Venice City Council Regular Meeting - February 24, 2026

The Venice City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting included recognitions, public comments, consent agenda, several public hearings on final reading ordinances, a presentation from the Historic and Architectural Preservation Board (HAPB), annual updates from the Venice Pier Group and staff reports on Humphris Park, and other new business. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the February 2, 2026 Strategic Planning Workshop and February 10, 2026 Regular Meeting.
• Approved a Workers' Compensation Claim Settlement Agreement for ex-employee Jasmine Diaz.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Katie Cecabelli (snowbird resident) expressed concern about downtown blight, specifically the fenced post office at Venetian Plaza and a boarded-up building at 219/221 Venice Avenue. She noted that the historical society blocked the owner from demolishing the building, which has degraded over eight years. She requested city action to address the safety and appearance issues.

Discussion Items

• HAPB Annual Report & 2026 Priorities – Mark Beebe, HAPB Chair, reported that the board added two properties to the local register in 2025, bringing the total from 7 in 2017 to 14. The board approved five Certificates of Architectural Compliance and recommended one ad valorem tax exemption. Priorities for 2026 include continuing education seminars, updating the color palette, and finishing historic resource surveys for the Gulf Shores and Golden Beach areas. Council accepted the report and approved the proposed agenda priorities unanimously.
• Humphris Park Reconstruction Options – City Engineer Jon Kramer and Public Works Director Ricky Simpson presented the status of the South Jetty and Humphris Park after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The jetty and bulkhead (owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) suffered catastrophic damage, and staff recommended against temporary reconstruction due to high costs (estimated over $10 million for the South Bulkhead alone, with overall project possibly $100 million) and long permitting timeline (1–2 years for a Section 408 permit). The Army Corps acknowledged responsibility and is prioritizing the South Bulkhead repair. Council unanimously authorized the mayor to communicate support for federal and state funding for the project.
• Centennial Park Rededication Plaque – The council approved a plaque and paver area with benches to mark the city's centennial, with a rededication ceremony scheduled for April 15, 2026. A time capsule will also be included.
• Joint Meeting with Sarasota County Commissioners – The council voted unanimously to schedule a joint meeting with the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners, last held May 16, 2025, with a focus on regional topics.
• Citizens Advisory Board Appointments – Caitlin Panfill and Philip Ellis were appointed to three-year terms from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2029.
• Property Signage for Public Notice Requirements – Councilmember Frank proposed aligning the city's posting sign size with Sarasota County's 3-foot by 2-foot standard. After discussion, the council unanimously directed staff to research bringing posting requirements in line with the county, considering costs and SB 180 limitations.

Key Outcomes

• All consent items and ordinances passed unanimously:
  • Ordinance 2025-37 (Annexation – Abdelrahman and Sara Ayyad)
  • Ordinance 2025-38 (Comprehensive Plan Amendment – 2805 Curry Lane to Institutional Professional)
  • Ordinance 2025-39 (Zoning Amendment – 2805 Curry Lane to Office, Professional and Institutional)
  • Ordinance 2026-01 (Zoning Amendment – Auburn and Border Road to RSF-3, with stipulation on optional density)
  • Ordinance 2026-11 (Budget Amendment – increased revenues by $265,015 and expenditures by $67,500; first reading, final reading to be scheduled)
  • Resolution 2026-03 (Adopted 2026 Sarasota County Unified Local Mitigation Strategy Plan, approved Floodplain Management Plan annual report, and adopted Unified Program for Public Information including Flood Insurance Promotion Plan; the city's CRS rating of 5 gives residents a 25% flood insurance discount)
• Venice Pier Group – Justin Pachota presented $1,184,367 in percentage-of-sales rent (up from ~$1 million in 2025), plus $155,000+ base rent, totaling ~$1.34 million. He noted increased infrastructure strain since Caspersen Beach (county property) closed.
• Flood Awareness & Procurement Proclamations – The council proclaimed March 9–15, 2026 as Flood Awareness Week and March as Procurement Month.
• Engineers Week Proclamation – Recognized the week of February 22–28, 2026.
• 10-Year Service Award – Lorraine Anderson, Public Information Officer, was recognized.
• City Attorney – Noted the Florida legislative session is in its home stretch, with bills that could affect local land use authority.
• City Clerk – Presented the Legislative Referral Tracking Report, as required every six months.
• City Manager – Announced a new shared city calendar for council members and staff to consolidate meetings and events. Council members also thanked staff for individual tours of city projects (Humphris Park, new fire station, solid waste facility).