San Carlos Estates Water Control District, Lee County :
HB 4033 converts the San Carlos Estates Water Control District in Lee County from an independent special district into a dependent district of the City of Bonita Springs. The bill provides that the district’s existing legal status is continued and transferred, with the district’s assets, liabilities, contracts, permits, easements, rights, claims, and ongoing proceedings remaining in effect under the new dependent-district structure. It also states that the current board of supervisors will remain in office until the Bonita Springs City Council assumes those board duties.
The bill preserves the district’s existing boundaries by detailed legal description and keeps current resolutions and policies in effect unless they conflict with city ordinances or are later amended. It authorizes additional transition provisions to be adopted by ordinance so the city can administer the district after conversion. The measure also reenacts, amends, and repeals the original circuit court decree that created the district, while making chapter 298, Florida Statutes, applicable except where inconsistent with the act.
A key feature of the bill is that it is contingent on approval by referendum. Landowners in the district must vote by October 1, 2025, using the same method used to elect the district’s governing body, and qualified electors of the City of Bonita Springs must also approve the change in a separate referendum on August 18, 2026, concurrent with the primary election. Only if both groups approve does the act take effect.
Because there were no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, the available context does not show any formal debate or opposition. The bill’s structure suggests a largely administrative local-government reorganization, with the main policy question being whether the district should be governed directly by the city. Any contention would likely center on local control, the role of landowners versus city voters, and the transfer of district governance to the Bonita Springs City Council.
The bill changes the legal status of the San Carlos Estates Water Control District from an independent special district to a dependent district of the City of Bonita Springs, affecting local governance in Lee County. It preserves existing obligations and proceedings, transfers supervisory authority to the city council, and allows city ordinances to govern the district’s transition and future operation. It also ties the change to a two-step referendum process involving both district landowners and city electors.
No committee discussion or vote history was provided, so there is no recorded legislative debate to gauge sentiment. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be a targeted local-government reorganization rather than a controversial statewide policy change. The referendum requirement indicates an effort to secure local consent before the conversion takes effect.
The main potential point of contention is governance authority: the bill shifts control from an independent district board to the Bonita Springs City Council, which may raise concerns about local autonomy, representation, and the balance of power between landowners in the district and citywide voters. Another possible issue is the dual-referendum structure, since approval is required from both district landowners and city electors, creating two separate constituencies that must agree before the conversion can occur.