Governance

Documents/Articles

• Annexation/Incorporation Study Committee Mar. 2013 EDR
• Annexation / Incorporation Study Committee Feb 2013 EDR
• Proposal to Change the Lee Board of County Commissioners April 2012 EDR
• BOCC Debates Impact Fees April 2012 EDR
• Florida House and Senate Approve a New Senate District For Bonita Springs and Estero March 2012 EDR
• Florida House and Senate Responds to Estero Residents Seeking Legislative Districts That Keep It Whole Jan. 2012 EDR
• Estero Is Seeking Legislative Districts That Keep It Whole Dec. 2011 EDR
• Lee County Board Redistricting Finalized Nov. 2011 EDR
• Lee County Board Redistricting Progress Report Oct. 2011 EDR
• County Board Rejects “Straw Vote” on Estero Incorporation for the November Ballot EDR June 2010
• Draft Bonita responding resolution
• County proposal for Bonita Springs
• Annexation--Incorporation Legal Procedures Written 09/01
  Some factual information that we hope will help inform the citizens of Estero about governance options so that they can effectively participate in this important debate.
• Annexation Committee Report Nov 2007 ECCL
• Bonita Springs Two Mile Buffer Controversy Nov 2007 EDR

Annexation Review Committee

The Annexation Review Committee was established to employ legal counsel to research and advice the ECCL and its members about the City of Bonita Springs annexation plans for the south Estero area. Below are the primary results of their efforts.

• Committee
  Chair: John Goodrich Formed: 2004
  Potential Annexation Map
  Slides from Presentations

  Introduction
• Survey Results

Introduction

Bonita Springs can attempt to annex:

All of Estero
       OR
Sections of Estero Contiguous to the Bonita City Line

Requirements
Bonita Springs must authorize the attempt
The targeted area must be defined by Bonita Springs
It must be voted upon in the targeted area only
The majority of registered voters casting ballots must approve

Why Now?
Bonita Springs granted cityhood, 1999
Community & EFR resisted having Fire District property being in Bonita Springs
The legislative delegation added a 5 year annexation moratorium to Bonita’s Charter
The moratorium expired on Dec. 31, 2004

Involuntary Annexation Procedures
Bonita identifies area to be annexed
Bonita files annexation report with Lee County
City files annexation ordinance, holds two public hearings in Bonita Springs
Bonita adopts annexation ordinance
Lee County supervises an annexation vote

Commonly Claimed Benefits

• Better municipal services
• Closer, more responsive government

Bonita's 2005 Annexation Steps

• Initiated Interlocal Annexation Agreement Negotiations with County
• Published map of their proposed annexation area
• Presented their annexation plans to several community/civic organizations
• Approved funding of annexation issue study
• Reaffirmed their intention to protect the "2-mile buffer" north of the city

Estero's 2005 Annexation Response

• Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) formed Annexation Review Committee
• Initiated Meeting with Bonita Springs Officials
• Developed Program for Funding our Annexation Needs
• Hired an Attorney to Provide Legal Guidance
• Initiated Impact Analysis with the Assistance of County Staff
• Added Annexation to Village with a Vision
• Conducted an Annexation Survey of all Registered Voters in the Bonita’s Target Area

Next Steps

• City Council Meeting on April 6th
• Research Past Use of the “2-mile Buffer”
• ECCL Letter to State Legislative Delegation re Duration of the “2-mile Buffer”
• Complete Analysis of the Annexation Voter Survey

Bonita's Statements

• Manager has proposed a 44 square mile area that would double the size of the City; making it the 6th largest in Florida.
• The City's motivation is to capture more tax money for the city.
• The manager says he opposes changing the city charter to increase the number of Commissioners above the present six (6).
• The annexation area contains half the DRGR, thus raising the concerns of the environmental community and water supply.
• The annexation area contains nearly half of the Estero Community. The City Manager indicated that this would greatly inhibit incorporation in Estero.

Tax Savings Due to Annexation

• $27 on a $150,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption.
• According to the Lee County Property Appraiser… $107 on a $500,000 home.

Estero Advantages

• Estero is a “New” Community
  • Housing - 75% less than 6 years old
  • Commercial - 90% yet to come.
• Infrastructure - New & Expanding
  • Smaller Needs and Lower Costs than older communities.
• Central Location
  • Future Commercial Center of Southwest Florida
  • Key destinations
    • Miromar Shoppes
    • Intl. Design Center
    • Hyatt Regency
    • Germain Arena
    • Coconut Point
  • Immediately adjacent to FGCU.
• Already Second Highest Per-Capita Property Tax Base in Lee County.
  • Commercial growth will permit Estero to challenge Sanibel’s #1 status.
  • Quality Services with Low Taxes.
• Only community in Southwest Florida with Community Input on all Development Projects
  • Community meetings prior to all Zoning applications… ECPP.
  • Community meetings prior to all Development Order applications…EDRC
• Planned Community with Southwest Florida’s Highest Standards
  • Monument vs. pole and pylon signs
  • Ban Balloons, banners, animated and electronic message signs etc.
  • Special gas station/convenience store standards
  • Overlay Districts; Roadway Landscaping; Big Box design standards etc.
• Unequalled Citizen Participation
  • Public Hearings
  • Active Community Groups
• Outstanding County Cooperation
  • Approved & Supports Estero’s Community Plan
  • Supports Estero’s Planning and Design Boards
  • Approved Estero’s Development Code Provisions

Survey Results

Estero 2005 Community Survey Final Results as of 5/01/05

FLORIDA REGISTERED VOTERS

Estero Precinct 132 (East of US 41)
From Bonita Springs City Line to Williams Road

Estero Precinct 147 (West of US 41)
from Bonita Springs City Line to Williams Road

RESPONSE OF ENTIRE SURVEY AREA

QUESTION # 4:
I regularly receive most of my news about Estero from: (Choose One or More)
Mentions Pct.

RESPONSE OF ENTIRE SURVEY AREA

QUESTION # 8:
Whether in person or by absentee ballot: (Defined As)

RESPONSE OF LIKELY VOTERS ONLY IN ENTIRE SURVEY AREA

QUESTION # 7:
From What I Know Today....

RESPONSE OF LIKELY VOTERS ONLY IN ENTIRE SURVEY AREA

QUESTION #5:
From what I know today, I grade the following on a scale of 1 to 10*:

RESPONSE OF LIKELY VOTERS ONLY IN ENTIRE SURVEY AREA

QUESTION #6:
The annexation issues of importance to me on a scale of 1 to 10** are...

* Scale Range: One (poor) to Ten (excellent).
** Scale Range: One (least important) to Ten (most important).