FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:  Pete Winton (Lee County), 239-335-2777
                Beth Walsh (Collier County), 239-774-8383
                Kelly Shoemaker (Charlotte County), 941-743-1944

TRI-COUNTY COMMISSIONS TO MEET IN JOINT SESSION

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 9, 2004) - The County Commissions of Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties will meet in a joint workshop Feb. 17 to discuss issues of mutual concern and cooperation.

The meeting will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lee County Port Authority's Training and Conference Center (where the Board of Port Commissioners meets), Southwest Florida International Airport, 15924 Perimeter Road.

(Directions from I-75: Take exit 131 and head east on Daniels Parkway. Daniels Parkway turns into Chamberlin Parkway, the airport entrance road. After passing the overhead welcome sign, take the first right turn. Follow the sign indicating "Airport Training and Conference Center.")

The proposed agenda topics for the meeting are:

TRANSPORTATION

 I-75

  a. Total carrying capacity
  b. Evacuation route coordination
  c. By-pass routes
  d. Expressway Authority

 County Road 951 PD&E Study

 Burnt Store Road Corridor Study

 State Transportation Trust Fund

ENVIRONMENTAL

 Babcock Ranch Acquisition

 Phosphate Mining Litigation

 Dock Permits

LEGISLATIVE

 Southwest Florida Regional Lobbying Day

OTHER COMMISSIONER ITEMS