During their final meeting of the year on December 10, 2007, Elected Officials from across seven Central Florida counties reaffirmed their commitment to jointly addressing issues of regional significance. The “How Shall We Grow?” Congress of Regional Leaders consists of city, county and school board representatives from the seven-county Central Florida region.  The Congress will be guided by the Central Florida Regional Growth Vision, which was developed by the collective efforts of 20,000 Central Florida residents to ensure that the region remains a great place to live, learn, work and play.
 
Originally known as the Central Florida Joint Policy Framework Committee, the representative group of elected officials officially adopted their new name along with a formal operational structure during their meeting at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport.
 
The HSWG Congress also unanimously elected Frank Bruno, the Chairman of the Volusia County Council as the Committee Chair for 2008. Gary Bruhn, the Mayor of Windermere, was selected as Vice Chair.
 
In support of the Regional Growth Vision and Regional Compact, which was formally adopted by the committee in July, the committee pledged to:
· Develop appropriate regional policies;
· Promote understanding and support of the Vision;
· Monitor progress toward the Vision, and;
· Develop a process for updating the Vision to respond to evolving regional trends
 
The HSWG Congress has agreed to meet quarterly during 2008 with the first meeting to be held on February 1, 2008, at the METROPLAN ORLANDO.
 
myregion.org will serve as the convening and support organization for the Congress of Regional Leaders. In addition, myregion.org will compile and maintain a list of “best practice” examples occurring across Central Florida and also monitor “best practice” examples from around the state, nation and world.
 
In addition to approving its operational structure, the HSWG Congress also received a report from the “How Shall We Grow?” Green Print Committee on the progress being made to develop a seven-county map of the Natural Resources of Regional Significance for the region. The HSWG Congress approved the consensus-based approach being developed by the committee and asked to receive an update at their meeting in February.
 
In advance of a meeting that was held later in December by the Department of Environmental Protection’s Acquisition and Restoration Council, the HSWG Congress approved a letter and resolution supporting the Florida Forever project and encouraging that in the future, ARC consider regional systems, including the seven “Environmental Jewels” of Central Florida, when developing priorities. This letter and resolution was sent to ARC Committee Members along with all state legislators in the seven county region. 

Click here to link to a copy of the resolution

Click here to link to a copy of the letter