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STAFF REPORT <br /> To: Planning Commission Report No.: X.2 <br /> From: Kim Moore-Sykes,Assistant City Manager )/VV <br /> / ��V" V <br /> Date: November 15, 2005 <br /> Subject: Ramsey County Initiative in Community Design and Active Living <br /> Requested Action: <br /> Discussion of attached materials. <br /> Background: <br /> Ramsey County officials have developed an initiative that they unveiled earlier this fall based on the need as <br /> communicated by many neighborhoods to: <br /> • develop safe walking routes to schools and local shopping areas; <br /> • design safe street crossings; <br /> • create safe recreation opportunities and physical activities for residents of all ages. <br /> Jan Parker,Ramsey County Commissioner,is a member of the panel that is launching this Active Living initiative <br /> that supports change is land use design, transportation and public- private partnerships to develop policies that <br /> encourages activity in every or most aspects of our daily lives. As Jan reported at a workshop in September, that <br /> in many neighborhoods it is difficult to walk or bike to school, shop or run an errand because many of our <br /> communities are/were designed to provide access to and/or encourage the use of automobiles. Initially, the <br /> Active Living initiative is in the early phase of planning, trying to inventory the existing physical infrastructure <br /> and in changing people's attitudes. <br /> As part of the presentation I attended,Ann Forsyth, Director of the Metropolitan Design Center at the <br /> University of Minnesota, focused on the social aspect of physical planning,urban design, and urban <br /> development. Ms. Forsyth literally walks her talk: She walks everyday to and from work, no matter the weather. <br /> Rick Killingsworth,Program Director for the Ruth Mott Foundation in Flint Michigan, discussed is experience <br /> as a health care practitioner working with city planning officials in finding ways to provide and promote physical <br /> activity opportunities through and despite "built environment interventions." <br /> Tyler Norris,president of Community Initiatives, Inc., a Boulder, Colorado based firm that is focused on <br /> improving health and healthcare outcomes, has worked with several communities and groups initiating various <br /> civic, health, education and social ventures,including Active Living by Design. <br /> Attachments <br /> • Various handouts from the Active Living Initiative Workshop <br /> 111505 Ramsey Co Active Living.doc <br />