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CITY OF COLTON ITEM #10 AGENDA REPORT FOR COUNCIL MEETING OF APRIL 7, 2009 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Bill Smith, Community Services Director SUBJECT: Accept Healthy Communities Grant from the County of San Bernardino, Department of Public Health for the Recreation Division `Healthy Colton Program', and Adopt Resolution Amending the Approved Budget for Fiscal Year 2008-09, to Reflect Grant Acceptance DATE: 23 March 2009 BACKGROUND: Since the launch of the Mission -Nutrition Program in 2006, we have been moving forward consistently in the Recreation Division to educate our community on the importance of nutrition, and providing a variety of activities and programs which encourage fitness and exercise. The Mission -Nutrition Program has expanded from the original two youth programs to multiple programs for youth, teens, and senior citizens. Further, the 2008 "Employee Fitness Challenge" extended healthy programs & opportunities to City employees, a great many of whom live in the City of Colton. We have also partnered with Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and been a major co-sponsor for the past two years of the 5K Walk/Run. In 2008, the Recreation Division of the Community Services Department applied for grant funding through the County of San Bernardino, Department of Public Health - Healthy Communities Program to continue and expand the "Healthy Colton" program. Our objective is to help Colton residents improve the quality of their lives by encouraging good eating habits and regular fitness activities by incorporating a "healthy" message into regular activities within existing programs and creating new avenues for active participation. We feel the best way to target our residents with this message is from three program areas: COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Involve community in expanded programming in Mission -Nutrition, Senior Fitness, Employee Fitness Challenge and Community Events. PARTNERSHIPS Expand existing community partnerships and include cross planning and implementation of activities outside the Recreation Division including quarterly 'Story Walks' along the Colton Bike Path and offer Mission -Nutrition at our five Childcare Division sites. EDUCATION & PROMOTION Provide a monthly newsletter for community members, participants, and employees to promote upcoming activities, health & fitness articles, and any other appropriate materials which reinforce the healthy message. Promotional materials, such as water bottles, healthy cookbooks, pedometers, work-out equipment (towels, jump ropes), t -shirts, and other items will also be provided. DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The "Healthy Colton" proposal was granted $33,000 from the County of San Bernardino, Department of Public Health - Healthy Communities Program to obtain the supplies and equipment necessary for the program, and to fund a part-time position to implement the program. Given the structure of the Recreation Division, we believe it will be most advantageous to assign an existing part-time Recreation Specialist to the position of the Healthy Colton Coordinator. This will allow us to capitalize on existing rapport with the community and minimize the time and costs associated with recruiting a staff member.