REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
August 24, 2017
FROM: Kristina Chamberlin, Assistant Director
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
BY: IRMA YEPEZ-PEREZ, Senior Management Analyst
KAREN M. NORRIS, Administrative Manager
Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the California Department of Public Health Walk With Ease Program Grant:
1. Authorize the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) Department to accept a grant in the amount of $2,500 from the California Department of Public Health for the Walk With Ease program at Mosqueda Neighborhood Center (District 5)
2. ***RESOLUTION - 15th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2017-165 appropriating $2,500 from the California Department of Public Health (Requires 5 affirmative votes). (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends Council (1) authorize the PARCS Department to accept a grant in the amount of $2,500 from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to initiate the Walk With Ease program at Mosqueda Neighborhood Center, (2) authorize the PARCS Assistant Director or designee to sign all necessary documents to accept and implement the grant, subject to prior approval as to form by the City Attorney’s Office, and (3) adopt the 15th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2017-165 to appropriate $2,500 for the program.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The PARCS Department has been awarded a $2,500 grant from CDPH to implement the Walk With Ease program at Mosqueda Center (District 5).
The proposed project will encourage area residents to participate in evidence-based physical activity recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
BACKGROUND
The California Arthritis Partnership Program (CAPP), in partnership with the National Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA), and the CDPH have joined efforts to initiate evidence-based physical activity and chronic disease self-management interventions that include the Walk with Ease program. The Walk With Ease program has been proven to help people with arthritis or other related conditions to reduce pain, increase balance, strength and walking pace, and improve overall health. Program Leaders are trained to help arthritis pain sufferers build confidence in their ability to be physically active, and show them how they can make physical activity part of their everyday lives. The Program Leader imparts to the participants the relationship between arthritis, exercise and pain, and assists with developing and implementing personal walking plans with realistic goals, tips, strategies and resources for maintaining a long-term exercise routine.
The PARCS Department will utilize the $2,500 grant to hire a Program Leader to initiate the Walk with Ease (Camine Con Gusto Spanish) program at Mosqueda Park. The six week program will be offered as a bilingual (English/Spanish) program that includes three, one-hour sessions per week and will target up to forty participants.
The Walk with Ease program will augment and complement the Silver Sneakers and Park RX programs.
• Silver Sneakers- The Weekend Recreation & Fitness Program (WRFP) offers walking opportunities at various schools throughout the City of Fresno. There is open access to five of the seven high school site track fields; Hoover, Fresno, Bullard, Edison, and Roosevelt High Schools. Participants are encouraged to walk the track for fitness at their own leisure. WRFP is offered Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• ParkRX- WRFP also offers ParkRx at two program sites; Edison High School and Vang Pao Elementary School. The program is offered on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. Sites are equipped with pedometers, measuring tape, heart rate monitors, and weight scales, for data tracking. Participants are referred by a local health clinic, Clinica Sierra Vista that helps monitor health improvements. PARCS works in partnership with organizations such as Trust for Public Land (TPL), and Cultiva La Salud, a local non-profit organization dedicated to improving nutrition education and physical activity. Though the grant has been completed, loyal program participants continue to come and walk faithfully on Saturday mornings.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING
By definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines §15378, programs do not qualify as a “project” for the purpose of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this item does not include an award of a construction or consultant contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund as the revenues received from the grant will offset all direct costs associated with the program.
Attachment: AAR