2021-050 - Declaring a Climate Emergency

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WHEREAS these risks can be exacerbated by improper zoning and land use decisions as well as unmitigated urban development. Uncontrolled urban development, without adequate consideration for climate and health impacts, has threatened residents with increased traffic and emissions, and thus may foster an increased heat island effect, elevating heat temperatures, incurring the threat of wildfires and additional health disparities such as asthma, obesity, heat exhaustion, heat stroke; and WHEREAS, only 4% of the City of Santa Ana's land is dedicated for parks and recreation,3 and the City of Santa Ana ranks 88 out of the 100 most populous US cities due to lack of access to parks, amenities and acreage. WHEREAS the City of Santa Ana's Open Space Element Policy 1.3 calls for the City to achieve a minimum park standard of two acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. The City currently does not meet this per -resident standard, and the parkland deficiency is projected to increase further: the total "parkland deficiency' would increase from 107.56 acres to 299.48 acres with increased development projected in the General Plan Update. WHEREAS parks, playgrounds, greenways, trails, community open spaces and community gardens help keep people and their communities healthy. Exposure to nature in parks, gardens, and natural areas can improve psychological and social health. Parks provide children with opportunities for play, critical in the development of muscle strength and coordination, language, and cognitive abilities. Parks build healthy communities by creating stable neighborhoods and strengthening community development.4 WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana is committed to providing and upkeeping access to clean water and cooling centers to the whole community — and especially to those experiencing houselessness to stop preventable deaths due to heatwaves; and WHEREAS, a study from the University of Notre Dame found that the City of Santa Ana was the city with the highest climate change risks and one of the lowest climate change readiness in the United States5; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Ana has a history of entering into partnerships with university graduate students to further higher education goals and provide robust professional expertise and analysis to advance City projects; and WHEREAS, the economic and job opportunities presented by a clean energy transition far outweigh the opportunities presented by an economy supported by expanding fossil fuel use and extraction; and 3 Trust for Public Land Park Score. TPL 2020 Park Score. www.tpLorg 4 Gies, Erica, The Health Benefits of Parks: How Parks Help Keep Americans Fit and Healthy https://www.tp l.org/s ites/default/files/cloud.tpi. org/pubs/benefits_Health Benefits Report. pdf 5 University of Notre Dame, "Climate Vulnerability of UAA Cities." <hLps-//cain-uaa.nd.edu/matrix/> Resolution No. 2021-050 Page 2 of 6