ATTACHMENT IV
Hayward Environmental Justice Element
Policy Framework, Draft April 19, 2022
Summary:
The following is a list of targeted policy topics to be addressed within the Hayward Environmental Justice Element. These focused policy topics are organized under broad “Goal” themes that reflect the focus areas outlined within Senate Bill 1000. All policy topics are informed by the Environmental Justice Technical Background and/or the Environmental Justice Public Forum Workshop that took place on February 23, 2022.
Framework:
A. Pollution Exposure (Air Quality, Water Quality, Land Use Compatibility) • Reducing Diesel Particulate Matter (SPM) for communities along the 880 and Mission Boulevard Corridor (Workshop 1 & Tech Report). Consider idling rules/enforcement
• Address elevated Cleanup Site percentile scores along western portion of City and other locations where there are proximally located residential neighborhoods (Tech Report)
• Reducing impacts from hazardous waste generators across entire City (Tech Report) • Address the placement of polluting sources in western portion of City and other locations where there are proximally located residential neighborhoods (Tech Report)
• Develop public programs or seek out existing programs to increase accessibility and feasibility of household air purification devices and upgrades, especially in the western portion of the City (Tech Report)
• Increase public education and information regarding air quality hazards and options for increasing personal safety (Workshop 1 & Tech Report) • Implement tree canopy, greening initiatives with priority for communities near major corridors, active transportation routes, and park access points B. Public Facilities and Accessibility
• Work with Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD) to ensure that new parks are accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists, and are connected with transit networks (Workshop 1)
• Work with HARD to improve the quality and safety of existing parks with a focus on areas with the lowest per capita access.
• Work with HARD to improve park access (including per capita) in central Hayward, consider development of pocket parks (Tech Report)
• Require future high-density development to incorporate green space to meet community need in central portion of City (Workshop 1 & Tech Report)
• Ensure that bus stops have necessary shelters and signage to support adequate access (Workshop 1)
• Expand opportunities for youth recreational activities to effectively meet the demand from the community (Workshop 1)
• Work with HARD to employ equity criteria for parks and facility investment decisions. • Increase park safety by incorporating Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies (Workshop 1)
• Continue to perform regular assessments of City parks to ensure that park facilities are adequately equipped and safe for resident use and equitably resourced (Workshop 1)
C. Food Access
• Increase accessibility and use of healthy food options for residents through existing and or new farmers markets and community gardens (Workshop 1 & Tech Report) • Food equipment or cooking demonstrations through the library system or via community gardens or farmer’s markets
• Bolster food access for low-income communities by partnering with local non-profits and food banks (Workshop 1 & Tech Report)
• Develop and/or identify existing organizations that provide nutritional education programs to inform residents about food-based strategies for leading a healthy life (Workshop 1)
D. Sanitary & Safe Homes
• Mitigate the prevalence of high housing burden across the City (Tech Report) • Offer public programs (grants, loans) focused on financing home-based improvements for low-income residents (Workshop 1 & Tech Report) • Consider development of a Community Tool Shed- free tool “rental” program, also potentially through the library system. (Workshop 1)
• Monitor and expand the rental housing inspection program and/or code enforcement inspection program to improve housing conditions for vulnerable renters. • Hold ongoing workshops about landlord/tenant programs to protect vulnerable renters.
E. Physical Activity/Health
• City-funded programs to address elevated Asthma percentiles across the entirety of City, possibly coordinated through County Health, or existing health organizations. (Workshop 1 & Tech Report)
• Coordinate with County Health or existing health organizations to develop and disseminate educational programs focused on asthma awareness, monitoring, and prevention (Workshop 1 & Tech Report)
• Coordinate with public health care organizations to increase accessibility to low-cost, possibly mobile healthcare services (Workshop 1)
• Expand the Firehouse clinic model to additional locations in the City. • Develop City-sponsored grant program to finance improved home air filtration systems for residents in areas with high levels of air pollution (Workshop 1 & Tech Report)
F. DACs - Prioritize the unique needs of underrepresented, disadvantaged and uniquely burdened communities.
• Establish a commitment to supporting improvements for census tracts close to DAC threshold 37101, 35500, 37300 (Tech Report)
• Limit the placement of future polluting sources, when feasible, within and surrounding census tract 370101 (75th+ percentile for pollution burden) (Tech Report) • Coordinate with major polluting industries within census tract 37101 to promote the use of best available technology and practices to mitigate human impact related to pollution exposure.
• Strategically engage the linguistically isolated in central hayward (Workshop 1 & Tech Report)
• Require translations of all public materials: Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog (Workshop 1 & Tech Report)
• Ensure community meetings are held at key times that are uniquely accessible for community members (Workshop 1)
• Provide childcare services to make community meetings more accessible to community members (Workshop 1)
• Partner with trusted community leaders to actively engage community on future projects (Workshop 1)
• Targeted strategy to bolster broader community awareness about City news and resources through social media and City webpage (Workshop 1) • Require the participation in Diversity and Equity training for all City staff to prioritize positive interactions with the community (Workshop 1)