[2:41] over.
[2:45] [clears throat]
[2:55] » You still smiling?
[2:59] Good. Thank you.
[3:18] » All right. I'd like to call this meeting
[3:19] to order. Um, tonight we have a
[3:22] invitation provided by Pastor Bill
[3:24] Gilmore of the First Presbyterian
[3:25] Church.
[3:27] Good evening, sir.
[3:31] » Let's pray. Lord God, we thank you for
[3:34] the blessings that we have received,
[3:36] both known and unknown, for this
[3:38] community that we live in, that we may
[3:40] all live in peace and harmony. Dear
[3:43] Lord, help us to be good stewards of
[3:44] your creation, to be thoughtful and
[3:46] loving towards this beautiful place we
[3:48] call home, to truly appreciate and
[3:50] respect the beauty of the world that
[3:52] surrounds us. Lord God, we ask that you
[3:55] share your wisdom and grace with all who
[3:56] are in authority as they are called to
[3:59] govern our city. We pray that we all may
[4:01] share in the love of our neighbor and be
[4:03] kind and compassionate towards all that
[4:05] we meet. Lord, guide us in making good,
[4:08] sound decisions for building towards a
[4:10] future that our children and their
[4:12] children may prosper and grow in a place
[4:15] that the families may thrive in harmony
[4:17] with the beautiful world around them.
[4:19] All these we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
[4:24] Please join me in the pledge of
[4:26] >> allegiance
[4:28] to the flag of the United States of
[4:30] America and to the republic for it
[4:32] stands one nation
[4:35] indivisible with liberty and justice for
[4:38] all.
[4:42] » Roll call.
[4:43] >> Council member Voguez
[4:44] >> here.
[4:45] >> Deputy Mayor Purden
[4:46] >> here.
[4:46] >> Council member Carr
[4:48] >> here.
[4:48] >> Mayor Gibson
[4:49] >> here.
[4:49] >> Council member Corey
[4:50] >> here. Council member Fullick
[4:52] >> here.
[4:52] >> Council member Fitzpatrick
[4:53] >> here.
[4:55] >> Thank you. All right. Uh public comment
[4:58] on budget agenda items. Any public
[5:02] comment on the budget?
[5:07] All right. Seeing none.
[5:10] All right. Mike, you want to read the
[5:14] >> This is a resolution of the city of
[5:16] Bonita Springs, Florida, Lee County,
[5:18] Florida, adopting the final levying of
[5:20] advalorum taxes for the city of Bonita
[5:23] Springs, Lee County, Florida for fiscal
[5:25] year 2026 2027 and providing for an
[5:29] effective date. Whereas the city of
[5:31] Bonita Springs, Lee County, Florida on
[5:33] September 23rd, 2026 adopted fiscal year
[5:37] 2026 2027 final millage rate following a
[5:41] public hearing as required by Florida
[5:43] statute 200.065
[5:46] and whereas the city of Bonita Springs,
[5:48] Lee County, Florida held a p public
[5:50] hearing as required by Florida statute
[5:52] 200.065 065. And whereas the gross
[5:55] taxable value for operating purposes not
[5:58] exempt from taxation within the city of
[6:00] Bonita Springs, Lee County, Florida, has
[6:03] been certified by the Lee County
[6:04] Property Appraiser to the city of Bonita
[6:07] Springs as 19 bill271,813,275.
[6:14] Now therefore be it resolved by the city
[6:17] council of the city of Bonita Springs,
[6:19] Florida. Number one, the fiscal year
[6:21] 2026 20227 final ad valorum operating
[6:25] millage rate is hereby adopted as 0.8470
[6:30] mills that is 0.8470
[6:33] cents per $1,000 of assessed property
[6:35] value which is greater than the rollback
[6:38] rate of 0.8411 8411 mills by 0.70%
[6:44] mills and the levy of an annual tax for
[6:46] city year is made. Number two, the final
[6:49] mill rate is established to provide
[6:51] funding for the fiscal year 2026 20227
[6:55] budget and the resulting increase in
[6:57] advorum tax revenues is necessary to
[7:00] fund various storm water improvements,
[7:02] transportation improvements,
[7:04] environmental protection projects,
[7:06] community aesthetics projects, and other
[7:08] capital projects. Number three, this
[7:11] resolution shall become effective
[7:13] immediately upon its adoption by city
[7:15] council.
[7:17] Thank you.
[7:18] >> Motion to approve.
[7:20] >> Second. We have a motion in a second.
[7:22] Any discussion?
[7:23] >> Discussion.
[7:24] >> Any discussion?
[7:25] >> Do I have any um
[7:28] any appetite of the council to go to the
[7:30] roll back rate?
[7:34] » I would like to see the roll back rate.
[7:36] That's uh
[7:38] Lisa, the roll back rate, what's the
[7:40] difference of
[7:42] is it about 109,000?
[7:46] um which isn't a whole lot. Um you know,
[7:50] just with the the climate, the way it's
[7:52] going with the amendment three and the
[7:56] Florida doge and everything. Yeah.
[7:57] What's everybody's uh feelings on that
[8:00] >> on the on the on the property tax thing?
[8:04] I mean, my honest, you know, it listen,
[8:07] if it were to pass, you know, we're
[8:09] going to have to rearrange things. But
[8:11] this is such a that for $190,000 the
[8:14] idea that we can't go back on to a roll
[8:18] back so that we're philosophically kind
[8:20] of going in the right direction.
[8:21] >> I don't it it's the problem isn't
[8:24] $190,000 problem. Okay. 109. So it's
[8:27] that's not the type of problem we're
[8:29] talking about. So if it's if amendment
[8:32] three passes, we have a significantly
[8:34] larger scale issue to deal with. That
[8:37] said, every piece of polling that I've
[8:40] seen does not show that it has the
[8:42] support and there's a bunch of money
[8:44] that is going to be getting put against
[8:46] it from all of the special districts,
[8:48] from the sheriffs, from everybody who is
[8:51] going to have a vested interest in it. I
[8:54] think the realtors dropped money for it,
[8:56] but I think everybody, every other group
[8:58] essentially is going to be dropping a
[8:59] bunch of money against it. You have to
[9:00] have over 60. They're not at 60. So, if
[9:03] you're not at 60 and you're about to
[9:05] have the world dropped on your head, the
[9:06] chances of it passing are not
[9:08] significant. So, that's that's my honest
[9:10] analysis from what I'm seeing.
[9:12] >> See, I've been struggling with this
[9:14] also. So,
[9:18] I'm gonna go with Mike and Jesse.
[9:22] >> Any other
[9:25] go ahead.
[9:26] >> I think from from my perspective that
[9:28] yes, 100 and change is not a significant
[9:31] number.
[9:32] But when you look at the con consistent
[9:36] revenue sources from sales tax, from
[9:38] state shared revenue, you're talking of
[9:41] reductions of hundreds of thousands of
[9:43] dollars. Um, three years ago, the year
[9:47] before I was elected or 24, the
[9:49] commitment by council was such that we made the adjustment in in the
[9:54] millillage to go ahead and account for
[9:56] rebuilding our reserves in terms of our
[9:59] storm water and resiliency.
[10:01] uh we are at 1.5 million or something
[10:04] like that and short of our target of $10
[10:06] million and I think um to to go ahead
[10:10] even with something less than $200,000
[10:13] with a declining revenue source it
[10:15] doesn't make sense for the limited
[10:18] impact that it would have on the budget.
[10:19] So um I'm in favor of retaining the
[10:22] discussed millage.
[10:24] >> But hold on I just to clarify. So if
[10:27] it's not going to make a difference
[10:28] because it's only 190, you're saying we
[10:30] should or we should or I'm sorry 109.
[10:32] You're saying we should or we shouldn't.
[10:34] >> I'm saying we should maintain the
[10:38] increased millage and not roll back.
[10:40] >> Okay.
[10:41] >> Well, I just
[10:44] current
[10:44] >> the current mill that as discussed and
[10:47] not going to the roll back.
[10:48] >> So don't go to the roll back rate even
[10:49] though the number is
[10:51] >> minimal amount and and reduced revenues
[10:53] and and essentially from my end is that
[10:56] not knowing what happens. Three,
[10:58] regardless of our optimism one way or
[11:00] the other, um it it's far easier to to
[11:04] keep our powder dry. Um in the event
[11:07] that it goes the other way. So, um
[11:10] >> if it goes the other way,
[11:11] >> that's just where my head is. That's all
[11:13] >> I hear you. If it goes the other way, no
[11:14] amount of powder we have is going to be
[11:16] >> Yeah, I understand that. We've got
[11:17] bigger issue fish to fry.
[11:19] >> But we need
[11:20] >> but it it's I'm just saying that you you
[11:22] got less sales tax. You got reduced
[11:25] impact fees which we know are going to
[11:26] be bouncing around all around the place
[11:28] and so forth. The gas tax is down and and our and we got a reduced shared
[11:34] of of state revenue. So, so I mean you
[11:38] everything all our other revenue sources
[11:39] have been cut and to just even to
[11:41] eliminate this small amount I I just
[11:44] doesn't think it
[11:45] >> from a fiduciary standpoint to the
[11:47] citizens and the projects we're
[11:48] supporting I don't think it it's it's
[11:50] right to take that piece out.
[11:52] >> The the the position that you're
[11:54] articulating is the exact position that
[11:55] the citizens are in. Everybody is in a
[11:58] situation right now where affordability
[12:00] matters and a little bit of money a just
[12:03] this just reading the article that we we
[12:06] lowered it instead of being like
[12:08] everybody else and raised it at least
[12:10] maybe they're going to think hey they're
[12:11] on our side.
[12:13] Maybe maybe not. But if the number
[12:17] itself like you said is inconsequential
[12:20] and we're feeling you know we're
[12:22] starting to feel like we have to might
[12:24] maybe tighten things up. look around our
[12:26] community. Every single person is in
[12:28] that situation. So for us to be able to
[12:31] give a little bit of relief in a
[12:33] situation when they're feeling the
[12:34] strain, we're partners in this. And I
[12:37] think that, you know, it would be
[12:39] affordability matters and every little
[12:41] bit matters. And really more than
[12:43] anything since it is an inconsequential
[12:45] amount of money, as you stated, it's a
[12:48] signal that we feel your pain. we are
[12:50] with you and we want to make sure that
[12:53] we can maintain services but ensure that
[12:56] you as the citizens uh feel like we're
[12:59] doing right by you.
[13:02] >> Thanks Mike. Um you know I I understand
[13:05] and respect everybody's feelings on this
[13:07] being out on the campaign trail and
[13:10] talking to people. Um and this is a good
[13:13] example today. Not a single person came
[13:15] up here to talk about the budget. They
[13:17] trust us. They really do. They love
[13:19] hearing the fact that our city is in
[13:21] much better financial shape than many
[13:23] other municipalities.
[13:25] And you know, three years ago, guys,
[13:27] remember we did the right thing. We
[13:29] started building the reserve fund back
[13:30] up. And thanks to Chris's efforts on,
[13:34] you know, knowing where we should be.
[13:36] We're getting there. Um, I would rather
[13:40] be able to be in a position next year
[13:42] saying to folks, hey, we're going to be able to give you some
[13:44] money back, but it's going to be a
[13:47] really, really difficult meeting next
[13:49] year during budget hearings if if three
[13:50] passes. So, do we do the responsible
[13:54] thing and say, "Guys, we're not going to
[13:55] raise the millage rate, but we're
[13:57] concerned." And nobody wants to hear, by
[14:00] the way, nobody wants to hear about
[14:01] cutting services. They really don't. And
[14:04] so I haven't had one single person say
[14:06] to me once I've said,"Well, you're
[14:08] probably talking about saving yourself a
[14:10] dollar or two," "No, leave, as long as
[14:13] you're not going to raise it, leave it
[14:14] alone." That's what the people are
[14:15] saying that I'm talking to in my
[14:17] district. Either way, we're doing a good
[14:20] thing, but I think I'd really ask all of
[14:22] you to be really pragmatic about this
[14:24] and be the parents that are saying no, increase in your allowance this year.
[14:30] Chris,
[14:31] >> well always look at
[14:35] try to break the the tax rate down into
[14:38] two pieces. One is is supporting the
[14:41] operations of the city day in and day
[14:44] out. Uh the community policing program,
[14:46] the the uh building department and what
[14:52] we try to do in terms of services to uh
[14:55] the uh voters. The second piece is the
[14:59] what the the money we collect to build
[15:02] the city and we have done an you know we
[15:06] continue to do an outstanding job I
[15:08] think in terms of building the
[15:10] infrastructure whether it's the money
[15:13] we're going to spend on BERT whether
[15:15] it's the downtown improvements whether
[15:16] it's the east side improvements or along
[15:19] the beach so you know the the mill rate
[15:23] goes for two things it goes for services
[15:25] it goes for capital improvements
[15:28] I don't see that we've had a discussion
[15:31] in the previous budget meetings about
[15:34] the need to just simply cut back the tax
[15:37] rate. I think we have a plan that to to
[15:42] provide the services needed. We have a
[15:44] plan for capital improvements and I
[15:46] think what we're here to do is to
[15:48] finalize the money that we need to
[15:50] collect in order to achieve the goals
[15:52] that we've set out in the whole budget
[15:54] process. So I would not be in favor of
[15:57] cutting back because we if we were going
[15:59] to cut that back then we should have
[16:01] been discussing it before that.
[16:04] >> Laura,
[16:06] >> I'd just like to add to Jesse. It also
[16:09] sign shows a shine of hope that we
[16:12] believe things are going to get better
[16:14] and that our downtown folks are going to
[16:17] be hit up for money [laughter]
[16:20] and because we're not having our
[16:22] services cut. We're having the best, you
[16:25] know, events and um we're not going to
[16:29] change, but we might have to go about it
[16:31] a little bit different for a little
[16:33] while to get where we need to be. So,
[16:39] I'm still inclined to go to the roll
[16:42] back
[16:44] >> and I think you need
[16:46] five.
[16:50] » Um,
[16:52] yeah. I mean, I have to look at it like
[16:53] we've said it. I mean, we say it's
[16:56] $109,000,
[16:58] but I mean, we look at how we've wanted
[17:01] to run our city and what we've wanted to
[17:04] do and the events we've wanted to plan
[17:07] and provide for our citizens. And yes,
[17:10] it's 109 and maybe that's not a lot, but
[17:13] it's going to help us be able to still
[17:16] continue to provide for what we have
[17:18] planned and what our citizens love and
[17:23] have come to see Bonita Springs grow to
[17:27] be. So, I am inclined to stay with where
[17:30] we're at at this point.
[17:32] >> Before we vote, can I ask a question?
[17:34] Does anybody know, Lisa, maybe what what
[17:36] was the adorum year-over-year like? So, what did we think we were going to
[17:40] get? What did we actually get?
[17:47] » Because my I'm just wondering if if did
[17:49] we did we get more than 109,000
[17:53] than we than what we anticipated?
[17:56] >> Um do do you mean from the taxable value
[17:59] growth? Our taxable value this year was
[18:02] relatively flat.
[18:04] >> Okay.
[18:05] >> Um I think it was 09 actually. They got
[18:08] a little bit of a bump from June to
[18:10] July, but it was on average pretty flat.
[18:13] >> Would you would you say it would be more
[18:14] than 109?
[18:18] » Um,
[18:20] I wouldn't want to speak without looking
[18:22] back. I wasn't prepared for that
[18:24] question. Um,
[18:28] possibly. I mean, if you look in your
[18:30] budget packet, um, you know, page 11,
[18:32] the total, if we stayed where we are
[18:34] now, the increase in Avalor revenue was
[18:37] 365,000.
[18:39] That was from, um, some new
[18:41] construction. And and and keep in mind
[18:43] when we say roll back rate, that's
[18:46] designed um to produce the revenue that
[18:49] you uh would have earned in the prior
[18:51] year plus your new construction and new
[18:54] growth. because new construction and new
[18:56] growth means new services, new
[18:57] households or new businesses that
[18:59] require services. So it it's not flat
[19:01] completely revenue-wise. Um so does that
[19:05] answer your question, Jesse?
[19:07] >> So the answer to my question would be
[19:09] yes. It was more than 109.
[19:11] >> Yes. Yes.
[19:12] >> Okay.
[19:13] >> All right. So I just wanted to clarify
[19:14] that before the vote. So it that would
[19:15] cover the differential of what you just
[19:17] discussed. So you're worried about the
[19:19] 109. What I'm saying is we brought in
[19:20] more than that. So that more than covers
[19:24] that loss that you're worried about if
[19:26] that changes anything. I'm just saying
[19:28] if if that changes anything,
[19:29] >> but it didn't cover inflation.
[19:31] >> That's fair. That's look and if we want
[19:34] to figure out what that calculation
[19:35] would be and see where we're at, that's
[19:36] fine. But I mean, I think we're all kind
[19:38] of on the same page. This this number is
[19:41] not going to make or break our budget,
[19:44] but it is going to be a signal to the
[19:46] people that we represent that we hear
[19:47] your pain. And we are also in the same
[19:49] situation,
[19:50] >> Nigel. Well, I wanted to speak uh the
[19:52] realtors. I can say that realtors in
[19:55] this area were really surprised and not
[19:58] happy about what the board of realtors,
[20:00] the Florida State Board of Realtors did.
[20:02] >> Yeah. $10 million. But that was one of
[20:05] those I guess it was somewhat fractious.
[20:07] Um but they're not in support of it. And
[20:10] when you talk about property values,
[20:12] let's be real serious. We're not going
[20:15] to have a lot more building in Benita
[20:17] Springs over the next couple of years.
[20:18] we're kind of close to build out. You've
[20:20] got um major builders who are pulling
[20:23] back on their projections for next year.
[20:26] And then you look at uh condominiums,
[20:29] single family homes are doing okay.
[20:31] Condos are not. The average condo is the sellers are having to come down in
[20:37] their prices. So when Lisa says flat
[20:40] this year, I'm saying flat next year and
[20:43] could get worse. You know, when we say
[20:46] we're sending a good message or we're
[20:47] sending the message that we feel your
[20:49] pain, I think the citizens want to hear
[20:52] that we're continuing to run the city
[20:53] and then in a year or two they're not
[20:55] going to hear we're raising your taxes
[20:56] while your incomes have gone down.
[21:00] There's nothing easy about this, but I'd
[21:02] rather be sitting in this situation next
[21:05] year saying, "Hey, we're going to be
[21:06] able to lower your taxes
[21:08] >> in this current economy." If you think
[21:10] if we had a a polling of the audience in
[21:13] this economy and we said, "Would you
[21:15] prefer we raise your taxes or or lower
[21:17] your taxes?" What do you think?
[21:19] >> Would you prefer we leave your taxes or lower them or lower them? What do you
[21:22] think that $5?
[21:25] >> That's not relevant. You want more or
[21:27] less?
[21:27] >> It's It is relevant. Come on. Just say
[21:30] to people, "We're going to we're going
[21:31] to lower your taxes $5, but we're
[21:33] probably going to have to cut back on
[21:35] services." Why would we have to cut back
[21:36] on services when again we just
[21:38] established that we had covered it?
[21:40] >> Inflation less income than we expect,
[21:42] >> right? But if we got 365 and we're at
[21:45] 109, sub do subtract that and then
[21:48] calculate income and we still more than
[21:49] covered that. [clears throat]
[21:53] » Yes. Um Lisa, could you go ahead? Do we
[21:56] have more than 40,000 taxable houses
[21:59] here?
[22:08] I'm sorry, sir. I'm not.
[22:09] >> Do we have more than 40,000 taxable
[22:11] houses in the city of Bonita Springs?
[22:14] >> I thought it was like 48,000 or
[22:15] something like that, but
[22:16] >> that sounds You mean parcels? Actually,
[22:18] >> parcels that would re be receiving
[22:21] property taxes of some mean.
[22:22] >> That sounds like a fair number. I' I'd
[22:24] hate to
[22:25] >> be specific. Yes. If you take the
[22:26] 40,000, you divide it into the into the
[22:29] 109,000, that's $2.75.
[22:33] And I guess my question is instead of
[22:34] asking, do you want your taxes lowered?
[22:37] Do you do would would you prefer to to keep the 275 that are in your taxes
[22:43] today? Because we only charge 6.6 of
[22:46] every profit tax dollar comes to the
[22:48] city of Bonita. We are the lowest end of
[22:50] this whole thing.
[22:51] >> You're not I 100% agree with that. I
[22:53] mean the the honest to god truth is the
[22:56] schools make out the best in this entire
[22:58] deal and they're not even included in
[22:59] amendment three.
[23:00] >> I know.
[23:01] >> So I mean I mean whether
[23:03] >> my only point it's $2.75. This is this
[23:06] is not a consequential tax reduction to
[23:08] a parcel owner in the city of
[23:10] >> spring. Then why the opposition?
[23:12] >> I'm sorry.
[23:13] >> I said then why such vehement
[23:14] opposition? If it's not if it's such an
[23:16] inconsequential thing then what is the
[23:18] problem? because I value the the that
[23:20] $900,000 of income for the variety of
[23:23] issues that we confront both on a
[23:25] budgeted and an unbudgeted basis.
[23:27] >> We're at 9 109.
[23:30] >> Yeah.
[23:32] >> I mean,
[23:34] we seem to have no problem talking about
[23:36] cutting stuff when we vote for
[23:37] additional appropriations during the
[23:39] year. And from my end, 109,000 for some
[23:42] of the miscellaneous stuff that we have
[23:44] voted on the past year and so forth
[23:45] without discussing what we're going to
[23:46] cut. I mean, think about the fact just
[23:48] Byron Donald's just got us $2.8 million
[23:50] for what, Rosemary Drive or something
[23:52] like that. That wasn't that wasn't
[23:53] anything we anticipated getting. How
[23:55] much did the state give us and what and
[23:57] what for the projects they gave us? Did
[23:59] we account for that in our budgeting?
[24:00] No. Those were a hope and a prayer that
[24:02] we would get them. We got them. That's
[24:04] great. That helps our budget, but we
[24:06] can't pretend that things don't exist
[24:09] holistically because there are things
[24:11] that are coming in also that we aren't
[24:12] accounting for. So, you have to be you
[24:14] have to look at both sides of that. I
[24:15] respect your opinion, but the the
[24:17] reality is if you use the number of
[24:19] 40,000 parcels divided into 109,000s,
[24:22] it's approximately $2.75
[24:25] impact to the homeowner.
[24:27] >> So you're saying 275 is
[24:29] >> inconsequential in that I would not roll
[24:32] back the taxes for 275.
[24:34] >> So if you're saying that, what is 275?
[24:37] >> Because of the
[24:38] >> because what is look at our entire
[24:39] budget. How much what is 109 of our
[24:41] entire budget?
[24:43] Is it consequential? Nope.
[24:46] >> Okay. So,
[24:48] >> the dinosaur in the room is amendment
[24:50] three.
[24:51] >> Yeah.
[24:52] >> Right. So,
[24:53] >> there's something else we're not talking
[24:54] about is the folks on the east coast and
[24:57] not disparaging anybody personally. They
[25:00] don't seem to be able to run their
[25:01] cities very well. You've already got
[25:03] you've got cities over there with two
[25:05] and a half% 2 plus millage rates and
[25:09] they're in trouble over there with
[25:11] amendment three big time. And when we
[25:13] say that Tallahassee or I mean Byron
[25:17] gets elected, great. Good for us. But
[25:20] there's gonna be limited dollars. And
[25:22] the people that'll scream the loudest
[25:23] are the ones on the East Coast. And they
[25:26] there's 7 million people in three
[25:28] counties over there. We've got what, 1.6
[25:30] here?
[25:31] >> Yeah. I've heard him make the pitch many
[25:33] times out on the campaign trail that,
[25:35] you know, we have how many
[25:36] municipalities in Florida and only a
[25:38] handful
[25:39] over this last five to 10 years when property values have been going up
[25:44] have ever even considered or actually
[25:45] done a roll back. And he's like, and
[25:47] that's the reason that people feel okay
[25:49] with something like amendment three
[25:51] because they haven't. They they've been
[25:52] getting more money and they never did a
[25:54] roll back. So again, here we're we're
[25:56] just kind of in the microcosm of the
[25:57] same situation this year. It's we had a
[26:00] little bit more, not a much more, but
[26:02] it's we're in the decision. We're in the
[26:03] inflection point of are we going to or
[26:04] are we not going to and it's it's it is
[26:07] I think it's it is the fact that we
[26:09] neglected to do it. Not us, but of many
[26:12] of our brethren neglected to do it for
[26:14] so long while they're getting 2% and
[26:16] their property value rates are going
[26:18] through the roof that people
[26:20] holistically start to get the idea that
[26:21] cities can't manage their budget. We
[26:24] manage our budget well. We do a great
[26:25] job. But I'm saying that's how we got
[26:27] here. There's people in the audience, a
[26:29] couple right now, and there's folks
[26:30] watching on TV. And let's say it again,
[26:33] we haven't raised taxes here in four
[26:36] years. We haven't raised our millage
[26:37] rate in four years. We operate on 6 and
[26:40] a half or 6.7 cents out of every dollar.
[26:43] We're we've got I mean, we're
[26:45] financially one of the soundest cities
[26:46] in the state of Florida. And I'm saying
[26:49] that because a lot of people don't
[26:50] realize it. We're not in trouble. And
[26:53] when some when you say it's only
[26:55] 109,000, we're sending a message. I get
[26:57] what you're saying, Jesse, and you're
[26:58] right. People do want to hear it because
[27:00] some of them they're saying they're
[27:02] going to they're going to they're going
[27:03] to lower my taxes and then under the
[27:05] breath by $2.70
[27:08] rather than next year it could be a
[27:10] tough year, but at least Bonita Springs
[27:11] will not be saying to taxpayers, we've
[27:14] got to jump it to 1.3 1.5 because we're
[27:17] in trouble. Well, the real but and and
[27:19] just to be fair, the reality is even if
[27:21] it passes by next budget year, this is
[27:23] not going to be settled because there is
[27:25] going to be legal challenges because all
[27:27] of the the reality is that there's going
[27:29] to be bond holders who have already been
[27:31] made promises with Ed Warum dollars and
[27:33] then when you cut up the Ed Warorum
[27:34] dollars, they can't fulfill their bond
[27:35] covenants. So now these people are going
[27:37] to then sue the state. Bottom line, that
[27:39] is going to create a situation where
[27:40] it's not going to affect us next year in
[27:42] that way because if it were to pass 150%
[27:46] I'm telling you it's going to court.
[27:48] >> First the first lawsuits are going to be
[27:50] it's unconstitutional. You can't exclude
[27:52] certain entities. I won't name them but
[27:54] we have
[27:55] >> school board. But and you can't and you
[27:57] cannot go back you can't make a a
[28:00] municipality retroactively go back on a
[28:02] bond covenant.
[28:04] You're so you're you're saying that
[28:05] people have to retroactively go back and
[28:07] re renegotiate a financial deal based on
[28:10] financials that are no longer there
[28:11] because you took away the mech.
[28:12] >> I mean that's an easy win because it's a
[28:15] violation of the US Constitution and
[28:18] it's a violation of the Florida
[28:19] Constitution. You can't you cannot do anything to oblarm taxes
[28:25] that impact a bond contract.
[28:28] >> But at the end of the day, lawsuits take
[28:30] time, right?
[28:31] >> Well, it won't be it won't even it pass
[28:33] before the problem is you're Chris said
[28:35] it 100% correct but the problem is
[28:38] nothing can be done about it until it
[28:39] passes so if it it's probably not going
[28:42] to pass but if it does pass then Chris
[28:44] is 100% right but then it goes to court
[28:46] but point being this situation with the
[28:48] budget next year oh no we're going to
[28:49] have to address for amendment three no
[28:51] you're talking two if it passed and it
[28:53] got through the court rulings you're
[28:54] talking two years before it's an issue
[28:55] for us honestly if we're going to be
[28:57] honest about it
[28:59] >> if we're really going to be honest about
[29:01] it it's It's not really a tax cut. It's
[29:05] a tax shift. And sooner or later, people
[29:08] are going to figure it out. Because
[29:12] what ends up happening is if if it
[29:15] passes, then you're going to have all
[29:17] the the discussion about, well, in order
[29:20] to make budgets work, we're going to
[29:22] have to have sales taxes
[29:24] >> or income taxes. That's where they're
[29:27] going.
[29:28] There there's already municipalities on
[29:30] the other coast, I won't name them, that
[29:31] have already instituted higher taxes in
[29:34] anticipation of amendment three passing.
[29:36] >> There's so many different ways to get
[29:37] around this. You could do the Cape Coral
[29:40] thing. You could do special assessments
[29:43] uh for all over the place for supportive
[29:46] parks, for supported libraries, for
[29:49] supportive
[29:50] additional support of storm water
[29:52] resilience. You could you could play
[29:54] that game all day.
[29:56] uh you know the
[29:59] but the problem is yeah I don't know
[30:01] that I think we spent a long time
[30:04] dealing with this budget this year staff
[30:07] has put a long time dealing and I just
[30:10] don't think the juice is worth the
[30:12] squeeze on $109,000
[30:16] and trying to figure out well what
[30:17] capital project are we going to take it
[30:19] out of or what
[30:22] who who are we going to lay off or what
[30:24] services are we going to uh in order to
[30:27] make the budget balance to 109,000. I
[30:29] just don't think the juice is worth
[30:31] >> that that yes, but that's not how it
[30:33] works. So if we're short 109,000, we're
[30:35] not firing somebody. We're not getting
[30:36] rid of a capital improvement. So
[30:37] >> but we may not be able to close the
[30:39] roads for Halloween like we want to.
[30:42] >> Those are all decisions that are left to
[30:43] us.
[30:44] >> I mean, we have the ability to to
[30:47] prioritize and pay for things as we
[30:49] would like to.
[30:51] Well, why don't we uh why don't we
[30:53] >> can call the question if if I don't
[30:54] think anybody's changing anybody's
[30:56] >> I think that I just want to go ahead and
[30:57] basically close is that we've been
[30:59] talking about this budget since July
[31:02] and this whole discussion came up was
[31:03] predicated upon where rates are today
[31:06] >> and to be back here in the 23rd hour and
[31:08] all of a sudden finding the light of the
[31:10] Lord to come down and and say that we
[31:11] got to roll it back. Where was this
[31:14] discussion three months ago?
[31:17] were you here every single budget
[31:18] meeting that we've had where we where I
[31:20] said hey are we going to talk about roll
[31:22] back we're like nope nope we have to get
[31:23] through to this part and then if you
[31:25] want to do it then at that point you
[31:27] would do it I three meetings in a row so
[31:29] it's so this isn't beaming down from the
[31:31] Lord this is this has been said time again on public record in front of
[31:37] the people so this is not something that
[31:39] I just thought of right then
[31:41] >> but that was a decision that you made to
[31:42] let it be kicked down the road
[31:44] >> no Actually,
[31:47] >> it never was a discussion.
[31:48] >> We never go down.
[31:50] >> We can.
[31:51] >> We always said
[31:51] >> we can never go up. We can never go up.
[31:53] >> Now we're saying
[31:56] that the people are feeling
[31:57] affordability is a real issue. And I
[32:00] don't think that it's just $5 a
[32:02] household,
[32:03] >> $2.75,
[32:05] you're
[32:05] >> right. It's not $5.
[32:07] >> Okay. Yeah.
[32:08] >> Well, our city, I mean, Lisa, if we keep
[32:12] it the same or roll back
[32:16] be okay or is it going to take
[32:20] >> it would be staff's if if that's the
[32:22] decision of the council. We would
[32:24] recommend that we look at the unassigned
[32:26] fund balance to take the at this time
[32:29] and then you you'd have to continue to
[32:31] adjust that as you went forward. But we
[32:33] have how much do we currently have in
[32:34] the unassigned?
[32:38] » 3.9.
[32:42] » Okay. Um I think we've discussed it
[32:44] enough. If I just had one question for
[32:46] Derek before we moved on. Um,
[32:48] maintaining the current military, is
[32:50] that part of I know they just changed
[32:52] something where they wanted a more than
[32:54] a regular majority.
[32:56] >> They didn't really they didn't actually
[32:57] really change anything, but if if as
[32:59] long as you're anything above roll back
[33:03] up to 110% of roll back requires
[33:06] twothirds. So you would need five votes.
[33:10] So to maintain our current millillage
[33:12] >> would maintain the current votes
[33:14] >> and unanimous above 110%.
[33:19] » Okay.
[33:23] All right. Let's uh call the vote.
[33:25] >> Okay. So th this [clears throat] is a
[33:26] motion to adopt the millage rate at
[33:28] 0.8470.
[33:31] Council member Carr. No.
[33:33] >> Council member Fullick.
[33:35] >> Yes.
[33:36] Council member Bogz.
[33:41] » Um,
[33:44] yes.
[33:45] >> Mayor Gibson,
[33:47] >> no.
[33:48] >> Council member Fitzpatrick,
[33:50] >> yes.
[33:51] >> Deputy Mayor Purton,
[33:52] >> no.
[33:54] >> Council member Corey,
[33:56] >> yes.
[33:58] >> The motion fails by a vote of four to
[34:00] three, having not achieved the required
[34:01] twothirds majority.
[34:06] So, make a motion that we uh adopt the
[34:08] roll back.
[34:09] >> No, it goes there.
[34:12] >> It just
[34:12] >> I mean, they haven't got five votes yet.
[34:15] >> I think we should I do, but I think it's
[34:17] appropriate, Nigel.
[34:18] >> No, I I do. And that's where I'm going
[34:20] with this, Jesse, is okay. We We've
[34:22] spoken. We've all had a chance to
[34:24] >> Let's vote on the roll back.
[34:26] >> We have a motion.
[34:27] >> Motion for second.
[34:28] >> A second. All right. in any discussion
[34:32] beyond I mean my my personal feeling is
[34:35] you know just optics wise it's the right
[34:37] thing to do with everything going on the
[34:39] past couple years Doge and everybody
[34:43] else looking at all the budgets um you
[34:45] know I just don't want to be one that's
[34:46] called out for not going to the roll
[34:48] back especially when it's as we said
[34:51] it's kind of inconsequential but so
[34:54] >> so so to clarify the vote is for
[34:57] >> the roll back
[34:58] >> which only requires four.
[35:02] Right. It's a motion a second.
[35:04] >> Council member Boggas.
[35:06] >> I.
[35:07] >> Mayor Gibson.
[35:08] >> I.
[35:09] >> Council member Corey.
[35:10] >> No.
[35:11] >> Deputy Mayor Purton.
[35:12] >> Hi.
[35:14] >> Council member Fitzpatrick.
[35:15] >> No.
[35:17] >> Council member Folic.
[35:19] >> I.
[35:20] >> Council member Quir.
[35:21] >> Hi.
[35:23] >> Motion carries.
[35:25] Five to five to two.
[35:28] All right.
[35:32] Thank you.
[35:34] Moving on to number seven.
[35:39] A resolution of the city of Bonita
[35:41] Springs, Florida, Lee County, Florida,
[35:43] adopting the final budget for fiscal
[35:45] year 2026, 2027, and providing for an
[35:49] effective date. Whereas the city of
[35:51] Bonita Springs, Lee County, Florida on
[35:53] September 23rd, 2026 held a public
[35:56] hearing as required by Florida statute
[35:58] 200.065.
[36:00] And whereas the city of Bonita Springs,
[36:02] Lee County, Florida, set forth the
[36:04] appropriations and revenue estimate for
[36:07] the budget for fiscal year 2026 2022 as
[36:11] follows. Expenditures. General fund
[36:14] 24,543,829.
[36:20] Special revenue 5,396,295.
[36:27] Debt service1,533,000.
[36:31] Capital projects 21,88,667
[36:37] total all funds 52,561,791.
[36:43] Now therefore, be it resolved by the
[36:45] city council of the city of Bonita
[36:47] Springs, Florida, number one, the fiscal
[36:49] year 2026 2027 final budget is hereby
[36:52] adopted. Number two, this resolution
[36:54] shall become effective immediately upon
[36:56] its adoption by city council.
[37:00] >> Do we have a motion?
[37:02] >> Motion to approve.
[37:03] >> Second.
[37:04] >> Wait, we have just to clarify what
[37:06] Arlene is asking for. We would have to
[37:08] do an amendment on the 109,000 to have
[37:11] that come out of the unassigned funds
[37:13] balance.
[37:14] >> I make a motion reduce community
[37:16] policing $109,000.
[37:25] >> Okay.
[37:27] >> This is just expenditures, right?
[37:28] >> Just expenditures. Yes.
[37:36] » But we had Oh, yeah. Yeah, we had we had
[37:39] a motion in a second for the second.
[37:40] >> So So does that mean like no more like
[37:43] automatic dogs for Carmine? [laughter]
[37:46] >> No, that's No, that's not what we're
[37:48] discussing. There was a motion in a
[37:49] second to approve
[37:50] >> what's already, you know, before us.
[37:52] >> Chris just said
[37:54] >> I offer an amendment.
[37:55] >> Yeah,
[37:56] >> but there was no second to the
[37:58] amendment.
[37:59] >> Okay, then
[38:01] I'll listen to anything else in terms of
[38:03] where you want to actually do the cut.
[38:05] >> Okay. I would recommend that we do it
[38:07] from the unassigned fund balance.
[38:10] >> That that decision doesn't have to be
[38:12] >> made today, but it will have to be made.
[38:15] >> I mean, I think we can make it. Does anybody have opposition to
[38:20] >> What if we asked for don sponsorships
[38:24] for some of our events? We spend easily
[38:28] we could get $100,000 to support
[38:31] >> create a budget based on asking for
[38:33] money that
[38:35] We own a business.
[38:36] >> All right, let's call the question.
[38:41] » No, I'm serious. You really want to cut
[38:44] the unassigned surplus? We had this
[38:46] discussion two years ago and
[38:47] >> 100%. Yes,
[38:49] >> we had this discussion two years ago and
[38:51] we ag that that I thought there was a
[38:53] pretty persuasive argument at that time.
[38:55] we really needed to be up around $10
[38:57] million on the end of sign.
[38:58] >> I do remember those of us who said that.
[39:02] >> And now we're gonna say, "Well, we don't
[39:05] we we only got 3.9, but let's cut it out
[39:08] of there." Is that what you're saying?
[39:10] >> No.
[39:11] >> Okay. Where do you I thought you wanted
[39:14] to cut it out of the unassigned.
[39:17] >> I'm sorry. Did anybody cut it out of the
[39:19] unassigned?
[39:20] You're willing to take the 109 out of
[39:23] the unassigned surplus, which we agreed
[39:25] two years ago should be about.
[39:27] >> No, no, we didn't. Okay. So, there was
[39:28] no that was what you said because you
[39:30] said it doesn't mean we agreed to it.
[39:33] >> So, there's that. And second, if my
[39:35] question is, do I want to take it out of
[39:36] Lee County Sheriff's Office or the
[39:38] unassigned fund balance? I think that's
[39:40] a pretty easy question and that's why
[39:42] you didn't get a second.
[39:44] >> So, you're perfectly willing to spend
[39:46] over $3 million on community policing.
[39:48] >> $3 million. Okay. So
[39:50] >> yes,
[39:50] >> 3.9 million for a city of 60,000 people.
[39:55] Yes, I am.
[39:56] >> That's a sterile
[39:57] >> public safety is our number one public
[40:00] safety is our number one responsibility.
[40:02] So, the fact that we are getting the
[40:04] deal that we get with Lee County, which
[40:06] includes not only all of the tools that
[40:09] are in the Lee County box, you're
[40:11] talking search and rescue, you're
[40:13] talking choppers, you're talking uh
[40:15] drone service, you're talking dogs,
[40:17] you're talking detectives, you're
[40:18] talking all of the apparatus that comes
[40:20] with Lee County. So, that is
[40:22] >> they would provide us if we were had the
[40:24] same policing as Astero.
[40:28] >> Well, Astero doesn't protect its
[40:30] citizens the way that we did. Oh, is
[40:31] that right? It's a high crime area.
[40:34] >> They don't put the money or the
[40:35] resources that we do into public safety
[40:38] because they don't they don't see the
[40:40] necessity for public safety. And I
[40:42] understand, listen,
[40:42] >> we're a high crime area and we need
[40:44] this.
[40:45] >> Who said we're a high crime area?
[40:47] >> We're the most we are the mo we are we
[40:49] are the most uh we're the most upand
[40:52] cominging place in all of Southwest
[40:54] Florida. We have there are more
[40:56] millionaires in Bonita Springs than the
[40:57] city of Naples. So I don't know exactly
[41:01] >> more billionaires in Naples.
[41:03] >> So are we having to decide right now
[41:05] where then that why are we arguing this
[41:08] at this point?
[41:09] >> Because we have a presentation.
[41:10] >> Oh because we're arguing him because
[41:13] >> but we're not going to take policing
[41:15] away. I mean let's
[41:16] >> we're not I'm saying well there $3.9
[41:18] million. We can surely find $109,000 out
[41:21] of that. That
[41:22] >> of all of the things that we do that is
[41:24] the one thing that you would choose to
[41:26] take money from. Chris,
[41:28] >> I would have chosen to do it a long time
[41:30] ago, but I didn't want to fight the
[41:32] battle until somebody decided they
[41:34] wanted to make a political
[41:36] >> Why would you want to cut for of our
[41:37] entire budget that we just talked about
[41:39] $52 million you would take out of
[41:42] >> out of Lee County?
[41:43] >> Loaded.
[41:44] >> What do we do that's more important than
[41:45] provide safe public safety? Chris,
[41:48] >> nothing. We don't do anything more
[41:50] important than that.
[41:51] >> Okay, we're going to end this part of
[41:54] the discussion. It's not It's not part
[41:55] of what we're voting on right now. We
[41:57] already have a motion and a second. Roll
[41:59] call, please.
[42:00] >> Council member Fullic.
[42:02] >> I.
[42:03] >> Deputy Mayor Purdan.
[42:04] >> Wait, what is this?
[42:06] >> So, this is the motion is second to
[42:08] adopt a resolution for the final budget
[42:10] for fiscal year 2026 2027.
[42:14] >> Oh, yes. No, we do that later.
[42:16] >> Oh,
[42:17] >> we're voting on exactly how it's in the
[42:20] >> You're only voting on the expenditures.
[42:21] I I misspoke earlier. Only voting on the
[42:23] expenditures. You do not have to address
[42:25] the
[42:25] >> We're not specifying
[42:26] >> not specifying. It's only this
[42:28] resolution just just regulates the
[42:30] expenditures.
[42:31] >> Okay.
[42:33] I'm going to begin the roll call
[42:35] vote from the start. Council member
[42:36] Folic,
[42:37] >> keep it at I Mike.
[42:39] >> Okay. Deputy Mayor Purton.
[42:41] >> Council member Corey.
[42:42] >> No.
[42:44] >> Council member Fitzpatrick.
[42:45] >> Hi.
[42:47] >> Council member Carr.
[42:49] >> Hi.
[42:50] >> Mayor Gibson.
[42:50] >> Hi.
[42:52] >> Council member Bogz.
[42:53] >> Hi.
[42:54] Motion carries six to one.
[42:57] >> All right. Thank you. Moving on to item
[43:00] eight, public comment. Any public
[43:02] comment on tonight's budget meeting.
[43:11] » Ron George for Little Hickory Island. I
[43:14] know $109,000 isn't much, but I have to
[43:17] agree it's a great signal to the
[43:19] citizens that we are at least thinking
[43:21] about budget. So, I appreciate the
[43:24] support of that. Thanks.
[43:26] >> Thank you, Ron. Anyone else?
[43:30] Right. Is there a motion to adjurnn and
[43:32] move into our regular meeting?
[43:34] >> Motion to adjourn.
[43:35] >> All right. So, moved.
[43:37] >> All right. So, I'll call our regular
[43:40] meeting into order.
[43:42] Um, the invocation and pledge of
[43:44] allegiance were observed during the
[43:45] budget hearing. And since nobody left,
[43:48] uh, I think we can forgo the roll call.
[43:51] So, moving right into public comment on
[43:54] agenda items for our regular meeting.
[44:01] » Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor, City Council,
[44:03] Kyle Moran, Felts Avenue, um in the
[44:06] downtown. I wanted to discuss agenda
[44:08] item 8 uh B. I also want to thank you
[44:12] for that rigorous discussion of uh the
[44:14] city's uh budget. You know, I think it's
[44:17] worth everyone remembering when you go
[44:19] to pay your property tax bill in the
[44:21] city of Bonita Springs, this city gets
[44:23] less than seven cents of the dollar that
[44:26] uh you spend on taxes. Uh the state
[44:29] allows the city to charge as much as 10
[44:32] mills, which is $10 per thousand. And um
[44:36] the city charges 85 cents a thousand.
[44:39] So, thank you um for your rigorous uh
[44:43] budget management. And uh what's
[44:45] remarkable, too, is that when you do
[44:46] spend, you spend wisely. And uh if you
[44:50] think about that BERT vote, which is the
[44:52] first time in the city's 26-year history
[44:54] that we had a real referendum in a
[44:56] community made up of 51 gated
[44:57] communities, a real referendum about how
[45:01] the leadership in this building was
[45:03] spending their money. And what's so
[45:06] remarkable about that with the massive
[45:08] turnout and the massive vote of approval
[45:11] is that people said, "We're in favor of
[45:13] you spending a little extra of our tax
[45:15] dollars to build really great community
[45:17] assets." I think that's an incredible uh
[45:20] endorsement for what you're doing. And
[45:23] what you're doing is so apparent in that
[45:25] downtown. You're you're building economy
[45:28] or sorry, you're building community, but
[45:29] you're also building economy. There's
[45:31] real economic development happening
[45:33] there. You're about to cut a ribbon on a
[45:36] beautifully revitalized banyan tree
[45:38] park, right? Once an eyesore is become
[45:41] going to become a great public asset,
[45:43] the band shell is the same. You have
[45:46] this wonderful collection of parks and
[45:48] it's being joined by a lot of private
[45:51] investment. And at the same time, the
[45:53] gateway to that downtown on that
[45:55] southern side is not fitting the great
[45:57] downtown that you're building. So when
[46:00] you bury those power lines with FPL,
[46:03] when you build a really great community
[46:06] entrance, you're moving towards a
[46:08] completion of that mission. And that
[46:09] mission is so important. For too long,
[46:12] Bonita was a place that people drove
[46:14] through and a result, as a result of
[46:17] your actions, it's increasingly becoming
[46:19] a place that people drive to, a great
[46:22] destination. So, I want you to know that
[46:26] not only do the taxpayers support what
[46:28] you're doing through that BERT vote, but
[46:30] the people that work in and invest in
[46:33] downtown really support what you're
[46:34] doing as well. I hope you'll approve
[46:36] agenda item 8B, and I want to thank you
[46:39] for all your great work on behalf of our
[46:41] city. Thanks.
[46:42] >> Thank you, Kyle. Any other public
[46:44] comment on agenda items?
[46:49] Right. Seeing none, we'll move on to uh
[46:52] ceremonial proclamations and
[46:54] presentations. Uh tonight we have a
[46:56] presentation honoring Dr. Lawrence
[46:58] Antinucci, president and CEO of Lee
[47:00] Health upon his retirement. Deputy Mayor
[47:03] Burden handling this
[47:13] » microphone.
[47:18] [laughter]
[47:23] sunlight. [laughter]
[47:33] » Okay, this is a certificate from the
[47:35] city of Bonita Springs in recognition
[47:37] presented to Dr. Lawrence Antinucci from
[47:39] Lee Health. Uh they reached out to us
[47:41] just a couple weeks ago and uh Chris
[47:44] Lopez, Mike Nf have been a great part of
[47:47] their team. and they're always keeping
[47:48] us in the loop on what's going on and
[47:50] sharing the good word about Lee Health.
[47:51] Um, as you move on to your next venture,
[47:54] we are very uh grateful for your
[47:57] contributions that you've given to
[47:59] Bonita Springs. So, let me give this a
[48:00] little read for you. In recognition of
[48:02] your distinguished career, come on up.
[48:06] In recognition of your distinguished
[48:08] career and enduring contributions to
[48:10] advocating health care excellence and
[48:12] enhancing the quality of life for the
[48:14] residents of Bonita Springs in Southwest
[48:16] Florida. As you embark upon a
[48:18] well-earned retirement, the city of
[48:19] Bonita Springs extend its gratitude and
[48:22] warmest wishes for a healthy, happy, and
[48:24] fulfilling new chapter.
[48:27] [applause]
[48:36] » [applause]
[48:50] » Thank you.
[48:56] [clears throat and cough]
[48:59] » Thank you.
[48:59] Good night.
[49:01] >> Thank you.
[49:02] >> Where are you going?
[49:04] >> Not going anywhere.
[49:08] » Thank you for everything.
[49:09] >> Well,
[49:12] >> all right. Moving on to the consent
[49:14] agenda. Do we have a motion?
[49:17] >> Motion to consent agenda items.
[49:21] >> We have a motion.
[49:23] >> Second
[49:24] >> and a second.
[49:26] >> Council member Fitzpatrick.
[49:27] >> I.
[49:28] >> Council member Corey. Hi,
[49:30] >> Council Member Qu.
[49:31] >> Hi,
[49:32] >> Mayor Gibson.
[49:33] >> Hi,
[49:34] >> Council Member Bogaz.
[49:35] >> Hi,
[49:36] >> Deputy Mayor Purden.
[49:37] >> Hi,
[49:38] >> Council Member Full.
[49:39] >> Motion carries.
[49:43] » City attorney items.
[49:45] >> The only item I have for you this
[49:47] evening is a resolution terminating a
[49:49] development agreement um with the Bonita
[49:53] Beach Road Golf Community. Essentially,
[49:56] once the project has reached its final
[49:58] conclusion, we're we have no more
[50:00] obligations. They have no obligations on
[50:02] the development agreement. And so,
[50:04] there's a request to close it out. Um
[50:07] staff and representative uh the
[50:10] community is here to answer any
[50:12] questions, but my understanding is that
[50:14] this will also allow them to finalize
[50:16] some of the amenity centers and other
[50:18] items in the community.
[50:21] Okay,
[50:23] we have a motion.
[50:25] >> Motion to approve.
[50:26] >> Second.
[50:27] Roll call.
[50:29] >> Deputy Mayor Purton.
[50:30] >> Hi.
[50:31] >> Council member Fullick.
[50:32] >> Hi.
[50:33] >> Council member Bogaz.
[50:34] >> Hi.
[50:34] >> Council member Corey.
[50:36] >> Hi.
[50:36] >> Council member Fitzpatrick.
[50:37] >> Hi.
[50:38] >> Mayor Gibson.
[50:39] >> Hi.
[50:39] >> Council member Carr.
[50:40] >> Hi.
[50:41] >> Motion carries.
[50:42] >> Right. Anything else, Jack?
[50:45] >> Nothing else.
[50:46] >> Thank you. City manager items.
[50:48] >> Thank you, mayor and council. time. Uh
[50:50] Laura Taylor is in the audience. Um
[50:52] we're going to bring forward to you an
[50:53] amendment um to the approve the
[50:56] restructuring of the design phase of the
[50:58] public safety facility. Uh we previously
[51:01] brought to you forward um an agreement
[51:03] on April 15th. Um the purpose of
[51:06] separating the two is to give us this
[51:08] would just be the design. Uh the amount
[51:11] also includes
[51:13] some previous design elements that were
[51:15] in the original quote as well. that is
[51:17] the 900 um $97,700.
[51:22] Um the purpose of this would allow us
[51:24] then to separate out the actual build
[51:26] and give us more time to hopefully
[51:29] achieve some outside funding sources. Um
[51:31] we wanted to follow the procurement
[51:33] policies of both federal and state uh
[51:35] processes. Uh the original look would
[51:38] have possibly been a little bit of a
[51:40] faster bill, but we're going to
[51:41] simultaneously keep this open, these
[51:43] options open so that we can um keep
[51:45] pursuing those outside funding sources.
[51:50] >> All right. Is there a motion?
[51:52] >> I say a motion to approve the
[51:53] restructure.
[51:54] >> Motion second.
[51:56] >> Second.
[51:56] >> Okay. Roll call.
[51:59] >> Council member Corey.
[52:00] >> Hi.
[52:01] >> Council member Carr.
[52:02] >> Hi.
[52:02] >> Council member Fitzpatrick.
[52:04] >> Hi. Council member Voguez. Hi.
[52:06] >> Deputy Mayor Purden. Hi.
[52:07] >> Mayor Gibson. Hi.
[52:09] >> Council member Full. Hi. Motion carries.
[52:11] >> And just to keep you all informed, we've
[52:13] continued our staff meetings and
[52:14] outreach meetings with our community
[52:16] partners. Um we've um had staff meetings
[52:19] with uh Tony staff as well who would be
[52:21] staffed in there and additionally Lee
[52:23] County Sheriff's Office um has been
[52:25] participating in those meetings as well.
[52:27] So we've continued the process moving
[52:28] forward. Um the next item we have is uh
[52:31] to approve the cost estimate and project
[52:33] agreement with FPNL for the
[52:35] undergrounding of power conversion
[52:37] project at Bonita Beach Road and 041. Uh
[52:40] Matt can give you a little bit more
[52:41] specifics. We did introduce this idea
[52:43] during the CIP and we were asked to
[52:45] start to pursue that project under our
[52:49] um beautifification and um placemaking
[52:52] and the funding is available currently.
[52:54] Um I think one of the reasons we would
[52:56] like to move forward now is because the
[52:58] process with FPNO previously has been um
[53:02] a longer process.
[53:04] >> Um
[53:05] >> it moves at a glacial pace. [laughter]
[53:08] >> So we're looking for your support to
[53:09] move this forward for the design and um
[53:12] if there's any questions on the project
[53:13] or giving that opportunity since we
[53:15] haven't brought any discussion forward
[53:17] since the CIP meeting on this.
[53:19] >> Nigel.
[53:19] >> Yeah, I don't want to be sarcastic.
[53:21] That's a serious question.
[53:22] [clears throat] If they go forward with
[53:24] this, um, will there be any significant
[53:28] expenditures
[53:30] when we put in the pedestrian bridge
[53:32] over Bonita Beach Road? No. The the the
[53:36] short answer is this is is a really
[53:38] limited scope which is right at the
[53:40] intersection. Um, it it doesn't extend
[53:44] that far to the west.
[53:45] >> So, shouldn't be any surprises.
[53:47] >> No, there should be you you'd have the
[53:49] st same overhead lines that you have
[53:51] there today.
[53:52] >> Thanks, Matt.
[53:53] Motion to approve.
[53:54] >> Second.
[53:55] >> Motion. Jim.
[53:56] >> Yeah. Just one point. Did when I asked
[53:59] Arlene about this earlier, um there was
[54:01] also this would also facilitate the
[54:03] changing of the signals there. Is that
[54:04] correct?
[54:05] >> Uh it it really is inconsequential with
[54:09] the signals. Um you know, I think a
[54:11] future thing that we could coordinate
[54:12] with Lee County on as well is is
[54:15] changing.
[54:15] >> It's not part of it's strictly the
[54:17] bearing of the the the existing
[54:19] overhead.
[54:19] >> The current project is strictly bearing
[54:21] them. The goal would be to bring back a
[54:23] beautifification project which would
[54:24] hopefully cons consist of the mast arms
[54:27] which would be more hurricane sturdy as
[54:29] well as um more aesthetically.
[54:32] >> It'll give you the ability to do those
[54:34] things in phases. You could do the mast
[54:36] arms, you could do the the gateway
[54:38] feature. It gets the primary wire
[54:41] clutter from the FPNL. Ultimately, we
[54:44] will have to enter into agreements with
[54:46] whoever else is hanging on their poles.
[54:48] It's usually not as significant. Uh, one
[54:51] thing to note which is pointed out here,
[54:53] we'll have to come back to you with when
[54:55] they get their design plans, we'll have
[54:58] to drill the conduits, which is fine. It
[55:01] actually probably speeds things along a
[55:03] little bit.
[55:04] >> It will cost us.
[55:06] >> Thank you for the clarification.
[55:08] >> You're welcome.
[55:09] >> There was a motion in a second.
[55:11] >> Mayor Gibson,
[55:12] >> I.
[55:12] >> Council member Bogaz.
[55:14] >> Hi.
[55:14] >> Council member Fitzpatrick.
[55:16] >> Hi.
[55:16] >> Council member Fick.
[55:17] >> Hi.
[55:18] >> Council member Carr. Hi,
[55:19] >> Deputy Mayor Purden.
[55:21] >> Hi,
[55:22] >> Council Member Corey.
[55:23] >> Hi.
[55:23] >> Motion carries.
[55:25] >> Anything else?
[55:26] >> The only thing that I wanted to share is
[55:28] we did receive a call from staff at um
[55:31] Congressman Donald's office about um
[55:33] providing some office space. I'm going
[55:34] to get more details on that, but um
[55:37] typically when it's intergovernmental,
[55:38] you've authorized staff to help and
[55:40] assist if they wanted to have office
[55:42] hours as such. We've done this for both
[55:44] state representatives and congressional.
[55:47] So, if you would like me to get more
[55:48] details, I would of course send that out
[55:50] to everyone first once we get
[55:52] finalization.
[55:53] >> Okay. Thank you.
[55:55] >> And that's it.
[55:56] >> Did they pay us?
[55:57] >> Typically, that's not
[56:00] >> That's curious.
[56:00] >> It's an intergovernmental courtesy.
[56:03] [laughter]
[56:05] >> Uh, mayor and council member reports.
[56:07] Chris,
[56:08] >> I have nothing to
[56:10] >> Laura.
[56:10] >> Yeah, I'm good.
[56:12] >> Nigel, um, just a couple things. one
[56:15] last night. Actually, you were there
[56:17] too. Uh Mike, u our property appraiser
[56:19] Matt Cwell did an excellent job of u
[56:23] explaining to our downtown business
[56:25] alliance members what some of the
[56:27] ramifications could or could not be as
[56:30] far as amendment three, but he was also
[56:33] extremely complimentary and didn't have
[56:34] to be of the city of Bonita Springs and
[56:38] um how things are run here. um he made
[56:41] the comment that we're in much better
[56:42] shape than many other municipalities and
[56:44] counties. Um there's no TDC meeting in
[56:47] September. I said that the last meeting,
[56:49] so the next one will be in October. Um
[56:51] just a this is something the city is not
[56:54] paying for, but the Veterans Advisory
[56:57] Board uh started an initiative um almost
[57:00] a year ago and we want to have a Purple
[57:03] Heart memorial downtown in um
[57:07] most probably uh next to the LS Hotel
[57:10] and um it's going to be privately
[57:13] funded. So, I will just ask that uh
[57:16] anybody who works for a large company or an individual who feels so
[57:20] inclined um we've got a lot of funds to
[57:22] raise. Right now, we're at about 5,000
[57:25] which is about 10% of our goal. So, if
[57:29] there's somebody out there that wants to
[57:30] support um that initiative, uh the big
[57:33] question we get asked is will the
[57:35] sponsors or the contributor's name go on
[57:38] the memorial? The answer is no. But
[57:40] we're looking into an alternative of
[57:41] possibly doing bricks on the walkway.
[57:44] But it's going to be clean. It's going
[57:45] to be beautiful. And it's going to be
[57:46] appropriate. We have a number of Purple
[57:48] Heart recipients in our city and it
[57:50] would be good to honor them.
[57:51] >> Thank you.
[57:52] Jesse.
[57:55] >> Uh I don't have anything. Thank you.
[57:58] >> Come on.
[57:58] >> I think I think I spoke enough tonight.
[58:01] [laughter]
[58:03] >> All in good fun.
[58:05] >> Tim, no items.
[58:08] Amy,
[58:09] >> um just one thing. Uh if you remember,
[58:12] we started the pilot program for the um
[58:16] it was beach or facility parking. Um and
[58:21] it was a good opportunity to see the
[58:23] interest in what our citizens um you
[58:26] know were wanting or you know would
[58:28] enjoy having an opportunity to have. And
[58:31] we did sell 37 passes which was a total
[58:34] of reimbursement of the city of $1850.
[58:37] So, it cost each one $10 and reimbursed
[58:39] them. Um, it showed that there is
[58:42] interest, but right now, seeing that a
[58:44] lot of the facilities, the bathrooms and
[58:46] such weren't open, um, I think we can,
[58:50] um, I want to see about closing it at
[58:52] this point as of September 30th, October
[58:54] 1st. And um just waiting for updates
[58:57] since the beaches and facilities will be
[58:59] closed or the bathrooms and the
[59:02] rebuilding the parking that we close it
[59:04] for the time being and waiting for
[59:06] updates from the county and um look at
[59:10] it as we receive updates to when we want
[59:12] to reopen that to our citizens of Indis.
[59:16] >> Question.
[59:17] >> So were the passes like one year from
[59:19] when you bought them or is it just like
[59:21] a calendar year? It was the for the year
[59:25] >> from when you bought it
[59:26] >> year for when you bought it.
[59:28] >> It was from the date of purchase.
[59:30] >> Purchase.
[59:30] >> Okay. Yeah. So, so it makes sense to
[59:32] hold off because they can't really use
[59:33] them right now. So,
[59:34] >> correct. So, at this point, I'd say to
[59:36] suspend the program until we get further
[59:38] updates from
[59:39] >> the county of our parking and bathroom
[59:42] situation and
[59:44] go from there with the program. I think
[59:46] there's interest, but I think at this
[59:47] time it's going to be difficult to
[59:51] pursue that at this point.
[59:55] >> That's good. Lori, you had a comment.
[59:56] >> Well, I was just wondering if we kept it
[59:58] open but said there's a highest until
[1:00:02] bathrooms are open and then those people
[1:00:04] automatically the passes are just
[1:00:07] cleared. So, the city can hold on to the
[1:00:09] money or not. I mean, $10 back and
[1:00:13] forth, you know.
[1:00:14] >> I mean, the
[1:00:16] $50.
[1:00:17] >> It's $50.
[1:00:18] >> $50 back.
[1:00:19] >> $10 for this.
[1:00:20] >> It's a reimbursement program. So, they
[1:00:22] have to buy the county pass first and um
[1:00:24] >> reimburse them for
[1:00:25] >> we reimburse them, but we're not sure as
[1:00:28] to the access availability for Fenitas
[1:00:31] at this point. But I think that when we
[1:00:34] get more updates, we could bring forward
[1:00:36] restarting it and then find the
[1:00:38] appropriate time to market it as well
[1:00:40] because we did a soft launch of it and
[1:00:42] um to start.
[1:00:44] >> I don't think staff wants to have to
[1:00:46] deal with people running back in with
[1:00:47] their passing. You never told us there
[1:00:49] were no bathrooms on the beach. I want
[1:00:51] my money back
[1:00:52] >> and no parking
[1:00:54] >> parking. [laughter]
[1:00:56] You had a
[1:00:56] >> daring season.
[1:00:57] >> Oh, I I'm sorry. It was I pressed. Um, I
[1:00:59] just wanted to also I forgot to remind
[1:01:01] everybody regarding the great Florida
[1:01:04] places that that does close at the end
[1:01:06] of the month. So, if they everyone could
[1:01:08] take their opportunity to vote, that
[1:01:09] would be great.
[1:01:09] >> And it's legal to say vote often.
[1:01:12] >> No, if you can you can try, but you
[1:01:15] can't.
[1:01:15] >> In the beginning, it was letting me vote
[1:01:17] for additional days, but now it's like I can't get back in anymore.
[1:01:20] >> If you have a phone and a laptop,
[1:01:22] >> well, yeah, you can do it from each
[1:01:23] thing. And so, whenever I visit
[1:01:25] somebody's house, I do it from their
[1:01:26] house. So,
[1:01:30] No, I won't be asking for that in the
[1:01:31] general election. I promise. [laughter]
[1:01:34] >> Um, all right. Uh, so my turn. The, uh,
[1:01:38] I just wanted to let everybody know that
[1:01:40] National Walk to School Day is coming up
[1:01:42] on October 7th. Um, I'll be joining
[1:01:44] Principal Hernandez of Bonita Elementary
[1:01:47] to walk with the students, uh, starting
[1:01:48] at 7:30 a.m., uh, they walk from the
[1:01:51] flea market on Bonita Beach Road to, uh,
[1:01:53] Bonita Springs Elementary. So, if
[1:01:55] anybody wanted to join me, it's uh
[1:01:58] usually fun to to walk with the kids. Um
[1:02:01] meet at the uh I don't know if we meet
[1:02:03] at 7:30 or if we start walking at 7.
[1:02:05] Probably start walking at 7:30.
[1:02:06] >> We start walking at 7:30.
[1:02:08] >> So, be there a little early,
[1:02:09] >> a little bit earlier. And um Jane will
[1:02:11] be sending out reminders as well.
[1:02:12] >> Okay,
[1:02:13] >> perfect.
[1:02:13] >> Thank you.
[1:02:14] >> And it is fun.
[1:02:15] >> Yeah.
[1:02:17] Um and then I just also wanted to let
[1:02:19] you know how the DC trip went. Um it was
[1:02:23] a little different than what I was
[1:02:24] expecting because I really didn't know
[1:02:25] what to expect. Um but it was uh
[1:02:28] interesting. The meeting wasn't at the
[1:02:30] White House. It was just at the White
[1:02:31] House office building which is next
[1:02:32] door. Um but they had somebody from each
[1:02:35] department come and talk to us about
[1:02:37] what they do and what they can do to
[1:02:39] help the city and then said if we had
[1:02:41] any issues to reach out to them and they
[1:02:43] you know love to help us out with
[1:02:44] things. Uh, everybody mentioned uh
[1:02:47] different grants that were coming up,
[1:02:48] but almost all of them were like ending
[1:02:50] within days of that meeting. So, you
[1:02:52] know, but I'm pretty sure Ellie keeps up
[1:02:54] on all that anyway. So, any of those uh
[1:02:57] what we already knew about. Um, but it
[1:03:00] was u very very interesting and I was
[1:03:02] honored to go and and thank you so much
[1:03:04] for uh indulging.
[1:03:07] >> Well, I'm I'm ordering my 8 by10 photo
[1:03:10] view with both the president and the
[1:03:12] vice president over your left shoulder.
[1:03:13] It's heartwarming.
[1:03:17] >> So, um, and that's all I've got. So,
[1:03:20] public comment.
[1:03:21] >> We have one registered speaker, David
[1:03:23] Lux.
[1:03:30] » Good evening, council. Uh, David Lux,
[1:03:31] resident of Bonita Springs. I'm here to
[1:03:33] discuss uh signage at the Bonita Springs
[1:03:36] Dog Park and the Mayood Park playground
[1:03:39] entrance. Currently, there seems to be a
[1:03:42] uh inconsistency and lack of clarity on
[1:03:44] the posted park hours. The Bonita
[1:03:46] Springs Dog Park, there's a sign at the
[1:03:48] gate entrance that states 7 a.m. to
[1:03:51] dusk. However, there's no signage at the
[1:03:53] sidewalk entrance off of East Terry
[1:03:56] Street indicating the park's hours of
[1:03:59] operation. At the Mayood Park entrance
[1:04:01] located at the corner of Bonita Drive
[1:04:03] and Streetsboro Lane, the st the sign
[1:04:05] states, "Dawn to dusk." While these
[1:04:07] signs may seem straightforward
[1:04:08] individually, the differences in wording
[1:04:10] combined with the lack of signage at the
[1:04:12] East Terry sidewalk creates confusion
[1:04:15] for residents and visitors uh of when
[1:04:18] they're permitted to be on that park
[1:04:20] property. Uh my request to council is to
[1:04:23] provide clear and consistent information
[1:04:25] to residents and I respectfully ask that
[1:04:27] the city consider installing signage at
[1:04:30] the east terry entrance at the sidewalk
[1:04:33] uh that matches that same signage at the
[1:04:36] gate where cars would pull into the
[1:04:38] park. That way people on ebikes and
[1:04:41] pedestrians can clearly see the posted
[1:04:43] hours of that park. Um, consistent and
[1:04:46] clear posted hours at each entrance
[1:04:48] would help eliminate the confusion and
[1:04:50] provide residents with clear
[1:04:51] expectations so everyone can comply with
[1:04:54] city park regulations. Thank you.
[1:04:56] >> Thank you,
[1:04:57] >> David.
[1:04:59] >> Any other public comment?
[1:05:03] » All right, seeing none, motion to
[1:05:05] adjurnn.
[1:05:07] Thank you.