Minutes 02/12/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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February 12, 2013 • Adoption of a resolution supporting a Healthy Portsmouth Initiative to improve the health and quality of life of the City's residents. 1. Donna Sayegh, 3104 Garland Drive, spoke on Principle of Liberty #19 but was escorted from the podium before concluding her remarks. Motion by Ms. Psimas, and seconded by Mr. Edmonds, to adopt the following resolution, and was adopted by the following vote: "RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A HEALTHY PORTSMOUTH INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE CITY'S RESIDENTS. WHEREAS, 39% of the City's residents are overweight or obese and therefore at risk for many chronic conditions including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, stroke, and, hypertension; and WHEREAS, more children are being diagnosed with diseases linked to overweight and obesity previously seen only in adults, such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease; and WHEREAS, obesity takes a tremendous toll on the health and productivity of all Portsmouth citizens; and WHEREAS, obesity and physical inactivity result in an increasingly unsustainable cost for employers in medical bills, workers compensation and lost productivity and for taxpayer-supported public health and entitlement programs; and WHEREAS, Healthy Portsmouth is a group of community leaders committed to changing the policies, systems and environments that affect our neighborhoods, schools and workplaces in order to make Portsmouth the healthiest place in Hampton Roads to live, learn, play, work and worship; and WHEREAS, the City of Portsmouth is likewise committed to implementing positive and enduring changes to improve the health of its citizens; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth that it will engage Healthy Portsmouth to conduct and promote the following healthy initiatives in 2013: • Establishment of the Get Healthy Portsmouth Mayor's Initiative to promote weight loss, healthy eating and increased physical activity with the goal of a loss of 500,000 pounds by March 2014. • Implemention of Stairwell to Health programs at City Hall and the Social Services/Health Department Building by March 2014. • Promotion of the Breastfeeding Welcome Here project city-wide at 100 sites by June 2013. • Development and marketing of a comprehensive listing of activities and resources available for weight loss, healthy eating and physical activity organizations in the City by June 2013. • Expansion the Swim4Life through the City's Summer Galaxy Program by 50% by August 2013. • Decreasing exposure to environmental tobacco smoke through public campaign at all city parks, playgrounds, recreation centers and libraries by June 2013. • Exploring a tobacco pricing strategy with City Council to reduce youth tobacco use by December 2013. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council will support Healthy Portsmouth with resources to plan, implement and evaluate performance for these activities." Ayes: Cherry, Edmonds, Meeks, Moody, Psimas, Randall, Wright Nays: None