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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2012-113 - Healthy Eating and Active Living - 08/21/2012 CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. 2012-113 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE DECLARING EDEN PRAIRIE TO BE A HEALTHY EATING AND ACTIVE LIVING COMMUNITY WHEREAS, lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating patterns are a major cause of overweight and obesity; and WHEREAS, obesity is recognized as a public health epidemic that calls for preventative actions by local communities to reduce this threat to community health, well-being and prosperity; and WHEREAS, the City of Eden Prairie has an interest to preserve, promote and improve the health of its citizens by taking active steps to increase healthy eating and active living within its jurisdiction; NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Eden Prairie hereby declares that the City of Eden Prairie will seek opportunities and establish mechanisms to support individual, community and environmental efforts to improve the public's health by encouraging the development and implementation of policies and practices that support and promote healthy eating and active living among citizens in the City of Eden Prairie, as set forth herein. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Eden Prairie, working in cooperation with citizens and businesses, will support and promote healthy eating and active living among its citizens through adoption of this Healthy Eating and Active Living Community Resolution and the policies and practices described herein: SECTION 1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF CURRENT PRACTICES BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council acknowledges that the City of Eden Prairie has established a high quality of life for its citizens in the community and currently provides a variety of resources (e.g. facilities, parks, trails,programs, services, events, etc.) for people of all ages to lead a healthy lifestyle. The intent of this adopted resolution is for the City Council to advocate for the continued sustainability of existing offerings while at the same time recognizing the need to investigate additional policies and practices to be considered for implementation of which examples are set forth in the following sections. SECTION 2. COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Eden Prairie will review the Comprehensive Plan to: • Consider adding supplemental healthy eating goals to complement the active living goals therein, with regard to disparities in citizens' access to healthy foods; and SECTION 3. BUILT ENVIRONMENT BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council encourages the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission and City of Eden Prairie employees, including planners, engineers, administrators, and others within the departments of Administration, Parks and Recreation, Community Development, Public Works, and any other departments deemed appropriate, to consider the following: • Include or consider adjacent dedicated green space in all new housing developments • Develop and maintain a cohesive system of parks and trails, incorporating accessible neighborhood parks • Establish processes to assess and improve existing local active living infrastructures • Enhance personal and community safety (e.g., traffic, lighting, intersections) to improve access to and use of public routes, trails and other public spaces where people are or could be physically active • Support recreation programs that encourage active living • Ensure that physical activity facilities (park facilities, playgrounds, trails, Eden Prairie Community Center, etc.) are accessible and affordable SECTION 4. PARKS AND RECREATION BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Eden Prairie affirms healthy living commitments such as: • Continuation of a joint-use policy to provide community access to school facilities for year-round recreational use as may be deemed appropriate; • Develop and implement a healthy vending machine and concessions policy for all city- owned and city-operated concessions in facilities, parks and programs; • Provide high quality communications (City website, parks and trail guide, parks and recreation program brochure, eNews, etc.) to facilitate community access to City trails, paths, parks, picnic shelters, recreation facilities, schools, and any other sites or facilities open to the public for recreation purposes, including information about locations, hours of operation, contact information, website information, a calendar of annual community events and listing of available amenities and services (e.g., rentals of space or equipment) • Map trails, paths and other non-motorized routes to maximize community access to parks, centers and open spaces, and share maps with adjacent communities to promote connectivity among and between communities. SECTION 5. ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOODS BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in order to increase access to healthy foods and beverages, the City Council supports efforts to: • Continue development and sustainability of edible playgrounds, community gardens and local farmers' markets; • Inventory unused land owned by the City that could be made available for additional community gardening; • Identify and attempt to resolve public transportation barriers that inhibit community access to full-service grocery stores, supermarkets, corner stores, farmers' markets and community gardens SECTION 6. EMPLOYEE WELLNESS BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that to increase healthy eating and physical activity in City- operated worksites and serve as a model for other employers, the City Council encourages Health and Wellbeing initiatives: • Development and implementation of a comprehensive employee wellness program that encourages and rewards participation; • Create and promote opportunities for employees to engage in physical activity during the work day (e.g. modifications to workstation to allow for more standing, on-site exercise classes, etc.); • Encourage walking meetings; • Develop and implement a healthy food and beverage policy for City meetings and facilities, including City-operated food and beverage vending machines; and SECTION 7. IMPLEMENTATION BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Parks and Recreation Director shall report back to the City of Eden Prairie City Council within one year of the date of this Resolution's adoption, and as thereafter requested by the Council, regarding steps taken to implement the Resolution, any additional steps planned and any desired actions that would need to be taken by the City Council or City departments to further implement steps taken or planned. ADOPTED BY the Eden Prairie City Council on this 2 1"day of August 2012. a�cy " era en., yor ATTEST: A, &4t, Ka leen Porta, City Clerk