During the third gathering of the Regional Leadership Council (RLC), comprised of the chairs of each of the seven county commissions in the Central Florida region, County Managers shared the number one transportation and the number one environmental issue facing in each county.  Where the environment is concerned, water resources - quality and quantity – is significant.  A range of transportation options and the funding to support them are also a priority.

With six of the seven County Managers in attendance to provide testimony to the RLC, it was also evident that recognizing our commonalities and working together for regional solutions is key.  While the specifics in each of the categories may vary, the challenge of funding the infrastructure needs to address them is the same. 

In Lake County, for example, the significant number of privately-owned roadways not maintained by the county create challenges to county service providers including emergency services, garbage collection, etc.  Public access to these roadways is hampered by the fact that many are not paved.  And, if they were to be paved, who would pay for it?  Similar challenges are also faced in Volusia County.

The County Chairs were encouraged by the recent announcement by Governor Bush regarding the historic agreement for 61 miles of right of way on CSX rail lines from Volusia to Osceola County for commuter rail.  This agreement will change the face of Central Florida and it is imperative that each of the counties in the region prepare for appropriate linkages to this important transportation spine for our region.

Led by Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty, the Council Chairman, discussion by the members of the Regional Leadership Council centered on the prospect of unprecedented growth across the region.  Certainly, while each county must work within its jurisdictional parameters, it is equally important that each consider the regional impact of their decisions regarding the future of Central Florida.

The members of the RLC were also updated on the current progress of the Regional Growth Vision Project.  Guided by myregion.org, “How Shall We Grow? – Creating a Shared Vision for Central Florida is entering its second round of community meetings soliciting input from citizens and community leaders.  The County Chairs have made a commitment to support and participate in the 15-month campaign. Once a vision is chosen, the RLC will be actively engaged in creating the “Policy Framework” that will help ensure that the vision is implemented.

“How Shall We Grow? – Creating a Shared Vision for Central Florida” is a fifteen-month process that brings together local, regional and state agencies in a partnership to design our collective future.  The Florida Department of Community Affairs, Florida Department of Transportation, the Central Florida MPO Alliance, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, and myregion.org have combined their professional talents and resources to take this message to the people of our region. 

Those who are interested can stay up-to-date by accessing the project website or joining in the conversation online at www.howshallwegrow.org.

myregion.org - A Regional Development Program - is designed to bring together the business, government and civic leadership representing the seven-county Central Florida region to develop a regional agenda for thought and action to ensure Central Florida's success in the 21st century global marketplace.