HomeMy WebLinkAboutUntitled (3) RESOLUTION NO. 5558
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
AUBURN, WASHINGTON, EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR
KING COUNTY PROPOSITION NO. 1, HARBORVIEW
MEDICAL CENTER HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENT
BONDS
WHEREAS, Harborview Medical Center is one of the nation's leading academic
medical centers, is the only designated Level I adult and pediatric trauma and verified
burn center in the State of Washington, and serves as the regional trauma and bum
referral center for Alaska, Montana and Idaho and the disaster preparedness and disaster
control hospital for King County; and
WHEREAS, Harborview Medical Center is maintained as a public hospital by King
County to improve the health and well-being of the entire community and to provide quality
health care to the most vulnerable; and
WHEREAS, nearly 20 years ago, King County voters authorized the county to
issue general obligation bonds to fund seismic and public health and safety improvements
for Harborview Medical Center for construction of an inpatient facility and medical office
tower, the demolition of seismically unsound buildings, and limited renovations of some
hospital spaces; and
WHEREAS, over the past 20 years, the growth of King County's population, and
changes in medical practice, equipment and technology have resulted in the need for
upgrades to the facilities of Harborview Medical Center; and
WHEREAS, King County has a growing number of people experiencing unmet and
complex behavioral health needs, including substance use disorders, and untreated
behavioral health conditions can result in increased involvement in the justice system
Resolution No. 5558
October 19, 2020
Page 1 of 3 Rev.2020
through repeated jail bookings and use of involuntary commitment, as well as
homelessness; and
WHEREAS, the improvements recommended to Harborview Medical Center are.
estimated to cost approximately $1.74 billion over 20 years to include:
• Construction of a new tower on the campus that increases the number of single
patient rooms to meet modern infection control and privacy standards, and
expands and improves the emergency department;
• Construction of a new behavioral health services building to co-locate new,
expanded, and existing services, including the recently launched Behavioral
Health Institute;
• Seismic upgrades and renovations for the historic Center Tower and Harborview
Hall;
• Expansion of King County Involuntary Treatment Court and Public Health spaces
to meet growing demands;
• Space for up to 150 respite beds for individuals who are homeless, enabling
discharge from hospital to lower-acuity recuperative care, supporting better health
outcomes and more efficient use of hospital beds; and
• Seismic upgrades and renovation for the Pioneer Square Clinic that enables the
provision of care to extremely vulnerable populations in a more efficient and
therapeutic space; and
WHEREAS, RCW 42.17A.555 permits the City Council to support a ballot
proposition at an open public meeting so long as notice of the meeting includes the title
Resolution No. 5558
October 19, 2020
Page 2 of 3 Rev.2020
and number of the ballot proposition and those expressing an opposing view are afforded
an approximately equal opportunity to express an opinion;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN,
WASHINGTON, RESOLVES as follows:
Section 1. Statement in Support of King County Proposition No. 1. The
Auburn City Council expresses its support to King County Proposition No. 1 and
encourages the residents of Auburn to support Proposition No. 1, a proposition to
authorize King County to issue up to $1,740,000,000 of general obligation bonds to
provide funds for public health, safety and seismic improvements to Harborview Medical
Center facilities; at the November 2020 General Election.
Section 2. The Mayor is authorized to implement those administrative
procedures necessary to carry out the directives of this Resolution.
Section 3. This Resolution will take effect and be in full force on passage and
signatures.
Dated and Signed: October 19, 2020
CITY OF AUBURN
ANCY .. ' US, MA OR
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Shawn Campbell, MMC, ity Clerk Kendra Comeau, City Attorney
Resolution No. 5558
October 19, 2020
Page 3 of 3 Rev.2020
HarborvIéw
eat or A
YES PROP 1
The November 2020 General Election will provide King County voters the opportunity to
support Harborview Medical Center by approving a capital improvement bond measure for vital
capital investments. If approved,,the 20-year bond will provide health and safety improvements
at Harborview, including increasing critical health care capacity, updating and expanding
modern infection control standards, and expanding capacity for behavioral health needs.
The medical center is home to a wide range of critical medical and behavioral health services.
It is one of the nation's leading academic medical centers and is the only Level 1 adult and
pediatric trauma and verified burn center serving a four-state region (Alaska, Idaho, Montana,
and Washington).
Highlights of the measure include:
• Construction of a new medical tower and renovation of existing space that increases
capacity for the hospital to serve more patients in the event of an emergency, disaster, or
pandemic and to meet modern infection control and privacy standards;
• Expansion of the emergency department;
• Construction of new behavioral health services building to meet the growing demand for
behavioral health; and,
• Critical seismic improvements to the historic Harborview:campus ensuring the safety of
patients, employees, and visitors.
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RESPONDING TO CRISES.IN KING COUNTY: Harborview is at the center of all medical crises in
King County, whether a global pandemic, mass casualtyevent, or a natural disaster. Increasing
flexible bed capacity, modernizing infection control--standards;expanding-the Emergency
Department, and stabilizing existing buildings are required critical investments for Harborview to
continue to serve the region.
d E
EXPANDING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES: Ha{borview's behavioral health outpatient clinics
have run out of room and the evidence of the need for expanded behavioral health services can
be seen everywhere. The bond will leverage existing psychiatric and behavioral health education,
training, and services into-a-new, expanded facility where a full continuum of behavioral health - -
services in a healing environment willbe consolidated. These investments will not onlys.erve,__ _
already vulnerable popuiations; but- als"o help all individuals ireceiveitreatment ahead of crisis,
changing lives while saving resources. r
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PROVIDING RESPITE CARE: Renovation to the existing?Hartborview Hall include construction
of up to 150 respite beds where the vulnerable who tare ready to be discharged, including the
homeless, have a place to go to further heal. The respite beds ensure homelessness doesn't
undermine an individual's recovery and care_and that vital hospital beds are available_for,patients
needing acute care..
CREATING JOBS: King County estimates that construction of the needed improvements:
will create approximately 7,700 family wage jobs, with an estimated 2,300 opportunities for!
apprenticeship and local hire under King County's Master Community Workforce Agreement.
These jobs are vital to supporting working families during the recession and helping the
region rebound.
ABOUT THE BOND: The recommendations comprising the bond package follow a nearly two-
year stakeholder process designed to understand and identify the capital needs of Harborview
and the broader King County community, including input from medical experts, labor,
behavioral health experts, housing and homelessness community, and others. Using a median
priced $600,000 King County home, the levy is estimated to cost about $75 annually.
The elements of the bond are outlined:
Medical Tower Building Increase surge capacity; meet infection control and privacy $925M
standards; new emergency rooms; disaster preparedness
Behavioral Health Expand capacity for behavioral health services and programs $79M
Building
Renovations to Existing Expand ITA Court, Gamma Knife renovations; renovate labs, $178M
Hospital Buildings Public Health TB, STD, MEO
Harborview Hall Create space for 150 respite beds including seismic upgrades $108M
Center Tower s Seismic upgrades for safety and modify space $248M
Pioneer Square Clinic Seismic upgrades for safety and improve clinic space $20M
East Clinic # Demolish building $9M
Site Improvements/ Site preparation; plant infrastructure: 1% for Arts; project $146M
Other Costs labor agreement; project management
*Estimated Costs, Subject to Modification Total $1.74 B*
THE RISKS: Ultimately, care will be impacted if voters reject this bond. Today, Harborview is
operating at nearly 100% of capacity. On any given pre-COVID-day,•day up to 50 (12 percent)
beds are unusable due to the need for patient isolation procedures; COVID-19 has emphasized
the need for Harborview to modernize the infrastructure to support responding to COVID-19 and
future infectious diseases. Older buildings on the'campus need to be seismically stabilized as a
life-safety measure. As the region grows, the medical center must expand tip serve the growing
population and their complexities. — —
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ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
Per the Washington State Constitution, the bond measure must pass with 60 percent of the'vote
in an election with a minimum turnout of 40 percent of the;voters in the last general election.
In a high turnout presidential year, we anticipate a vote goal of over 690,000 votes'
We must raise sufficient resources'to reach voters through targeted direct mail and digital ,
outreach. Please support the campaign today by donating at HarborviewPropl.com '
ABOUT HARBORVIEW '
Harborview is a 413-licensed bed hospital :owned by, King County and operated by UW Medicine:
Harborview employs approximately 5,400 people.
HMC adheres to a core mission to care for;"the non English speaking poor; the uninsured _
or underinsured,,victims of domestic violence or sexual assault; people..incarcerated in King
County's jails; people with 'mental illness o',r substance abuse problems,,particularly those treated
involuntarily; people with sexually transmitted diseases; and those who require specialized
emergency, trauma or burn care". S