Healy petitioned the Vacaville City Council, hoping it could waive or reduce the fee, but councilmembers said they couldn't make an exception. Slade said she has contacted other government leaders about finding a way to help the clinic but has been unsuccessful so far. The city is charging the sewer usage fee because the use of the building is changing from that of a bank to a medical clinic, Salazar said. At its current location, Redwood Family Clinic serves 60 to 70 clients per day, often with patients lining up outside in the breezeway due to lack of space in the small waiting room. The chart room is stacked to capacity with patient records, and doctors share office space with medical supplies and a refrigerator.
Clinic funding depends on the billing it does for services.
The new facility would have 10 examination rooms, doctors' offices, a private reception area, a large storage facility and chart room. Healy estimated the new clinic would be able to serve twice as many patients as the existing facility. To save money, existing walls and building features were incorporated into the architects' designs. With frustration in her voice, Healy summed up her situation. We picked this spot because it is downtown, and the bus stop is right out front.