2005/12/05 Council Agenda Packet

Planning Commission Meeting February 15, 2005 Page 16 particularly in north Everett is considerably overburdened with a concentration of services such as jails, homeless shelters, and hospitals. PEMC is not talking about expanding the hospital for the good of Everett, PEMC is talking about expanding the hospital for the region. He felt that PEMC in order to serve its own long term goals should be looking more strongly at purchasing another piece of property because he felt that PEMC was not only looking to expand in the next twenty years but the next 100 years. Twenty years from now they will probably need more land. PEMC should be taking the measure now to purchase another piece of property that would fit their future expansion needs for the next 100 years. He stated that the 1988 findings also included a discussion regarding a vertical expansion which was another option. He felt that the hospital needs to fit into the neighborhood and that the Donovan homes should remain Bryan Olsen, 1333 Lombard Avenue, stated that he purchased his home last July. He bought his home because it was affordable and the neighborhood is full of real people who work there and liver there and have families there and some of those travel to their jobs or walk to their jobs. He felt that a neighborhood was a fragile thing and that he was concerned with the long term implications that this will have on his neighborhood. He commented that he appreciated the hospital; however, he was interested in exploring ways where the needs of the majority can be met and that we make sure that this expansion does not trample over something that we might sorely regret years down the road. Louise Stanton -Masten, Everett Chamber of Commerce, 2000 Hewitt Avenue, stated that she was president and CEO of the Everett Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of the chamber of commerce she was pleased to testify in support of the hospitals request. Further, though it was not part of the Planning Commission hearing, she wanted to let the Commissioners to know that the chamber also supports the hospitals request to demolish block 248 from the Donovan Historic District. PEMC expansion plans were directly in line with the Chambers overall goal of promoting a prosperous economic environment and a healthy quality of life. The Chamber supports the expansion plan since it addresses the hospitals ability to provide adequate future health care services for the community. One of the reasons that employers locate in this community is because of the excellent health care providers and facilities that are offered in our community. The Chamber believes that health care excellence should continue into the future. PEMC has cared for the health care needs of our community for the past 100 years and they have developed an expansion plan that will allow modernization and expansion to meet future needs. With Snohomish County expected to grow by 50% over the next twenty years, PEMC must expand and modernize to keep pace with this growth to meet the needs of our community. The Chamber commends PEMC with the comprehensive planning process undertaken to evaluate long term growth options and support the current expansion plan. PEMC is a powerful economic force in Everett and Snohomish County. The third largest employer in the county, PEMC currently has over 3200 employees and with the planned expansion is anticipated to provide jobs for more than 5000 employees. Additionally, almost 600 hospital physicians have offices in Everett that provide additional health care jobs in our community. In 2004, PEMC paid over 12 million in taxes, and contributed over 27 million dollars in charity and uncompensated health care to the community. Additionally, the hospital intends to invest 400 million dollars in Everett. The Everett Area Chamber of Commerce as approved by their board of directors wishes to express strong support for PEMC request. Dr. Susan Reis, 1212 10th Street, Suite A, Snohomish, stated that she has lived in Snohomsih for 18 years and when she first came to this area she had a choice of where to send her patients to Everett or Monroe and she made the choice to send her patients to Everett. PEMC provides the best care for her patients and her patients deserve the best care. She is in favor of