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Minutes

November 20, 2002

1.      CALL TO ORDER, INTRODUCTIONS, REVIEW OF AGENDA

The meeting of the Lee County Smart Growth Advisory Committee was opened by Chairman Dennis Gilkey at 6:14 p.m. in the First Floor Meeting Room of the Lee County Administration Building.  At this time a quorum of members was not present; therefore, a vote on the acceptance of the Minutes was deferred until later in the meeting.  The meeting proceeded with Ms. Janet Watermeier’s presentation on Item 3(A).

During Ms. Watermeier’s presentation the committee reached a quorum:Mr. Jack Eikenberg

Mr. Lee Ford

 Mr. Rob Fowler

Mr. Dennis Gilkey

Mr. Brian Griffin

Mr. Bill Hammond

Ms. Carol Hudler

Mr. Bob Janes

Ms. Jane Kuckel

Mr. Steve Maxwell

          Mr. Arnold Rosenthal

Mr. Don Stilwell

The following Committee members were excused absent:

Mr. Don Eslick

Ms. Kate English

Mr. Marty Harrity           

Mr. Tim Kenny

Ms. Ellen Lindblad

Mr. John Witt

2.      ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS

A.     MINUTES OF OCTOBER 16, 2002

Accept and approve the Minutes as amended by discussion of the members.

This item was discussed following Ms. Watermeier’s presentation.  Chairman Gilkey requested a motion to approve the Minutes.  Mr. Rob Fowler so moved, seconded by Ms. Carol Hudler.  Following a brief discussion on the Ginn project, the motion was called and carried.

At this time, Mr. Wayne Daltry gave his presentation on item 3(A).

3.      INFORMATIONAL BRIEFINGS/EDUCATION

A.     COMMUNITY CHARACTER ISSUES (continued)

This is part three of a three part series. This section includes a discussion of “sacred places,” festivals, and the County Economic Development programs.  Ms. Janet Watermeier will present on Economic Development issues, and Wayne Daltry will discuss the festivals and “sacred place” concepts.

Mr. Wayne Daltry opened the discussion.  Ms. Janet Watermeier, Executive Director, Economic Development Office, with the use of a slide presentation, explained that economic development is done to insure jobs for our citizens, expand the tax base, improve the quality of life and insure our economic future.  She explained how our economy has changed from being predominately agriculturally driven to an economy driven by tourism and construction.  To better balance our economy, her office is challenged to entice more diversified companies, who will pay higher wages, to relocate to this area.  Incentives can grow to as much as $2,000 per job created.  She elaborated on the value of Southwest Florida Regional Airport and Florida Gulf Coast University.  Ms. Watermeier went into great detail on the Research and Development Park to be developed in connection with FGCU.  A question and answer period followed.

At this time Chairman Gilkey opened discussion on Administrative Agenda Matters 2(A). 

Mr. Daltry gave an overview of festivals and “sacred place” concepts; he requested that each member give him a list of the activities or places that they consider important.  These are the things that build Community Character. 

Following a brief intermission, the meeting resumed with the following discussion.

B.     CONCLUSIONS DRAWN BY THE SMART GROWTH TASK FORCE REGARDING COMMUNITY CHARACTER

                              Presenters will be asked to respond to the problem statements developed by the Task Force. Committee members should review and expand upon list based on proceeding presentations of tonight and the last two months.  Issues List and Community Character Authorities attachments are on file.

Mr. Daltry briefly reviewed the presentations the committee has received.  He referred to the following seven statements from the Task Force:

Stated Problems: The following is the list of problem statements that the Lee County Smart Growth Community Character Working Group reached 100% CONSENSUS on:

1.      There is an absence of consensus among residents and decision-makers regarding a cohesive vision of what the county and its environs should look like.

2.      Revitalization and redevelopment lags behind new development in priority and incentive in the county.

3.      There are culturally and economically disadvantaged communities in Lee County, in contrast to comparatively more affluent communities, that place very different values on what community values should prevail.

      Issues Near Consensus were:

4.      Underused or lack of neighborhood leadership to plan and maintain communities.

5.      Stakeholder input and existing policies and systems in place do not encourage cohesive viable community development.

6.      There is a lack of consensus among business and government stakeholders as to what is the appropriate role of government in setting policies to ensure the development and maintenance of community.

7.      Current land use policies don’t encourage viable communities due to a lack of incentives for community development and redevelopment.

Chairman Gilkey clarified that the Committee is charged to respond to these seven items, or to add to them.  Addition of the following topics was discussed:

  •         The absence of School funding on the list

  •         That the committee is working for the entire county and should be aware of Community Redevelopment Agencies and Downtown Redevelopment Agencies

  •         The need for good schools

  •         Public safety

  •         Hospitals and health services; especially mental health

  •         Efficient operation of the government

  •         The need for tools to encourage leadership in the economically challenged areas

  •         Neighborhood Parks

  •         Revitalizing areas like Fort Myers

  •         The need for the committee to visit individual areas to meet the people involved

  •         Removal of the imaginary line between Fort Myers and the Dunbar area (railroad tracks)

  •         To provide guidelines for incentives to be used in targeted areas; have Mary Gibbs come back to the Committee; proper use of a CRA

  •         The need for a statement on Affordable Housing

Mr. Daltry wound up the discussion by stating that he now had 39 items on his list.

4.      SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

A.  TRANSPORTATION ISSUE LIST/PROGRESS REPORT

            This item is for action at the December 18th Meeting.  In addition to reviewing the item, the Committee should discuss how to move the issues and progress into recommendations for Board of County Commission review.   Back-up information is on file.

B.     WATER ISSUE LIST/PROGRESS REPORT

This item is for action at the December 18th Meeting.  In addition to reviewing the item, the Committee should discuss how to move the issues and progress into recommendations for Board of County Commission review.

Mr. Daltry distributed the Minutes of the Water Issue Sub-Committee meeting of November 6, 2002. 

5.      OTHER BUSINESS

A.     SCHEDULING SUBCOMMITTEES/WORKSHOPS, STANDARD DATES.

(OPTIONAL MEETINGS)

The Environmental Quality Subcommittee meeting is December 4th, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in Meeting Room 1A of the Public Works Building.

      B.  REVIEW OUTLINE OF PROGRAM AND REFINEMENT OF ROLE OF SMART GROWTH COMMITTEE.  Back-up information is on file.

 This item is for action at the December 18th Meeting.

 6.      PUBLIC COMMENT
None

7.      NEXT MEETING TIME

The next meeting is scheduled for December 18, 2002, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Lee County Administration Building, 1st Floor Meeting Room.

Mr. Daltry noted that there will be no presentations at this meeting.   Decisions will be made and directions given.  The Transportation List will be given out.  Monthly day-long meetings with speakers, will begin in January.  The committee will have to choose the most convenient day.  It will be the initial cut of recommendations tied to the issues.  Following a poll of the committee it was agreed to hold this meeting on a Friday.  Community Character and Land Use will also be discussed at this meeting.  Starting in January, each month there will be a Committee Meeting, a Sub-Committee Meeting and a day-long meeting.  

8.      ADJOURNMENT

The Chairman called for a motion to adjourn.  Mr. Brian Griffin so moved, seconded by Mr. Jack Eikenberg, called and carried.  The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

                                                      Respectfully submitted,

                                                      Shirley E. Rost