Commissioners asked to reaffirm commitment to sustainability In Lee County

Since its formation, BikeWalkLee has been an active participant in the County's Community Sustainability Advisory Committee (CSAC) and its development of the Sustainability Plan. In light of a recent decision by County Administration to not move forward with the Sustainability Plan, and the CSAC's May 28th letter to BoCC asking for direction from the Board, Lee Public Voice (which BikeWalkLee is a part of) sent a letter to BoCC members June 10th asking the Board to hear and adopt the Sustainability Plan and to reaffirm its commitment to sustainability in Lee County by communicating to the CSAC that there is board support for the previously adopted 2014 Goals and Objectives. Below is the letter to the Board, which is also linked here with the attachments.

June 9, 2014

Lee County Board of County Commissioners

2120 SW Main Street

Fort Myers, FL 33901

County Commissioners:

The mission of Lee Public Voice (LPV) is to “advocate and educate both elected officials and the public in Lee County on issues that affect our sensitive natural resources, exceptional quality of life and a growing, diversified economy.” Consistent with that mission is our concern that the county maintains its commitment to community, transparency, and accountability. The purpose of this letter is to request that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) 1) hear and adopt the County's draft Sustainability Plan and 2) reaffirm its commitment to sustainability in Lee County.

LPV was dismayed to learn of the Community Sustainability Advisory Committee’s (CSAC) recent memo (attached)  to the BoCC asking that its purpose, goals, and objectives be reaffirmed. The memo indicated that a decision had been made to not move the Sustainability Plan forward for adoption.* This decision was made absent any public input or actionable transparent votes by the elected BOCC.  This has fundamentally altered the BoCC commitment to sustainability made in the unanimous adoption of the CompleteLEE Sustainability Assessment in March 2012 and in the formally adopted purpose and goals of the CSAC committee.

Over the last 15 years Lee County has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to smart growth and sustainability. In 2001 the BoCC authorized the creation of the Smart Growth Committee, following a year-long study by a smart growth task force. Over the years, this committee has played an instrumental role in assuring the environmental, social, and economic vitality of the county and guiding balanced growth consistent with citizen’s desires.  The Smart Growth Committee initiated the award-winning Complete Streets policy adopted by the BoCC in November 2009.

In 2010, the Smart Growth Committee transitioned into the CSAC as a way to stay current with national planning and growth trends. This obvious next step in integrating smart economic and environmental planning allowed the development of a committee that could offer diverse perspectives and guide the development of a Sustainability Plan.  Since then the CSAC has played an important role in Complete Streets policy implementation. Similarly, it has guided the implementation of the Sustainability Assessment and the development of the Sustainability Plan.

The development of the Sustainability Plan followed a model process with extensive public input over a three-year period. Throughout the process, the public (and the BoCC) demonstrated significant support for sustainability.  Over 2,000 residents were engaged through surveys, interviews, and public forums. This level of support has been consistent with other planning processes, including the New Horizon 2035 Evaluation Appraisal Report.  Both processes clearly elicited strong agreement with the fundamentals of sustainability. These citizen voices included business, nonprofit, and public sectors leaders from such organizations as Lee Memorial Health Systems, the SW Florida Community Foundation, and Edison National Bank.** They have consistently asked that the county balance economic, environmental, and social needs, emphasizing that this approach is essential for future success.

The Sustainability Plan was not just a top-down government plan for unincorporated Lee County; it was a community-wide vision of numerous community partners. It was intended to guide many organizations and agencies in the county towards a sustainable future. By unilaterally pulling the plug on this plan, it will adversely affect the processes of numerous other community partners and jeopardize their ability to compete for regional or national grants.  Unfortunately, the shift away from public support for sustainability will demonstrate that the county is not a reliable collaborative partner committed to promoting livable and sustainable communities.

There is a lot at stake in this decision, not the least of which is the loss of grant opportunities based on Lee County’s previous progress. For example, the highly competitive federal TIGER grant ($10 million) was awarded to Lee County because of its demonstrated commitment to complete streets and sustainability. If this commitment evaporates, the chances of securing grants of this nature in the future go with it.

Corporate America, however, is not so misguided about the future direction and the expectations of stakeholders with respect to sustainability. One of the criteria major corporations use in screening relocation spots is whether the community is committed to sustainability consistent with their own corporate values. This was an asset noted by our celebrated attraction of Hertz in their relocation decision.  Smart corporations expect communities to embrace livability and sustainability, evolving as reliable long-term partners in economic development while offering their employees a quality of life crucial to attracting and retaining talented professionals. Those same corporations continually hone their own operations because sustainability is good for the bottom line and they expect of government partners the same prudent perspective about making communities more sustainable.

LPV views any future BoCC action on this matter from the perspective of this one critical question: Is the BoCC willing to support the clear public sentiment that sustainability is important to Lee County?  The affirmative answer to this question should take the form of support for sustainability, the continued efforts of CSAC, and moving the Sustainability Plan forward to adoption and implementation.

As a result, LPV requests that the BoCC take the following action: 1) hear and adopt the Sustainability Plan in a timely fashion (such as by the end of this year) and 2) reaffirm its commitment to sustainability in Lee County by communicating to the CSAC that there is board support for the previously adopted 2014 Goals and Objectives.

In the draft Sustainability Plan, this summary is offered: “Sustainability is about quality of life -- maintaining and enhancing resources that attract and compel people to stay here long-term.” LPV can’t imagine this current county commission wants to turn their back on this prudent and publicly supported goal.

Sincerely,

Don Eslick

Acting Chair

Lee Public Voice

*While Lee County has removed the direct link to the sustainability plan, it can be viewed at: http://www.leegov.com/gov/dept/sustainability/completestreets/Documents/completeLEE%20-%20Sustainability%20Plan.pdf
**An outstanding video of community leader support for the plan is available at: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kW6LwjiNP3c

Lee Public Voice is a network of organizations and associations that have come together with the purpose of working for more inclusive County governance and meaningful public engagement, consistent with the county's motto of "community, transparency, and accountability."  Our mission is to advocate and educate both elected officials and the public in Lee County on issues that affect our sensitive natural resources, exceptional quality of life and a growing, diversified economy. 

LPV 1-page summary of Sustainability Plan

Link to LPV June 20th letter.

Lee County's Complete Streets 2013 Implementation Report

Earlier this year, the Lee County Complete Streets team presented the 2013 Complete Streets Implementation Report to the Community Sustainability Advisory Committee (CSAC) and the report is now posted on the County's Sustainability webpage.  BWL thanks the leaders of the County's Complete Streets team, Tessa LeSage, Andy Getch, and Jessica Mendes, along with the County's entire internal complete streets team, and the CSAC and its complete streets working group, for its continued commitment to implementation of the county's award-winning complete streets program.

The Complete Streets Resolution (09-11-13) adopted by the Lee Board of County Commissioners on November 10, 2009, included a requirement for an annual report on the implementation status.

The County's implementation plan and its annual reports on implementation has been highlighted in annual National Complete Streets Coalition (NCSC) reports evaluating the best complete streets policies; and was also highlighted this year in the AARP and NCSC Complete Streets Toolkit for Southeast USA.

This year's report highlights the following 2013 milestones and accomplishments:

Tampa Summit: Secy LaHood with Lee Co. team

• Complete Streets map-based evaluation tool use
• Review of elements of the 2035 Horizon Plan, the County's update of the Lee Comprehensive Plan
• System-wide VMT approximately equal from 2010 to 2012 while LeeTran ridership increased to over 4 million per year
• Coordinated with Lee County MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan
• EPA Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities
• Sustainable Communities Leadership Academy
• USDOT Southeast Regional Transportation Bike Safety Summit
• STEM@Work presentations/audits
• MPO awarded $10.5 million TIGER V complete streets initiative project grant

 For the first time, the annual report lays out priorities for the upcoming year.  The report highlights the following priorities for 2014:

•  A focus on safety, working with the MPO on implementation of the MPO Bike/Ped Safety Action Plan.  This is include revisions to the LDC addressing arterial intersection design and participating in traffic safety teams to implement enhanced safety/design techniques on high crash corridors; and identification of potential corridors for "road diets".
• Development of performance measures that dovetail with the MPO Bike/Ped Plan and the Sustainability Plan.
• Support implementation of the MPO TIGER V grant.
• Alignment of the County's economic development goals with the implementation of and performance metrics associated with Lee County's Complete Streets initiatives
• Assist in development of civic "hackathon" to better leverage technology to understand transportation needs and to gather information about how this infrastructure supports business.
• The Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) will evaluate on-road bike facilities and way-finding.
• County staff will conduct a complete streets evaluation of local streets on a neighborhood basis, in addition to resurfacing contracts.
• The National Resources Department will be added to the internal Complete Streets Team to assist in the review of the CIP.

This is the fourth annual report, with all reports available on the website:

Annual Reports
Annual Report 2013/2014
Annual Report 2012/2013
Annual Report 2011/2012
Annual Report 2010/2011


Report by Darla Letourneau

CompleteLEE Sustainability Plan presented to BoCC at Dec. 2nd M and P meeting

BikeWalkLee encourages organizations and citizens to come to the Dec. 2nd BoCC meeting to speak in support of the County's first Sustainability Plan.

At the Board's Management and Planning meeting on December 2nd (1:30-4:00 p.m. in County Commission Chambers), Tessa LeSage, the Sustainability Director, will be presenting an overview of the Sustainability Plan in advance of a request for the Board to adopt the Plan.  Click here for the agenda package and link to the Plan.

Background: (taken from the County's blue sheet)
In March 2012, the BoCC adopted completeLEE: A Sustainability Assessment, directing staff to utilize the information gathered in the assessment process to develop Lee County's first comprehensive Sustainability Plan.  With a three-year planning horizon, the Sustainability Plan builds upon policies, programs, and initiatives already taking place in Lee County.  Applying performance measures and best practice actions improve the county's ability to understand the impacts, successes and shortcomings of community efforts.  Having such a plan is an expression of a community's quality of life.  It helps the county align and organize its future goals and positions Lee County to adapt quickly to changing community conditions.  This makes Lee County more competitive in efforts to secure grant funding and attract visitors, residents, students, and businesses and the workforce on which they depend.  For example, local efforts to promote community sustainability were applied in the MPO's recent success securing $10.5 million in TIGER V funds.

Click here to read the full agenda package. 

Click here to review the Sustainability Plan. 

Lee County business and community leaders talk about importance of sustainability for community

Thanks to Lee County business and community leaders who took the time to explain the importance of sustainability to our community on this short video created by the County's Office of Sustainability, directed by Tessa LeSage.  Take four minutes to watch this video, be inspired, and share it with others.

In this short video, Lee County business and community leaders explain what sustainability means and why it is important to work together on a plan to ensure our community is resilient and has a high quality of life. 

 It's the latest installment for Lee County's first Sustainability Plan, completeLEE: Our Community, Our Plan.

The Office of Sustainability, with assistance from the Community Sustainability Advisory Committee, is on track to release the plan in August 2013.

Lee County Advisory Committees weigh in on transportation projects in the draft 5-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

Both the LPA and CSAC reviewed the County's draft CIP last week, and the BoCC will again discuss three road projects at the June 3rd budget workshop.  If you want to share your views with commissioners, this is the week.

Background

As part of the annual budget process, the county develops a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that reflect the County's infrastructure needs, including transportation projects, over a five-year timeframe.  Two committees have responsibility for reviewing the draft CIP and making recommendations to the County Commissioners before it is approved.  The Local Planning Agency (LPA) has the responsibility to determine whether the CIP is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan.  The Community Sustainability Committee (CSAC) reviews the CIP in terms of its alignment with the County's sustainability and complete streets objectives.

LPA Recommendations

At the May 20th LPA meeting, the committee heard presentations by Lee County staff and took public comment from several citizens and organizations, including BikeWalkLee, the Tice Historic Planning Committee, and Responsible Growth Management Coalition.  As a result of extensive deliberations, the LPA unanimously approved the following recommendations to the BoCC*.

o   Ortiz: That we ask the Board of County Commissioners to revisit the current plan on Ortiz north of Luckett Road to Hwy 80 to reconsider the recommendations from the community and to work with the community on redesigning that section of the road to satisfy the needs of the community.

o   Alico widening: 

• That the timing of the Alico Road extension be contingent on the completion of a master plan for the Research and Development Diamond and that it should lead to reallocation of funds as shown in the CIP.

• The Board of County Commissioners, in the funding for future expansion of Alico east of Treeline, take into account other funding mechanisms than gas tax such as forming an MSTU or other private funding mechanisms to accomplish the widening of that road rather than put that on the tax payer.

o   Estero Blvd. Improvement: that South Estero Boulevard improvements should be moved to the highest priority for funding since that road meets the definition of how the priority should be set in Objective 2.3 in the current Comprehensive Plan

*Note: LPA member Steve Brodkin voted in support of these recommendations, but moved to reopen the vote so he could vote against the overall motion because he felt that the CIP is not consistent with the Lee Plan.  The motion as adopted states that the LPA finds the CIP consistent with the Lee Plan with the following recommendations.

CSAC Recommendations

The CSAC met on May 22nd to consider the draft CIP and heard from staff and the public, including Darla Letourneau representing BikeWalkLee and Margaret Banyan who is a member of the Tice Historic Planning Committee.  Letourneau's presentation  focused on the consistency of the CIP with CSAC's 2012 recommendations (see Attachment 1 in BikeWalkLee's June 2012 memo to the BoCC), and distributed a draft motion for the Committee's consideration.  Due to the lack of a quorum, the motion could not be acted upon and will be delayed until  June 19th. 

 The proposed motion would support the LPA recommendations (see above), and reiterate some of the CSAC 2012 recommendations that were not acted on last year.  In addition, the draft motion includes a request that LeeDOT assess changes to the CIP with respect to planned right of way purchases for those projects that are unlikely to proceed as currently planned, including, Three Oaks Parkway, Ortiz Avenue (SR80 to Luckett), and Homestead 4L/Sunrise--Alabama. 

BoCC Review of CIP focused on three road projects

No budget workshop has been planned for the BoCC to discuss the proposed CIP; however, there was an Management and Planning (M & P) meeting on May 6th for the Board to discuss staff options on how to move forward on three road projects--Estero Blvd. Improvement, Alico widening, and Homestead Rd. widening--given that there were insufficient funds for the current plans and schedules for these three projects.  Here is the link to the staff's paper provided to the Board on 5/2.

BikeWalkLee communicated with Board members by email on May 3rd to reiterate its 2012 recommendations on these three projects:

"As we stated in the attached June 19, 2012 memo and on many other occasions, we believe that the Estero Blvd. improvement project should be the county's top funding priority.  With respect to the Alico Rd. project, we recommended that this project not move forward until after the development of a comprehensive master plan for the Research Diamond area.  Thus, we recommend that the $1.6 million currently budged for 2012-13 for the design phase, as well as the 2013-14 and out year costs, be delayed until such time as that master plan is completed to ensure that the roadway conforms to the envisioned land use."

"Since preparing those recommendations, there is one new development that should be factored into your discussions.  Subsequent to our June 2012 comments, the Board provided $1.2 million in the final CIP for the Lehigh complete streets activity centers study and design work, which we actively supported.  We believe that the outcomes from that study will be needed before you can decide the appropriate next steps and schedule for the Homestead Rd. project that is discussed in Policy Question #2."

At the May 6th M & P meeting, the Board discussed the three projects but failed to provide staff with direction about how to prioritize them or revise their schedules to live within available resources.  Instead, they asked staff to come back to them with alternatives for financing these projects as currently planned.  That follow-up discussion is scheduled to occur at the June 3rd budget workshop.  Check the County website for staff materials that will be sent to the Board in advance. (Generally posted the Friday preceding the Monday workshop.)  Note it's on the Budget Workshop link, not the BoCC agendas or M & P page.

When do citizens get a chance to provide public comment on the CIP?

Except for the public comment opportunities at the LPA and CSAC meetings, there is no forum for public comments before the BoCC until the final budget hearings in September, after the budget decisions have essentially been made.

Although there is not an opportunity to speak at BoCC meetings on these projects, citizens and organizations can always write, call, or meet with elected officials to share their views on these important proposed expenditures, with the next opportunity being before the June 3rd budget workshop.  You can also provide public input at the upcoming CSAC meeting on June 19th.

Report by Darla Letourneau