Moses Lake Clinic attempts vacating street

Citizens share opposing views

MOSES LAKE — There wasn't enough seating for citizens crowding into the Moses Lake City Council chambers to discuss expansion of the Moses Lake Clinic Tuesday night.

Clinic Administrator David Olson, requested council consider vacating a portion of Juniper Drive for their expansion and parking needs. The vacation limits direct access to and from Hill Avenue from Juniper Drive and limits continued travel on Juniper Drive.

Olson said there is a greater benefit to the public and safety by vacating the roadway.

The clinic does not have enough parking spaces to serve patients, he said. The elderly and physically disabled encounter obstacles of walking long distances to reach the clinic, stepping over curbing and crossing the street.

The clinic plans to expand across Juniper Drive, to create a structure to house up to 20 more physicians. According to Olson, the street must be eliminated to create a campus atmosphere and provide parking on site.

More than 15 citizens addressed the issue in the council chambers during the public hearing. Some were in favor of the vacation, others were opposed.

Finance Director Ron Cone explained several other entities have expanded along the street without requesting the vacation of the street.

"I'm there consistently, there's always parking spots," he said.

He suggested putting up a barrier to temporarily close the street for 60 days in the area the clinic wishes to have the city vacate.

"See what response we get," he said.

One man said he was opposed to the vacation because it could ruin his business.

"I may be most affected by this," citizen Leonard Reynolds said. "I am against the clinic because of what's going to happen to me."

He owns multiple lots and duplexes along Juniper Drive and Cherry Avenue. He fears he may lose tenants.

Citizen Dave Okanek said if the street is vacated, it still won't accommodate future growth resulting in the need for additional parking and space.

He did not think curbs constituted a safety issue.

"Ever been to downtown?" he asked.

Okanek said it is everywhere, causing people to step over curbing and cross streets to get to their homes regularly.

Citizen Charles Neuman said the blockage would create traffic congestion.

According to a 2004 study, 1,900 vehicles used the proposed vacation daily.

He wondered where the additional vehicles would go.

Citizen Mike Brown agreed.

"I oppose this. I opposed this last time," he said. "You want to get out of there at 5 o'clock? Forget it."

His primary concern was with how emergency response time would be affected.

Citizen William Bishop felt the vacation would impede on his ability to choose.

"I'm strictly opposed to what's happening," he said. "Why should we be forced to take the scenic route to our homes, that's not right. They're taking our right to choose."

Citizen Coralee Gill said she was conflicted by the vacation. She was both for it and against it, she said.

"If it cuts and slows traffic, I'm kind of for it," she said.

Gill said she has observed her neighborhood go from quiet to dangerous over the past 55 years, she said.

She said there are many vehicles speeding through the neighborhood.

Keith M. Ulnick who is a physician at the clinic said the vacation is necessary.

It decreases fuel costs for multiple visits in multiple places, he said. Many patients are obligated to pay for two visits due to traveling to other facilities.

The clinic rents space at Pioneer Medical Clinic, thus sending patients there for unavailable services at the current building.

Clinic receptionist Diana Ecret said the vacation would cause less strain on patients.

"Every day I see patients coming in with walkers, crutches; out of breath," she said.

Patients have walked so far from their parking space, they have to rest before checking in, she added.

Council closed the public hearing and without a motion and began discussion.

Councilmember Richard Pearce said closing Juniper Drive would not alleviate traffic concerns. He said speed control would be more appropriate.

The additional facility can be built without the vacation, he said. He suggested a sky ramp to extend from one lot to the next, over the street.

Parking is an issue the clinic must handle themselves, he added.

"That's a problem they need to solve," he said. "I think the clinic can deal with this without vacating Juniper Drive."

Councilmember James Liebrecht said the traffic concerns must be handled individually with regard to patients who must cross the street to reach the facilities. Citizens need to take care of bad driving habits, he advised.

"The traffic is all over the city, people can't drive squat," he noted.

Councilmember Dick Deane said the vacation would only serve as a temporary solution to the growth problem. There may be need for further expansion in the future. The blockage interferes with people's quality of life, he said.

The hospital, neighborhood and the city should mitigate the problem, Councilmember Bill Ecret said.

"There might be a solution we haven't discussed yet," he added.

Councilmember Brent Reese said the vacation concerned him because the police and fire department were opposed to the idea when it was proposed in 2004.

The mayor took a show of hands to survey among citizens and physicians to see if they were willing to mitigate the situation. With a few hand-raisers, he concluded the parties would have a special meeting to find a compromise. The meeting is set for June 19 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.

The clinic brought the same request to council in 2004 and was denied without mitigation.