TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney to work with City Manager and Department of Health and Human Services to draft a H.E.A.L. Cities Resolution, based on the draft, and return to City Council within 30 days for approval.
DISCUSSION
The Healthy Eating Active Living Cities (H.E.A.L Cities) Campaign is a partnership between the League of California Cities and the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, aimed at working with California cities to adopt policies that improve the physical activity and food environment for all residents through training, technical assistance and publicity.
The first step for a city interested in participation is to adopt the HEAL CITIES ResolutiOn, meant to support policies combating obesity and encouraging healthier, active lifestyles.
Obesity is a major public health crisis that threatens both the physical and economic well-being of our City, State, and Nation. Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and other serious illnesses. The rate of childhood obesity has tripled in America over the past three decades, and today, nearly 1 in 3 children is overweight or obese, according to national statistics.
Last year, the Press Telegram reported that data collected by LBUSD over the last 8 years showed nearly half of all fifth, seventh and ninth graders are overweight or obese by Federal standards.
Obesity rates are significantly higher in low-income areas, but similar across neighborhoods, grades and demographics. Neighborhoods with a high concentration of mini markets have higher rates of obesity.
Health experts, including the United States Surgeon General, the Center for Disease Control, the California Department of Health and Human Services, and the American Medical Association, among others, have identified major risk factors for childhood obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other health problems that incur for society a tremendous social and economic cost. Obesity is caused by a combination of factors, including larger portions, a glut of fast food outlets, sugared drinks and lack of physical activity. This disproportionately impacts people with low-incomes.
The City of Long Beach should do all it can to encourage healthful, nutritious food choices. Adopting the HEAL Resolution will ensure the City enacts policies in keeping with that goal.
The Healthy Eating Active Living Cities Campaign, a collaborative effort of the California League of Cities, The California Center for Public Health Advocacy, and the City-County-Schools partnership, is working with localities to develop policies that encourage and support healthful food choices for residents. Many cities in California, including San Jose, Brentwood, San Leandro, Chula Vista, and Baldwin Park, have adopted policies requiring a percentage of food and beverages sold in vending machines on City property to be healthful. Adopting a similar policy in Long Beach would encourage public health and reduce the social costs of health problems.
Long Beach already has a number of programs that promote healthy lifestyles, including the recently enacted Neighborhood Store Partnership, which works with small food retailers to promote the availability of fresh produce in communities with a lack of larger grocery stores. A policy to add healthier beverages to vending machines on City property is also in the works.
The adoption of a resolution would add momentum to the growing effort to enact policies that support a healthier lifestyle. Increasing park space, supermarkets and safety in our neighborhoods all contribute to higher obesity rates in low-income areas, according to experts. The HEAL Resolution commits the City in principle to continuing to bring forth policies to support these and other related goals that foster health.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no significant fiscal impact associated with this measure.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
COUNCILMEMBER ROBERT GARCIA
FIRST DISTRICT
VICE MAYOR SUJA LOWENTHAL
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBER JAMES JOHNSON
SEVENTH DISTRICT