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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmail CorrespondencePage 1 of 1 Jessica Guzman From: Mayra [mtrejo @pcariverside.org] Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 3:37 PM To: Bob Brady; Susan Reid; Carol Cowley; Jessica Guzman Subject: Child Abuse Prevention Month - Lake Elsinore Proclamation Request Attachments: 2009 PROCLAMATION - April's Child Abuse Prevention Month.doc City of Lake Elsinore, Child abuse remains a serious problem in our communities throughout Riverside County. Successful prevention and intervention requires the commitment of the entire community to nurture the growth of safe and stable families and ensure the welfare of future generations. In the calendar year 2007, the Department of Public Social Services received 24,168 referrals. The greatest type of abuse investigated was neglect (51 %). All children under age of 18 are at risk; however, children under five are at greater risk for child abuse. Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County (PCARC) is the county's designated lead agency in child abuse and neglect prevention, promoting strong families, positive parenting , and safe children through advocacy, public awareness, and coordination of community programs and services. We are comprised of individuals from public and privates agencies and concerned members of the community. As part of PCARC's mission of advocacy, we encourage community involvement and participation, especially during April which is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. We would like to request a proclamation from your City Council to help us kickoff the awareness of child abuse and the efforts to help prevent child abuse in our communities. I would like to request to be added to your agenda for the March 24, 2009 City Council Meeting. I have attached a draft of the proclamation to this e-mail. Thank you very much for your attention towards this matter. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information. Sincerely, Mayra Trejo Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County 1945 Chicago Ave., Suite B South Riverside, CA 92880 2:951- 686 -5581 A:951- 686 -5654 -!�: w .Pmnverside oro 3/4/2009 PROCLAMATION CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH April 2009 o, WHEREAS, children deserve a safe, stable and permanent home in order to become productive members of our society; and WHEREAS, child abuse is found in families of all social and economic classes and every racial and ethnic group; and e WHEREAS, child abuse impacts the entire community and finding solutions depends on community involvement to nurture family growth and inspire future generations; and ® WHEREAS, effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among social service agencies, schools, religious organizations, law enforcement agencies and the business community; and ® WHEREAS, through the continued work of volunteers, parents, community partners, policy makers and professionals, child abuse may be eradicated, giving our children a bright, successful future; and ® WHEREAS, Prevent Child Abuse Riverside County works in collaboration with the Department of Public Social Services to educate the public to reduce the incidence of child abuse and provide other services to help alleviate its effects; and WHEREAS, all citizens should become more aware of child abuse and its prevention within the community, and become more involved in supporting parents to raise their children in a safe, nurturing environment. NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN, that the does hereby proclaim the month of April 2009, as CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH And urges all the residents to become more aware of this Nationwide problem and to take necessary actions to prevent child abuse in their communities. ■ �} ! - '�2/�`��§ }��2: ;2 :�:\�� aw� «° ,r « �0N i DRAVVE 2009 Donate Life Run/Walk "Mayor - athon" / Donor Drive Participation Commitment Yes! The City of will support the 2009 Donate Life Mayor -athon / Donor Drive by: ❑ Sending our Mayor or Civic Leader to participate at the 2009 Donate Life Run/Walk. ❑ Issuing a formal proclamation declaring April as Donate Life Month in our city. ❑ Educating our municipal employees by signing up for the Donate Life eCampaign. City: Contact Name: Address: City: Zip: Phone: Fax Email: Please fax or email this document to Christina Courtney, Mayor -Athon Coordinator, at (714) 961 -6824 or ccourtney(&onelegacy.or . Thank You! Southern California Donate Life Run/Walk 2009 When: April 25th, 2009 7:00am to 2:00pm Cal State University, Fullerton C A L S T A I E FULLERTON Special Guests: Southern California Mayors and Civic Leaders Participating in Mayor -athon Challenge Features: 5K Run/Walk, 1K Healthy Walk Family Festival Live entertainment Special activities for children. What: A non - competitive, certified 5K Run and Honor Walk to raise awareness of and funds for the new Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Donor Registry Who: All runners and walkers, dialysis patients, transplant recipients, organ donors, donor families, allied health professionals, high school and college students are invited to come out and participate. Where: Memorial Grove on Cal State University Fullerton campus 800 State College Blvd. in Fullerton Registration: Register by mail, fax, or online at www.donateliferunwalk.org Registration begins at 7:00am $30 for 5K runners /1K walkers $20 for organ donors, transplant recipients and donor families $20 for students with student ID $10 for children 12 and under See what the excitement is all about! Visit the official Donate Life Run/Walk website: www.donateliferunwalk.org www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org City of April 2009 ORGAN & TISSUE DONOR REGISTRY www.doneVIDAcaIifornia.org DMV /Donate Life California Month Proclamation WHEREAS, organ, tissue, marrow and blood donation are life- giving acts recognized worldwide as expressions of compassion to those in need; WHEREAS, more than 100,000 individuals nationwide and more than 20,000 in California are currently on the national organ transplant waiting list, and every 90 minutes one person dies while waiting due to the shortage of donated organs; W)IEREAS, the Ae" 'W donated o . ns especially ent Hisoa*e nd WHEREAS, more than 600,000 units of blood per year are needed to meet the need in California; in WHEREAS, a single individualrs donation of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine can save up to eight lives; donation of tissue can save and heal the lives of up to 50 others; and a single blood donation can help three people in need; WHEREAS, millions of lives each year are saved and healed by donors of organs, tissues, marrow and blood; WHEREAS the spirit of giving and decision to donate are not restricted by age or medical condition; ® WHEREAS, nearly five million Californians have signed up with the state - authorized Donate Life California Registry to ensure their wishes to be organ and tissue donors are honored; ° WHEREAS, California residents can sign up with the Donate Life California Registry when applying for or renewing their driver's licenses or ID cards at the California Department of Motor Vehicles; ® NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that in recognition of National Donate Life Month, the month of April 2009 is hereby proclaimed "DMV /Donate Life California Month" in the City of and in doing so we encourage all Californians to check "YES!" when applying for or renewing their driver's license or I.D. card, or by signing up at www.donateL]FEcalifornia.oro or www.doneVIDAcalifornia.oro. D' ! N` ; D R1►1E Agenda of participation from Mayor /Representative • The Mayor and/or a Representative of the City will attend the 2009 Donate Life Run/Walk on Saturday, April 25, 2009. They will join other Mayors and Civic Leaders from around Southern California to show their support for their individual cities. o 7:15 am Arrival time — park in VIP area and place parking pass on dash 0 7:30 — 8:00 am Breakfast provided for Mayors and Civic Leaders in VIP Section o 8:15 am Mayors & VIP's group photo — main stage 0 8:30 am Mayors/Representative to participate in Opening Donor Ceremony by carrying Donor Quilts into ceremony. 0 9:00 am Run/Walk begins- Mayors/Representatives have the opportunity to walk with someone from their own city who is personally affected by organ and tissue donation. o 10:00 -12:00 Mayors/Representatives are welcome to stay and enjoy lunch provided by Whole Enchilada in the VIP section following the walk. o 10:00 -12:00 Family Health Festival — Mayors/Representatives are welcome to stay and enjoy the festivities. Mayors/Representatives are welcome to bring guest/family members. Please contact Christina Courtney at ccourtney(a,onele ¢ acv.orQ with the names of additional guests. • All participating Mayors/Representatives will receive a confirmation packet with the following one week prior to the event: • Parking pass • Map of event • Donate Life Polo Shirt to identify them as VIP's ( PLEASE WEAR TO EVENT) • Guest passes for guest/family members CITY OF dED LAKE LSINOIZE ApR 21 2009 �- REDEVELOPMENTEELSINORE AGENCY OF..wr ntVISION Via First Class Mail Date: February 18, 2009 RE: Notice of the Joint Public Hearing on the Proposed Amendments to the Redevelopment Plans for Rancho Laguna Redevelopment Project Areas No. I, II and III Dear Property Owner /Business Owner /Resident: The Redevelopment Agency of the City of Lake Elsinore ( "Agency ") is in the process of considering certain amendments ( "Amendments ") to the Redevelopment Plans ( "Redevelopment Plans ") for Rancho Laguna Redevelopment Project Areas No. I, II and III ( "Project Area No. I, II and III "). A map showing the boundaries of the Project Areas is provided on the back of this letter. The City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore ( "City Council ") and the Agency have scheduled a joint public hearing for March 24, 2009, at 7:00 p.m., at the Cultural Center at 183 N. Main Street, Lake Elsinore. Attached to this letter is the official notice of the joint public hearing. Project Area No. I was adopted in 1980 and territory was added in 1981. Project Area No. II was adopted in 1983 and Project Area No. Ill was adopted in 1987. The Agency is proposing to consolidate and update each of the original Redevelopment Plans into a more "user- friendly' document that will incorporate prior amendments and to eliminate ambiguities and inconsistencies. The Amendments will not add territory, change land uses or change any of the time or financial limits of the Redevelopment Plans. The Agency will not be authorized to acquire any property by eminent domain. California Redevelopment Law ( "CRL ") requires that prior to any amendment to a redevelopment plan that a hearing be held on the proposed changes and that property owners, occupants and businesses within the project area be notified of the hearing. You are being notified of the proposed Amendments and joint public hearing of the Agency and City Council because you currently own property, or are an occupant or a business within one of the Agency's three Project Areas. In addition to the joint public hearing on March 24, 2009, the Agency will hold a community information meeting on March 18, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. at the Cultural Center to discuss the proposed Amendments and to provide an opportunity to hear your thoughts and concerns. If you have questions or comments pertaining to the community information meeting, joint public hearing or the proposed Amendments, you may call Steven McCarty, Redevelopment Project Manager, at (951) 674 -3124 ext. 314. Sincerely, Robert of the City of Lake Elsinore Director Attachment: Legal Notice (D cu CD aU E 0-0 0 ry 7 0 0 .0 9 C I 0 0 0 0 1,0000 Mission o o ......... c E 57 ..... ....... ..... ...... ................. 10 1 0 D ............ .......... . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 .......... .......... .......... .......... 0 ...... ...... .............. ....... ...... ............... 09, 0 ............... 0000 00000 00000 W Q Q) 0 0 0000 E2 00 0 vvv 0 000 < 0 000 ooc 0000 00000, U 0 00000 000 000 0 0000 00 (D 0 a) 00000 Q7 Ym M o 9a E N- 0 D 0 0 0 W Q Q) E2 < 0 (D 0 a) a) 0 Q7 Ym M o 9a 2E NOTICE OF A JOINT PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE AND THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE REDEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR RANCHO LAGUNA REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREAS NO. I, II AND III AND THE, NEGATIVE DECLARATION PREPARED FOR THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND THE PROPOSED AMENDED AND RESTATED REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2005 -2009 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a joint public hearing will be held before the City Council of the City of Lake Elsinore ( "City Council ") and the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Lake Elsinore ( "Agency ") to consider and act upon the proposed fourth amendment to Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Plan for Project Area No. I ( "Fourth Amendment'), the proposed third amendment to Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Plan for Project No. II ('Third Amendment') and the proposed third amendment to the Redevelopment Plan for Lake Elsinore Project No. III ('Third Amendment'), collectively the "Amendments," to consider all evidence and testimony for or against the approval and adoption of the proposed Amendments: DATE OF HEARING: March 24, 2009 TIME OF HEARING: 7:00 p.m. or soon thereafter PLACE OF HEARING: Cultural Center 183 N. Main Street Lake Elsinore, California 92530 At any time not later than the hour set forth above for the hearing of comments on or objections to the proposed Amendments, any person may file in writing with the City Clerk of the City of Lake Elsinore a statement of objections to the proposed Amendments. At the day, hour, and place of the hearing, any and all persons having any comments on or objections to the proposed Amendments, or question the regularity of any of the prior proceedings, may appear before the City Council and the Agency and show cause why the proposed Amendments should not be adopted. The purpose of the Amendments is to amend and restate the Redevelopment Plans for each Project Area in order to consolidate and update the original Redevelopment Plans to include prior amendments, update the Redevelopment Plans to reflect current Community Redevelopment Law ( "CRL ") provisions, update the land use provisions, clarify and restate the time limits and financial limits, including the cumulative amount of tax increment the Agency may receive, and improve the format and presentation of the text and Project Area Maps. The new Amended and Restated Redevelopment Plan for the Rancho Laguna Redevelopment Project Area No. I, the Amended and Restated Redevelopment Plan for the Rancho Laguna Redevelopment Project Area No. II, and the Amended and Restated Redevelopment Plan for the Rancho Laguna Redevelopment Project Area No. III ( "Amended and Restated Redevelopment Plans ") would replace the existing Redevelopment Plans in their entirety. The proposed Amendments are technical in nature, with the purposes of improving the readability of Redevelopment Plans by clarifying ambiguities that present challenges in implementation. The Amended and Restated Plans would not add territory, change land uses or change any of the time or financial limits of the Redevelopment Plans. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the City Council and the Agency will, at the same time and place, hold a joint public hearing on the Negative Declaration prepared for the proposed Amendments. All evidence and testimony for or against the adoption of the Negative Declaration will be heard. At the day, hour and place of said hearing, any and all persons desiring to comment on, or having objections to, the content or adequacy of the Negative Declaration may appear before the City Council and the Agency and be heard. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that concurrently with the joint public hearing of the City Council and the Agency on the proposed Amendments and Negative Declaration, the Agency will also hold a,public hearing on the proposed Amended and Restated Redevelopment and Housing Implementation Plan 2005- 2009 ( "Amended and Restated Implementation Plan ") for the Project Areas. The proposed Amended and Restated Implementation Plan proposes technical corrections, updates the financial, census and housing inventories, and reflects current goals and activities of the Agency. At the day, hour and place of said hearing, any and all persons desiring to comment on, or having objections to, proposed Amended and Restated Implementation Plan may appear before the City Council and the Agency and be heard. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN to any person or organization who desires to present objections to the proposed Amendments, Amended and Restated Implementation Plan or the Negative Declaration, or allegations of noncompliance with the California Community Redevelopment Law (CRL; Health and Safety Code Section 33000 et seq.), the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA; Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.), or other applicable laws that such person or organization may be precluded from raising such issue(s) in a subsequent legal action or proceeding challenging the Amendments, Amended and Restated Implementation Plan or the Negative Declaration unless the objections or alleged grounds for noncompliance were presented by the person or organization in writing prior to the joint public hearing, or were presented orally or in writing at the joint public hearing. The legal description of the boundaries of the original Project Area No. I is located in Book 1980, Page 205654, and for added area is recorded in Book 1981, Page 153429 of the Official Records of Riverside County, California. The legal description for Project Area No. II is located in Book 1983, Page 14707 and for Project Area No. Ill the legal description is located in Book 1987, Page 271071 of the Official Records, of Riverside County California. A copy of the legal descriptions of the land within the Project Areas is available upon request, free of charge, in the City Clerk's office at 130 South Main Street, Lake Elsinore California. Interested persons may also inspect the Agency's Report to the City Council, the Draft Amended and Restated Redevelopment Plans, Amended and Restated Implementation Plan, the Initial Study, and other available documents and information pertaining to the proposed Amendments in the City Clerk's office at 130 South Main Street, Lake Elsinore, California. NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that a community information meeting regarding the proposed Amendments will also be held as follows: DATE OF MEETING: March 18, 2009 TIME OF MEETING: 7:00 p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: Cultural Center 183 N. Main Street Lake Elsinore, California 92530 Anyone having specific questions regarding the proposed Amendments may contact Steven McCarty, Redevelopment Project Manager, at (951) 674-1124 ext. 314. Date: February 18, 2009 City Clerk, City of Lake Elsinor Published: February 24, 2009, Press Enterprise March 3, 2009, Press Enterprise March 10, 2009, Press Enterprise March 17, 2009, Press Enterprise RE, CALIFORNIA 92530 T0007MO864 "AUTO' 5 -DIGIT 92530 Property Owner n— c- 11131. nt *' 33150 Trabuco Dr W Lake Elsinore CA 9 to rx2 923 Cm 1 06 04E 2Sj o9 =; RETURN TO SENDER VACANT VNAMLM TO, FORWARp 6C: 52530416399 *1977- 451257- 25 -35 ,� i iv Presorted 'Irst Class �. =Mail US PAID LC T HO�L Affordable Nailing �? REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY .MIN STREET RE, CALIFORNIA 92530 T0007MO864 "AUTO' 5 -DIGIT 92530 Property Owner n— c- 11131. nt *' 33150 Trabuco Dr W Lake Elsinore CA 9 to rx2 923 Cm 1 06 04E 2Sj o9 =; RETURN TO SENDER VACANT VNAMLM TO, FORWARp 6C: 52530416399 *1977- 451257- 25 -35 ,� Match 11, 2009 Dear Steven McCarty, I wish to sent you this letter with my objections to the proposed Amendments, Amended and Restated Implementation Plan as it pertains to assessor's parcel number 377281001 with regards to applicable California and federal laws in response to your letter dated February 18, 2009 signed by the City Clerk, Carol Cowley. Sincerely, f� Derill C. Ferguson lIp�14 LIAR 1 12009 BY:_� Barbara Lelbold From: Thomas Buckley [tbuckley @Lake - Elsinore.org] Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2009 8:28 AM To: Kevin and Janice Campion Cc: Barbara Leibold Subject: RE: rda plan upcoming re the general plan thanks for the input. i don't agree that the proposed change will negatively impact existing property owners or limit rights in anyway. in fact, equity participation may be a key part of the downtown master plan. i've forwarded your email to our attorney for a more detailed response buckley From: Kevin and Janice Campion [cdrealty @pacbell.net] Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 6:20 PM To: Thomas Buckley Subject: rda plan upcoming re the general plan I will not be able to attend the March meeting discussuing the new RDA coverage re the general plan .I have read a bit of it and want to have my opinions presented. Firstly it does not appear to be necessary as the GP is what it is - this RDA overlap or restatement is not necessary and appears as a way to get additional fees and control and limiting rights .Secondily it discriminates against owners wanting to participate with RDA projects that may go around and include their property- cities give land ,terms,funding to the bigger project around the parcel to non developer property owners -not the regular citizens who pay taxes to Elsinore ..Neither the city nor the developer want the property owners to participate -who are you kidding Typically the city knows these type owners do not have the expertise, contacts,or extra cah nor city help to do a whole project.Even though the writeup tries to show the owners can participatet it is contigent on them being able to do a whole project -which is impossible in most if not all cases.Therefore the participation clause is shallow words Owners in your city and others do not get to participate nor does the RDA "s want them and tries to prevent them from doing so -just as the restrictions in you proposal accomplish for you..I suggest that the write up on owner participation be the the owners can put in their equity for a % of the project - giving them a chance to really participate without and additional requirement especially requiring 'them to raise money and financing for the projects costs. Sorry to say RDA's write up appears very sneaky and insincere to the taxpayers and I hope they bring that up to you.This write up is custom made for developers not the citizens. - Elsinore Taxpayer -Kevin C 1 George J. Koliber 5555 Heron Point Drive -501 Naples, Florida 34108 (239) 566 -7520 gniknpls@yahoo.com March 10, 2009 Mr. Robert A. Brady City Manager /Executive Director City of Lake Elsinore Redevelopment Agency 130 South Main Street Lake Elsinore, California 92530 Re: Hearing for Rancho Laguna Redevelopment 1q k�= Y� U \V1/ iE� ] h8 lr•n:T 1 xY ji'v4 � 1 Thank you for inviting me to the meeting. Since I cannot attend I am taking the liberty of offering some continents and suggestions. Lake Elsinore is a unique city for "live, work, play ". Unfortunately, there are not many jobs in the area and residents must drive long distances for the jobs rthat do exist. With The economic stimulus plan there might be an opportunity to create a "live, work, play zone" (mixed use) by moving with the Baker Street extension. With the eventual completion of the new Nichols Road, the City could create many new jobs in this area and increase the tax base of the City. This area is very visible from I15 and would be very attractive for bringing new industry and high income persons to your City. My representative has met with Ken Seumalo regarding access through my property. Please be assured that we will cooperate Mth your organization as necessary. Best of luck at your meeting. Sincer� f , f George J. olibe OFFICE STATE CAPITOL P.O. BOX 942a49 SACRAMENTO, CA 94249 -0066 (916) 319 -2066 FAX (916) 319 -2166 March 24, 2009 6611, 0. KEVIN JEFFRIES ASSEMBLYMEMBER, SIXTY -SIXTH DISTRICT Secretary S. Kim Belshe' Health and Human Services Agency 1600 Ninth Street, Room 460 Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Secretary Belshe': DISTRICT OFFICE 41391 KALMIA STREET, SUITE 220 MURRIETA, CA 92562 (951) 894 -1232 FAX (951) 894.5053 As the Legislative Representatives of Southwest Riverside County, we are very concerned with the issues surrounding the permitting of the Rancho Springs Medical Center's expansion project in the City of Murrieta. This area is badly underserved by a shortage of hospital beds, emergency room space and the complete lack of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) which unfortunately, necessitates the air transport of infants asignificant distance to hospitals in San Diego or San Bernardino counties. I am sure you will agree that this is not only a costly endeavor, but more importantly, poses an increased risk to the health of the babies. A partial solution to this problem is the $53 million expansion of the Rancho Springs Medical Center. The new Emergency Department will replace the existing unit and increase the number of treatment bays from 8 to 27 and will include a specially designed Sexual Assault Forensic Testing Center. The second floor will provide for an I I -bed NICU, a state of the art Women's Health Center and a newborn nursery. The expanded facilities will provide patients a much higher level of patient care. In fact, the new Emergency Room Nurse's Station is larger than the existing Emergency Room. Furthermore, upon opening the new expansion, the existing space at Rancho Springs Medical Center will be converted into additional medical - surgical beds and space at the Inland Valley Medical Center will be transitioned to a much- needed cardiac center. Again, saving lives locally rather than risking transportation to other hospitals miles away. Unfortunately, this expansion process has taken seven years since plans were first submitted to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSIIPD). There has been a recent pattern of delays and bureaucratic hurdles with both the OSHPD and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). This has resulted in this important, state of the art hospital sitting empty while patients are either treated in hallways in the overcrowded building across the parking lot or being transported via helicopter or ambulance to other overcrowded hospitals in the region. According to the inspectors, there are violations at the existing facility that prevent them from issuing a permit to open the new facility. It appears that these violations are almost entirely a result of the overcrowding that necessitated the expansion in the first place. pnntea e^ Rscycwf Faper Secretary Belshe' March 24, 2009 Page Two Essentially, CDPH inspectors are telling the hospital that they cannot fix their overcrowding problem ... nntil they fez their overcrowding probleni. This is a classic Catch 22 that needs to be resolved immediately. During the course of the recent survey activity, while the inspectors have identified opportunities to improve hospital processes, they have not identified any patients who were adversely affected. The most recent set of "violations" the hospital received are easily resolved. Initial corrective actions were implemented during the course of the survey and the hospital officials have pledged they will work with the local CDPH office to fully address and correct all issues as expeditiously as possible. We are not asking that CDPH or any other regulatory agency overlook health issues or major violations that would endanger patients or staff, but we are asking that your agency make the approval of this hospital a priority. CDPH needs to work quickly and in a collaborative manner with Rancho Springs Medical Center to resolve these issues as soon as possible. Every day this facility sits empty is another day that we risk one of our community members dying as a direct result of the shortage of Emergency Department beds and the lack of a NICU in this region. Thank you for your prompt attention to this very important matter. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact any one of our offices. Sincerely, r KEVIN JE FRIES Assemblyman, 66" District 9OHN BE IT + Senator, 37" District cc: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Director David M. Carlisle, OSHPD CEO Dennis Knox, Rancho Springs Medical Center DENNIS HOLLINGS RTH Senate Republican Leader 36`h Senate District Is/).. TANDE Assemblyman, 60 District SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Regional Business Advocacy Coalition of the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, Murrieta Chamber of Commerce, Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce, Menifee Chamber of Commerce and Wildomar Chamber of Commerce 26790 Ynez Court I Temecula, CA 92591 1 (866) 676 -5090 www.SouthwestCA.biz March 18, 2009 The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor, State of California State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 The Southwest California Legislative Council ( SWCLC) is writing to bring to your attention a potentially dire medical services issue that impacts thousands of lives throughout Southwest Riverside County, an area with a population of approximately 500,000 persons. SWCLC represents 3,120 businesses which employ 63,200 employees. It is SWCLC's understanding that the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development ( OSHPD) and the California Department of Health Services (CDPH) are responsible for reviewing and approving applications to construct and license new healthcare facilities in California. Once OSHPD issues a "Certificate of Occupancy ", it is entered into a process for an array of further reviews by CDPH. The CDPH has the authority to license the new facility for use. In early November 2008, Rancho Springs Medical Center located in the City of Murrieta completed a $53,000,000 state of the art expanded hospital facility; almost five months after completion Rancho Springs still has not received final approval licensing to open the facility.. The completed facility is fully, furnished and staffed with 60 medical professionals including nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians, but unable to provide much needed medical services to an already statistically proven underserved population. The opening of the new Emergency Department, Womens' Unit, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is stalled due to CDPH unwillingness to approve the project, directly and negatively impacting the taxpaying citizens of the region. The Southwest California region's population has almost tripled in recent years and will continue to grow in the years to come. The regions hospital needs are woefully underserved based on state and federal recommendations and a recently completed study by the University of California Riverside regarding its new School of Medicine. Had CDPHS acted expeditiously five months ago in licensing, the facility at Rancho Springs Medical Center would be providing: (1) 130 patient -bed capacity up from the current 96, (2) 17 labor /delivery rooms, and 24 post -partum rooms to serve 315 baby deliveries per month; (3) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with 11 beds, the first and only tertiary care unit in Southwest Riverside County [currently all babies have to be helicopter evacuated to San Diego County]; (4) Emergency Department with 27 bays compared to the 8 bays currently available to treat over 30,000 patients per year. (5) A Sexual Assault Response Team room for privacy in evaluation of sexual assault issues, currently these victims have to go 35 miles to the City of Riverside for follow -up. The hospital's workforce will also increase by 5% or 60 new full -time equivalency jobs, without considering the job multiplier factor, providing employment at a time when California faces an unemployment rate of over 10 %. Our citizens and business communities are being denied access to a state of the art medical care facility due to the lack of immediate action by CDPH. Unfortunately, the Riverside County office for CDPH has been unable and/or unwilling to recognize such negative impacts on our communities. From a purely economic development standpoint, State of California RIMS H Multipliers studies have proven that for every hospital staff person employed, 20.7 jobs are created and added to the local economy. We fear that an unconscionable event(s) including potential patient deaths may take place as the population continues to grow and Rancho Springs is denied the ability to open its new facility. Southwest California has a patient bed ratio of 1.05 per 1000 residents; the State of California average is 2.2 bed ratio per 1000 residents a rate less than half the rate of the State of California, because of CDPH failure to act in the best interest of the citizens of the State of California. SWCLC has already opened a channel of communication with our local state legislators, cities and community members. It is essential that your office get involved in an official capacity addressing the immediate issues of certifying the Rancho Springs Hospital and to investigate the ineffective CDPH who failed to serve the taxpayers of the region. California resident's requiring hospital medical care are being denied due to bureaucracy run amok. We are asking for you to join with us to solve this problem. We are hoping to find a solution by curtailing the increasing difficulties with hospital construction and licensing in order to provide medical care and employment in our region. Let us fix this problem here and now so we may prevent similar issues from happening throughout California. We look forward to your response. Sincerely, Roger Ziemer Chair Southwest California Legislative Council CC: State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth State Senator John J. Benoit Assembly Member Kevin Jeffries Assembly Member Barry Nestande California Chamber of Commerce 916 -447 -9008 916 - 327 -2187 916 - 319 -2166 916- 319 -2164 916 - 325 -1272