San Carlos Estates residents urge council not to support Rep. Adam Botana’s bill to convert district

San Carlos Estates residents and board members told the Bonita Springs City Council they oppose Representative Adam Botana’s proposed bill to convert the San Carlos Estates Water Control District into a dependent district of the City of Bonita Springs, saying the independent district has provided drainage and road services since 1969 and should remain autonomous.

At a public-comment block, Jim Bradford, chairman of the San Carlos Estates Water Control District, said the district has been “in existence as an independent water district since 1969” and that only district landowners’ assessments have paid for construction and maintenance. Bradford said the district is debt-free and has reserve funding for emergencies and asked the council not to support the legislator’s bill.

The proposed legislation was described in public comments as having been forwarded to Tallahassee; speakers said the measure could return later as a vote affecting both the district and the city. David Nadek, a San Carlos Estates landowner, referenced Chapter 189 of the Florida Statutes — the Uniform Special District Accountability Act — saying that the statute frames how conversions of special districts are evaluated, including whether a less costly alternative exists and what risks a conversion might pose to the city if the district fails to maintain drainage.

Other residents described notification and access concerns. John Kangas, a San Carlos Estates resident, said many landowners were not told about the bill and voiced worry that residents who moved to the area to avoid city government would lose local control. Belinda Zivich said she does not want a city takeover and that she would oppose opening a private road (Tuck Lane) or turning the district into an HOA.

Several speakers credited the district with managing storm recovery without city help after Hurricane Ian and said the board has performed maintenance proactively. A nearby homeowner association president, Ben Hershenson, said his association has found San Carlos Estates to be “great neighbors” and urged caution: “If it ain’t broke, please don't try to fix it.”

Council members and staff clarified that the measure was not a city-initiated action. Council member Fullock and other councilors said they would reserve full comment until Council member Bogaz, who requested that the matter appear on agenda(s) for further discussion, is present; staff confirmed Bogaz intends to continue facilitating discussions among the district board and the community and asked for the topic to return to a future council meeting for further coordination.

What happens next: speakers and council members said the bill’s course will be set in Tallahassee and that any conversion would follow procedures in state law. Residents asked the council to review liabilities, notification procedures, and the potential operational impacts on city budgets and services before taking any position.