Bonita Springs council adopts TPL ballot language for bond referendum to buy rail corridor for Estero Veil Trail

The Bonita Springs City Council voted unanimously April 24 to adopt revised ballot language recommended by the Trust for Public Land for a bond referendum set for Aug. 18, 2026 that would ask voters to approve general-obligation bonds to acquire an inactive railroad corridor for the Estero Veil Trail.

The measure, as presented to the council, would authorize bonds payable from ad valorem taxes to finance acquisition of the corridor. Council Member Chris moved to use the TPL wording because it includes language on pedestrian safety; the motion carried on a roll call vote with Mayor Mike Gibson, Council members Fitzpatrick, Purdon, Corey, Folick and Bogaz voting “Aye.”

The vote followed extended public comment and council discussion. Resident Dave Jay, who identified himself as chairman of the Lee County Taxpayers Association, urged the council to defeat what he called a “$70,000,000 property tax increase,” raised concerns about environmental liability in buying the corridor and questioned whether Mayor Gibson should participate because of a nearby business. "It's a bitter irony that today is IRS tax day, yet the city council is rushing a $70,000,000 property tax increase," Jay said.

Kylie, speaking for the state attorney's office, told the council her office had reviewed the matter and, based on an informal opinion from the Commission on Ethics, concluded that any potential special gain was too remote or speculative to create a voting conflict of interest. "It is our opinion this is not a conflict of interest, a voting conflict of interest, because the potential special gain is too remote or speculative to be considered a voting conflict," Kylie said.

Council members also sought clarity on the scope of the referendum. Council Member Fitzpatrick asked whether the ballot language could create a misleading impression that the referendum would fund construction as well as acquisition. "My key concern is that... it created a perception that the 35 odd million dollars would go ahead and accomplish the building of the trail," Fitzpatrick said. Legal counsel and staff told the council the proposed wording was legally sufficient; council members emphasized the referendum is aimed at acquisition and that additional phases (construction, other funding) would be addressed later and are not automatically covered by the bond measure.

Council Member Nigel and others stressed that the city had been working on the project for more than two years and said the referendum amount under consideration for the city’s portion is $35 million, a figure they said differs from Mr. Jay’s $70 million estimate. "We're talking about $35,000,000 referendum," Nigel said.

Council Member Chris summarized the city's approach to environmental review and negotiation with the railroad, saying due diligence — including environmental phase 1 and phase 2 assessments — is ongoing and will inform any final decision to close. "That due diligence runs until, the September. Included in that due diligence is an environmental phase 1 and phase 2 assessment," Chris said.

The council's adoption of the TPL wording sends the referendum language forward for the Aug. 18, 2026 ballot. The ordinance ordering the referendum and the revised ballot title were approved by roll call: Council Member Folick — Aye; Mayor Mike Gibson — Aye; Council Member Fitzpatrick — Aye; Deputy Mayor Purdon — Aye; Council Member Corey — Aye; Council Member Bogaz — Aye.

Next steps identified during the meeting included completion of due diligence and ongoing negotiation of purchase terms; council members said additional details about environmental findings and financing would be shared with the public before the August vote.