FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration (941) 335-2777

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 11, 2001) – Governor Jeb Bush has appointed Lee County Economic Development Director Janet Watermeier to a two-year term on the Florida Transportation Commission – giving Southwest Florida and Lee County an important voice in statewide transportation matters. Her appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

The Florida Transportation Commission was created by the 1987 Legislature to serve as a citizen’s oversight board for the Florida Department of Transportation. The Commission is independent of the department.

Composed of nine commissioners appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate, the Commission meets monthly. While the usual meeting location is Tallahassee, the Commission meets two or three times a year in the districts to receive local input.

The law requires that membership "equitably represent all geographic areas." Historical precedent is one commissioner from each FDOT district and two "at-large" commissioners – one with rail and one with ports expertise.

The Commission’s primary functions are to:

1. Review major transportation policy initiatives or revisions submitted by the department pursuant to law.
2. Recommend major transportation policy to the Governor and Legislature (Commission has recommended policies related to public transit, funding, road jurisdiction, truck weights, and penalties, etc.).
3. Serve as an oversight body for the FDOT (Commission assesses performance, monitors financial status, and reviews work program, budget requests and long-range plan).
4. Serve as nominating commission in the selection of the Secretary of Transportation (Governor appoints secretary from among three candidates nominated by the commission).

Watermeier has been director of the Economic Development Office of Lee County since 1995. The office is a county department and works to: retain and encourage the expansion of existing businesses; attract new and diversified employment to the area; and improve the business environment in Lee County. The office also acts as staff to the Horizon Council and Lee County Industrial Development Authority, both of which assist in the office’s mission. The office has a staff of 16 and an annual operating budget of $1.5 million.

Watermeier also is chair of Enterprise Florida’s Marketing Committee, vice president of programs for the Florida Economic Development Council and is a member of the Southwest Florida Transportation Initiative and Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.