FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

BOARD APPROVES ESTERO PKWY. NAME/AGREEMENT FOR LAKES PARK

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 13, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the following items during its regular weekly meeting. They are:

Road Name Change - Approved changing the name of Koreshan Boulevard in south Lee County to Estero Parkway. The Estero Community Planning Panel, by a unanimous vote of support in a January 12, meeting, requested the name change. No residential or commercial addresses are affected by this change and the 911 Addressing Program received 100% approval of all interested landowners and property developers.

Lakes Park Agreement - Approved a cooperative agreement with the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation to assist Lee County Parks and Recreation in the implementation of its master plan for the park through philanthropic and voluntary efforts. The Foundation's mission includes promoting ongoing community awareness, recognition, education, support and preservation of Lakes Park. The Foundation is comprised of business interests, including the Riva Del Lago project (The Armenia Group) and representatives of Robb & Stuckey furniture and Meridian Broadcasting.

Sanibel Offer - Approved an offer of $100,000 to settle the City of Sanibel's lawsuit over the county's decision to replace Span A of the Sanibel Causeway. The offer is a legal strategy to allow the county to collect legal costs and expenses later. Under Florida law, a party defendant (Lee County) may submit an offer of judgment no earlier than 90 days after the action has been commenced. If Lee County serves an offer, which is not accepted by the City of Sanibel within 30 days, and there is a judgment of no liability, or the judgment obtained by the Plaintiff (the City of Sanibel) is at least 25% less than the amount of the offer, Lee County shall be awarded reasonable costs, including investigative expenses and attorneys' fees.

Historic Grants - Approved grant award agreements of $59,219 for the 2003/2004 Lee County Historic Preservation Grant Assistance Program as recommended by staff and the Historic Preservation Board. They are: Oyster Pond, Matlacha ($16,600); Temptation Restaurant & Bar, Boca Grande ($8,300); Green Cottage, 4760 Pine Island Road ($3,411); Peace House, Buckingham ($19,703); Wightman Home, Alva ($7,055); and Napier House, Bokeelia ($4,150).

Community Plan - Approved an agreement with the Boca Grande Community Planning Association Inc. to provide $25,000 of public financial support in the development of the Boca Grande Community Plan. The estimated cost of the Boa Grade Community Plan is $70,000. This request to the Board for $25,000 of Lee County funds will pay for approximately 35% of the total estimated project cost. This project will include all of Gasparilla Island, including Boca Grande Isles, Three Sisters Island, Hoagen's Key, Loomis Island and the Gasparilla Inn Historic Resort Area. Also included are all other lands lying between the toll booth and

Gasparilla Island including Cole Island and the Boca Grande Causeway. BGCPA is also seeking $20,000 from Charlotte County and $25,000 from the Gaspariila Island Conservation and Improvement Association, Inc.

Legislature - Approved a resolution taking the following positions on legislation currently pending in the 2004 Florida Legislative Session:

OPPOSE SB 2563, which shifts the funding of pre-disposition juvenile detention costs from the state to the counties (estimated local impact $2.73 million)

OPPOSE SB 1174/HB 1205 (as written), affecting the Developments of Regional Impact process, thresholds and guidelines

OPPOSE Any measure by the House or Senate to repeal the local option gax tax for one year in Florida (Lee County has bonded this revenue stream) or to suspend 10 cents of the State's gas tax because of the devastating effects such measures would have on the State and local transportation system

OPPOSE HB 627 creating single-member Commission districts in Lee County AND repealing the staggering of County Commissioner terms

SUPPORT Changing the language of HB 297/SB 3122 to allow, preferably, hospital boards and, if necessary, County Commissions in counties with less than 800,000 population to approve referendums for local option Trauma taxes

Water Reservation - Agreed to support the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in its effort to draft legislation that sets forth water reservations for natural systems, and health and safety. The following resolution is proposed:

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FDEP ENDORSED LEGISLATION ON WATER RESERVATIONS

WHEREAS, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners in August 2002 became the first public body in South Florida to request a reservation of water for the natural system, the Caloosahatchee River, and

WHEREAS, many public and private entities have since requested or endorsed reservations of water for the natural system, and

WHEREAS, a reservation of water requires planning and permit agencies to understand current water supplies, the water budgeting system that has resulted, and the damage that is currently occurring to the segments of our economy that is dependent on the environment, and

WHEREAS, in response to the request for reservations, an understanding has grown that our permit system needs greater accountability in its impacts on the environment and in competition with existing legal users of water, and

WHEREAS, in response to the request from Lee County and others, both the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (FDEP) and the South Florida Water Management District have initiated rulemaking for reservations of water, and

WHEREAS, the rulemaking efforts of FDEP have been challenged by the Association of Florida Community Developers (AFCD), and

WHEREAS, the AFCD has proposed legislation that provides for a regular process of water reservations to be part of the water supply planning process currently in law, and clarifies reservations are for natural systems and human health and safety, and

WHEREAS, the proposed legislation is undergoing a thorough review by FDEP and other interested parties, and a compromise satisfactory to Lee County may be achieved,

NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF LEE COUNTY THAT:

1. Lee County BoCC endorses legislation that provides for a regular and reliable process of reserving water supplies for natural systems and human health and safety through the water supply planning required by law.

2. Lee County endorse FDEP efforts to ensure that such legislation is enacted for such purposes.

3. In the event legislation is not satisfactorily developed and enacted, the County Attorney's office, supported by the County Manager's office, is directed to prepare for BoCC consideration an intervention position in support of FDEP rulemaking for reservations should the rule challenge be continued.

ENACTED THIS DAY OF April 13, 2004

Manatee Rules - Received an update on state efforts that are dual-tracking federal efforts to reinstate Manatee Protection Zones in Lee County. Under state law, a review committee of local stakeholders will have to be created to review proposed zones. The county is working on the rules for establishing the committee. The county also has received back initial comments from the state on its proposed Manatee Protection Plan. The state's comments are editorial in nature, however it said that to get federal approval the MPP probably would require greater restrictions.