Island Hospital Chief Executive Officer Vince Oliver Monday night gave the City Council a brief outline of the hospital's near-term and long-range plans, which include some major construction and a new parking garage. He estimated expansion plans could cost $67-million by 2030.
But, plans to expand the hospital campus to Commercial Ave. prompted comments from the Mayor.
Mayor Dean Maxwell expressed concerns over potential conflicts between hospital patients wanting quiet and Commercial Ave. businesses such as a restaurant that wants to play loud music. "It looks to me like you're going to have enough free space by 2035 that you could consider staying in the existing footprint and eliminating those kinds of conflicts," he said.
Maxwell also warned against allowing Peace Health to move into Skagit County. "Twice in the last few years, PeaceHealth has demanded a 27-percent increase in reimbursement rates and they, essentially, control Whatcom County. So, if they move into Skagit County, the price of health care is going up."
Oliver responded, "It has been shown by just about everybody that after consolidation, that prices somehow do creep up."
Council member Ryan Walters hinted that the Council would like the Hospital to include the Council in plans on Commercial Ave., saying the Council's Planning Committee has been wrestling with planning for the city's main thoroughfare. "What do we think is appropriate for uses on Commercial Ave. What do we want Commercial Ave. to look like. How much parking do we want to front Commercial Ave."
One of the concerns at the city is the loss of revenue when property fronting Commercial Ave. is bought by an entity like the hospital that doesn't pay sales taxes.