HomeMy Public PortalAbout2014_06_10_R065 Support for HEAL Campaign The Town of
Leesburg/
Virginia
PRESENTED: June 10, 2014
RESOLUTION NO. 2014-065 ADOPTED: June 10, 2014
A RESOLUTION: SETTING FORTH LEESBURG'S COMMITMENT TO PUT HEALTHY
OPTIONS WITHIN REACH FOR ITS RESIDENTS AND EMPLOYEES
WHEREAS,the Town has the ability to affect the health of its residents and employees; and
WHEREAS, planning and constructing a built environment that encourages walking, biking,
and other forms of physical activity can promote health; and
WHEREAS, high rates of costly chronic disease among both children and adults are
correlated to environments with few or no options for healthy eating and active living; and
WHEREAS, more than half of Virginia's adults are overweight or obese, and therefore at
risk for many chronic conditions including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, stroke and
hypertension; and
WHEREAS, one in three youth in Virginia is overweight or obese; 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,the current generation of children is expected to have shorter lives than their
parents due to the consequences of obesity; and
WHEREAS, obesity takes a tremendous toll on the health and productivity of all Virginians;
and
WHEREAS, the annual cost to Virginia—in medical bills,workers compensation and lost
productivity—for overweight, obesity, and physical inactivity exceeds $3 billion; and
WHEREAS, teens and adults who consume one or more sodas or sugar sweetened
beverages per day are more likely to be overweight or obese; and
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A RESOLUTION: SETTING FORTH LEESBURG'S COMMITMENT TO PUT HEALTHY
OPTIONS WITHIN REACH FOR ALL RESIDENTS
WHEREAS, supporting the health of residents and the local workforce would decrease
chronic disease and health care costs and increase productivity; and
WHEREAS,the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission endorses the Town's pursuit
of recognition as a HEAL community through participation in the Healthy Eating Active Living
campaign.
THEREFORE RESOLVED, by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia that it
recognizes that there is a public health threat to the well-being of adults, children and families in the
Town of Leesburg, and a commitment is needed to put healthy choices within reach of its residents
and employees. While individual lifestyle changes are necessary, individual effort alone is
insufficient to combat obesity's rising tide. Significant societal and environmental changes are
needed to support individual efforts to make healthier choices. To that end, the Town of Leesburg
adopts these Healthy Eating Active Living goals and the associated implementation plan:
Physical Activity and Nutrition
• Provide residents with continued access to amenities and programs that promote a healthy
mind and body.
o Implement a policy that promotes healthy food vendor options at Town sponsored
events.
o Create a campaign to further educate residents of the health benefits of the Town's
infrastructure and park system.
Workplace Wellness
• Promote a health conscious workforce that has accessibility to wellness opportunities and
educational training, resulting in a reduction in health costs for the Town and its employees.
o Create a wellness committee to oversee the implementation of a comprehensive
employee wellness program that creates opportunities for physical activity along
with training on how to live a healthy lifestyle.
o Establish a Healthy Vending Machine Policy for vending machines located within
Town buildings.
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A RESOLUTION: SETTING FORTH LEESBURG'S COMMITMENT TO PUT HEALTHY
OPTIONS WITHIN REACH FOR ALL RESIDENTS
Land Use and Transportation
• Champion the benefits of pedestrian/bike friendly development within the Town whenever
possible.
o Through public input, identify optimum locations for bike parking facilities at
employment, commercial, and recreational destinations and seek to fund installation
of facilities in these key locations through capital financing and/or proffer funding
from new development.
o Coordinate with Loudoun County Public Schools to participate in the county's safe
routes to schools program for schools located in Town to enable and encourage
children to walk and bicycle to school.
o Increase walkability in Town by mapping gaps in the sidewalk and trail network in
Town and developing a plan to fund sidewalk trail improvements to improve these
connections over time.
Implementation:
Town staff will work with the HEAL Cities and Towns Campaign staff to identify additional
policies that are suitable for the Town's unique local circumstances. Staff will provide the Town
Council regular updates and recommendations regarding HEAL goal status and policy
implementation.
PASSED this 10th day of June, 2014.
•
Kristen C. Umstattd, Mayor
Town of Leesburg
ATT T:
kir
Clerk of Co p
P:\Resolutions\2014\0610 Town Commitment to HEAL Campaign.doc