Council approved the final details for the Estero on the River land purchase including a loan agreement with Capital Bank, a division of First Tennessee Bank National Association.
The total project cost of $24,600,000 is to be funded by a down payment of $4,600,000 from the general fund. The remaining $20,000,000 debt will be at a 4.01 fixed rate with no penalty for prepayment unless the loan is refinanced with another lender and $1,400,000 debt service.
Final closing on this property is to occur on Monday, January 14, 2019. The Village will take over maintenance and securing the property. Planning efforts for this land will begin in several months.
Proclamation
Mayor Jim Boesch presented Lauren McCraney, Program Coordinator, Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships, and Sam Lewis, CEO, WearTheFund, with a copy of the Village of Estero’s proclamation designating January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Estero.
Florida is one of three states with the highest incidents of human trafficking and one of the states doing the most to combat this crime. Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships has conducted programs in Estero in partnership with groups such as Our Mothers Home and New Horizons. (Proclamation)
Lien removal request
Council voted to remove the Village code enforcement lien at 9870 Horne Lane, which is being purchased by the Estero Fire District. This is a 5-acre tract behind the fire station on Three Oaks Parkway. The lien had been issued for two sheds which had fallen into disrepair by the former owner. The sheds are going to be removed. (Summary Sheet)
Second reading/Public Hearing of Ordinances
Ordinance No. 2018-20 – Repealing Development District Provisions
Council adopted this ordinance which ratifies all community development districts within the Village of Estero. (Ordinance)
Ordinance No. 2019-01 – Adopting a Reserve Policy
Council adopted this ordinance which establishes three reserve accounts: Operating Reserves, Litigation Defense Reserves and Major Road Maintenance Reserves. (Ordinance)
Workshop Items
20/20 Program for Conservation
Debi Osborne, Director of Land Protection, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, spoke about the proposed Conservation 20/20 property located at the eastern end of E. Broadway. This is the River Oaks Preserve which is approximately 10 acres immediately adjacent to the floodplain and waterway on this land.
Council was asked if they would support a maximum of $30,000 annual maintenance fee for this land which would include removal of invasives and maintenance along the river, creek and ditches on the property. Council came to a consensus to offer to provide the maintenance for this property should it be selected for purchase by 20/20.
The Conservation 20/20 Conservation Lands Acquisition and Stewardship Committee (CLASC) will be meeting on Tuesday, January 15, to select properties for conservation and Ms. Osborne will present this one to the committee for consideration.
Parks, Recreation & Open Space
Community Development Director Mary Gibbs stated residents are being asked to participate in the Parks, Recreation & Open Space planning process, starting with a public workshop at the Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., at 5:30 p.m., Monday, January 14.
Plans also call for focus group meetings with representatives of organized sports, the City of Bonita Springs and others to review proposals for the Parks and Recreation Master Plan. In addition, surveys will be provided in the future to gather additional input.
Additional details will be available in the minutes of this meeting. Residents may also view the archived meeting by going to the Village website http://estero-fl.gov/council/watch-meetings-online/.
The next Council meeting will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 23, 2019.