FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
                (941) 335-2777

 

STRUCTURE FOR SMART GROWTH PROCESS TO INCLUDE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 16, 2001) – The Board of Lee County Commissioners (the Board) tentatively agreed Tuesday to a structure for an ongoing Smart Growth process that would be administered through County Administration with input from a Board-appointed advisory committee.

A Smart Growth county department would be created with an executive director. The department would report directly to the County Manager.

The Board will formally vote next Tuesday (Oct. 23) on the job description for the executive director and salary range.

A Smart Growth Advisory Committee also will be created, with each Commissioner appointing three members. In addition, the county is seeking a representative from the School Board to sit on the committee and one County Commissioner also would serve as a voting member – making it a 17-member group.

The Board of County Commissioners is seeking letters of interest from anyone wishing to serve on the committee. The deadline for letters of interest is Nov. 30, with appointments made by Dec. 15. Residents interested in serving can contact their district Commissioner or any of the Commissioners, or pick up a committee application from Lee County Public Resources, 1st floor of the County Administration Building, 2115 Second Street in downtown Fort Myers. Applications formally submitted through Public Resources will be provided to all of the County Commissioners for review.

The goal of Smart Growth is to achieve a good balance between community livability, economic viability, and environmental sensitivity. One of its keys is proactive, inclusive, community-supported growth management.

Working groups open to participation by all residents that have been meeting for the past year will continue to meet and have input under the new process. The working groups are: Environmental Quality, Land Use, Transportation, Water Supply and Community Character.

The Board set aside up to $340,000 in the county’s Fiscal Year 2001-02 Budget to spend on the Smart Growth Initiative. A detailed budget will be prepared in the coming months.

The Board also tentatively agreed to sunset the Smart Growth Initiative after two years, and review its progress after one year to determine whether funding should be continued.