McKinley East Sacramento Neighborhood Association (MENA)

Steve Cohn, SMUD, and Mercy debate at General Membership Meeting

Jul 13, 2005

On May 9th MENA held a general membership meeting at the Shepard Garden Arts Center and was attended by approximately 30 to 40 members and neighbors.
After Rian?’s opening remarks, SMUD Director, Howard Posner, addressed the general membership regarding the proposed annexation of east Yolo County to provide their electrical services. Posner said he is not in favor of the annexation and is skeptical of Sacramento ratepayers receiving a ?“big enough benefit.?” He finds the annexation ?“risky?” and will make a formal motion to give Sacramento ratepayers the opportunity to vote on the issue. Sacramento Council member, Steve Cohn, gave a brief State of East Sacramento address. He reported that the first major piece of the new ?“transit village?” at 65th and Folsom is well under way and will include retail and housing units. This will support the decision to make the nearby entrance to CSUS the new main entrance to the campus. The city budget is in much better shape than other cities because instead of overspending during a period of surplus, the city was cautious in expectation of the recession. The city is adding 67 new police officers in the next two years, with 40 of those officers added to patrol and traffic. Regional transit will raise its rates and Cohn said that while the rate increases are significant there has been only one increase in the last 18 years. Cohn went on to remind everyone to notify their insurance companies regarding the recent change in flood control boundaries. Cohn then took questions from the membership regarding the possibility of having form-based zoning in East Sac. Cohn said he supports enforcing existing codes and he feels now is an important time to discuss form- based zoning opposed to ?“design review?” because the General Plan is being developed.
The meeting then moved on to presentations by those involved or concerned with the building of a heart center at Mercy. Cindy Holst, Mercy planner, said Mercy plans to retrofit the North Wing and build a 128 bed, five-story structure next to the North Wing. Mercy also plans to provide additional parking, address traffic circulation and create a healing garden and improve landscaping. They have sought neighborhood input and she said their plans have evolved to accommodate some of those concerns. A full Environmental Impact Report is underway.
John Lambeth, of Sacred Heart school represented the school?’s position on the Mercy construction plans. He is concerned about the ?“magnitude of the project?” and said there will be a 38% increase in building space. He said the new building will be 104 feet high and at some spots be 41 feet away from the school site. He is also concerned about the 4 years of construction time. Sacred Heart proposes reorienting the school and tearing down one non-historic building and adding one new building. The estimated cost is 4.5 million dollars, 1 million of which Sacred Heart agrees to raise. Mercy rejected this proposal earlier.
East Sac Preservation Task Force?’s Will Green addressed the board to voice his group?’s opposition to Mercy?’s plans. He has 1,300 petitioners in his area in ?“total opposition.?” He said the building is ?“oversized for this campus.?” He suggested building the heart center at another site, such as Folsom, Lincoln, or North Natomas. He said MENA ?“needs to be concerned.?”
Cindy responded to the point of building the center at another location and said that she looked at the other sites and among other issues, the doctors who service this department did not want to travel to those areas. Most of the major hospitals, which use many of the same doctors, are here.