Leslie Dowdal

The Bonita Springs Citywide Mobility Plan outlines how the city will invest in transportation for all modes of travel. The plan focuses on four strategic areas: ensuring safety, providing connected choices, supporting smart growth, and designing for resilience. It aims to clarify transportation priorities, coordinate future investments efficiently, and advocate for improvements on local, county, and state roads, ultimately ensuring every transportation dollar provides the greatest community benefit.

The meeting began with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a roll call. Key discussions included a presentation on the water shortage warning issued by the district and updates on Bonita Springs Utilities' strategies, such as utilizing reverse osmosis and coordinating monitoring efforts to manage freshwater aquifer levels. The council also proclaimed the week of March 9th to 15th, 2026, as Flood Awareness Week, detailing reasons related to severe weather history and participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. Significant discussion revolved around an ordinance amending planning and zoning code provisions, which involved transferring the powers of the Historic Preservation Board to the new Planning and Zoning Board while maintaining the Tree Board's functions. Finally, a council member requested consideration for a study on installing a crosswalk on Old 41 North of Bonita Beach Road due to demonstrated pedestrian safety concerns where the sidewalk terminates.

The meeting, identified as a CIP workshop, included a roll call followed by updates on special events, city facilities, and information technology. Discussions on special events highlighted the increase in permits due to private development and the activation of new organizers like Sugar Shack and the Wonder Gardens. Focus areas include activating new event spaces, enhancing existing venues like Riverside Park, and improving placemaking through interactive play and art installations such as popup street pianos and light projections. Future events discussed included the upcoming Celebrate Bonita event, planned as a five-night immersive celebration of light, art, and community, and enhancements for the July 4th celebration to mark the country's 250th anniversary. City facilities updates covered ongoing security assessments at City Hall, the Recreation Center, Riverside Park, and the Lyles Hotel Plaza. Repairs and minor restoration projects were completed at the old library building. A legislative request for $4.8 million for a new resiliency hub is pending. Information technology updates focused on migrating from on-premise servers to the cloud, working on online event permitting, and developing proposals for a new website design.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a roll call. Discussions included a motion for staff to explore establishing infrastructure for installing Tesla superchargers downtown at least two locations, factoring in natural gas backup options. Following debate regarding public interest, existing infrastructure near I75, and potential impact on downtown parking, the council agreed to refer the exploration of charging stations and natural gas aspects to the Technology Committee for further review. Separately, the council approved a draft agreement for the placement of a guitar sculpture on property owned by the Sugar Shack landowner at the front entrance (northwest corner), which upon certain conditions, will transfer ownership to the city. An update was also provided on the neighborhood services department's rental permit program.

The meeting commenced with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance, followed by a roll call. A proclamation was presented recognizing the 90th anniversary of the Wonder Gardens, detailing its history, mission, and upcoming celebration events. The agenda proceeded to public hearings concerning zoning and land use items related to a single project involving three ordinances: annexation of approximately 89.5 acres, adoption of amendments to the comprehensive future land use map, and rezoning of the land. The applicant provided a consolidated presentation focusing on key changes requested late in the process, including setting the minimum residential density floor at one unit per acre (down from 1.4) to allow for greater flexibility in lot sizing and potentially fewer total units (capped at 299). Another significant change addressed commercial phasing to ensure the 7.3 acres of commercial space are developed before 75 residential units are permitted, including securing shell building permits for 50,000 square feet of commercial space. The final key change related to traffic signalization on Bonita Beach Road, where the developer committed to fully funding and installing the signal by the time the final residential unit permit is issued, subject to Lee County issuing the necessary permit.