Venice City Council Meeting – January 13, 2026

The Venice City Council met on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers in Venice, Florida. The meeting included recognition ceremonies, the consent calendar, quasi-judicial land-use hearings, an airport master plan briefing, a Venice Beach Yoga update, a strategic planning preview, and a crosswalk directive. Votes were by electronic roll call; all items on the consent calendar passed without discussion.

Recognition & Ceremonial Items

• U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Pete presented a Certificate of Merit to Venice Police Officer Brett Woodworth for assisting a Nov. 15–16, 2025 search-and-rescue case. Woodworth found a social media video showing a compass heading of 220, helping narrow a search area spanning more than 600 square miles in the Gulf of America. The overdue 26-foot vessel was located about 30 nautical miles west of Boca Grande, Florida, less than two hours later, and all eight people aboard were recovered in good condition.
• Council recognized Jeff Hackett, Engineer/Stormwater Technician II, for 10 years of city service; announced Elena Hopper, a 5th grader at Venice Elementary, as the 2025 holiday card contest winner from roughly 100 entries; presented 2025 holiday parade awards to the listed organizations; and proclaimed January 16, 2026 as Florida Arbor Day, presented to City Arborist Jim Yelverton and Parks Maintenance Specialist I John Perkins.

Consent Calendar

• The Consent Section was approved by one motion with no discussion and no items removed. It included the December 9, 2025 meeting minutes; the US Army Corps of Engineers Shore Protection Project cooperation agreement for the Venice segment; the FOP CBA memorandum of understanding regarding new hires with prior law enforcement experience; the FDLE Byrne JAG grant agreement for a police e-bike; and FDEP State Revolving Fund Amendment 3 adding Water Main Replacement Phase 8B to loan DW580480.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Joan Farrell urged Council to resolve ongoing Venice Beach Yoga disruptions, describing incidents including a New Year's Day vehicle break-in at Friendship Senior Center and a donation bag loss of about $300. She said the yoga instructor has used the beach for 18 years and opposed moving the class 40–50 feet closer to the lifeguard stand.
• Dennis King, president of the Venice Aviation Society (VASI) and past EAA Chapter 1285 president, supported the airport master plan, VASI's voluntary fly-friendly noise procedures, a possible control tower, scholarships, and a proposed Venice Aviation Center. He said a tower would not increase traffic volume or attract larger aircraft.
• Jeffrey Boone, attorney for a nearby property owner, supported the Knights Trail text amendment, saying it would allow townhome buyers to own the unit fee simple rather than as a condominium, with no change in what would be built.
• Steve Carr, chair of the Central Venice Coalition, opposed the Laurel Road rezone, arguing it was needed mainly for a car wash, car washes were not unique in the area, and the council should deny the request.
• Airport tenants Paul Hallowell and John Mochel urged prompt development of T-hangars, noted a waiting list, described hurricane damage and underinsurance, and praised current airport management and Skyport for improved transparency.

Discussion Items

• Citizens Advisory Board: Chair Roger Efron presented the board's annual report and 2026 proposed agenda priorities. Council unanimously approved priorities A, B, C, and G; items D, E, and F were stated to have been folded into standing priorities.
• Airport Master Plan: Ricondo and Associates presented a progress update and FAA-approved aviation forecast. The baseline forecast projects total operations rising from about 96,000 in FY2024 to 131,000 in 2044, a 1.6% average annual increase, with based aircraft rising from 195 to 267. A high-growth sensitivity scenario uses 2.4% annual growth; the critical aircraft is projected to remain a C2-class business jet. Council discussed control tower justification, noise, T-hangars, airport-owned land, and preservation of general-aviation character. Council consensus directed a letter inviting FAA district leadership to public sessions.
• Strategic Planning Agenda: City Manager James Clinch previewed the February 2, 2026 strategic planning session, to begin at 8:30 a.m. at Community Hall with facilitator Doug Thomas, including vision/mission review and eight emerging strategic topics.
• Venice Beach Yoga Update: City staff and VPD reported Sarasota County is the permitting agency; the yoga permit designates Site Plan 4, but the instructor has operated south of that area. Suggested low-impact solutions included a rope/perimeter delineation, cones, and a rules sandwich board. From December 10, 2025 to January 9, 2026, VPD conducted 34 security checks, 3 patrol requests, and 6 additional contacts; the COT officer also met six times with the individual involved. As of the update, there had been 19 consecutive days without disruption. Law enforcement noted that exclusive permit rights and enforcement are clearer when the activity is within the designated permitted space.
• Crosswalk Request: Mayor Pachota moved to direct staff to research and take necessary action to install a crosswalk at Valencia and Harbor Drive, citing pedestrian access to Blaylock Park and the cultural campus. The motion passed unanimously.

Public Hearings – First Reading

• Ordinance 2026-01 (Auburn/Border Road rezoning): Staff and the applicant presented a request to rezone 10.73 acres from Sarasota County Open Use Rural to RSF-3, with a proposed maximum of 54 dwelling units, about 25% below a prior 72-unit request. Council discussion raised concerns about density, flooding, drainage, and I-75 proximity. An initial motion to approve was rescinded, and Council unanimously continued the item to February 10, 2026.
• Ordinance 2026-02 (Knights Trail text amendment): Council approved the text amendment on first reading, including staff revisions correcting the permitted-use table, and scheduled it for final reading. The vote was unanimous.
• Ordinance 2026-03 (2327 Ewing Drive annexation): Council approved annexation of the 7.3-acre property on first reading unanimously. The agenda identifies petitioner Mary L. Clark, Trustee of the Clark Family Trust; staff and applicant also referred to the same property as Baker Trust Ewing.
• Ordinance 2026-04 (Ewing Drive comprehensive plan amendment): Council approved the Medium Density Residential future land use change on first reading by a 6-1 vote, with Councilmember Weed dissenting based on density and urban-sprawl indicator concerns. The approval included a stipulation that the 300-foot northern setback/buffer prohibit buildings and parking.
• Ordinance 2026-05 (Ewing Drive RMF-3 rezoning): Council approved the rezoning on first reading unanimously, with the same 300-foot building-and-parking restriction incorporated.

Public Hearings – Final Reading

• Ordinance 2025-36 (2001 Laurel Road rezone to Laurel West): Council adopted the zoning map amendment by a 5-2 vote. Councilmembers Frank and Smith were the no votes; Mr. Carr's public opposition was noted, and staff reminded Council the decision was on the rezoning, not a conditional use.
• Ordinances 2025-37, 2025-38, and 2025-39 were not considered because they will be rescheduled and re-noticed due to an advertising error.
• Ordinance 2025-45 (Historic and Architectural Preservation Board membership): Council unanimously adopted the text amendment changing Venice MainStreet membership from a requirement to a preference.

Resolutions and Utility Easement

• Resolution 2026-02 renaming the Centennial Park Gazebo the Robert and Susan Vedder Gazebo was adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 2026-01 vacating a portion of right-of-way at 661 S. Tamiami Trail was adopted unanimously.
• Council unanimously authorized the Mayor to accept the utility easement between 661 S. Tamiami Trail, Inc. and the City.

Charter Officer and Council Reports

• The City Attorney noted the start of the 2026 legislative session.
• The City Clerk requested help recruiting board and committee members, including Planning Commission, HAPB, Citizen Tax Oversight Committee, and Community Rating System.
• The City Manager provided updates on the Fire Station 2 walkthrough, the South Jetty report scheduled for February, a new stormwater grants coordinator starting soon, and two finalists for assistant city manager.

Key Outcomes

• Consent calendar approved unanimously.
• CAB 2026 priorities A, B, C, and G approved unanimously.
• Auburn/Border Road rezoning continued to February 10, 2026.
• Knights Trail text amendment, Ewing annexation, and Ewing RMF-3 rezoning advanced on first reading; Ewing FLUM amendment advanced 6-1.
• Laurel Road rezone adopted 5-2; HAPB ordinance adopted unanimously.
• Gazebo naming, right-of-way vacation, and utility easement all approved unanimously.
• Council directed staff to proceed with the Valencia and Harbor Drive crosswalk.
• Council authorized a letter inviting FAA district leadership to airport master plan public engagement.
• Airport master plan and beach yoga monitoring will continue with public workshops and county coordination.