Friday, December 30, 2005

Division At The North County Times?

Today's editorial in the North County Times appears to reveal a division between the news staff and the editorial staff regarding coverage of the Palomar Pomerado Health (PPH) hospital expansion. And today, the editorial staff appears to be very unhappy.

A web site for a newspaper is interesting because, unlike a printed newspaper, the site's content changes from one moment to the next. http://www.nctimes.com/

Today at 10:20 am (12/30/2005), the home page for the North County Times web site has one link about the new PPH hospital under Opinion "Hospital deal far from cinched." The opinion notes "Now comes news, by NCT reporter David Fried, that SDG&E has approached Escondido council members to express concerns about its proposed new neighbor."
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/30/
opinion/editorials/19_12_2112_29_05.txt


Why call out David Fried as the reporter of the article? Is this a friendly "shot across the bow" directed at the reporter by the editorial staff?

And almost all links to the article by David Fried have disappeared from the web site!

Go to the link: "More Inland Stories" No link to the December 29th article by David Fried - but sometimes an advertisement for PPH is displayed.

Go to the link "Escondido News" - Same thing! Links appear for Escondido articles going back to December 13th, but no links to the article by David Fried just the day before. However, the PPH advertisement with the four similing faces keeps appearing!

I have searched all of the links of the North County Times web site. The links to the Fried article are all gone except for one link on the archives page for December 29th. Here is the link for your convenience:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/29/news/
inland/20_36_1212_28_05.txt


The most interesting aspect of the Fried article is not its content. Instead, the most interesting aspect of the article is the rarely used "Add Your Comments" feature, which registered 14 comments! This must be some kind of record for comments on a North County Times article!

It appears that someone at the North County Times wants to reduce the public profile of the Fried article on the web site. Why? Maybe the big boss in a high position at the North County Times was away on a winter vacation when the article was approved for print.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Chaos At PPH!

"One of the hardest-hit projects could be the women and children's services center. [PPH] Officials discussed delaying construction of the center for as long as two years.
. . .
The district's chief executive, Michael Covert, said that if construction is delayed, it would present 'a great opportunity to raise funds for it.' "
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/
20051222-9999-1mi22pph.html


"Rising construction and equipment costs have pushed up the price tag for Palomar Pomerado Health's ambitious expansion plan by $230 million, district officials informed the board Tuesday.
. . .
Board President Marcelo Rivera said that the increases were 'not something that should catch us by surprise,'
. . .
And he appeared to caution the city of Escondido not to place any obstacles in the way of the district's plans that could delay the projects and drive costs up further."
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/21/news/
inland/21_37_0012_20_05.txt


"San Diego Gas & Electric has inserted itself into the debate over Palomar Pomerado Health's plans to build its flagship medical campus in an Escondido business park, less than a quarter mile from a 550-megawatt power plant.
. . .
According to [SDG&E spokesman Ed] Van Herik and council members, SDG&E wants to make sure there are no environmental conflicts between the power plant and hospital, and that safety issues related to helicopter flight paths, noise and air quality are addressed.
. . .
Van Herik declined to list any additional matters his company intends to raise with hospital officials. But he said, 'The proposed location of the hospital is a concern. And if the hospital had been there first, we would not have requested a permit to build a power plant (in the park).' "
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/29/news/
inland/20_36_1212_28_05.txt


"Palomar Pomerado Health's board unanimously adopted the required environmental review Tuesday for its planned 453-bed hospital in a prized Escondido business park.
. . .
Allen Haynie, the district's legal counsel, said that, in a case such as this, where Escondido has already completed and adopted a full environmental impact report, "you don't pull the lid off it and open it up all over again unless there's the need to make (significant) changes."The only significant difference between the proposed hospital and the original office uses planned for the park space would be the amount of traffic the project generates, according to the district's report."
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/07/news/
inland/21_01_1012_6_05.txt


"A proposed 453-bed hospital in Escondido's business park would not harm the environment any more than what had been planned for the park, according to a report by the Palomar Pomerado Health district.
The district's board of directors unanimously approved its own environmental review of the hospital project at its meeting Tuesday night in Poway.
Because the results of the study do not deviate from a 2002 environmental report about the Escondido Research and Technology Center, district officials said, Palomar Pomerado is requesting that the city file its environmental review as an addendum to the original report.
The Escondido City Council will consider the addendum early next year when it makes its final decision on whether to allow a hospital in the 186-acre business park by granting a zoning change."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/
20051208/news_1mi8pph.html


"Palomar Pomerado Health and Escondido developer JRMC Real Estate have extended a deadline for discussions about the 300,000 square feet of medical office space that would accompany the district's new hospital.
. . .
The deadline for those negotiations had been set for today. However, the district announced Thursday that the two parties mutually agreed to extend the deadline until Nov. 18.
. . .
Failure to reach a development deal could allow JRMC to back out of the purchase agreement."
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/10/14/news/
inland/poway/22_32_2810_13_05.txt


According to Andy Hoang (PPH Media Relations) on Tuesday, December 20, 2005, "The development agreement between PPH and JRM has been extended." When asked "until when?" he responded, "a date has not been set."

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

A Power Plant AND A Hospital In The ERTC - An Inhumane Combination?

An Escondido Veteran suffered respiratory failure apparently caused by emissions from the new power plant in the ERTC. Is this any place to put a regional hospital?

The story was presented in person to the Escondido City Council on December 7, 2005, and is available for viewing at the following link under evening meeting item 4. Oral Communications at:
http://escondido.12milesout.com/Escondido/
EventList.aspx?id=78

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

PPH FMP Budget Update: + $229.6 Million!

At a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Palomar Pomerado Health (PPH) district held on December 20, 2005, a facilities expansion budget update estimates additional costs of $229.6 million! A copy of the meeting handout is available at:
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHBdSupport122005.pdf

"This is not something that should take us by surprise . . ."
Marcelo Rivera, M.D. - Chairman of the PPH Board of Directors

Sunday, December 18, 2005

An Open Government Survey - Escondido City Council

Please indicate whether the Escondido City Council discussed the following topics during the closed session conferences held with real property negotiators for the indicated agenda item on September 14, 2005, November 16, 2005, December 7, 2005, and December 14, 2005.

Item on Agenda:
CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATOR (Gov. Code §54956.8)
Property: Valley Boulevard between Grand Avenue and Valley Parkway and certain portions of Pennsylvania Avenue between Valley Parkway and Elm
Agency Negotiator: Clay Phillips and Jeffrey Epp
Negotiating parties: City of Escondido and the Palomar Health District
Under negotiation: Price and terms of payment

Topics:
1. Traffic effects of closing Valley Boulevard between Grand Avenue and Valley Parkway
2. Infrastructure improvements by PPH for the ERTC (including Citracado Parkway)
3. Development agreement between PPH and Escondido for the downtown site.
4. JRM (private developer) agreement with PPH to build medical office buildings (not part of the hospital) on PPH land in the ERTC?
5. ERTC zoning change to accommodate a hospital
6. EIR addendum approved by PPH for ERTC.

Meeting Date: September 14, 2005 (Please enter "Yes", "No", or "Decline to State", and comments)
Topic 1:
Topic 2:
Topic 3:
Topic 4:
Topic 5:
Topic 6:

Meeting Date: November 16, 2005 (Please enter "Yes", "No", or "Decline to State", and comments)
Topic 1:
Topic 2:
Topic 3:
Topic 4:
Topic 5:
Topic 6:

Meeting Date: December 7, 2005 (Please enter "Yes", "No", or "Decline to State", and comments)
Topic 1:
Topic 2:
Topic 3:
Topic 4:
Topic 5:
Topic 6:

Meeting Date: December 14, 2005 (Please enter "Yes", "No", or "Decline to State", and comments)
Topic 1:
Topic 2:
Topic 3:
Topic 4:
Topic 5:
Topic 6:


Does the Escondido City Council intend to discuss the listed topics during the next City Council Meeting under the indicated agenda item?

Meeting Date: December 21, 2005 (Please enter "Yes", "No", or "Decline to State", and comments)
Topic 1:
Topic 2:
Topic 3:
Topic 4:
Topic 5:
Topic 6:


The survey results will be compiled on Wednesday, December 21, 2005, based on responses received by 9:30 am. If no response is received by 9:30 am, the response will be recorded as “No Response.” Please return completed surveys by email to: civics@robroy.cc, or
by fax to: 775 255-6419.

Thank you in advance for your prompt participation.
3910

Sent to:
Lori Holt Pfeiler, Mayor lpfeiler@ci.escondido.ca.us
Ed Gallo, Mayor Pro Tem egallo@ci.escondido.ca.us
Sam Abed, Council Member sabed@ci.escondido.ca.us
Ron Newman, Council Member rnewman@ci.escondido.ca.us
Marie Waldron, Council Member mwaldron@ci.escondido.ca.us
Clay Phillips, City Manager cphillips@ci.escondido.ca.us
Jeffrey R. Epp, City Attorney jepp@ci.escondido.ca.us

The survey is available in Word and PDF formats:
http://civics.robroy.cc/AnOpenGovernmentSurvey0.PDF
http://civics.robroy.cc/AnOpenGovernmentSurvey0.doc

Saturday, December 17, 2005

A New Blog - Vander Spek Commentaries re PPH Plans

A new blog has been started by Jim Vander Spek of Escondido. Jim Vander Spek is a CPA who has owned a business in downtown Escondido since 1979. Since August, 2004, Jim Vander Spek has taken strong positions on the direction that the Palomar Pomerado Health (PPH) district has taken for its hospital seismic retrofit and expansion plans. During this time, Jim has written a series of opinion pieces that were printed by the North County Times. These opinion pieces have been collected and republished in his blog:
http://vanderspekpphopinions.blogspot.com/

Of particular note is a three-hospital solution to:
"Provide for a community hospital in San Marcos so that the citizens of that growing city will not need to get on a crowded freeway to obtain service.
"Provide for an improved and enlarged Pomerado hospital in Poway." and
"Provide for the expansion and modernization of the present Escondido hospital, using eminent domain powers if needed."
This was published November 1, 2004, in the North County Times Editorial page.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

PPH's "Efficient" EIR Addendum Meeting

The Palomar Pomerado Health district's special meeting on December 6, 2005, included a public hearing, board discussion, and board approval of the Final EIR addendum regarding the environmental effects of locating the new hospital in the ERTC across the street from the Palomar Energy Project (a 550 megawatt electric power plant). The special meeting lasted less than 35 minutes. A model of governmental efficiency?

Two members of the public spoke at the meeting regarding a draft Final EIR Addendum received from PPH only a few hours before the meeting. The first speaker's letter to the PPH Board is available at:
http://civics.robroy.cc/EIRltrJS120605.pdf

The second speaker provided the following handout to the PPH Board (3 MB):
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHbdmtgHout1c.pdf

A video of the entire meeting is available at the following links:
Low resolution (7 MB, 33 minutes)
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHBd120605L.WMV
High resolution (53 MB, 33 minutes)
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHBd120605H.WMV

An updated draft Addendum, dated December 2, 2005, is available at the following link (13 MB):
http://civics.robroy.cc/ERTC-EIR2.pdf

A copy of the only materials made available by PPH to the public at the meeting (agenda and three resolutions) is available at the following link:
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHbdmeeting120605.pdf

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Somber Issues In Escondido

The following comments were made at the Escondido City Council meeting of December 7, 2005:

Hello, my name is Robroy Fawcett. I reside here in Escondido.

I have somber information I feel burdened to present to you. Several months ago, it was brought to my attention that the PPH Foundation, by donating $375,000, was, by far, the largest contributor to the “Citizens for Better Health Care - Yes on BB” campaign committee. Later, newspaper reports indicated that, in the past, the PPH Foundation had received “informal” loans for as much as $250,000 from the Palomar Pomerado Health district, a public hospital district.

Concerned that a loan from the Palomar Pomerado Health district may have been the source of a portion of the $375,000 contribution to the Yes on BB campaign committee, I analyzed the cash flow of the campaign committee using its publicly available campaign reports. My analysis appears to show that a critical funding event occurred near the middle of October 2004, which was averted by a $375,000 contribution from the PPH Foundation.

Further, I was unable to locate a filed copy of a Major Donor campaign contribution report by the PPH Foundation as required of a Major Donor (a contributor of over $10,000 to a campaign).

On Monday, I received copies of financial records provided by the Palomar Pomerado Health district in response to a public records request. Those records show a payment by check from the Palomar Pomerado Health district to the PPH Foundation near the middle of October 2004. The amount of the check was over $405,000. A journal voucher entry, dated October 31, 2004, shows an entry “to reverse a donation that the Foundation made to Citizens for Better Health Care.”

Finally, the financial records included a check for $375,000 from the PPH Foundation to the Palomar Pomerado Health district dated November 24, 2004. The check appears to be signed by our Mayor. Apparently, the Mayor was the treasurer of the PPH Foundation during this time period.

I request that the Mayor submit the long over due campaign finance report(s) for the PPH Foundation for the time period of the Yes on BB campaign. I believe that those reports would include a Major Donor report (Form 461), and perhaps a Recipient Committee report (Form 460). A recipient committee report is required to detail the source of any campaign contributions when that source is $100 or more.

I believe further investigation of this matter may be warranted, and, based on the recent events that have resulted in a violation the truth of this community by an elected official of high position, I request the Mayor’s full and prompt cooperation.

Thank you for your time. Any questions?
--------------------------------------------------------

A copy of the handout is available at:
http://civics.robroy.cc/EscCChandout120705.pdf
A copy of the comments in PDF format is available at:
http://civics.robroy.cc/EscCCSpch120705.pdf
More detailed information of the Yes on BB campaign funds is available at:
http://civics.robroy.cc/fp.html

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

North County Times Cut PPH's EIR Article Short!

The North County Times cut its print article short. The online version is longer. Here is what is missing:

"It's not as if we're doing any politicking behind closed doors," Rivera said. "We're doing everything in public."

Nevertheless, when asked to provide copies of the environmental studies, Palomar Pomerado officials told members of the public and press on Monday that the documents were still in draft form and not immediately available.

Robroy Fawcett, a critic of the proposed hospital plan who regularly posts district documents on his blog covering Palomar Pomerado's governance, said he was one of those told by district officials that the study was not available.

"It's archaic and out of the dark ages," Fawcett said. "The way they're handling this meeting, the way they're not making the documents available, it's not good government."
-------------------------------------------

See online version of the article at:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/12/06/
news/inland/12505195120.txt


A side by side comparison of the articles showing the cutoff portion is available at the following links:
http://civics.robroy.cc/NCTArticleComp.pdf
http://civics.robroy.cc/NCTArticleComp.doc

Copy of Resolutions / Draft Addendum

Monday, December 05, 2005

In Your Face Escondido!

The Palomar Pomerado Health (PPH) district is dedicated to ramroding a hospital into the ERTC. Let nothing stand in its way!

PPH apparently believes that it “owns” the City of Escondido because it got 70% of the vote on Proposition BB, and it can do whatever it wants without consequence. It apparently believes that can draw on the political base, particularly from areas outside of Escondido, such as Rancho Bernardo, Poway, and Ramona, to roll over the Escondido City Council. I am now certain that the PPH Board of Directors will approve whatever is provided to them for entry into the ERTC, not matter what its contents.

PPH noticed a public hearing for an Addendum to the ERTC Specific Plan and Environmental Impact Report. The notice stated that the Addendum and supporting documents may be reviewed at the PPH offices. On Monday morning, December 5, I called the listed phone number, and just got voice mail. Then I quickly prepared a Public Records Request and faxed it to PPH. Another member of the public called me from the PPH offices at about 11 am and said that PPH refused to allow inspection of the Addendum as requested!

Monday afternoon, I received a call from Andy Hoang of PPH. Andy said that I could not review the Addendum because it was only in draft form and the draft was not for public review. I asked to review the draft and he said that would be "unwise" because the final Addendum could have changes. Andy said that when the Addendum was completed, I could then review the document. I asked when it would be completed. He said that he did not know--that it may not be ready until just before the meeting, and that I could receive a copy at the meeting. I asked what was the rush to have a meeting, and I asked if a public comment period would be provided after tomorrow’s vote. He said things needed to get moving and that no public review or comment period was required before or after the vote. I asked if anyone had received the Addendum and Andy responded that the City of Escondido had a copy for internal PPH use. I asked how that was possible--was the City of Escondido internal to PPH?

Andy then sounded as though my inquiries were annoying him! What a jerk!

PPH is avoiding public comment on the EIR for the new hospital by calling it an “Addendum to a Final IER” instead of a “Supplemental EIR.” Why, because a supplemental EIR requires a 30 day public review and comment period. The following is taken from a California Department of Transportation website:
http://www.dot.ca.gov/ser/vol1/sec5/ch36eir/chap36.htm

“If only minor technical changes or additions are needed and no new or substantially more severe significant effects result, an Addendum to an approved EIR may be prepared. An addendum need not be circulated for public review but must be included in or attached to the final EIR.” Further, “no subsequent or supplemental environmental impact report is be required, unless ‘substantial changes’ in the project or its circumstances will require major revisions to the EIR.

Apparently, PPH has taken the position that placing the area’s only hospital across the street from a massive electric power plant is “only a minor technical” change to the Final ERTC EIR prepared in 2002. This “legal” position does not pass the laugh out loud test for lawyers!

Regarding the alleged "draft" document exception to the California Public Records Act:
"Govt. Code Section 6254. Except as provided in Sections 6254.7 and 6254.13, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require disclosure of records that are any of the following: (a) Preliminary drafts, notes, or interagency or intra-agency memoranda that are not retained by the public agency in the ordinary course of business, provided that the public interest in withholding those records clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure."

Apparently PPH sends document to the City of Escondido, and then throws away the copies. And the public clearly needs only a few hours to review the EIR's "minor changes" that place a $550 million construction project to build 1.1 million square feet of hospital and medical office building space across the street from a large electric power plant. Did the City of Escondido make copies of the draft Addendum available to the public. If so, why did PPH refuse the direct requests for review of the draft Addendum!

PPH is not treating Escondido and it residents in a fair manner.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

PPH Special Meetings on Tuesday, December 6

After over 8 months of negotiations, PPH has failed to provide JRM with a sufficiently lucrative no-bid contract to get JRM's agreement on the medical office building deal. Thus JRM has been setup to take the blame for the ERTC failure and PPH switch to San Marcos.

But now, in a frantic rush, PPH is trying to rescue its original "blame Escondido" strategy predicted in my post last Tuesday, November 22, 2005.

Suddenly, on Tuesday, December 6, 2005, at 5:30 pm, PPH will hold a public hearing on the ERTC Specific Plan and EIR. See Hearing Notice attached:
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHEIRHearing120605.pdf

In the same meeting, the PPH Board will then vote on three resolutions, apparently to approve everything. The agenda includes: Resolution "of Approval for Palomar Medical Center Project." I wonder if this means PMC West in the ERTC or PMC downtown. Or both!
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHBdAgenda120605.pdf

All interested parites should hurry down on Monday morning, December 5, 2005, to the PPH offices (with cash or check in hand for reproduction costs if you want to take it home) for the opportunity to review the Addendum to the ERTC EIR. Don't Wait! (for PPH to post the documents on its website) The PPH engine of governmental efficiency is moving down the railroad at full speed! And don't spend too much time at the microphone because . . .

At 6:30 pm that same evening, the PPH Finance Committee will have a meeting that includes a closed session to provide instruction to their negotiator on the price and terms of three parcels along the west side of Valley Boulevard. See the Agenda at:
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHFinAgenda120605.pdf

And regarding the idea of eliminating the Valley Boulevard "crossover" from Second to Valley Parkway, someday someone will explain why this is good idea. Grand and Valley Parkway diverge after PMC! And how is someone headed to the East Valley shopping district or to Valley Center supposed to get from Grand to East Valley Parkway?

Thursday, December 01, 2005

The Promised Hospital Expansion at the Downtown PMC Site

Last summer, Escondido was concerned that construction of a new hospital in the ERTC would have severe negative impacts on the downtown area. To address those concerns, the Palomar Pomerado Health (PPH) district held a public forum in Escondido on July 28, 2005, to present its future plans for the existing downtown Palomar Medical Center (PMC).

In the presentation, PPH indicated that it planned to build a large hospital expansion extending east of the existing hospital buildings.

I believe that this planned hospital expansion must be the keystone of the development agreement currently being negotitated between the City of Escondido and PPH as part of the ERTC "compromise".

The promised downtown hospital expansion was presented on a slide labeled "Master Plan" which included other amenities such as senior and employee housing, mixed use medical buildings having retail shops, a community building, and a downtown parking structure.

Two slides similarly labeled "Master Plan" show perspective views of the promised hospital expansion. The building appears to be about 10 stories tall in these slides.

Perspective view looking toward the east:

Perspective view looking toward the west:

Better quality slides are available at the following link:
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHforumMPh.pdf
The slide presentation is available the following link:
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHForum072805-300dpi.pdf

Placing the building's footprint on a site map of the existing downtown hospital shows that the promised hospital expansion fits on existing site without the need to acquire additional property. The expansion building would replace the 45 year old Adams wing of PMC. The promised expansion building's footprint covers about 24,000 square feet. Multiplied by 10 stories, the promised hospital expansion would house about 240,000 square feet of modern hospital space compliant with all seismic regulations.

The map is also available at the following link:
http://civics.robroy.cc/PMCbldgMapwExpansion-r.pdf

PPH made many promised at the forum in Escondido last summer!

The promise most important to the healthcare of North County residents is the downtown hospital expansion!

To hold our government accountable for the promised downtown hospital expansion, the PPH Board and staff were reminded of this promise at the Board Meeting of November 14, 2005. See video clip:
http://civics.robroy.cc/PPHBdMtg111405rf.wmv

The Escondido City Council and staff were reminded of the downtown hospital expansion at the Council Meeting of November 16, 2005. (click on video library item 3: Oral Communications):
http://escondido.12milesout.com/Escondido/
EventList.aspx?id=73