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REGULAR MEETING <br />OCTOBER 9, 2000 <br />there are, that it is recommended that a temporary heliport be established on top on the Lafayette <br />Street Parking structure with a bridge adequate to support personnel with a gurney. The use of the <br />word temporary meant that if the hospital should in the future decide to add additional floors to the <br />south pavilion where the new emergency room is located than'that would be a preferable site. This <br />is years off and is not on the drawing boards at the hospital. Mr. Ambers in conclusion supported <br />the site which is being presented this evening. Mr. Bancroft indicated that on page twelve (12) of <br />the report Mr. Ambers stated that the Lafayette parking structure has the ability to add two (2) <br />additional levels and has been designed accordingly. This is an extremely viable option as there is <br />no need to introduce another elevator system into Memorial Hospital and it also provides aminimum <br />delay for patient transfer. The consultant actually supports the location for the helistop which is <br />being presented this evening. <br />Mr. Bancroft indicated that the helicopter is expected to land and take off only once a day. This <br />helistop will have very little impact on the neighborhood but will have a very big impact on the <br />community in saving lives. Mr. Bancroft urged the Council not to delay this matter but to make a <br />decision this evening and to decide in favor of this special exception so that the helipad can be built <br />in the place indicated on the site plan. He stated that there are no other sites on the hospital campus <br />for this helistop and to delay this decision in the hopes that the hospital would choose another site <br />is fruitless because it will not happen. They have spent two (2) years studying it, spent one hundred <br />thousand dollars ($100,000.00) for consultants and this is the best place. The Council's approval <br />means that South Bend will have state of the art life saving services which it does not presently have <br />and this air ambulance service will be available for everyone regardless of financial need or <br />insurance. Mr. Bancroft stated that if the Council does not approve this Resolution this evening <br />then it will not happen because they do not have another location for this helistop. He therefore <br />asked for the Council's approval this evening. <br />Mr. Phil Newbold, 11 �9 Aline Court, South Bend, Indiana, President and CEO of Memorial Hospital <br />and Health System, informed the Council that this proposal is about saviiglives. Air transportation <br />services will result in approximately one (1) flight day which will take approximately seven (7) <br />minutes for the pilot to come in, land, discharge the patient or pick up a patient. Seven (7) minutes <br />a day there will be noise in the neighborhood but for that they will save hundreds of lives. He noted <br />that Memorial Hospital has been a good neighbor and corporate citizen of this community and has <br />been serving people for the last one hundred seven (107) years. Mr. Newbold outlined the structure <br />of the hospital and how this matter went thr'ough'the various committees and boards. He noted that <br />this community is behind other communities in terms of air transport services. He stated that <br />Memorial Hospital would never come to the Council with a proposal that would harm people, injure <br />the neighborhood or do something less than professional. Mr. Newbold asked the Council to let the <br />hospital do its job and reiterated Mr. Bancroft's statement that this is the only location that works <br />and the location that saves lives. He noted that this is something that will improve the quality of life <br />in our community. <br />Mr. Hollis Hughes, 6226 Miami Road, South Bend, Indiana, stated that he is a trustee at Memorial <br />Hospital and is present to assure the Council that as local people understanding local concerns that <br />the hospital has done due diligence by taking a look at all of the options, and giving strong <br />consideration to the interest of the neighborhood. He stated that they have looked at the safety of <br />the effort and the soundness of the plan. Memorial Hospital is a good neighbor and has a history <br />of being a good neighbor. There will be one (1) flight a day lasting seven (7) minutes. When you <br />think about the life saving aspects of this proposal, it is a small inconvenience, a positive kind of <br />trade off to make for living in a community and supporting our neighbors. This is a necessary <br />service and he asked that the Council please give their positive support to this recommendation. <br />Mr. Dan Neufelder, Executive Vice - President and Chief Operating Officer, Memorial Hospital, 615 <br />North Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana, set up visual displays and informed the Council that <br />air medical services have been used around the world but the City of South Bend does not have an <br />air medical helicopter service. The hospital has studied this issue for eighteen (18) months and has <br />secured FAA approval as well as a favorable recommendation from the Board of Zoning Appeals. <br />Mr. Neufelder advised that whenever there is a traumatic accident or injury in the community an <br />emergency medical service responder or policeman will respond to that site. If when they arrive <br />at the site they believe this situation could be best handled by air they will call into the emergency <br />1 <br />1 <br />