Blue Zones Still A Battle On Oskaloosa City Council

Will a bicycle master plan help improve bikeability within Oskaloosa?

Oskaloosa, Iowa – The Oskaloosa City Council held a study session with the Oskaloosa Blue Zones leadership to go over progress of the project to this point. The leadership team then looked to get insight from the council as to the sustainability of the project into the future.

Before the meeting got completely underway Monday evening, Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt addressed concerns from Oskaloosa City Council member Jason Van Zetten that the meeting, as it was originally designed, would be a violation of the open meetings laws. In conversations with the State of Iowa and City Attorney Dave Dixon and addressed “some ambiguity” and some “potential” open meetings violations. “There was the potential that there could be an issue,” said Dixon. So after consultation with the State of Iowa, a notice of meeting was then posted about the work session on Friday evening. There were no action items for the council included with the agenda.

Oskaloosa Blue Zones Power 9 c0-chair, Jane Krutzfeldt, thanked the council members for taking part in the evening study session. “It’s been nearly a year since the Oskaloosa community began implementing changes that were outlined in the Blue Zones Project Blueprint.”

“Over the past year, 194 volunteers worked to implement the project. There have been 85 speaking engagements to spread the message. We’ve received 865 ‘Likes’ on Facebook. Nine local organizations have become certified by Blue Zones Organization Checklist and there’s one more in progress. There are now 10 Blue Zones worksites, with 5 more in progress. Three restaurants and there is a 4th that will not become certified but wants to highlight the Blue Zones menu items they have. There is also another restaurant working to become Blue Zones Certified. We have two certified grocery stores. One school and another starting the process in two weeks.”

Krutzfeldt went on to say that the farmers market has “grown monumentally” and that “the walking school bus was more successful than we anticipated.”

“On their own accord, people are using alternate transportation; taking bicycles, riding the bus or walking to work,” said Krutzfeldt. She also pointed out there have been two “Walk-ability studies,” and that 29 walking groups have been formed with 150 participants.

Krutzfeldt also said that there are 5 community garden sites.

Overall, Krutzfeldt said that 1975 people “have taken the pledge and completed at least one action”.

Amy Langdon, Power 9 member, took over the presentation and highlighted where the city and Blue Zones could continue to work together once “the training wheels come off,” and the Blue Zones initial phase ends in July.

There is a bicycle and pedestrian master plan for the city, which is currently in committee being developed, that will eventually land on the council’s desk for approval.

Councilmember Aaron Ver Steeg asked Langdon if the streets were currently being shared between bicycles and cars. “I’ve been here for 74 years and I’ve ridden a bike for approximately 65 or 70 of those years. I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with a car, even when I was a little kid.”

“So it’s about making it more comfortable for them,” said Langdon. She explained that it’s about making bicycling more accessible and more comfortable.

“We would like to encourage more people to ride their bikes in Oskaloosa,” said Oskaloosa City Manager Michael Schrock. He said those things could be accomplished with making the community more accessible. “It’s not always about bike lanes on the streets, it’s about bikeability.”

“People don’t ride bikes because they don’t see a symbol on the street?” asked Councilmember Jason Van Zetten, who asked why it’s the councils decision to “try and get people to ride bikes, to walk, to run, to drive a car”.

“I think it probably gets more into community livability,” said Oskaloosa Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt. “Just making it easier for people to do the things they want to do.”

Currently, the Bicycle Coaltion is working on a bike-ability plan for Oskaloosa. City Councilmember Tom Walling sits on that coalition. He said that there have been successes and setbacks, but it’s too early to be bringing any plan to the city council for consideration. “It’s gonna take some time.”

Langdon said that the process will be part of the blueprint for Blue Zones in 2015-16.

“We as policy makers shouldn’t be driven by insurance companies,” said Councilmember Tom Jimenez. “A lot of that stuff that’s out there now is driven by insurance companies and it costs cities and counties, the state, Jason and I a lot of money to handle that.

“Blue Zones is run by insurance,” said Ver Steeg.

“This is the problem I’ve had with this whole program. We’ve got a gun to our head all the time,” said Van Zetten of the Blue Zones project. “Put the plan out there. Tell us what it will cost.”

“It takes time,” said Schrock of the time needed to develop policy for such things as the bicycle master plan, which is part of the Blue Zones certification under Active Living Policy.

“I don’t care about Blue Zones deadlines,” said Van Zetten.

Tom Walling asked the Blue Zone team that was present if the City of Oskaloosa achieves Blue Zone designation, “We will be Blue Zone right? They can’t take that away from us?”

Natalie Spray, Oskaloosa Blue Zone lead, said that there will be a certification process and their experience will be shared, a report will be generated and then Oskaloosa would be designated as a Blue Zone Community.

“Then we’re Blue Zone forever?” asked Walling. “They can’t take that away from us?”

Spray said part of that process is to continue working on your goals for well-being and that today’s meeting with the council is part of that process of developing those goals. “We’ve accomplished a lot of things thus far, but we want to continue making improvements.”

Walling and Van Zetten expressed concern over certification and potentially the standards changing to be designated a Blue Zone community.

Langdon said that there would be a choice, to follow with sustainably or not. “We as Mahaska Wellness Coalition want to take over,” and utilize the resources available through Blue Zones to sustain the project.

The pilot program for Blue Zones was Albert Lea, Minnesota. That pilot program is now working once again with Blue Zones to be recognized as a Blue Zones community. Since their original work with the Blue Zones Project 5 years ago, the criteria for a Blue Zones Community have changed. “This really gives a renewed energy to see the city come together again,” said Albert Lea Mayor, Vern Rasmussen, to KIMT Television.

Currently, Oskaloosa lacks 2 community policy points from its goal.

“People do talk about this program state-wide,” added Schrock. “It does have an impact.”

“My pitch to you is to stay positive,” says Schrock. As the group agreed on many items of discussion, such as enabling business owners to utilize the sidewalk area for such things as cafes.