Lee Commissioners approve Strategic Planning priorities

05/03/2021

Fort Myers, FL – The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to approve the consensus direction set at its annual Strategic Planning Workshop held earlier this year that identifies priorities for Fiscal Year 2021-22. 

The workshop, advertised on Feb. 12 and conducted Feb. 23, was held at the Sanibel Harbour Resort as it has been in a previous year. During the daylong event, which was open to the public, the Board discussed the progress the county made in 2020 as well as priorities for the coming year. Those priorities are: 

  • Financial – Approach multiple fund reserves holistically to enhance project funding; report on individual fund balances and policies annually. 
  • Transportation – Look for ways to expedite Tier 1 road projects; Bring back options at the May 4 Board workshop on Transportation Priorities. 
  • Water – Continue water quality initiatives, including septic-to-sewer/alternatives planning. Staff will provide the North Fort Myers final source testing results and septic alternatives at the Board’s April 20 workshop. Countywide source testing results and alternatives will be provided at a workshop at the end of the year or early next year. 
  • Human Services – Concentrate efforts on improving capacity and efficiency of the Rapid Re-Housing Program. Continue efforts approved at the March 16 Board meeting. 
  • Tourism – Increase parks amenities and access to Conservation 20/20 preserves. Analyze local and state sports facilities to assess potential niche opportunities that can be considered at a Board workshop in Fall 2021. 
  • Economic Development – Propose amendments to the economic element of the LeePlan and explore further redevelopment opportunities in North Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres; bring back options at a Board workshop in Fall 2021. 
  • Procurement – Buy locally as much as possible, including potential changes to local bidder preference policies. Bring back options at the June 1 Board workshop. 
  • Communications – Continue to build communication strategies on multiple platforms to include traditional and digital communication channels. Focus on education of public on important policies and develop tools to allow the public to have access to the information the Board uses when setting policy and making decisions. 

The Board also reviewed its 2020 priorities and reviewed the accomplishments achieved amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including: 

  • Water quality projects such as the completed Nalle Grade Stormwater project and the Southern Lee County Flood Mitigation Study 
  • Transportation priorities such as the widening of Homestead and Alico roads and the realignment of Littleton Road and Kismet Parkway. 
  • Continued efforts in the Conservation 20/20 program, with more than 30,000 acres of preserved land. 

Additional information from the Strategic Planning Workshop, including the presentation, minutes and information from last year’s workshop are available at a special landing page the county created here: www.leegov.com/bocc/strategicworkshop. A video of Commission Chairman Kevin Ruane outlining the strategic priorities is also on this site. 

The minutes can be accessed at https://minutes.leeclerk.org/ and searching for “Strategic.”