Venice City Council Regular Meeting - May 13, 2025

The Venice City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, beginning at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers at Venice City Hall, 401 W. Venice Avenue. All Council members were present. The meeting featured four ceremonial proclamations, a one-hour audience participation period, approval of the Lord-Higel House coffee shop lease, a $14,500 police grievance settlement, three ordinance continuances, final adoption of three ordinances—including the contested Avenida Del Circo density amendment—and the unanimous appointment of Lloyd Weed to Council Seat 1. The Council recessed at approximately noon for an executive session and returned around 1:00 PM.

Recognition & Proclamations

• National Police Week (May 11-17, 2025): Mayor Pachota noted that Venice has been rated the safest place in America to retire and that the police department has an unblemished state accreditation record. Presented to Acting Police Chief Eric Hill, Master Police Officer Paul Joyce, and Police Officer Brett Woodworth. The proclamation cited 24,412 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty since 1786, with 345 new names being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.
• National Safe Boating Week (May 17-23, 2025): Presented to Officer Joyce, Officer Woodworth, and representatives from the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, West Coast Inland Navigation District, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Venice Flotilla 86, Sea Tow Venice, and Venice Sail and Power Squadron. Speakers emphasized free vessel safety checks and pre-departure preparation.
• Public Works Week (May 18-24, 2025): Vice Mayor Boldt read the proclamation; Mayor Pachota recognized the more than 380 public works and utilities employees.
• Historic Preservation Month (May 2025): The proclamation noted Venice has five national historic districts, eight properties on the National Register of Historic Places, and 13 properties on the local register of historic resources.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously. Items included the minutes of the April 22, 2025 regular meeting, and the reappointment of Police Officer Brett Woodworth to the Police Pension Board of Trustees (term through October 31, 2028). Items 25-0191 (Lord-Higel lease) and 25-0192 (grievance settlement) were pulled by Mayor Pachota and Councilmember Smith, respectively, for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony (General Audience)

• Ruth Corder expressed dismay at the April 22 Council meeting, asserting that a flawed traffic study was relied upon, that the company that prepared it refunded money, that a 13,000-page report was sent to Swift MUD without an executive summary, and that outside influences direct city leadership. She praised one Council member who proposed an independent study, contrasting "personal power" with "positional power."
• Frank Wright, president of the Venice Area Historical Society, supported the Lord-Higel House coffee shop lease, noting residents contributed approximately $800,000 to the house's restoration and that adaptive reuse is a sound preservation approach.

Discussion Items

Lord-Higel House Coffee House Lease (25-0191): The leaseholder, Black Gold Coffee Roasters LLC (representatives Alyssa and Gary), presented plans for a community cafe with live music, events, and history-focused programming in collaboration with the Venice Museum and Archives. Alyssa stated the second floor—not ADA accessible—will be used for storage, office space, and limited private meeting space. In response to Councilmember Frank's parking question, she noted the lease dedicates the first six parking spaces nearest the house and that the area is intended to be a "walking town" per the John Nolen plan. The lease was approved unanimously.

Police Grievance Settlement (25-0192): Councilmember Smith asked why settlement terms were confidential and whether the $14,500 payment to Jessica Chappa and the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) set a precedent. HR Director Alan Bullock explained the dispute involved whether compensatory time counts in retirement "average final compensation" calculations under an old pension plan closed to new members since approximately 2014, and that the settlement agreement specifies it does not set a precedent. The settlement was approved unanimously.

Ordinance 2025-07 – Final Reading (Mixed-Use Corridor Density Amendment, Avenida Del Circo): Seven public speakers opposed the request to raise the allowed density on the approximately five-acre Wasserman property from 13 units per acre to 35 (Planning Commission recommended 32). Speakers cited traffic on Avenida Del Circo and cut-through neighborhoods, pedestrian and bicycle safety (Nokomis Avenue is a designated bike route with no sidewalks), evacuation concerns, compatibility with the John Nolen plan, and concern about setting precedent. Joan Iacono of Venice Thrives (described as a nonpartisan group of approximately 2,000 members) said the increase would bring roughly 170 new units instead of 71. Applicant's attorney Jeffrey Boone argued the change is a trade-off: for every added dwelling unit, the right to 2,000 square feet of commercial development is removed, and the property currently allows up to 237,000 square feet of commercial development, which he said would generate far more traffic (a 14,000-square-foot retail building is roughly equivalent to 175 multifamily dwelling units of traffic). He noted no state agencies raised objections and that a site and development plan and full traffic study are still required before any construction. Councilmember Howard proposed an amendment capping density at 22 units per acre, seconded by Councilmember Smith; the amendment failed 2-4, and the original motion passed 4-2, with Howard and Smith opposed.

Ordinance 2025-15 – Final Reading (3520 Laurel Road East Rezone): Approved unanimously, changing the zoning of 15.58 ± acres from Sarasota County Open Use Estate-1 (OUE-1) to City of Venice Laurel East (LE). No public speakers. Councilmember Smith noted that city zoning designations provide certainty to both owners and neighbors.

Ordinance 2025-18 – Final Reading (FY2024-25 Budget Amendment): Approved 5-1, increasing total revenues and expenditures by $1,494,951 (the clerk read expenditures as "$1,494,095"; the agenda states $1,494,951). Councilmember Smith objected to the inclusion of a new full-time police training manager position, proposing an amendment to remove it; the amendment failed for lack of a second. Finance Director Linda Seni explained the position needed to be hired before October 1 and would be budgeted for a few months in the current year. Acting Police Chief Eric Hill described the training manager as an essential position.

Resolution 2025-13 (Emergency Medical Aid Fees): Removed by staff; no action taken.

Citizens Advisory Board Student Member (25-0193): Hayden Heaney was reappointed for the term June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026, unanimously.

Police Homelessness Presentation (25-0194): Councilmember Smith requested a presentation from the police department's outreach team (Sergeant Sean Hammett and caseworker Kelsey Ledford). The motion was amended to direct staff to host a public educational session on homelessness at a city venue; passed unanimously.

Third-Party Presentation Time Limits (25-0195): Council directed staff to develop a policy on time limits and scheduling for third-party presentations, including avoiding long waits for presenters. Passed unanimously.

City Hall Park Honorary Name (25-0196): Mayor Pachota proposed naming City Hall Park (401 W. Venice Avenue) the "LaValle Municipal Campus" in honor of retiring City Manager Ed Lavallee, who has served more than 13 years. The item was referred to the Citizens Advisory Board in accordance with city policy. Passed unanimously.

Appointment of Council Seat 1 (25-0197): After one public speaker (Margaret Jean Cannon) urged the Council to consider a different perspective, Mayor Pachota nominated Lloyd Weed from the three applicants (Weed, Derbak, and Fiedler). No other nominations were offered. Weed was selected unanimously and sworn in immediately after the meeting; a ceremonial swearing-in is scheduled for May 27, 2025.

Key Outcomes

• ORD 2025-16 and ORD 2025-17 (Auburn and Border Road, south of I-75) continued to the May 27, 2025, City Council meeting, unanimously.
• ORD 2025-19 (Live Local Act / Affordable Housing text amendment) continued to the June 10, 2025, City Council meeting, unanimously.
• ORD 2025-07 adopted on final reading, 4-2; Councilmember Howard's 22-units-per-acre amendment rejected 2-4.
• ORD 2025-15 adopted unanimously.
• ORD 2025-18 adopted 5-1 (Councilmember Smith opposed).
• Lord-Higel House lease and the $14,500 grievance settlement approved unanimously.
• Lloyd Weed appointed to Council Seat 1 unanimously.
• Staff directed to draft a third-party presentation policy and to schedule a public educational homelessness session.
• City Hall Park naming referred to the Citizens Advisory Board.

Charter Officer & Council Reports

• City Attorney: Noted the close of the state legislative session and a pending bill that would extend the local government planning moratorium, describing continued erosion of home rule authority.
• City Clerk: Reminded Council of the joint meeting with Sarasota County commissioners on Friday, May 16, at the R.L. Anderson Building, and began scheduling meetings with the new Council member.
• Councilmember Smith: Requested a timeline from Coastal Protection Engineering on the Flamingo Ditch study; the City Manager said the information would be provided by email.
• Councilmember Engelke: Attended the Florida League of Cities Institute for Elected Officials and a four-hour ethics course.
• Councilmember Howard: Reported on Safety Day and invited the public to the Memorial Day ceremony.
• Vice Mayor Boldt: Reported on the Tourist Development Council meeting and efforts to seek funding for the Venice Theatre.
• Mayor Pachota: Announced the Hurricane Expo (May 30, Venice Community Center), the Memorial Day ceremony (May 26, Patriots Park), and the Centennial community meeting (June 5).