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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-044A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 1999-44 ~ A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA HEAL THY CITIES PROJECT for the following project: BLIGHT STUDENT EDUCATION PROGRAM WHEREAS, the Western Consortium for Public Health has initiated the California Healthy Cities Project to provide funding to cities for education programs, technical consultation and resource materials that will contribute to the quality oflife within the cities and ultimately improve the health status of their residents; and WHEREAS, the California Healthy Cities Project has been delegated the responsibility for administration of the program, setting up necessary procedures governing application by cities under the program; and WHEREAS, the California Healthy Cities Project encourages continued participation in the Project; and WHEREAS, the goal of Blight Eradication is identified as a priority in the Goals and Action plans adopted on October 19, 1998 for The City of San Bernardino; and WHEREAS, the City of San Bernardino's Healthy Cities Steering committee, made up of City Employees, school officials, and concerned residents has developed a program of blight education for elementary schools; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino authorize the submittal of an application for grant funds from the California Healthy Cities Project for a 1999/2000 Blight Student Education Program. /11 11/ III 1/1 III III III III Res 1999-44 PI. 1 2 3 4 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM CALIFORNIA HEAL THY CITIES PROJECT. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the Mayor and Common Council ofthe City of San Bernardino at a joint regular meeting thereof, 5 held on the 15th day of Karch ,1999, by the following vote, to wit: 6 Council Members: 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT ESTRADA --.X.- LIEN X - MCGINNIS ----X- SCHNETZ X DEVLIN X ANDERSON X MILLER X - ~~h.~ Ci lerk The foregoing ordinance is hereby approved this J.J th day of Karch 1999. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 );tJu~c:t /lJ.,(f&J , ' N?rine Killer, Kayor Pro Tempore C1ty of San Bernardino Approved as to Form and legal content: JAMES F. PENMAN, City Attorney By: --:t -/~ Res 1999~4 A CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO 1999 - 2000 CALIFORNIA HEAL THY CITIES RENEWAL APPLICATION Res 1999-44A Renewal Application City of San Bernardino Program Year: March 30, 1999 to June 30, 2000 Summary of Progress to Date A. Previous program year's focus: A Crime Fighting Strategic Plan adopted by the City of San Bernardino on July I, 1996, represents an effort to identify community-wide concerns related to crime and to engage the community in addressing those issues. One of the critical issues outlined in the plan is blight. The focus group indicated that as a critical issue, blight is second only to crime itself, and is often viewed as a root cause of crime. The goal was to stabilize neighborhoods to improve safety, appearance, and property values. One of the strategies to reach that goal was to develop a program aimed at young children to educate them on the impacts of blight in the community. Taking the first step to meet this goal, the Healthy Cities Steering Committee designed and implemented the Blight Buster Program in 1997. The goal of the project was to educate and encourage students to evaluate, eliminate and prevent blight in the community and to reduce refuse collected by promoting regular neighborhood clean-ups. The ultimate outcome as a result of this program would be an improved appearance of the target neighborhoods, and a safer, healthier community. The project objectives include: . 60% of students surveyed in participating schools will have the knowledge and ability to evaluate, eliminate, and prevent blight in the community. . 5% reduction of refuse collected during the quarterly neighborhood clean ups. The reduction will be determined by comparing results from the first clean-up to the results from the fourth clean-up. The key activities for the project included implementation of a student education program, interactive presentations, art contest, neighborhood clean ups and school incentives, and the Beautiful Home/Business Award Program. B. Progress towards goals: The objective of educating 60% of the students surveyed was met. Survey results showed that 96% of the students understood who was responsible for keeping the neighborhood clean, and 71% understood the definition of blight. The City did not meet the goal of a 5% reduction of refuse collected during the quarterly clean ups. Because of the blighted condition of the target area, this goal was not achievable during the grant period. C. Problem areas: An obstacle for the Blight Buster Project was the scheduling of the school clean-ups. Each school was responsible for scheduling the clean-ups and notifying City staff, students, and parents of the date and time. Initially, several schools repeatedly made last-minute changes to the schedule, making it difficult to offer support. The Steering Committee addressed the issue and the schools have now each developed a regular clean-up schedule. Trash-a-thon pledges were another project obstacle. The pledge sheets were distributed to teachers prior to the clean ups for distribution to the students. The idea was to collect the pledge L__ Res 1999-44 {\ sheets from the students before beginning the clean up to check off the number of volunteers from each student recruited. The student with the most pledges would win a Blight Buster prize package. Initially teachers and school staff distributed the pledge sheets, however, it proved to be an overwhelming task to try and get the pledges returned. Only one classroom returned pledges during the grant period. After reviewing the number of adults participating in the clean ups it was determined that the Trash-a- Thon pledge sheets were not needed to encourage adult participation. D. Overall assessment: Healthy Cities support is needed to expand the Blight Buster Project to include other schools within the City. To date, the program has been implemented at seven schools. The City, as well as the Steering Committee, is very pleased with the outcome of the first Healthy Cities Project. The Healthy Cities concept played a major role in bringing together many City departments for the purpose of a common goal. The relationships that developed as a result of this project have continued on into other areas of City business. Working together toward a common goal and improving the services we offer to residents has been the focus of the City over the past year. One project that developed during the 1998 year was the Neighborhood Clean up program. Responding to the concern of neighborhood associations, the City began offering the Neighborhood Clean up Program in Oct. 1998. Each Saturday the City provides 40-yard trash bins to a selected neighborhood association for an association-coordinated clean up. The participating neighborhood association contacts members and residents in the assigned area, providing them with the bin location, clean up hours, and rules. Residents are invited to participate by cleaning up their properties or volunteering to help others. Over 200 tons of trash has been collected during the past five months. In addition, concerned members of business and neighborhood associations within the City worked with City staff to plan and coordinate the Mayor's first annual Citywide Clean up held on November 14, 1998. The 1,000 volunteers that participated in the Citywide Clean up was a mix of business associations, neighborhood associations, Blight Buster schools and staff, city employees and concerned citizens working together to better the health and spirit of the community. As we look forward to a new project year with Healthy Cities, we also look forward to building new relationships with additional schools, and Neighborhood and Business Associations. We also look forward to expanding the project to include other City departments, such as the Police Department and the Mayor's Office. Res 1999--44 M Proposed Project Narrative Stabilizing neighborhoods by improving safety, appearance, and property values was established as a goal for the City of San Bernardino in the Crime Fighting Strategic Plan adopted by the City in 1996. One of the strategies to reach that goal was to develop a program aimed at young children to educate them on the impacts of blight in the community. Taking the first step to meet this goal, the Healthy Cities Steering Committee designed and implemented the Blight Buster Program in 1997. Students participating in the 1997-98 Blight Buster Program were offered an opportunity to participate in a student education program, interactive presentations, art contest, neighborhood clean-ups, and the Beautiful HomelBusiness Award Program. During the 1997-98 grant year, over 3,000 students from seven elementary schools participated in the Blight Buster Program. The response from the students and staff participating in the program and from the community has been overwhelming. School and City staff worked together tn coordinate 30 neighborhood clean-ups. As a result of the project, 2,663 students and 300 adults collected and properly disposed of 1,020 bags of trash. The City is requesting grant funds to offer the Blight Buster program for a second year. Grant funds would allow the City to continue the program in participating schools and expand the program to include seven additional schools. Blight Buster Program A. Goal: The goal of this project is to educate and encourage students to recognize, evaluate, eliminate and prevent blight in the community. The ultimate outcomes will be an improved appearance of the target neighborhoods, a safer, healthier community, and a renewed sense of community and ownership among students attending fourteen schools within the City of San Bernardino. This will be accomplished by educating youth through interactive presentations, participation in an art contest, and neighborhood clean-ups. B. Target Population and participating sectors of the community: The San Bernardino City Unified School District has 43 elementary schools. Fourteen elementary schools within the City will have the opportunity to participate in the program. This project will impact 33% of the district's elementary school population, a total of9,393 students. The ethnic background of the student population is: 62% Hispanic, 21% Black, 14%White. Based on these percentages all educational materials will be available in English and Spanish. C. Creative or innovative approaches: The proposed effort will offer youth in the community the opportunity to beautify their property and engage in neighborhood clean-ups. The program will also lend the opportunity for city staff and students to work side by side toward a common goal. The city will make an effort to reach the target population through a student education program. The program will include interactive presentations, a brown bag art contest, neighborhood clean-ups, and an incentive program for participating schools. Blight Buster Education Program and Presentations Student presentations will give students the opportunity to ask questions about the program. After the presentation students will then have the basics needed to participate in the art contest Res 1999-44 i=\ and neighborhood clean-ups. The education program and presentations will offer students an opportunity to gain information about the following subjects: the importance of keeping your home and yard maintained; proper use of refuse/recycling containers; the definition of household hazardous waste; how to properly dispose of household hazardous waste and available services and how to use them. Brown Bag Art Contest Local groceries stores will be asked to sponsor the contest by supplying neighborhood schools with brown paper bags. Students will then decorate the bags according to the contest theme. Entries will be selected based on their knowledge of community blight and creativity. Each school will have winners that will receive ribbons and incentive items. Entries will then be returned to the stores for distribution to customers allowing us to spread the message throughout the community to help educate the public. Neighborhood Qean ups and School Incentives Neighborhood clean-ups will be coordinated by participating schools. Each participating school will hold a minimum of four individual neighborhood clean-ups during the grant term. The school will also be responsible for charting the amount of refuse collected at each clean-up. Participating schools that fulfill the project requirements will receive incentive dollars to be used for the purchase of educational materials, library books, sports equipment, field trips, or awards, excluding parties and the purchase of food and drinks. Beautiful Home and Business Award Lastly, students will have an opportunity to evaluate their neighborhood by nominating a neighborhood home or business for a Beautiful Home and Business Award. The students will have an opportunity to vote for the home and the winner will be invited for recognition at a school-wide assembly. D. Anticipated Outcome: Students will gain a sense of awareness and ownership in the community. In addition, students will have the knowledge to evaluate, eliminate and prevent blight in the community. Students will also have the ability to work with government towards a common goal. The ultimate outcome will be an improved appearance of the target neighborhoods, and a safer, healthier community. E. Evaluation methods: Student surveys will be conducted prior to participation in the program to evaluate student knowledge and attitudes about blight. A follow-up survey will be taken after participation in the program to determine behavioral changes among students. Students will have the opportunity to share their ideas about the program by entering the brown bag art contest and nominating a neighborhood home or business for recognition. F. Integration of the Healthy Cities Concept: The project will continue to incorporate the Healthy Cities concept in the three participating departments: Administration, Code Compliance and Public Services. The project will be expanded to include personnel from the Police Department and the Mayor's Office, seven additional schools, and area Neighborhood and Business Associations. The City will encourage students, their families, and neighborhood associations in the target area to understand the importance to their health and well being that is brought about by living in a clean environment. ; 'v.' >~:.'~' ~',.-"i' ._' Res' 1999-44 F\ Workplan City: San Bernardino Project Title: Blight Buster Education Program Project Time Frame: March 30, 1999 through June 30,2000 Goal: To educate and encourage students to recognize, evaluate, eliminate and prevent blight in the community. Outcome Objective: By June 30, 2000: . 60% of students surveyed in participating schools will have the knowledge and ability to recognize, evaluate, eliminate and prevent blight in the community. . Implement the Blight Buster program in seven additional schools within the City for a total of fourteen participating schools. Year 2000 Objective: (11.8) Reduce human exposure to solid waste-related water, air, and soil contamination, as measured by a reduction in average pounds of municipal solid waste produced per person each day to no more than 3.6 pounds. 6. Re.s 1999-44A. Key Activities 1. Coordinate student education program: . Contact school district . Print materials . Contact schools March - April 1999 2. Snrvey students in participating schools . Contact school district . Conduct survey prior to presentations . Compile results April- August 1999 3. School presentations . Assemble presentation team . Schedule assemblies with participating schools . Conduct assemblies August 99 - February 2000 4. School/neighborhood Clean ups August 99 - May 2000 . Coordinate Clean up schedule . Contact neighborhood and business associations for support 5. Beautiful Home and Business Award Program August 99 - May 2000 . Develop schedule for each participating school . Guidelines and judging criteria to students . Student nominations . Student voting . Award of winners Brown Bag Art Contest . Contact grocery stores . Contact schools . Rules to students . Collect entries . Judging . Award prizes . Return bags to stores for distribution August 99 - January 2000 7. Conduct final student surveys . Conduct survey after participation in program . Collect surveys . Compile survey results September 99 - March 2000 8. Program evaluation . Compile results . Prepare final report April- June 2000 Res 1999-44 F< Evaluation Process: Students will complete a pre-program survey to determine knowledge of blight in the community prior to participation in the education program. Students will be surveyed at the end of the program to determine change in their knowledge regarding blight in the community. The change will be measured based on answers to key questions in the survey, such as being able to define blight. In addition, students will have the opportunity to share their ideas about the program by participating in the Brown Bag Art Contest and nominating a home or business to be recognized in the Beautiful Home and Business Award Program. The increase in the number of participating schools will be measured upon completion of the program, Outcome: A comparison of the answers in the pre-program survey and post program survey will determine if the program successfully educated the students about blight in the community. A count of the number of participating schools at the end of the program will determine if we have successfully increased the number of schools participating in the program. Res 1999-44 l\ City of San Bernardino Request for Financial Assistance 1999-2000 Healthy Cities Grant Budget Itemization Student Incentives Incentive Items - pencils, water bottles, shirts, etc... Ribbons 120 @$1.25each I SUBTOTAL School Incentives Incentive Program for New Schools School Clean up incentive for new schools 7@ $300.00 Citywide Clean up incentive 7 @ $125.00 Classroom participation incentive 7 @ $75,00 each Incentive Program for 2nd Year Schools School Clean up incentive 7 @ $200.00 Citywide Clean up incentive 7 @ $100.00 Classroom participation incentive 7 $50.00 each SUBTOTAL $900.00 $150.00 $1,050.00 I $2,100.00 $875,00 $525.00 $1,400.00 $ 700.00 $350.00 $5,950.00 Conference Travel to Healthy Cities Conference $500.00 ISUBTOTAL $500.00 I ll......._ "'I- ""...p,,"., ,....:-,......,;., Res 1999:.L,4 i\ BUDGET NARRATIVE The budget for the proposed plan, detailed in the Request for Financial Assistance section, will provide the necessary costs of and carrying out the proposed Blight Education Project. The following is a description of each budget item: Student Incentives: Pencils, water bottles, t-shirts, and other incentives will be purchased for distribution to students participating in the program. The incentives will all have some type of related educational message and be used to encourage children to participate beyond the initial school program. Ribbons: Ribbons will be purchased and awarded to students winners in the Brown Bag Art Contest. School Incentives: Incentives for participation will be offered to schools coordinating and completing school cleanups. Incentive dollar amounts are divided into two categories - new schools and 2nd year schools. Incentives for new schools are slightly higher to encourage participation. Incentives will be awarded to participating schools upon completion of the neighborhood clean up requirements. Healthv Cities Conference: One person from the Steering Committee will be selected to attend the 2000 Healthy Cities Conference. Res 1999-44 i:\ Teri Baker Nick Gonzalez Linda Ceballos Debra Daniel Jennifer Aragon Evelyn Wilcox Judy White Sharon Swan """""'"""""-' .._~'""n ..... """ Healthy Cities Steering Committee Members City Administrator's Office Mayor's Office Public Services Department Code Compliance Police Department Neighborhood Association Representative San Bernardino City Unified School District San Bernardino City Unified School District