercy continued, "Under my direction, Eugene city staff met with representatives of PeaceHealth and the university last week. We have negotiated a 3-way deal to make everyone happy. I'll let Dave explain the details."

Dave Frohnmeyer, dressed sharply in a power suit and tie, began, "Mayor Leiken, Mayor Piercy, it is the role of a university to serve the community. In this spirit, I am pleased to announce that the University of Oregon has agreed to sell the recently acquired Williams Bakery site to PeaceHealth to become the new Alan Yordy Center for Medical Excellence. In cooperation with the Oregon Health Sciences University, the Alan Yordy Center, located next to the UO campus, will become one of the finest institutions on the West Coast for training the next generation of health care professionals. Moreover, as not only a teaching institution but also a working institution, the Alan Yordy Center will be able to offer the latest advances in medical to the citizens of Lane County at a fraction of the cost."

"But wait! There's more," Frohnmeyer continued. "With the Alan Yordy Center next to the university, where it should be, you might think that we are left with no site for a new basketball court. Not so! Glenwood Mayor Steve Moe has been helping us buy up riverfront property in Glenwood. In early 2007, the UO will open a brand new basketball court in the heart of Glenwood, across the street from a new Bus Rapid Transit station and surrounded by riverfront restaurants and shops. People from all over will be able to ride BRT to a game, walk along the river, get dinner, and shop."

Mayor Piercy continued, "Thanks, Dave. Eugene doesn't need or want all the plum developments, and are happy that Springfield will get a new basketball court and surrounding development in Glenwood. But we still need to make sure that PeaceHealth can expand its facilities. To that end, I have directed city manager Dennis Taylor to work with PeaceHealth to implement a '4-campus strategy.' First, Oregon Research Institute, who is moving to the old Sears site across from the library, has agreed to sell their property on Franklin -- dubbed RiverFront -- to PeaceHealth. This new site is located at the Agate BRT stop. Development will occur south of the railroad tracks, leaving the area north of the railroad tracks as a healing environment and public park. The new site, which will be the main inpatient location, will be across the street from the new Alan Yordy Center. It will also be down the street from the existing Hilyard site, which will be converted to administrative and lab functions after construction of the new RiverFront site. Lastly, the old Eugene Clinic on Willamette Street will continue to serve the community. All four locations are within a mile of each other and each is within walking distance of Bus Rapid Transit, allowing medical staff, patients and visitors to move between the locations with ease. Importantly, the 4-campus strategy will give PeaceHealth the flexibility to accommodate its needs for the next 100 years. I pledge that the City of Eugene will never again finds itself at odds with its largest private employer, who has been a valued member of the community for 70 years."

Then a stunned Colin Stephens, planner for Springfield, raised his hand. "Excuse me, Mayor Leiken, but I have poured the last 2-1/2 years of my life into the RiverBend project. We aren't going to just throw that all away now, are we?"

In an evening of surprises, yet another surprise came as no surprise. John Musumeci, founder of the "Gang of 9," land speculator extraordinaire, rogue, media mogul, and all-around nice guy, entered from stage left. "If I may, I'm John Musumeci, and I think I can explain. I started all of this. It was a secret meeting between Alan Yordy, Lyle Hatfield and me back in late 2000. PeaceHealth loaned me the money to buy the land to sell to PeaceHealth to build the hospital. But Suzanne -- that's my wife, Suzanne Arlie -- fell in love with RiverBend. She loved the sound of the river, the tall Douglas-firs, the filbert orchard. After we sold part of the land to PeaceHealth, she told me that if she couldn't have all of it, she didn't want any of it. So we sold the last 12 acres to PeaceHealth and turned our backs on RiverBend. But Suzanne's heart kept going back."

Perhaps taking a cue from Mayor Leiken, Musumeci dried a tear. "When Kitty Piercy came to me and said that all was forgiven... the Gang of 9, the slurs against the City of Eugene, the campaign contributions to Nancy Nathanson and the Run, Jim, Run campaign... well, something just changed inside of me."

And on that day, some say, John Musumeci's heart grew to be three times its former size.

Suzanne Arlie approached the podium. "There, there, John. It's gonna be okay. What John is trying to say is that he has agreed to buy back all of RiverBend for the same amount we sold it for. PeaceHealth will be left whole, and will have lost nothing on RiverBend -- except, of course, for a couple years of planning and legal costs. John and I want to turn RiverBend into the New Urbanist, Smart Growth, Urban Village that I always wanted it to be. We'll keep the filbert orchards, of course. The Bus Rapid Transit stop will form the center of a new premier neighborhood in Springfield. We want to have a mix of housing types, from affordable to high-end. And neighborhood shops clustered in the center. A 300-foot setback with a multi-use path will offer residents and visitors alike an outstanding opportunity to enjoy the McKenzie River, which speaks to me as it does to everyone."

At this point, Suzanne Arlie invited John and Robin Jaqua to the podium. "Mrs. Jaqua. You have been a leader in our community for the better part of a century. I know you love this river even more than I do and that it is your fondest wish that this area be preserved in perpetuity. Thus Arlie & Company is deeding a 300-foot wide area long the river to the Nature Conservancy, to be know as the John and Robin Jaqua RiverBend Preserve. Nike founder Phil Knight, in gratitude to John's service to Nike, wants to build a running path through the RiverBend Preserve that follows the McKenzie to the confluence with the Willamette and connects back all the way to the Steve Prefontaine running paths. In this symbolic way, we can tie together our communities, our rivers, and our heritage."

A teary-eyed Mrs. Jaqua simply said, "I have always dreamed of this. Thank you."

Mayor Leiken, taking charge of the meeting, concluded, "Well, I think that pretty much wraps it up, don't you think? We don't need to waste our time with all this 3-minute testimony. Springfield gets to keep our hospital in Glenwood, gets a new basketball court, and an urban village paid for by Arlie. McKenzie-Willamette gets to stay. PeaceHealth has their 4 campuses and a new Alan Yordy Center. Eugene and Springfield are working together again. Heck, Eugene and the university are working together again. John Musumeci gets what he wants. The Jaquas get what they want. Heck, I think everyone gets what they want."

And with that, Leiken closed the meeting, broke out the Champagne, and offered a toast.

That's the God's honest truth. Reporting from Springfield, this is Bob Keefer.