Sonoma Valley hospital bonds close to passage

<p>A $35 million bond sale to pay for building improvements, new medical equipment and seismic upgrades to Sonoma Valley Hospital was winning late Tuesday.</p><p>Measure P, which would authorize the bonds, was leading with 80 percent in favor and 20 percent opposed, based on absentee ballots representing almost half of total votes cast and returns from almost half of Sonoma precints. It required two-thirds vote to pass.</p><p>We listened to the voters and learned that they wanted us to do the most we could with what we already had," said hospital CEO Carl Gerlach.</p><p>After the failure of two previous efforts to secure funding for a new hospital at a new site, officials proposed fixing the existing facility instead. The cost of Measure P is the smallest of the three hospital measures presented to Sonoma voters.</p><p>Supporters said improvements are needed to build a new central heating and air-conditioning plant, pay for earthquake stregthening and attract new doctors. </p><p>Sonoma Valley Hospital is located on Andrieux Street. </p><p>"I would have been very surprised had it failed,” said board member Arnold Riebli. “What happens next is we’ll sit down and take a look at the bond market."</p>