FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
               (239) 335-2777

BOARD APPROVES WATER SALE/HUMAN SERVICES FUNDING

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 27, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting (all votes were unanimous). They are:

Human Services Funding - Approved up to $3.17 million as the proposed 2004-05 funding allocation for the county's program that funds private human services organizations (called the Partnering for Results Program). This is a 15 percent increase over this year's $2.76 million allocation. Next year, $38,000 of the allocation will go to United Way of Lee County for the Information & Referral (211) Service. The rest of the funding is allocated through a Request for Proposals process and recommendations by a citizen Partnering for Results Proposal Review Panel. The panel is responsible for reviewing proposals submitted to Lee County from non-profit human service organizations and submitting funding recommendations to the Board. The Partnering for Results Program is a process that enables the county to receive measurable outcomes by purchasing "units of service" from participating human service agencies. The county purchases services in the areas of: Supportive Housing/Living, Economic Opportunity, Activities for Youth, and/or Basic Assistance. Agencies submit proposals in March and the review panel makes funding recommendations to the Board as part of the county's budget process.

Water Sale - Approved a 20-year agreement to sell treated water from Lee County Utilities to the City of Cape Coral on a wholesale basis to meet Cape Coral's needs in the northeastern portion of the city. The initial rate will be $2.46 per thousand gallons. Cape Coral is experiencing development growth in that section of the city but does not presently have, or anticipates having in the near future, potable water facility to service the area. Lee County Utilities has the treatment capacity available to provide up to 500,000 gallons per day. The water initially will come from the Olga Water Treatment Plant and possibly the North Lee County Water Treatment Plant after its construction is completed.

Mall Hearing - Directed to two public hearings (Feb. 10 and 24 at 9:30 a.m.) the consideration of a development agreement between Lee County and the owners and developers of the Coconut Point (Mall) Development of Regional Impact. The proposed agreement governs mitigation of the transportation impact, including payments to the county of up to $14.8 million for road construction/expansion projects needed because of the increased traffic the mall will generate.

Lobbying Services - Approved Arnold & Blair as the county's Tallahassee legislative lobbyist and authorized staff to negotiate a contract not to exceed $75,000 annually. Authorized a contract term of three, one-year terms, with the county's right to cancel the contract at any time. The get the contract on the state's fiscal year (July to June), the first part may be 17 months.