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Bonita Springs approves $5,000 for RAISE grant consultant, pledges $5 million CIP toward southern Burt trail
Summary
Council authorized a $5,000 consultant payment and pledged $5,000,000 in capital-improvement funds to support a U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE grant application for the southern portion of the Burt trail; Collier County, Village of Estero and Friends of Burt also committed funds.
The Bonita Springs City Council approved a $5,000 contribution to help underwrite a consultant for a U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE grant application and pledged $5 million from the city’s capital improvement program as a match for the southern portion of the Burt trail project.
Deb Orton, president of Friends of Burt, told the council the Collier County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved $900,000 in matching funds and $5,000 for grant-writing assistance at a meeting the previous day. She said the county’s funds can “be used to match any funding opportunity” and asked the city to give staff flexibility to use its $5 million allocation to pursue federal and state grant opportunities that arise.
City staff confirmed the ask covers two items: the immediate $5,000 consultant contribution and a pledge of the $5,000,000 already budgeted in the city’s CIP for the Sun Trail/Burt trail. Staff said any actual grant award would require a return to the council for mayoral signature and formal commitment of funds. The staff memo and public comment noted that the application covers the southern portion of the trail, not the full corridor.
Council members voted unanimously to approve the consultant payment and the pledge. Roll call recorded ayes from Council member Corey, Council member Fullock, Council member Fitzpatrick, Deputy Mayor Purdon, Council member Carr and Mayor Gibson. Friends of Burt and the Trust for Public Land also committed funds; Collier County staff indicated yesterday that county staff would support the application and pledged a consultant match.
City staff warned that a county existing grant contract may affect whether Collier County can formally co-apply, but staff said Collier County had pledged support as of the previous day. Orton said Friends of Burt had also committed $5,000.
What the approval means: the city became a co-applicant and provided the small consultant payment needed to complete the RAISE application; any award or contract will return to council for final authorization and signature.
