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Estero and Bonita Springs leaders have had their differences, but they are hoping that working together on nonconfrontational issues will help bridge the gap.

The Bonita City Council voted Wednesday to take part in a workshop in September with Estero leaders to discuss regional issues in hopes of opening a dialogue between the two groups.

“In order to resolve any differences, we’ve got to meet on common ground,” said Bonita Councilman Richard Ferreira. “This should be the trigger that opens the door.”

There has been bad blood on both sides ever since Bonita leaders started talking about annexing part of Estero from just south of Coconut Road to Williams Road.

Estero leaders struck back with a poll that showed a majority of respondents opposed annexation.

Leaders from both sides agree the annexation issue should not be brought up during the workshop. Nor should a contentious proposal for an intersection at Coconut Road and Interstate 75, which Bonita leaders want but Estero leaders don’t.

“For the agenda, I’m going to demand that it be noncontroversial,” said Bonita Councilman John Joyce, who is helping Bonita set up the meeting with Estero leaders. “Not that it’s going to be a worthless agenda, but there will be stuff on there that we can agree on.”

With three new City Council members, the group has yet to form opinions on several serious issues, said Councilman Ben Nelson.

“There are a lot of the issues that Estero may be firm on and Lee County may be firm on because they’ve been working together for a long time,” Nelson said. “It may be a jail break if we get in there and we are not in agreeance.”

To help keep the meeting civil and productive, Jim Stansbury of Stansbury Solutions by Design will facilitate.

If the workshop is successful, both sides have a lot to gain, said Don Eslick, chairman of the Estero Council of Community Leaders.

“What happens in Bonita is very important to us, particularly in the transportation and health care arenas,” Eslick said.

“Those are regional issues where Estero and Bonita both need help and by working together we have more influence through the state or county or whatever.”