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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGPA 12-01 PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. GPA 12-O1 RESOLUTION OF THE CHULA VISTA PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING TO THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA CITY COUNCIL TO AMEND CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THE CHULA VISTA GENERAL PLAN LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENT REGARDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES WHEREAS, the City of Chula Vista and the San Diego Association of Governments ("SANDAL") executed an agreement on April 29, 2011 approving $75,000 in grant funds to the City of Chula Vista from the Healthy Community Planning Grant to develop healthy communities policies and to develop and implement the "Cilantro-to-Stores" program to incorporate fresh local produce in convenience and liquor stores; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the grant is to promote public health principles at the local and regional level in ways that integrate and institutionalize public health considerations in the local and regional policies, programs, projects and decision-making; and WHEREAS, a Healthy Community can be defined as a community that is continuously creating and improving its physical and social environments and expanding the community I resources to enable people to mutually support each other in developing and maintaining a high quality of life and productivity; and WHEREAS, in order to promote healthy choices and create a Healthy Community, programs and General Plan policies need to be amended to cover a wider breadth of public health issues; and WHEREAS, including General Plan policies that cover a greater scope of public health issues will help to begin to address some of the public health concerns that exist in our community; and WHEREAS, healthy community language integrates public health considerations through the establishment of goals and recommendations for supporting and promoting access to healthy food and promoting opportunities for physical activity; and WHEREAS, The City of Chula Vista's General Plan serves as the "constitution" for future growth and development and is the foundation for establishing goals, purposes, zoning and activities allowed on each land parcel to provide compatibility and continuity to the entire City as well as each individual neighborhood; and WHEREAS, the concept of Healthy Communities was included in the 2005 General Plan Update; and WHEREAS, the definition of Healthy Communities has evolved since the 2005 General Plan Update; and GPA 12-01 Page 2 WHEREAS, including policies that cover a wider breadth of public health issues helps to establish the foundation for beginning to address some of the public health concerns that exist in the community; and WHEREAS, many adults in the South County are overweight or obese; and WHEREAS, the rate of obesity in adults in the South County is at a higher rate than almost every other region in the County which may be the result of poor nutrition; and WHEREAS, South County adults are less likely to have consumed 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily than adults in almost every other region in the County; and WHEREAS, in 2010, the Chula Vista Elementary School District conducted a Body Mass Index (BMI) test of fifth graders, the results indicated that the majority of students tested had an unhealthy BMI; and WHEREAS, the proposed Healthy Communities language in the General Plan Update will assist in defining how the City can address some of the issues that it faces by creating walkable communities, providing opportunities to healthy food retail that results in lowering the BMI of ; elementary school students and other improvements that are components of a healthy community.. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Planning Commission of the City of Chula Vista does hereby recommend to the City Council to amend certain sections of the Chula Vista General Plan Land Use and Transportation Element and Environmental Element regarding Healthy Communities as so indicated in the Planning Commission Agenda Statement accompanying this Resolution, and as presented in the attached draft City Council Resolution BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the City ' Council PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA, this 11th day of January 2012, by the following vote, to-wit: AYES: Calvo, Anaya, Moctezuma, Felber, Liuag NOES: Spethman, Vinson ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTEST: - `-,~.v Diana Vargas, Secretary Michael 5 ethman, Chair Planning Commission GPA 12-01 Page 3 Presented by Approved as to form by G _ Gary H b rt P.E., AICP Assists City Manager/Director of City Attorney Development Services I