HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2008-0037
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 37-2008
TITLE:
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF
UNDERSTANDING AMONG METRO DENVER'S CITIES AND
COUNTIES PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLNESS
WHEREAS, the Metro Mayors Caucus (Caucus), a collaborative of 37 mayors in
the Denver metropolitan region, was formed to address issues of regional importance and
scope; and
WHEREAS, the Caucus was instrumental in the formation of the Metro Denver
Health and Wellness Commission (MDHWC), an organization of public, private and
nonprofit interests dedicated to making metro Denver the Nation's healthiest community;
and
WHEREAS, the MDHWC in its strategic plan identifies healthy communities as
one of its three principal areas for action; and
WHEREAS, the Caucus has drafted and discussed a memorandum of
understanding regarding the policy, program and environmental based steps cities can
take to promote the health of their employees and residents.
WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge has implemented the following steps to
promote the health of its employees and residents:
. Cosponsoring or being involved in active living events such as family fun
runs and walks, periodically closing certain streets or parks to motorized
vehicles, and other fitness or outdoor recreation activities.
. Promoting citizen participation in community based health awareness and
educational screenings, such as the Wheat Ridge Recreation Health Fair.
. Participating in community based healthy eating and active living
programs such as "LiveWell," "America on the Move" and "Fit for
Colorado".
. Implementing elements of a worksite wellness program for our employees.
. Supporting the Metro Denver Health and Wellness Commission by
collaborating on the drafting of letters and adoption of resolutions that
support healthy eating and active living legislation at the state and federal
levels.
. Supporting bike-to-work programs and events.
. Working with our parks departments, recreation districts and school
districts to co-locate facilities within our communities in order to promote
pedestrian and bicycle access.
. Working with local schools and school districts to coordinate community
use of school gymnasiums, ball fields and exercise facilities.
. Inviting citizens of all ages and members of our planning and
transportation staff to join us on a "walkability" audit to identify barriers
to walking in our communities, discuss opportunities for positive change
and plan next steps.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE THAT:
Mayor Jerry DiTullio is hereby authorized to execute the MDHWC Memoradum
of Understanding promoting community health and wellness on behalf of the City of
Wheat Ridge.
DONE AND RESOLVED at a meeting of the City Council of the City of Wheat
Ridge, Colorado on the \ Lt ~ day of::1u I '1 . 200~ ()( M4v
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WHEREAS, Colorado's statisticaHy low obesity and high physical activity rates position our citizens among
the nation's most fit, and
WHEREAS, our metro Denver economy benefits from our healthy and physically active populace in that our
citizens are more energetic and productive employees and place fewer demands on the healthcare system, and
WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there has been a dramatic
increase in obesity in the United States during the past 20 years. In 2006, only four states had a prevalence of
obesity less than 20%, and
WHEREAS, obesity may soon supplant smoking as the number one cause of preventable death in the United
States, and
WHEREAS, although our state has enjoyed one of the lowest obesity rates in the nation, Colorado's trends are
heading in the wrong direction as they mirror the troubling national trend of declining physical activity and
increasing rates of overweight and obesity, and
WHEREAS, if current trends continue, by 2020. 47% of Coloradans will be overweight, 29% obese, and only
24% will be at a healthy weight, and
WHEREAS, beyond the negative impact on quality of life and productivity, obesity is linked to chronic, yet
preventable, diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. heart disease, stroke, hypertension and cancer, and
WHEREAS, as elected officials wc shape the communities that shape our lives, and
WHEREAS, research shows the positive link between community design and increased physical activity in
that even those who dislike being active are more active when they live in compact, walkable areas, as are
children that live close to parks and to their school, and
WHEREAS, a critical step towards a healthy and active populace is making walking and cycling safe within
our communities by adopting appropriate street standards for transportation infrastructure to be used in new
developments and in street reconstruction, and
WHEREAS, our decisions also impact the ease and safety with which our residents can walk or bicycle to and
from school, work, the local grocery store, and to other daily activities and recreation, and
WHEREAS, our land use decisions impact the location, availability, and accessibility of healthy foods and we
can improve our citizens' access to healthy foods by working pro actively to site stores, markets, gardens and
farms within our communities, and
WHEREAS, we recognize that many locally grown foods place fewer demands on the natural environment
and have significant economic benefits to Colorado's local economies, and
WHEREAS, we wield great influence with the employers in our community who can work with us as
partners, taking their own steps to make the work environment hcalthier for employees, and
WHEREAS, we are partners with our school districts in caring for our greatest legacy: the children in our
communities, and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the undersigned Mayors and Boards of County Commissioners
(hereinafter referred to as "we") agree to act in a straregic and concerted effort to impede and reverse these
negative trends in Colorado by promoting policies and programs and by pursuing environmental changes that
encourage healthy eating and promote active living. To further these goals we intend [Q take voluntary actions,
individually and collectively, Such actions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
IMPLEMENTING OR PARTICIPATING IN PROGRAMS OR PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY
EATING &: ACTIVE LIVING BY:
a. Hosting a healthy community forum or designating a citizen advisory committee to identify local
efforts to advance healthy eating and active living;
b. Cosponsoring orbeinginvolved in active IivingevenrssuCh as family fun runs and walks, periodically
closingcertainstreetsorpatkstomotorized vehicles, anddther fitness or outdoorrecreation activities;
c. Conducting and implementing a food needs assessment with citizens and planning staff to identify
areas in our communities currently underserved by markets and stores that offer healthy fresh produce
and other foods;
d. Promoting citizen participation in community based health awareness and educational screenings, such
as the 9HealthFair;
e. Participating in community based healthy eating and active living programs such as "LiveWell,"
"America on the Move" and "Fit for Colorado";
f. Mapping out and promoting healthy eating and active living resources and events, including national
health awareness programs, such as National Fruit and Vegetable Month, in our community and
making this information available to citizens through newsletters, maps. online resources, etc.;
g. Raising awareness of healthy eating among lower income and vulnerable populations, who are at higher
risk for obesity and related chronic diseases, and underscore that food stamp and assistance programs
are available to help meet their basic nutritional needs;
h. Implementing elements of a worksite wellness program for our employees, such as;
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1- Offering a weight loss and weight management support through our healthcare provider and/or a consultant;
1- Participating in the Wellness Councils of America's "Healthy Workplace Awards Initiative"program;
1- Providing access to smoking cessation programs;
1- Developing and strongly promoting an anmral Health Risk Assessmenrandlor wellness assessmentprogramfor
employees;
1- Promoting walhing and cycling as commuting options and break-time activities to our employees and when practical
providing supportivefacilities such as access to recreation centers, lockers, showers and bike racks;
1- Supporting a pedometer orfitness challenge amonggovernmellt departments or staffwithincentivesfor participation
such as massages, water bottles, new bike helmets, r-shirts, etc.
ADOPTING POLICIES THAT PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING &: ACTIVE LIVING BY:
a. Establishing healthy meeting guidelines that promote healthy and portion controlled fare at
government meetings and promoting a "stand and move" time as a break or while conducting business
during meetings more than 1.5 hours;
1. Instituting a policy that vending machines on city property must contain a significant percentage of
hcalthy food options and, when practical, that these selections be labeled as "healthy" and promoted at
eye-level;
c. Encouraging consumption of fresh, local, healthy foods in government buildings for example by posting
infonnation about healthy eating or by working with local producers to provide fresh and healthy foods
to city employees ;
d. Supporting efforts by state legislators and school districts to implement policies to ensure that snacks
and cafeteria fare meet appropriate nutritional guidebnes;
e, Supporting the Metro Denver Health and Wellness Commission by coHaborating on the drafting of
letters and adoption of resolutions that support healthy eating and active living legislation at the state
and federal levels;
f. Hosting meetings that engage public health, planning and transportation officials to fostering
collaboration and promote information sharing on best practices;
g. Making access to healthy foods and recreation opportunities community development priorities;
h. Encouraging thc adoption and implementation of land use and/or transportation changcs that allow for
access of residents at all incomes to grocery storcs, farmcrs markets, corner stores and other sources of
fresh, healthy foods; and
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i. Incorporating language in the comprehensive, land use, transportation, and/or parks and recreation
plans and regulations that implement policies to promote "active living environments" that enable
people of all ages and abilities to obtain physical activity as part of their daily routines.
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTIVE OF HEALTHY EATING &: ACTIVE LIVING BY:
a. Supporting bikno'work and bike/walk -to-school programs and events;
b. Working with our parks departments, recreation districts and school districts to co-locate facilities
Within outcolnmul1ities in order to promote pedestrian and bicycle access;
c. Working with local schools and school districts to coordinate community use of school gymnasiums,
ballfields and exercise facilities;
d. Creating a community agenda on play and demonstrating our commitment to the healthy development
of all children by earning the designation of "Playful City USA"
e. Hosting or supporting local farmers markets that improve access to healthy, locally grown fruits and
vegetables and partnering With the food stamp program;
f. Working with the planning and parks departments and with community groups to develop and
support community gardens, particularly in poorer neighborhoods or those that lack access to fresh
produce;
g. Partnering with coalitions and advocacy groups such as Bicycle Colorado, Colorado Walks, Rocky
Mountain Farmers Union, AARP, Operation Frontline, Share Our Strength, Colorado Anti-hunger
network and others that can provide resources or logistical support for healthy eating and active living
efforts;
h. Working with the Colorado Department of Transportation and with agencies, such as the Regional
Transportation District and the Denver Regional Council of Governments, to promote pedestrian and
cyclist connections to activity centers and rapid transit and to implement comprehensive complete
streets and safe intersection design and redesign standards at both the local and state levels;
1. Inviting citizens of all ages and members of our planning and transportation staffto joinuson a
"walkability" and/or "bikeability" audit to identify barriers to walking in our communities, discuss
opportunities for positive change and plan next steps;
j. Partnering with a public health department. university, or nonprofits in conducting a health impact
assessment as part of our development review in an effort to develop and implement a healthy foods
access plan.
EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
be effective and which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
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