DEPARTMENT: Health Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Thomas Schlenker
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: District 2
SUBJECT:
Authorizing an Agreement with Urban Strategies, Inc.
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance authorizes an agreement with Urban Strategies, Inc. and authorizes the acceptance of compensation in the amount of $20,000.00 for a term ending on February 28, 2014, for services provided by the City of San Antonio through the San Antonio Metropolitan Heath District (Metro Health) to execute and complete a Health Impact Assessment that will systematically assess the potential effects of the proposed Wheatley Choice Neighborhood Project.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The International Association of Impact Assessment defines a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as a combination of procedures, methods and tools that systematically judges the potential, and sometimes unintended, effects of a policy, plan, program or project on the health of a population and the distribution of those effects within the population. An HIA identifies appropriate actions to manage those effects.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recognized the many intersections between health issues and community design. These include accessibility for people with mobility impairments or other disabling conditions; the relationships between children's health and elders and the built environment including park planning, recreational and community facilities; displacement of vulnerable groups and local businesses due to gentrification; and injury prevention in relation to transportation planning. Further considerations include community access to safe and adequate spaces for physical activity, transportation-related air pollutants as affecting respiratory health; and the effects of poorly planned growth, subsequent loss of green space, and surface and groundwater quality. Community design also has strong correlations to mental health, social capital and civic enga...
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