Water Task Force Sets Course, Airs Differences





Bonita Springs — The Bonita Springs Water Strategy Task Force took its first few halting steps on January 13.

The task force, charged with examining water issues in the city Density Reduction/Groundwater Resource area during a year-long moratorium on land use changes there, is headed by Paul Pass, appointed as chair by Mayor Ben Nelson. The committee itself selected Nicole Johnson of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida as vice-chair.

DR/GR Conflict Issues

Almost first on the task force agenda was a briefing by City Attorney Audrey Vance on Florida’s Sunshine Law and state ethics requirements. That issue already raised its head based on a pending trans- action in the study area between Bonita Springs Utilities and Dennis Gilkey, the former Bonita Bay Group CEO who is the task force member appointed by Mayor Ben Nelson.

Gilkey and partner David McArdle are working on a deal, announced January 6, to buy 237 acres in the Bonita DR/GR from Bonita Springs Utilities. Neither Gilkey nor BSU executive director Fred Partin would discuss the terms of the deal.

The land is part of a 417- acre purchase BSU made in the mid 1990’s for $1.5 million. “It’s been in the works for quite some time,” Partin said.

The value of the land could increase dramatically under the proposed development recommendations of a highly controversial recent city study. Those recommendations split the community over DR/ GR development and led to formation of the water task force to make water issues– flooding, pollution and aquifer protection– a first priority.

Gilkey did declare his potential conflict by a letter to Vance. He said he expects there will be votes he cannot participate in, but he feels the discussions that lead to the votes may be more important.

Johnson said she will rely on Vance and Gilkey when it comes to what’s legally a conflict. If the people of Bonita see a conflict they will likely say so, she said.

“We had a lot of people in the audience today, and that needs to continue,” she said.

Task force members discussed how they will go about their work. They requested presentations from the South Florida Water Management District and from other consultants including restoration ecologist Kevin Erwin, who did much of the work when Lee County devised rules for its own much larger DR/GR.

Forbes and Pass Differ

Discussion also centered on public input at the meetings, which Pass feared might slow the progress of the group.

“We’ll never get nothing done if we have to do it for every vote,” Pass said. “We might as well fold this tent right now.”

The group will hear from the public at every meeting and for specific important votes later in the process.

Pass also expressed concern over the potential expense of having consultants re-do studies already done.

“There’s been millions spent on that,” he said. “Millions of taxpayer dollars.”

Committee member Fred Forbes, however, said the studies will have to be examined, at least. He particularly targeted the recent city study.

“If we’re going to read that report I challenge anybody in here to read it and say it’s right,” Forbes said, expressing concerns over statements playing down aquifer recharge in the DR/ GR.

Committee member and DR/GR resident Tori Polonitza said the task force must keep in mind the land they are discussing is privately owned. Forbes argued those owners can develop under current regulations right now.

Gilkey said it’s true the task force has to ‘get the water right’ but it can use “economics” to help get that done.

“Let’s not forget economics can play a part too,” he said. “That’s one percent of the city tax base out there and 20 percent of the land area.”

Three council members attended the meeting, as did George Yeonas, asset manager for the Dutch Bank that now owns the Bonita Grande Mine, the largest single parcel in the Bonita DR/GR. Yeonas came from Boca Raton to attend. He declined comment.

The task force will meet again February 3. Assistant City Manager John Gucciardo said early meetings will feature presentations from the Water Management District and perhaps from Erwin and other consultants.



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