Another milestone in the “How Shall We Grow?” Initiative was reached when the seven county managers of Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia counties met for the first time on November 6, 2006, to discuss issues of regional importance.  This meeting was scheduled as a result of a recommendation at the last Regional Leadership Council meeting in September 2006.

In preparation for the meeting, each county manager was responsible for creating a County Information Matrix.  The purpose of the Matrix was to offer county specific recommendations relevant to the Regional Growth Principles identified by myregion.org.  County managers were also asked to share their unique Matrix at the meeting.  The recommendations provided by the county managers will help create and develop the Regional Policy Framework for Smart Growth in Central Florida.

Additionally, the managers had the opportunity to hear from Kirby Green, Executive Director of the St. Johns River Water Management District, who spoke about the importance of implementing a regional water conservation plan in Central Florida.  He provided an update on water resources in the region, mentioning that by the year 2013, the region will be in need of an alternate source of water.  He then urged counties in Central Florida to begin thinking of a more proactive approach for the future.

Following Green’s presentation, Shelley Lauten of myregion.org and Hal Beardall of the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium facilitated a group discussion on the subject of water.  They challenged the group to identify key issues regarding water in their respective counties and to make suggestions about policies that would have to be created or modified in order to affect change.

As a result of the constructive interaction experienced during this initial meeting, the county managers have committed to meeting again in the future to further their discussion and continue their support of the Regional Leadership Council and “How Shall We Grow?” Initiative.