Lee

I. Background

1. County: Lee

2. Contact: Linda Riley

3. E-mail: rileylt@leegov.com

4. Phone: 941 479-8505

5. Program Began in: February 1997

6. Program was funded in: FY 97/98

7. Length of Program: 7 years

8. Program was funded by (Bond, Sales Tax, Other):

Ad Valorem tax increase (0.5 mils)

9. If funded by bond, length of time to pay back bond: not applicable

10. County Population

April 1, 1999 (official): 417,114

April 1, 2000 (preliminary): 426,500

11. Total County Budget (Yearly): $1,162,775,733

12. Total Program Budget (Yearly): Approximately $12 million per year (less 10% set aside for management)

13. Total Number of Employees for the Land Acquisition Program: one

14. When is a good time to reach you by telephone? Monday, Tuesday or Thursday

II. Program Mechanics

1. How much land has been acquired since the program began?

18 properties totally 1,171 acres

2. How much money has been spent to date?

$11,409,911

3. What is your acquisition process?

Acquisitions are negotiated by Lee County staff. Offers are made based upon two appraisals that are contracted out.

4. How do you select properties for acquisition (i.e. one or two more committees, a citizen proposal committee)?

15 member advisory committee makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.

5. Does the ordinance distinguish between the purposes for which the properties may be acquired (e.g preservation, passive recreation, active recreation).

No, the local comprehensive plan does this.

6. What are the major selection criteria in your program (water quality, quantity of land, endangered or endemic species, open space, etc.)?

See attached "current2ndscor" form.

7. Do you have a defined acquisition strategy?

Yes.

8. If so, how is this articulated, e.g. by ordinance, rule or internal guidance?

By Resolution.

9. Please briefly describe your acquisition strategy? (e.g Is your land acquisition strategy designed to connect existing conservation lands (corridor), or is the focus on last of the last (small land area) or best of the rest (large areas))?

Designed to connect existing conservation lands, waterfront properties, or isolated areas that are large enough to provide meaningful environmental benefits.

10. Do you seek matching funds from outside entities such as The Nature Conservancy, Florida Communities Trust etc.?

Yes.

11. If so, please estimate the percentage of lands that were acquired with matching funds by partner. (i.e. 60% of acquired lands were matched - 30% The Nature Conservancy, 30% Water Management District)

So far no matching funds have been used.

12. Is land acquisition a specified goal of the county comprehensive plan? If so, what objectives and policies implement this goal?

Yes, they are too numerous to list. You can review the Lee Plan on the County web site: www.lee-county.com

III. Management

1. Do you require a management plan prior to, concurrent with or within a specified time after acquisition of properties?

10 percent of the ad valorem taxes are set aside for management. The interest earned on the set aside will be used for management and to fund 2 staff positions.

4. Do you have agreements with outside entities to manage acquired properties? If so, to what extent?

Yes, extensive intergovernmental coordination is used to management lands acquired. As stated earlier, most properties add on to existing preserves. Management of the additional property is usually incorporated into the management plan of the existing preserves, which are owned by a variety of entities.

5. Was the land use of the acquired areas specified in the ordinance (passive vs. active recreation etc.)?

No. However, the official Future Land Use Map category of the acquired properties will be changed to "Conservation Lands". Uses of such lands are limited to such activities as passive recreation. (See comment for II. 12.)

1. What type of advice do you have for a county that is just putting together a land acquisition program?

2. What major problems have you encountered in your county’s program and how would you change them if you could?

The County Administrator did not assign any county staff the responsibility to administer the program. The program foundered somewhat without assigned staff until a committed position was finally created.

The program was initially not supported by a majority of the local decision-makers. This program is in place due to the persistence of public pressure to allow a referendum to vote on the tax. In spite the somewhat disorganized beginnings of this program, the program has become very popular with the public, media, and local decision-makers.