FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kate Gooderham, Conservation 20/20 Advisory Committee
              (239) 489-2616

Lynda Riley, Lee County Lands Division, (239) 479-8505

SECOND CONSERVATION 20/20 FORUM THURSDAY, FEB.13, 2003 IN CAPE CORAL

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 11, 2003) - Lee County is holding its second of five public forums on the Conservation 20/20 Program this Thursday (Feb. 13) at Cape Coral Library.

The meeting is at 6:30 p.m. at the library, 921 S.W. 39th Terrace. Interested residents are encouraged to come learn about what's been happening with the Conservation 20/20 Program. The forums, which are being conducted by the citizen-led Conservation 20/20 Advisory Committee, are intended to give an update on the results of the program and take input from residents about any changes they'd like to see.

Lee County voters approved Conservation 20/20 in November 1996 through a referendum that increased property taxes by 50 cents for every $1,000 of taxable property value. That raises about $15 million a year to buy, restore and maintain environmentally sensitive lands for long-term preservation. More than 10,000 acres have been purchased through the program.

Future public forums include:

• Mar. 13 - East County Regional Library, 881 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres.
• Apr. 10 - Bonita Springs Middle School, 10141 West Terry Street, Bonita Springs.
• May 8 - Lee County Community Development/Public Works Bldg., 1500 Monroe St., downtown Fort Myers.

The public forums include a PowerPoint presentation on the results of the program (land acquired, money spent, goals reached) and are followed by questions and input from citizens about what they think of the program and any changes they'd like to see made in the renewal effort. It's also an opportunity to gauge public support for the program through a questionnaire that is handed out.

Conservation 20/20 is a willing seller program to acquire and manage land critical to help sustain: 1) water supply and water quality; 2) flood protection; 3) wildlife habitat; and 4) passive recreation. It is overseen by Lee County taxpayers through the Conservation Lands Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC or Conservation 20/20 Advisory Committee), with the help of the Board of Lee County Commissioners and county government staff.

To learn more about the program, visit its web site at http://lee-county.com/countylands/Cons2020/cons2020.htm or go to www.lee-county.com, then click on "Departments" and "County Lands Division."