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Bonita Springs agrees to provide stewardship letter for Burke project parcel to support Florida Forever application
Summary
Council authorized staff to submit a city statement of intent to manage the Bonita Springs portion of the Burke property as part of a multi-jurisdictional Florida Forever grant application; the action does not commit construction or long-term funding tonight.
The Bonita Springs City Council authorized staff to provide a statement indicating the city would manage the Bonita Springs portion of the Burke project property as part of a Florida Forever grant application, while council members pressed partners for clarity on funding and long‑term maintenance.
Councilmember Ford presented a template stewardship letter for the city’s portion of the Burke project parcel that will accompany a Florida Forever grant application. Staff and outside partners (including representatives from a local nonprofit referred to as BERT and Trust for Public Land) framed the action as a nonbinding step to allow the collaborative application to proceed; the city’s letter is intended to confirm that the city would accept stewardship responsibilities for the portion of the property inside the Bonita Springs city limits if the grant acquires it.
Council discussion focused on outstanding questions about total purchase and construction costs, division of responsibilities among partners (Bonita Springs, Village of Estero and Collier County), and whether the city would face ongoing management costs. Council members asked for improved clarity on fundraising and partner commitments. Councilmember Carr said the city is pursuing its capital projects and that providing the statement does not preclude work on roads and other infrastructure; others warned the city should confirm long‑term funding responsibilities before committing to stewardship.
City staff clarified that BERT (a local nonprofit) and Trust for Public Land are coordinating fundraising and that the city’s letter would only address stewardship intent, not an immediate funding commitment. After debate, council voted 6-1 to approve sending the stewardship/intention letter for the Bonita Springs portion of the Burke project property; the record shows Council member Carr voted No and other members voted Aye. No purchase, appropriation or management contract was adopted at the meeting; council instructed staff to continue coordination with partners and to report back with additional details as the grant process proceeds.
