2014 National Convening Skills Presenations Portland Plan | Page 86

THE PORTLAND PLAN
Healthy Connected City

Element 1

Guiding Policies

Decisions that Benefit
Health and Safety
To create a healthy
connected city, we must
consider the potential
impacts of our decisions on
the health, safety and welfare
of Portland’s residents and
on our city’s watersheds and
the natural environment.
The natural environment
we live in, our education
and employment, and the
design and affordability
of our neighborhoods all
influence Portlanders’ health.
These factors are influenced
by a range of public policies
and decisions about things
like our transportation and
infrastructure systems; the development and use of neighborhoods; our
ability to prepare for and respond to emergencies; and the protection and
management of watersheds and natural areas. We must be aware of the
potential impacts of projects, programs and capital investments on health to
make smarter decisions and to improve long-range outcomes in human and
environmental health and safety.
Human health and the health of urban ecosystems and watersheds are
interrelated. Protection, restoration and management of urban natural
resources provide many positive benefits to human physical and mental
health while simultaneously protecting the intrinsic value of natural
ecosystems and biodiversity. Protection of floodplains, steep slopes and fireprone areas also prevents catastrophic events that threaten human health
and safety.
Today, lower-income residents, communities of color, older adults and
children are more at risk for poor health than the general population and
experience significant health disparities. These residents may also suffer
disproportionately from exposure to pollution, toxics, noise, environmental
hazards and insufficient access to nature — all of which affect physical and
mental health. To maximize health benefits, actions and investments will be
targeted at currently underserved neighborhoods and resident groups so
that the benefits of Portland extend equitably to residents of all races, ages,
abilities and incomes. We must take actions to reduce disparities in access to
the conditions that support healthy living.

80

H-1

Incorporate the principles of the
Healthy Connected City into the
City’s Comprehensive Plan and use
this to coordinate policy, land use,
and investment decisions.

H-2

Develop the Healthy Connected City
network. For an illustration of the
Healthy Connected City network
see the concept diagram provided
earlier in this section.

H-3

H-4

H-5

H-6

Continue to manage and invest in
quality basic public services. These
services include public safety,
emergency services, transportation
and transit, drinking water, sewer,
stormwater and green infrastructure,
parks and natural areas and civic
buildings.
Consider community health impacts,
equity outcomes and ecological
and watershed health risks when
making decisions about growth,
implementing programs and
designing capital improvements.
Reduce the risk of social, economic
and environmental losses from
hazards and ensure effective
emergency and disaster response.
Do this through investments in
environmental protection, asset
management, and community
preparedness and maintenance
of critical infrastructure, including
emergency routes and water supply.
Encourage design and development
that improves public healthy and
safety. This includes design that
supports active living and healthy
housing, better fire safety and
prevention, crime prevention
through environmental design, and
hazard mitigation and adaptation.

April 2012 | www.pdxplan.com