AGENDA #4g
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Active Living By Design Grant
DATE: November 24, 2003
The attached resolution would accept the Active Living By Design grant and direct the Town Manager to implement to proposed program. Adoption of the attached Ordinance would establish a project ordinance to budget funds for the Active Living By Design program in the grants project funds for Transportation.
BACKGROUND
In November 2003, the Town of Chapel Hill applied for a grant through the Active Living By Design program. Active Living By Design, headquartered in Southern Village, has been provided funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to promote greater physical activity and raise awareness of the relationship between mobility and health related issues.
The Chapel Hill Community Mobility and Health Initiative competed with approximately 1,000 other applications during the initial review process. The Chapel Hill proposal was subsequently evaluated through two additional rounds of review and on October 31, 2004, the Town was notified that it had been selected to receive $200,000 over five years. Active Living by Design selected 25 projects selected nationally for funding.
DISCUSSION
The Town’s Active Living By Design proposal (Attachment 1) includes several elements designed to promote active living through greater physical activity. During the course of the development of the initial Town application and subsequent revisions to refine the scope, based on feedback from the review agency, we brought together representatives from a range of public and non-profit agencies with expertise in health promotions, transportation, community development, neighborhood groups and local media. It is expected that this Partnership Group will continue to provide guidance in the development of the specific programs.
Program Elements
The Chapel Hill proposal includes funding over five years, totaling $200,000. A copy of the proposed five year budget is attached (Attachment 2). The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation limited total funding in any one year to a maximum of $75,000. The Mobility and Health Initiative program budget proposes:
Project Manager
The Chapel Hill proposal includes funding for a part time project manager for three years. The Project Manager would oversee the implementation of the program and coordinate with other Town initiatives. We believe that the duties of the Project Manager, would compliment the anticipated duties of the part time Marketing position already included in the Transportation Department. We propose combining the existing funding from Transportation with the funds from the Active Living By Design to establish one full time position rather than two part time positions. The Active Living By Design budget provides funding for the project manager for three years.
Development of Town-wide Mobility and Health Promotions Program
The project will develop a Town-wide mobility and health promotions program designed to educate Chapel Hill residents about the benefits of greater physical activity. The promotions program will develop a theme and logo that will be used in all promotional efforts. Promotional materials will be developed and produced for use in sub-area and area-wide programs. The promotional program will coordinate with ongoing Town programs and plans, such as the Transportation Management Program and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
North Side Neighborhood Mobility and Health Analysis
The project will undertake a comprehensive mobility and health program for the North Side neighborhood. The project will work with local community leaders and residents to evaluate mobility issues. This evaluation will include an assessment of barriers to increased pedestrian, bicycle and transit use and develop a program of improvements. In addition to identification of barriers to mobility the project will develop information and outreach programs designed to educate residents on the health benefits of greater physical activity. Special attention will be given to the health challenges for the African American community.
Walk to School Support Program
The project will work with parent/teacher groups and administrators at schools within Chapel Hill to support efforts to increase opportunities for pedestrian and bicycle access. Initial efforts will be focused on the Estes Hills Elementary/Phillips Middle School and Meadowmont Elementary School. This program will be coordinated with representatives from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro School District and local parents, faculty and staff.
Activity Center/Neighborhood Connectivity and Mobility Analysis
The grant will provide funds to complete a mobility analysis of several Town activity centers including the Timberlyne Shopping Center and surrounding area and the Downtown. This analysis will assess physical barriers to bicycle and pedestrian access between surrounding residential neighborhoods and adjacent commercial, civic and office uses. The project will also collect data from neighborhood residents, through surveys and other means, identifying mobility issues and possible improvements.
NC 86/Airport Road Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Analysis
The project will complete a pedestrian and bicycle safety analysis along the NC86/Airport Road corridor, from I-40 to Rosemary Street. This will include an evaluation of existing pedestrian and bicycle patterns, identification of critical safety problems and the development of options for improving pedestrian and bicycle safety. This evaluation and recommendations will be submitted to the Council for review and implementation. It is anticipated that the process used to complete the Airport Road/NC 86 analysis could be used along other corridors within the Town.
NEXT STEPS
With acceptance of the grant Town staff will begin the implement the elements of the proposal. We anticipate initiating the NC 86/Airport Road pedestrian/bicycle safety study and Northside Mobility and Health Program in January 2004.
RECOMMENDATION
Manager’s Recommendation: That the Council adopt the attached resolution accepting the Active Living By Design Grant and related ordinance establishing a project ordinance budget in the grants project fund for Transportation.
ATTACHMENTS
A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING AN ACTIVE LIVING BY DESIGN GRANT FROM THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSED CHAPEL HILL COMMUNITY MOBILITY AND HEALTH INITIATIVE (2003-11-24/R-6)
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill prepared a grant application to fund the Chapel Hill Community Mobility and Health Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded the Town an Active Living By Design grant totaling $200,000; and
WHEREAS, the Council has determined that the proposed Chapel Hill Community Mobility and Health Initiative would support Town efforts to increase mobility and public health;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council accepts the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Active Living By Design Grant and authorizes the Town Manager to implement the program as proposed.
This the 24th day of November, 2003.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PROJECT BUDGET FOR A TRANSPORTATION PLANNING GRANT (2003-11-24/O-3)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that, pursuant to Section 13.2 of Chapter 159 of the General Statutes of North Carolina, the following grant projects are hereby established:
SECTION I
The Active Living by Design funds are from 2003 grant funds made available from an agreement with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
SECTION II
The Manager of the Town of Chapel Hill is hereby directed to proceed with the implementation of the project within the terms of the grant agreements executed with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the funds appropriated herein.
SECTION III
The following revenue is anticipated to be available to the Town to complete activities as outlined in the project application.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant $200,000
TOTAL $200,000
SECTION IV
The following amounts are appropriated for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project:
Full Time Salaries $ 63,180
Fringe Benefits 13,900
Marketing 51,450
Business Meetings and Training 12,302
Miscellaneous Contracted Services 57,168
Equipment 2,000
Total $200,000
This the 24th day of November, 2003.