HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2003 - Support King County Proposition #1: Harborview Medical Center Health and Safety Improvement BondsCitv of Tukwila
Washington
Resolution No. Zoo 3
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, EXPRESSING ITS COLLECTIVE
POSITION SUPPORTING APPROVAL FOR KING COUNTY
PROPOSITION NO. 1 ON THE BALLOT FOR THE NOVEMBER
3, 2020 GENERAL ELECTION.
WHEREAS, Harborview Medical Center facilities include a state -licensed 413 -bed
hospital owned by King County and operated by the University of Washington, which is a
comprehensive regional health care facility available to all King County residents that
provides specialized care for a broad spectrum of patients, the control of illness and the
promotion and restoration of health; and
WHEREAS, Harborview Medical Center is one of the nation's leading academic
medical centers, is the only designated Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma and verified
burn center in the state of Washington, and serves as the regional trauma and burn
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
Cou ntyto 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
WALeg is lative Development\ Harborview Med ical Center KC Prop No 1—expressing support 9-15-20
LH:bjs Review and anaysis by Barbara Saxton Page 1 of 3
WHEREAS, a majority of Harborview Medical Center's facilities are aging and out of
date in terms of modern medical best practice standards for infection control and privacy,
and on average 50 patient beds per day cannot be used due to infection control
requirements for shared rooms; and
WHEREAS, Harborview Medical Center often operates at 100 percent capacity, and
critical surge capacity and emergency department capacity are limited due to space
limitations; and
WHEREAS, Harborview Medical Center facilities include older masonry buildings
that would suffersignificantdamage during an earthquake and building collapse, and any
resulting inaccessibility of buildings after an earthquake would pose life -safety risks to
patients, employees, and visitors and negatively impact facility operations during a
disaster by limiting availability of services; 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
through repeated jail bookings and use of involuntary commitment, as well as
homelessness; and
WHEREAS, as illustrated by the 2020 pandemic COVID-19, there is a critical need
in King County for expanded medical facilities with greater capacity for vital surge needs
and state-of-the-art infectious disease control; and
WHEREAS, the improvements recommended to Harborview Medical Center are
estimated to cost approximately $1.74 billion over 20 years and are detailed in the
Leadership Group Recommendation Report, 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-acu ity recu perative 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
WALeg islative Devel opment Harborvi ew Med ical Center KC Prop No 1 expressing support 9-15-20
LH:bjs Review and ana4rsis by Barbara Saxton Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Tukwila convened its regularly -scheduled
meeting on September 21, 2020, which meeting notice included the exact ballot
proposition numberand title of King County Proposition No. 1, and where members of the
public were afforded an equal opportunity to express support for or opposition to King
County Proposition No. 1 consistent with RCW 42.17A.555(1);
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
The Tukwila City Council expresses support for King County Proposition No. 1 at the
November 3, 2020 General Election, and urges all eligible voters in the City to vote to
approve the measure.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at
a Regular Meeting thereof this Z%S day of Seettxmloar , 2020.
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
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Kmy,
Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:
J/4-24.,Seutze,
Office of the City Attorney
De'Sean Quinn, Council President
Filed with the City Clerk: g-0
Passed by the City Council: q - Zi- Ze
Resolution Number: z 3
W:\Legislative DevelopmentHarborview Med ical Center KC Prop No 1—expressing support 9-15-20
U -1:14's Review and 817&siS by Barbara Saxton Page 3 of 3