City Moves To Include Public Health Element In General Plan

The City of Richmond, California, is in the midst of a comprehensive General Plan update that is geared not only to meet the regulatory requirements, but as a catalyst for change and innovation. In that vein, the City with the assistance of Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Inc. (MIG) and PolicyLink applied for a grant with the California Endowment to conduct a Health Impact Assessment and to develop health policies to guide future land development.

"Every city and county in California is required to have an updated general plan. Richmond will consider public health as it makes plans for walkable communities, safe bicycle routes and a clean environment, said Daniel Iacofano, a principal of Moore Iacofano Goltsman, which is overseeing the planning process.

"In Richmond we have an opportunity to fundamentally change the way cities plan for the future by showing the link between our physical environment and public health," Iacofano said. "Where you live, work, play and go to school has an effect on your health...

Richmond has 32 miles of shoreline, but we have whole parts of the city that are literally cut off from that," Iacofano said. "These communities don't have access to fresh air, views and opportunities to understand one's environment."

The General Plan will be completed in early 2008.