August 25, 2020 4:25 a.m.
The Roseburg City Council approved all the department items on its agenda, on Monday night.
The council began the meeting with a presentation from Phil Scheuers of Pac/West Communications. Scheuers provided an update on the status of the proposed Southern Oregon Medical Workforce Center. He said the project has been delayed due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A planned bond sale to help fund the project was delayed after funds from the Oregon Lottery cratered this spring. Scheuers said a bond sale is now planned for the spring of 2021. He said organizers are working with Mercy Medical Center, Aviva Health and the Roseburg VA to help make the school successful in the long term.
Scheuers said four sites for the facility are still being considered. That includes the former Safeway and Rite Aid site in downtown Roseburg, a location along Edenbower Boulevard, the Boulders site next to Interstate Five and the Harvard Medical Park. The former Kmart property along Stewart Parkway was being considered but is now off the table as another development is planned for that location. Scheuer’s presentation lasted for about 45 minutes.
Councilors approved extending a declaration of a State of Emergency for Roseburg due to COVID-19, through the end of the year. City Manager Nikki Messenger said if conditions improve, the council could always end the declaration sooner.
Among the department items agreed to, the council moved to grant preliminary approval to plans from Umpqua United Soccer Club to transform one or two fields at the Fir Grove Soccer Complex from grass to turf. Staff said this was the first in what would be many steps in the process. The group will have to raise the money needed for the project, before work will be allowed to begin. Proponents have been working on the idea for the past year.
The public meeting was held via Zoom and ended at 9:10 p.m. prior to an Executive Session to discuss possible litigation.
The council will have another work study session next Monday to discuss the issue of homelessness. It will be an in-person meeting at the city council chambers.