2014-006 - Santa Ana General Plan Housing Element and Public Safety Element Updates

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HOUSING PLAN COMMUNITY - BUILDING INITIATIVES 7. Santa Ana Building Healthy Community Initiative In 2009, Central Santa Ana was selected as one of the 14 sites in California to participate in The California Endowment's Building Healthy Communities. This $10 million and 10 -year initiative aims to improve resident health and achieve the Endowment's healthy community outcomes by intentionally addressing social determinants of health —at the individual, housing, block, and neighborhood level. The initiative also seeks to influence and shape public policy at all levels in the community, including the City's comprehensive general plan, safe routes to schools, business community, parks and recreation opportunities in neighborhoods, and even at home. Effecting system change will create a healthier and prosperous community for the current and future generations of residents living in Santa Ana. The City will continue to provide support to this community building initiative. 8. Building Community Efforts The City of Santa Ana is committed to and actively involved in supporting programs and capital improvements that improve neighborhood livability. Recent projects include new community centers and parks (e.g., LHA "Green Hear Families" Park and Community Center, joint use facilities (e.g., Roosevelt Elementary School, Willard Intermediate School, Garfield Elementary School and new community center), community gardens projects (e.g., Grain Project), public art, and other worthy community projects. The City is active in sponsoring community efforts such as libraries and educational services, both free standing and within City- initiated housing projects, such as Cornerstone Villages. The City of Santa Ana will continue to seek additional partnering opportunities to build stronger and healthier neighborhoods through a wide variety of community building programs. 9. Neighborhood Safety Safe neighborhoods are an important and indispensable part of quality of life. This goal is achieved through the efforts of multiple city departments, including planning and housing, who implement programs to improve and maintain the safety of neighborhoods. The City is active in promoting safe routes to school for children to walk and bicycle. Traffic control measures are in place to reduce speeding and reduce safety hazards from vehicular traffic. The City is active in making curb cuts and repairing its many sidewalks. The Police Department is working with community leaders to startup Neighborhood Watch groups and provide mentoring activities for youth. Finally, the City Council, through its Public Safety and Neighborhood Improvement Committee, maintains an open forum for addressing the ongoing public safety or improvement needs of each of its neighborhoods. J�A 54 CITY OF SANTA ANA GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT