Table of Contents

Built Environment and Health

The city’s general plan lists ten determinants of health in the Community Health and Wellness chapter:

1. Parks and recreational facilities
2. Healthy foods
3. Medical services
4. Walking, bicycling, and public transit
5. High-quality and affordable housing
6. Economic opportunities
7. Walkable neighborhoods with access to services
8. Safe neighborhoods and public spaces
9. Environmental quality
10. Sustainable development

The current conditions of each determinant of health is shared, followed by key findings and recommendations. The Goals and Policies and Actions follow.

Solar Energy

The city's general plan addresses solar energy. The Energy and Climate Change element of the city's General Plan includes a goal of sustainable and efficient energy systems (EC3), with an associated renewable energy Policy calling for promotion of this energy source and encouragement of development projects to generate a portion of their energy needs through renewables (EC3.1). Associated Actions include encouraging community choice aggregation and use of warehouse roofs for these systems (EC3.A) and encouraging local renewable energy (EC3.B). The plan's Health and Wellness Element also includes a policy calling for promotion of this energy source and encouragement of development projects to generate a portion of their energy needs through renewable sources such as solar energy (HW10.4).

Food Systems | Urban Agriculture

The city’s general plan includes several policy recommendations that support community gardens and urban farms. The Health and Wellness element includes Goal HW2, Expanded Access to Healthy Food and Nutrition Choices, which calls for promoting community gardens and urban agriculture along with other sources of fresh fruits and vegetables.  

Under Goal HW2, Policy HW.2, Local Food System (Urban Agriculture), calls for identifying sites with urban agriculture potential, supporting local agriculture on vacant land, and supporting community gardens within the city. Action HW2.D, Sustainable Urban Agriculture Assessment, calls for developing a sustainable urban agriculture assessment to identify the potential to create, expand, and sustain local urban agriculture.