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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />~ <br />EN HILLS <br /> <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />Agenda Item: 8A <br /> <br />April 20, 2006 <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Mayor and City Council <br />Michelle Wolfe, City Administrator .Jl.0:>r. <br /> <br />Karen Barton, Community Developmcnt Directo~ <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Application for BlueCross BlueShield Active Living Grant <br /> <br />Backl!round <br /> <br />On February 27, 2006, BlueCross BlueShicld (BCBS) issued a request for proposals for a grant <br />opportunity to encourage municipalities to incorporate Active Living Principles into their <br />Comprchensive Plan Updates. Staff became aware of this opportunity on February 28,2006 and <br />Council authorized staff to proceed in preparing the application at thcir mecting on March 13, <br />2006. <br /> <br />As you are aware, the Metropolitan Council requires jurisdictions to update their Comprehcnsive <br />Plans every 10 years, with the next update being due in September of 2008. This funding <br />opportunity is designed to support communities in preparing/revising their Comprchensive Plans <br />and to identify relevant ordinance subsections for modification in keeping with their newly <br />updated plans. The grant can provide up to $75,000 towards this effort. <br /> <br />Selected Applicants will receivc funding on a contractual basis to conduct planning that focuses <br />on devcloping environments that support physically active lifestyles (accommodating non- <br />motorized transportation modes such as walking and bicycling). The foundation of this program <br />is to improve the hcalth of Minnesotans with an ovcrarching goal to reduce preventable heart <br />disease and cancer. <br /> <br />The tcrm "active living" denotes a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines. <br />Active living is more possible in environments that support residents' choice to cngage in regular <br />physical activity, not just for recreational purposes but also for utilitarian purposes such as <br />errands, trips to the grocery store, commuting to work, etc. Communities can influence the <br />choices their rcsidents make concerning physical activity in a number of ways, including land <br />use policies, transportation systems, and availability of walking paths/trails/greenways. <br />