City Manager: Loma Linda Already Part of Healthy Cities Program

Two weeks after a large group of area residents asked them to join the California Healthy Cities and Communities Program, the Loma Linda City Council learned they don’t need to join.

The city is already a member of the program, Loma Linda City Manager T. Jarb Thaipejr told the council during the Oct. 11 council meeting.

Loma Linda began the process of joining in 1997, when it conducted surveys. In 2000, it developed a strategic action plan with the help of the Loma Linda University School of Public Health. The city earned its Healthy City designation in 2002, Thaipejr said.

“Since 2002, we have accomplished quite a bit,” Thaipejr said.

California Healthy Cities and Communities is a program, part of the Public Health Institute, that helps cities promote healthy living.

But it seemed that neither the speakers who encouraged the council on Sept. 27, or the council and staff who listened, knew the city had been a part of the effort for 14 years.

The speakers included current members of the Loma Linda University School of Public Health.

Since becoming a healthy city, Loma Linda staffers have received $135,500 in grants, created community gardens, participated in health fairs and continue to generate a newsletter that provides nutritional tips.

Thaipejr put the report together at the request of the council after some 50 people packed the council chambers to request the city promote a healthy lifestyle program.

Most of those in the group have protested a planned McDonald’s that could become a tenant in proposed commercial center on Barton Road and Mountain View Avenue. Plans for the center are still in the design phase and have not yet reached the council.

The group's opposition was put aside during the September meeting after city attorney Richard Holdaway warned the issue should not be discussed because it would give room for the developer to claim the council’s vote was swayed before they could address the project, a violation of the right to due process.

While it’s unfortunate that momentum slows for many efforts, Councilman Stan Brauer said with Healthy Cities back in the forefront, it would be a good time to revisit the program's action plan. The council then asked staff to prepare a report or schedule a workshop on the content of the plan.

“I kind of felt last week that as a city we kind of took a beating,” said Councilman Phil Dupper. “I really feel that way because it was brought to our attention that we didn’t qualify and didn’t meet the healthy cities, communities (requirements) and weren’t members. I’m actually feeling pretty proud of our city manager for researching this and finding out that we actually are members and probably a member before some of these other communities were … I’m extremely happy about that. It goes to show who we are and what we are as a community.”