Sanibel, Florida - January 17, 2013

Contact: City Manager's Office (239) 472-3700

Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane to Chair Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)

Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane has been selected to Chair the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). MPO is the federally mandated and federally funded transportation policy-making organization that is made up of representatives from local government and governmental transportation authorities.

The MPO reviews and approves the urban transportation planning and programming process for the Lee County area and all plans and programs that are developed through the process. There are six core functions of the MPO: establishing and setting, evaluating alternatives, maintaining a long range transportation plan, developing a transportation improvement program and involving the public and protecting air quality.

Mayor Ruane was appointed to the Sanibel City Council to serve an interim position for a vacant seat in February 2007. In May 2007, he successfully ran for a permanent position on Sanibel City Council. He was re-elected in March 2009 and appointed by his peers as Vice Mayor for 2009-2010. Ruane has served as Mayor since 2010. He is Council's liaison: Employee Dependent Scholarship Committee, the Sanibel Police Officers Pension Board of Trustees, the Sanibel Planning Commission and the Contractors Review Board. Ruane also serves as the Treasurer for (MPO) and as Council's liaison on the Lee County Tourism Development Council (TDC). He was appointed as a Board member to the Florida Municipal Insurance Trust (FMIT) in January 2010 and appointed as Chairman in 2011. He was also appointed to the Florida Municipal Trust Investment Trust Committee (FMIvT) in 2011.

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