BOARD CREATES HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL/ IMPLEMENTS BLASTING moratorium FOR WINKLER EXTENSION AREA

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 1, 2003) – The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved:

Human Services Council – Amended the Lee County Administrative Code to create the Lee County Human Services Council. The Human Services Council will design a community based human service plan for the current and future human service needs in Lee County. The Council will be comprised of private and public community stakeholders. The mission of the Council will be to ensure the efficient delivery of community health and human services through:

Communication
Coordination
Strategic Planning
Innovation
Integration and collaboration
Measurable Outcomes

The Council will be composed of 31 voting members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners; a commissioner will act in an ex-officio capacity as part of the Council. The voting membership of the Council will be comprised as follows:

5 City Council Representatives
1 School Board Representative

· l Workforce Development Board Representative

3 Public Safety Representatives
l Judicial Representative
l United Way
2 Other Philanthropic Organizations
3 Faith Based Organizations
l Media
11 Business Leaders

EMS Night Vision Goggles – Accepted matching grant from the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services

for the purchase of Night Vision Goggles for the EMS helicopter crew. The use of night vision goggles will enable the helicopter crew to visually observe all obstacles on the ground that will enhance safe operation of the aircraft when doing nighttime landing at uncontrolled landing areas. The grant is in the amount of $60,0000.

Lee County Tolls System Upgrade – Approved the purchase of a multi-protocol reader system for electronic toll collection for the Lee County Tolls System. The current system is aged and needed upgrades. The new system will also be combatable with the state of Florida’s SunPass Toll Prepaid System. SunPass® is a statewide Prepaid Toll Program being implemented by the Florida Department of Transportation on most of Florida toll roads. The innovative system incorporates the latest in prepaid toll programs, saving commuters time and money, while creating more efficient, less congested roadways. Lee County Toll Bridges will be apart of the State’s SunPass system and any subscribers of SunPass will have their toll electronically deducted from their prepaid toll account.

Blasting Moratorium – Adopted an emergency ordinance establishing a 180-day moratorium on blasting within the Winkler Extension Area. Violations in the Winkler Extension area demonstrated that the current blasting regulations are not sufficient. The moratorium was adopted to prevent further injury to homes and communities within the Winkler Extension area.

Department of Juvenile Justice Grant – Approved grant award from the Department of Juvenile Justice in the amount of $57,194 for the Lee County Neighborhood Accountability Boards. The grant will allow Human Services to continue to work with, and expand, the existing Boards by funding staff training, travel expenses, and two part time coordinators. Neighborhood Accountability Boards currently serve the Charleston Park, Cape Coral, Dunbar, Harlem Heights, Leigh Acres, Page Park, Palmona Park, Pine Manor, and Suncoast Estates Communities.