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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.2 Healthy Cities & CommunitiesG~~~ OF Dp~~`2 ~///~~ ~ 19 (~1= =i1~),82 04LIFOR~~~ STAFF REPORT CITY C L E R K DUBLIN. CITY COUNCIL File # ^[5~^S ~-®~ DATE: March 16, 2010 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Joni Pattillo, City Manager SUBJ T: Healthy Cities and Communities Prepared By: Diane Lowart, Parks and Community Services Director EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council has a proposed high priority objective to implement a Health and Wellness program (i.e. Healthy Cities, Healthy Communities Network, etc.). The City Council will receive a report on the strides the City has made to provide a healthy environment for City residents and also receive information on various programs related to healthy cities. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The estimated cost to initiate a Health Impact Assessment is $60,000 - $80,000. The cost associated with implementing policies and strategies resulting from the Assessment are unknown at this time. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council receive the report and provide direction to Staff on how to pursue the proposed objective related to a City Health and Wellness program. ~~~~ -~ ~~ Submitted by: Parks and Community Services Director Reviewed by: Assistant City Manager Page 1 of 6 ITEM NO. ~ • 2" DESCRIPTION: One of the proposed high priority objectives for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 is to "implement a Health and Wellness program (i.e. Healthy Cities, Healthy Communities Network, etc.)". In order to get direction from the City Council on how to pursue this objective, Staff has prepared the following report illustrating current policies, practices and programs that make Dublin a healthy city. The report also identifies various programs related to healthy cities and communities. According to the "California Healthy Cities and Communities Network", a program of the Center for Civic Partnerships, a "healthy community" is a community that promotes: • Clean and safe places to live, work and play • A strong economy with diverse and well-paying jobs for everyone • Good schools and opportunities for life-long learning • Accessible and affordable housing, transportation and health care • Broad representation by residents, public/private organizations, and local associations in planning and decision-making to realize the community's goals • Opportunities to promote, support, and celebrate cultural diversity • Policies (including) laws that promote healthy, strong and successful lives • Continuous evaluation of what is going well in the community and what needs to change. The California Department of Public Health characterizes a "Health Community" as one the meets the basic needs of all residents, ensures quality and sustainability of the environment, provides for adequate levels of economic and social development; and assures social relationships that are supportive and respectful. A healthy community strives for the following: Meets basic needs of all - • Safe, sustainable, accessible and affordable transportation options • Accessible and nutritious healthy foods • Affordable, high quality, socially integrated and location-efficient housing • Complete and livable communities including affordable and high quality schools, parks and recreational facilities, child care, libraries, financial services, health care and other daily needs Quality, sustainability of the environment - • Clean air, soil and water, and environments free of excessive noise • Preserved natural and open spaces, including agricultural lands • Minimized waste, toxics, and greenhouse gas emissions • Affordable and sustainable energy use Adequate levels of economic, social development - • Living wage, safe and healthy job opportunities for all • Support for healthy development of children and adolescents • Opportunities for high quality and accessible education • Health and social equity Page 2 of 6 Social relationships supportive, respectful - Robust social and civic engagement Socially cohesive and supportive relationships, families, homes and neighborhoods Safe communities, free of crime and violence The City's Executive and Management Teams conducted an internal workshop for the purpose of identifying the City's current policies, practices and programs that show that the City of Dublin is well on its way to meeting the "healthy city/community" principles as suggested above. ORDINANCES -DUBLIN MUNICIPAL CODE Solid Waste Management (Chapter 5.32) Smoking Pollution Control (Chapter 5.56) Green Building Practices for City Projects (Chapter 5.61) Property Maintenance (Chapter 5.64) Weeds and Refuse (Chapter 5.70) Rodent and Fly Control (Chapter 5.72) Grading Regulations (Chapter 7.16) Watercourse Protection (Chapter 7.2) Waste Management Plan (Chapter 7.30) Stormwater Management and Discharge Control (Chapter 7.72) Nonresidential Development Affordable Housing Impact Fee (Chapter 7.86) Universal Design (Chapter 7.90) Green Building (Chapter 7.94) Dedication of Lands for Park and Recreation Purposes (Chapter 9.28) POLICIES AND PROGRAMS -ADMINISTRATION Commute Alternative Program Lactation Accommodation pursuant to Labor Cost Section 1030-1034 Recycled Product Procurement Policy Weight Watchers at Work Workout Room for City Employees POLICIES AND PROGRAMS -COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Community Design and Sustainability Element of General Plan First Time Homebuyer Mixed Use Development Streetscape Master Plan Transit Oriented Development POLICIES AND PROGRAMS - ENVIROMENTAL Compost Giveback Dublin Pride Week Environmentally Acceptable Food Utensil and Packaging Great Race for Clean Air Holiday Tree Recycling Solar Cities Spare the Air Page3of6 POLICIES AND PROGRAMS -FIRE CPR Training Flex Fuel/Hybrid Vehicles Fitness Standards (Firefighters) POLICIES AND PROGRAMS - PARKS ~ COMMUNITY SERVICES Adult Sports Leagues Afterschool Enrichment Programs (Youth/Teens) Aquatic Programs (Learn-to-Swim, Safety, Competitive, Fitness) Citywide, Family Oriented Special Events Community Golf Tournament Cooking and Nutrition Classes Dance, Fitness and Wellness Classes Heritage & Cultural Arts Programs Parks and Recreation Master Plan Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan Preschool Classes/Camps Senior Citizen Programs (Meals, Fitness, Walking, Social, Health Care, Ride Match) Shamrock 5K Fun Run and Walk Trail Map with Distances Youth/Teen Summer Camps (Full or Half Day, Camp Connectors, Outdoor Education) Youth Sports Programs (Leagues, Clinics, Camps) POLICIES AND PROGRAMS -POLICE SERVICES Bicycle Rodeos Drug Education Kids in Action/ r.a.d. kids Merchant Alert National Night Out Neighborhood Watch Officers on Bike Patrol Red Ribbon Week School Resource Officers Youth, Senior and Citizen Police Academies POLICIES AND PROGRAMS -PUBLIC WORKS 2006 ADA Transition Plan Update Annual Sidewalk Repair Bike to Work Day Bikeways Master Plan Team Bike Challenge Walk `n' Roll to School PRACTICES -CITYWIDE Energy Star Rated Machinery and Equipment in all New City Buildings Green Housekeeping Practices in City Buildings High Efficiency Building Systems in all New City Buildings Lighting Control Systems in all New City Buildings Recycled Containers in City Offices/Facilities/Parks Use of Hybrid City Vehicles Use of Recycled Water Page 4 of 6 With regard to the built environment, the City provides a network of community parks, neighborhood parks and squares that provide five acres of parkland for every 1,000 residents, a system of trails and bike lanes, as well as open space areas. Although not sponsored by the City of Dublin, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) has convened a Community Advisory Council; Mayor Sbranti represents the City of Dublin on the Council. The Community Advisory Council is focused on the health and well-being of the community and is pursing the idea of a common Web site that would serve as a resource for the Tri-Valley and/or all of Alameda County. The website could provide geographically specific health information and resource support for the community and its stakeholders. A work group has been established to research information and costs associated with the proposed website and the Parks and Community Services Director is the City's representative to the workgroup. Additionally, the City's Human Resources Director participates in a Tri-Valley Training Partnership and one of the annual goals is to collaborate on employee wellness programs. Staff has identified two (2) options that the City Council can consider to further the objective of health and wellness within the City of Dublin. Option 1 -Continue to Enhance the "Healthy" Attributes of the City This option could be accomplished with current Staff resources at little or no cost to the City and could be done in the following ways. 1. Continue to pursue the idea of a common Web site as proposed by the Community Advisory Council of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. 2. Continue to pursue multi-disciplinary health partnerships to promote physical activity and prevent obesity (health-care providers, health and fitness clubs, public agencies, etc.) 3. Continue to pursue environmental initiatives that improve the health of the environment. 4. Promote the health benefits of programs sponsored through the Parks & Community Services Department. This could be done by adding "health benefits" to program descriptions. 5. Integrate physical activity and nutrition information into special events, day camps and meetings. 6. Create a City of Dublin "Health Page" in the Activity Guide which would include health tips, calorie counting chart, information on trails and bike system, etc. 7. Add a component to the City website that allows an individual to track their exercise activities (the new website vendor has this capability) 8. Add website links to the City website that give parents, caregivers, adults and children ideas on ways to improve their health and levels of physical activity. 9. Consistently offer healthy food choices as an option for City sponsored programs, meetings and special events. Option 2 -Implement New Proctrams and Policies Staff has identified two additional programs for consideration by the City Council. Implementation of either of these programs will incur additional Staff or Consultant time resulting in increased costs to the City. The "Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign" is a partnership of the League of California Cities, the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, and the Cities Counties and Schools Partnership. This campaign encourages cities to adopt policies to create a healthy built environment through the following three land use mechanisms: Page 5 of 6 • The city's planning process • Zoning regulations • Infrastructure investments A draft resolution setting forth a municipality's commitment to obesity prevention is shown in Attachment 1. The resolution could be modified based on the direction of the City Council. The "Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign" also has examples and resources related to Healthy Zoning Regulations, Healthy Food Policies, and Employee Wellness Programs. Additional information on the "Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign" can be found at www.healcitiescampaign.orq. "Leadership for Healthy Communities" is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and was created to support local and state leaders nationwide in their efforts to promote healthy, active communities and access'to affordable healthy foods. An Action Strategies Tool Kit has been published as a guide for local and state leaders who are working to create healthy communities and prevent childhood obesity. The Tool Kit includes goals in the following areas: • Active Transportation • Land Use for Active Living • Open Spaces, Parks and Recreation • Quality Physical Activity in and Near Schools • Safety and Crime Prevention • Quality Nutrition in Schools • Supermarkets and Healthy Food Vendors • Farm-Fresh Local Foods • Restaurants • Food and Beverage Marketing The key information contained in the Tool Kit has been summarized by Staff and is shown in Attachment 2. Additional information on "Leadership for Healthy Communities" can we found at www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org. If the City Council is interested in pursing either of the programs described above, it is recommended that the City hire a consultant to conduct a, Health Impact Assessment for the City of Dublin. The Assessment would set the framework for tailoring a program for the City of Dublin based on the principles of the programs described above. The estimated cost to initiate a Health Impact Assessment is $60,000 - $80,000. The cost associated with implementing policies and strategies resulting from the Assessment are unknown at this time. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: None ATTACHMENTS: 1. Healthy Eating Active Living City Resolution 2. Leadership for Healthy Communities -Action Strategies Toolkit Page 6 of 6 i ~b7 ,., ~ HEALTHY EATING ACTIVE LlViNG CITIES CAMPAIGN HEALTHY EATING ACTIVE LIVING CITY RESOLUTION PURPOSE AND INTRODUCTION Cities and their residents face increased health care costs and diminished quality of life due to the epidemic of obesity and overweight. City leaders across California are addressing the crisis by implementing land use and employee policies which encourage physical activity and nutritious eating. League of California Cities led the way with a resolution in 2004 which encouraged cities to embrace policies that promote healthier lifestyles and communities. Two years later, the League adopted a resolution to work together with the Institute for Local Government, and the Cities Counties and Schools Partnership to develop a clearinghouse of information that cities can use to promote wellness policies and healthier cities. In response to this League resolution, the League, the CCS Partnership, and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy have launched the "Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign". INSTRUCTIONS The following draft resolution is written to provide a menu of potential HEAL Cities Campaign policies. Cities are encouraged to modify the resolution based on local conditions and to the policy actions suitable for their city at this time. All California cities which adopt policies encouraging physical activity and good nutrition are eligible to be a Healthy Eating Active Living City and upon review and approval, become eligible for public relations and marketing resources including use of the HEAL Cities logo. Please contact the campaign and share your adopted resolution and supporting policies. www.healcitiescampai~n.or~ 3-i~o-iD s• a. ATTACHMENT 1 2~~ RESOLUTION NO. _ SETTING FORTH [MUNICIPALITY]'S COMMITMENT TO OBESITY PREVENTION PREAMBLE/WHEREAS CLAUSES A draft resolution based on this model should include a preamble that contains 'findings" of fact that support the need for the city to pass the resolution. The preamble contains information supporting the need for the resolution - in this case documenting the need for obesity prevention strategies. Some possible findings are listed as "Whereas" clauses below. Cities may have others. WHEREAS, in 2004, the League of California Cities adopted an Annual Conference resolution to encourage cities to embrace policies that facilitate activities to promote healthier lifestyles and communities, including healthy diet and nutrition and adoption of city design and planning principles that enable citizens of all ages and abilities to undertake exercise; and WHEREAS, the League of California Cities has a strategic goal to promote and develop safe and healthy cities; and WHEREAS, more than half of California's adults are overweight or obese and therefore at risk for many chronic conditions including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, stroke, and, hypertension; and WHEREAS, one in four youth between the ages of 9 and 16 in California is overweight. <Enter local data available at http://www.publichealthadvocacy.org/growingepidemic.html> WHEREAS, more children are being diagnosed with diseases linked to overweight and obesity previously seen only in adults, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease; and WHEREAS, the current generation of children are expected to have shorter lives than their parents due to the consequences of obesity; and WHEREAS, obesity takes a tremendous toll on the health, productivity of all Californians; WHEREAS, the annual cost to California-in medical bills, workers compensation and lost productivity- for overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity exceeds $41 billion; WHEREAS, California Senate Bill 375 and Assembly Bill 32 call on cities to adopt plans to reduce greenhouse emissions which include reducing vehicular miles traveled; and 3$ 7 WHEREAS, local land use policy governs development of the built environment in which individuals make personal nutrition and physical activity choices; and WHERAS, by supporting the health of residents and the local workforce would decrease chronic disease and health care costs and increase productivity; and WHEREAS, <add pertinent local conditions>; NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED that the City Council hereby recognized that obesity is a serious public health threat to the health and wellbeing of adults, children and families in [name of city]. While individual lifestyle changes are necessary, individual effort alone is insufficient to combat obesity's rising tide. Significant societal and environmental changes are needed to support individual efforts to make healthier choices. To that end, [name of city] adopts this Healthy Eating Active Living resolution: I. Built Environment BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [name of city] planners, engineers, park and recreation department, community economic and redevelopment personnel responsible for the design and construction of parks, neighborhoods, streets, and business areas, should make every effort to: ^ Prioritize capital improvements projects to increase the opportunities for physical activity in existing areas; ^ Plan and construct a built environment that encourages walking, biking and other forms of physical activity; ^ Address walking and biking connectivity between residential neighborhoods and schools, parks, recreational resources, and retail; ^ Facilitate the citing of new grocery stores, community gardens and farmers markets in underserved communities to increase access to healthy food, including fresh fruits and vegetables; ^ Expand community access to indoor and outdoor public facilities through joint use agreements with schools and/or other partners ^ Map existing fast food outlets and draft an ordinance which will place limits on fast food around schools and in neighborhoods with over-concentrations of unhealthy food outlets; ^ Revise comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances to increase opportunities for physical activity and access to health foods wherever and whenever possible, including compact, mixed-use and transit-oriented development; ^ Build incentives for development project proposals to demonstrate favorable impact on +q~~ resident and employee physical activity and access to healthy foods; ^ Examine racial, ethnic, and socio-economic disparities in access to healthy foods and physical activity facilities or resources and adopt strategies to remedy these inequities. II. Employee Wellness BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that in order to promote wellness within [name of city], and to set an example for other businesses, [name of city] pledges to adopt and implement an employee wellness program. Within [insert timeframe] of adoption of the resolution, [name of city] Human Resources will draft an employee wellness policy that will: ^ Offer employee health incentives for healthy eating and physical activityl ; ^ Establish physical activity breaks for meetings over one hour in length; ^ Accommodate breastfeeding employees upon their return to work; ^ Encourage walking meetings and use of stairways. BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED to set nutrition standards for vending machines located in city owned or leased Iocations2; BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED to set nutrition standards for food offered at city events, city sponsored meetings, served at city facilities and city concessions, and city programs. III. Healthy Food Access BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that [name of city] encourages restaurants doing business in [name of city] to: ^ Disclose the calorie amount and grams of fat for each menu item listed on a menu or menu board in a clear and conspicuous manner. ^ Remove foods containing artificial trans fat from their menu offering. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that [name of city] encourages food retailers doing business in [name of city] to prominently feature healthy check-out lanes free of high density foods; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that restaurants and food retailers that promote healthy food choice in the above manners be recognized by the city and will be entitled to display a [name of city] Healthy Eating Active Living logo. 1 May include incentive such as fresh fruit in break rooms, gym discounts, fifteen minutes paid exercise time per day, etc. s Various standards available from HEAL Cities Campaign 5~j~ IV. Implementation BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the head of each affected agency or department should report back to the City Council annually regarding steps taken to implement the Resolution, additional steps planned, and any desired actions that would need to betaken by the city council. Note: cities are encouraged to tailor this clause to delegate specific implementation tasks and deadlines as appropriate. l~~~ LEADERSHIP FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES -ACTION STRATEGIES TOOLKIT A Guide for Local and State Leaders Working to Create Healthy Communities and Prevent Childhood Obesity PART 1: ACTIVE LIVING AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION GOAL: To make bicycling and walking more viable transportation options in communities to help reduce childhood obesity rates. Policy-makers can increase opportunities for physical activity by creating a built environment that supports safe, active transportation. 1) Improve Safety for Bicyclists and Pedestrians 2) Expand Trails, Bicycle Lanes and Connections LAND USE FOR ACTIVE LIVING GOAL: To increase opportunities for physical activity, help reduce pollution and improve economic development by providing more green space and walkable, mixed-use development. 1) Re-Evaluate Urban Design and Comprehensive Land-Use Plans to Improve Active Living 2) Improve Community Design Features to Encourage Physical Activity OPEN SPACES, PARKS AND RECREATION GOAL: To encourage fitness creativity and enjoyment of the outdoors so that people become more physically active. Policy makers can strengthen policies and programs that provide more open spaces, including parks and recreation facilities. 1) Increase Access to Recreation Facilities and open Spaces, Including Parks and Community Gardens QUALITY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN AND NEAR SCHOOLS GOAL: To increase physical fitness and reduce childhood obesity rates by increasing the frequency, duration and intensity of physical activity in and near schools. Policy-makers can have an important impact on improving opportunities for physical activity during and after school. 1) Offer at least 30 Minutes of Quality Physical Activity Daily 2) Consider Requiring Standards-Based Physical Education Classes Taught by Certified PE Teachers 3) Support Walk to School and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programs 4) Facilitate Joint-Use Agreements SAFETY AND CRIME PREVENTION GOAL: To improve the safety of neighborhoods and residents' perceptions of safety in their neighborhoods so that children and families become more physically active. 1) Keep Communities Safe and Free From Crime to Encourage Outdoor Activity ATTACHMENT 2 -~~~ PART 2: HEALTHY EATING QUALITY NUTRITION IN SCHOOLS GOAL: To help children and adolescents maintain a healthy weight by increasing healthy options in schools, incorporating nutrition education into school curricula and limiting access to unhealthy food. 1) Ensure That Students Have Appealing, Healthy Food and Beverage Choices In Schools 2) Support Farm-to-School and School Garden Programs 3) Implement aStandards-Based Health Education Program Taught by Teachers Certified in Health Education SUPERMARKETS AND HEALTHY FOOD VENDORS GOAL: To increase access to grocery stores and markets that sell affordable fresh fruits and vegetables, which will improve the diets of children, reduce their body mass index (BMI) and contribute to a community's economic development. 1) Attract Grocery Stores That Provide High-Quality, Healthy, Affordable Foods to Lower- Income Neighborhoods 2) Encourage Convenience Stores and Bodegas to Offer Healthier Food 3) Establish Healthy Mobile Markets FARM-FRESH LOCAL FOODS GOAL: To increase the availability of fresh, local fruits and vegetables for children and families wile supporting rural and urban economies, and in some cases, providing a space for neighbors to socialize. 1) Support Farmers' Markets 2) Support Community Gardens 3) Support the Procurement of Locally Grown Food RESTAURANTS GOAL: To encourage people's food choices to shift to healthier items by providing more nutrition information. In order to offset the increase in the availability of fast food, policy-makers can help consumers make healthier choices by encouraging restaurants to offer healthier menu items, decrease portion sizes and post nutritional information on their menus. 1) Encourage Restaurants to Offer Reasonable Sized Portions and Low-Fat and Low- Calorie Menus 2) Encourage Restaurant Menu Labeling FOOD AND BEVERAGE MARKETING GOAL: To increase the chances students will adopt healthier behaviors that will last a lifetime by eliminating the marketing of junk foods to children while encouraging healthy food consumption. 1) Regulate the Marketing of Unhealthy Food In or Near Schools and Other Youth Facilities