TITLE
Recommendation to adopt the City's Healthy Communities Policy. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On June 7, 2011, the City Council accepted a $100,000 grant from The California Endowment to prepare a policy document related to health and wellness concepts. It was envisioned that these guiding principles would become the basis for inclusion in the City's various high level strategic plans, which would then support a healthy and active lifestyle for all sectors of the community. Through this grant, the departments of Development Services, Health and Human Services, and Parks, Recreation and Marine, have worked collaboratively with the community to create the guiding principles for the Healthy Communities Policy (Exhibit A).
The Healthy Communities Policy includes policies for the built environment, health and wellness, and health equity and safety. The document also includes a description of existing City policy documents and programs that affect community health. This is the first comprehensive compilation of existing City efforts to address health and wellness within the community.
The formation of this policy document was augmented through a series of community outreach and awareness meetings over the past two years with various commissions, community stakeholder groups, and community collaboratives, all of whom focus on improving public or community health. Additionally, in accordance with the grant requirements, on October 2, 2014, the Planning Commission reviewed the policy compendium and recommended that the City Council adopt the document.
If adopted by the City Council, it is expected that the Healthy Communities Policy will be the first step in developing the Healthy Long Beach Plan spearheaded by the Health and Human Services Department. The Healthy Communities Policy document will also influence the upcoming General Plan updates of Land Use and Urban Design Elements, as well as programs and policies on topics such as urban agriculture and healthy food access, environmental quality, and community safety. Collectively, these efforts are closely linked to, or overlap with, on-going violence prevention and sustainability efforts, as well as other efforts intended to improve public health.
This matter was reviewed by Assistant City Attorney Michael Mais on September 29, 2014, and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on September 25, 2014.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on October 14, 2014, in order to comply with the grant requirements, which expires November 30, 2014. Timely adoption of the Policy will also allow for inclusion of these principles in the pending Land Use and Urban Design elements of the General Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT
The requested action will have neither a fiscal impact nor an impact on job creation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
AMY J. BODEK, AICP
DIRECTOR OF DVELOPMENT SERVICES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER