Calimesa council hears Blue Zones Project pitch and votes to return partnership for formal consideration

The Calimesa City Council on Nov. 3 heard a presentation from the Blue Zones Project about strategies to improve community well-being and unanimously voted to return the partnership to a future council agenda for possible direction to staff.

Ruben, executive director of the Blue Zones effort serving nearby Banning, outlined the initiative's origin and its nine "Power 9" longevity principles, including natural movement, purposeful living, plant-forward diets, social connection and small policy changes designed to reshape residents' everyday environment. He described a typical project as a multi-year, community-led effort with phased work: feasibility assessment, a nine-month foundation period for coalition building and a subsequent transformation phase aimed at sustainable changes.

Ruben cited examples from other communities, saying Blue Zones projects helped reduce medical-claims costs in the program's pilot site and reduced childhood obesity and smoking in other partner cities. He said the program works across three pillars'people, places and policy'and that local adaptations (for example, the number of restaurants or grocery partners to certify) depend on community size and need.

Council members asked how the Blue Zones blueprint would be tailored for Calimesa, citing parks, trails, grocery access and youth engagement as priorities. Council Member Garcia introduced a motion requesting that the Blue Zones Project partnership be brought back to a formal council agenda for discussion and possible direction for staff; the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

The council did not authorize funding or a contract at the Nov. 3 meeting; the vote was to place the item on a future agenda so the council can consider details including scope, costs, partners and potential policy work.