RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION ENACTING A POLICY TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY HEALTH,
REDUCE OBESITY FOR A MORE LIVABLE SAN MATEO COUNTY

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, community organizations, cities and counties in California are responsible for efforts that promote the well-being of the community and serve to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the community; and have the power to advocate for the development and implementation of land use plans, policies and programs to meet the needs of its communities; and;

WHEREAS, the built environment and land use decisions play an important and decisive role in shaping the pattern of community development and its “livability” by either promoting or discouraging physical activity, nutritious food choices and connectivity;

WHEREAS, obesity is a leading public health challenge facing California that has reached epidemic proportions; and, that due to poor diet and physical inactivity, is the second leading cause of death and disability, resulting in nearly 30,000 deaths annually in California; and, the problem of obesity is particularly acute among population groups in low-income, under-served communities that generally have less access to nutritious and healthful foods and fewer opportunities for physical activity;

WHEREAS, medical experts agree that obesity increases the risk for a number of health hazards, including heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, depression, arthritis, and many cancers including breast, colon, and prostate;

WHEREAS, the economic impact of obesity in terms of chronic disease risk factors is estimated at $35 billion in California in 2005, in terms of medical care, lost productivity and workers compensation payments; and

WHEREAS, community organizations, cities and counties throughout California are increasingly taking steps to encourage farmers’ markets, promote opportunities for physical activity, such as walking and bike paths, and encourage patterns of development that promote physical activity and discourage automobile dependency.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that, the County of San Mateo supports land use decisions that encourages and promotes community health, prevents and reduces obesity and provides access to healthy food and physical activity and connectivity for all neighborhoods; and agrees to support, conduct and participate in public meetings, workshops and public hearings in order to solicit input from interested individuals, organizations and public agencies on opportunities and recommendations for integrating public health concerns into local land use planning and decision making; and

NOW, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors directs the San Mateo County Planning and Building Department, in consultation with the San Mateo County Health Department, Commission on Aging, Disabilities, Youth Commission and others in the community and report back to the Board of Supervisors within the next six months on its thoughtful recommendations on ways that the County of San Mateo may amend its General Plan, Zoning Ordinance, Municipal Code or any other City/County codes and on ways that the County of San Mateo can assist the cities and other regional planning bodies to do the same in order to address the above-stated public health concerns.

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