The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA), through their Commit to Health Initiative, recently offered grant opportunities to promote physical fitness and healthy lifestyles within the teen population. The "Off the Couch (OTC) Teen Fitness Challenge" was submitted as an extension of the city’s current Commit to Health Pledge with a focus on teens and healthy choices that can be made. This will be accomplished through the following:

• Provide teens sustainable access to fitness equipment and classes that promote a healthy lifestyle (current request).
• Weekly challenges will measure progress and areas to focus on for improvement.  The course will have the ability to modify the level of intensity to meet the needs of all individuals (in progress).
• Monthly cooking classes teaching simple recipes, snacks, and desserts (in progress).
• Teens will also have the chance to assist with the community garden to learn how to grow fresh foods for cooking.

The total project cost for the fitness equipment is $22,375. This will be funded through NRPA ($9,000) and AZSTA ($5,000) with the additional funds from a previously received NRPA Commit to Health Grant ($8,375).

In FY2016, a grant from NRPA in the amount of $35,000 was received to launch the City of Peoria Commit to Health Programs.  This provided the opportunity to support sustainable meals, healthy eating education classes at 11 program sites, including the main Library and fitness classes.  A portion of the remaining funds has been approved by NRPA to complete the "Off the Couch Teen Fitness Challenge", including the installation of the outdoor fitness course.

The following options are possible for the City Council to recommend:

 A: City Council can accept the approved grants and move forward with the parks and recreation projects listed above, entering into a funding agreement with NRPA and AZSTA and authorizing the budget amendment.

 B: City Council can reject the grant funds from NRPA and the AZSTA and cancel the parks and recreation projects listed above.

Staff recommends that City Council: (a) accept the NRPA and Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority Grants; (b) enter into a funding agreement with NRPA and AZSTA for both grants, and: (c) approve a budget transfer from the proposed grant contingency account to the appropriate project related accounts as outlined in the fiscal analysis below.

Staff requests a budget adjustment of $14,000 from the Proposed Grant Contingency Account (7990-7990-570000) to the following accounts related to the projects outlined above: