City Council Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Workshop – April 8, 2026

The City Council met on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. in Council Chambers for the annual Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Workshop. The meeting was a working session on the proposed FY2027-2031 CIP; no formal votes were taken, and direction was given by consensus. Staff presented the CIP fund by fund, answered council questions, and received input to incorporate into the proposed budget.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Madeline Zubic, a full-time Gulf Shores homeowner, said city engineer John Kramer assured her the city is not currently pursuing a pipeline from Flamingo Ditch/Golden Beach to Deertown Gully and that it is not in any grants. She demanded a long-term environmental impact/health study of jet operations at the airport, citing what she said was aviation contamination into Deertown Gully, and warned that homeowners are ready to file state complaints and protest if airport expansion proceeds. She also referenced pending litigation involving Golden Beach residents and suggested moving the airport off the island.
• Tracy Kehoe, a resident adjacent to the Venice Airport, requested a vegetative buffer/earthen berm, water quality testing, and mitigation of jet exhaust, noise, and stormwater runoff into Deertown Gully. She supported beautification of the Circus Bridge entrance and opposed moving light industrial businesses from the Seaboard area to the airport. She thanked staff members David Cervello and Nick Dumas for improved communication.
• Chris Davis, a Venice resident since 1990 and property owner since 1993, said environmental concerns raised during the 2009-2010 airport study were dismissed. He described black soot/particulate on roofs, driveways, and soil and asked the city to fund an independent long-term comprehensive environmental study of air, water, and soil outside the airport, paid for by the city rather than FAA.
• Janice Reardon, a resident of 1127 Sunset Drive for over 20 years, asked that no airport expansion budget approvals move forward until independent environmental, water-quality, habitat, and public-health studies are completed. She cited Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act concerns, habitat at the golf course, three neighbors with lung cancer, and PFAS risk from the proposed fire-training facility. She requested transparent soil, air, and health impact testing.
• Brett Spengler, a full-time resident and property owner across from the Skyport FBO, said the FAA has made clear that airport ground operations are the sponsor's responsibility. He cited Florida nuisance/takings cases and said the airport CIP lacks responses to resident concerns. He warned that groups are evaluating legal options and that a resident lawsuit may be required.
• Tanya Willard, a 10-year owner who said she and her family are aviation enthusiasts, said the airport is losing its charm because of jet traffic and fumes, including an issue affecting a friend with COPD. She opposed moving industry from Seaboard to the airport and a large new terminal, and suggested the city consider whether continuing FAA grants is worth the obligations.

Capital Improvement Program Overview

• City Manager James Clinch said the annual workshop is about halfway through the FY27 budget process; the CIP before council is a draft and will not be approved until September. He said staff took a deliberately conservative approach, postponed or removed projects, and added some projects tied to grant opportunities amid uncertain fiscal times.
• Finance Director Linda Seni reported the proposed five-year CIP totals more than $34 million, close to 20 percent of the budget, down 30 percent from the current fiscal year and 50 percent from FY25. General fund CIP spending is down 37 percent from FY26 and 84 percent from FY25. She explained color-coding and that only the FY27 column becomes part of the FY27 budget; additions could still be made. The only debt-service entries are for the fleet maintenance facility and Fire Station 2.
• A council member suggested future agendas include an audience participation period before new business as well as after; the mayor said the suggestion was noted and not inappropriate.

Public Safety, IT, and Facilities

• Fire Chief Frank Giddins said the $65,000 item initially labeled as CPR mannequins is actually an advanced life support (ALS) training mannequin suite for paramedics and EMTs, with computer-operated adult, child, and infant simulators. Council asked why it appeared as a new first-year item; the chief said the city has one outdated unit and needs more training capacity. Council members called the item 100 percent necessary, directed a title/description change, and asked staff to add a replacement in FY31.
• On fire station alerting software, Chief Giddins said the system would modernize dispatch alerts, reduce human error, improve response times, allow more targeted responses, and help the city's ISO rating. Council discussion noted it could reduce sending an engine on medical-only calls and save fuel and equipment wear; the project is proposed in the general fund for FY28-29.
• For police marine replacements, staff noted WCI/D grant funding and trade-in value would cover part of the boat costs, with the city paying the shortfall. Councilman Engelkey asked for a grants summary in the proposed budget and more information on how staff vets grant opportunities; the city manager said the city added a stormwater grants manager and now has two grants staff.
• Police Chief Andy Leicering said the FY31 women's locker room project reflects three current vacancies and plans to add three lockers in FY27; women are roughly 15 percent of the force. Council discussed using police impact fees if the project expands the footprint, and Councilwoman Fray said she would prefer preserving general fund dollars for additional police officers if impact fees can be used.
• The HR management system is proposed for FY29 with $100,000 in capital and $142,000 in ongoing operating costs. IT Director Roger Barrow said manual timekeeping creates human error and time loss across more than 100 employees; implementation is constrained by IT workload, not cost. Some council members asked to move the project up to FY28, while the city manager and IT director explained it is being phased to protect payroll accuracy.
• IT lifecycle projects reviewed included server/storage replacement, backup-site equipment, and cybersecurity firewall replacement. Barrow said the city is moving systems to the cloud where possible; the backup site is in a hardened inland facility shared with Sarasota County to control costs, and the firewall is a safety mandate.

Parks and Community Facilities

• For Centennial Park, council members questioned the cost of gazebo ADA ramp upgrades and pump house roof replacement. Public Works Director Ricky Simpson explained the ramp would be converted from wood to aluminum for durability and the roof would be designed to match the existing bathroom roof.
• Chuck Ryder Park demolition is proposed for FY30. Staff said the vision is for Sarasota County's Wellfield Park to become a regional sports complex and absorb little league uses, allowing Chuck Ryder to become a passive park, but the county's conceptual design is not final and future park planning remains uncertain.
• Heckshire Park sports lighting would replace aging lighting with new LED fixtures; council confirmed it is an upgrade of existing lighting, not entirely new lighting.
• Venetian Waterway Trail boardwalk and trail replacement would be supported by a 50/50 state recreational trails grant. Councilman Weed relayed a citizen's question about missing distance markers; staff said they would raise it with Sarasota County within two weeks. Mayor Pichoda asked that cameras and call boxes be considered for trail and park improvements.
• A major discussion on the Venice Community Center generator led to consensus to remove the roughly $1 million fixed generator replacement from FY28. Staff estimated a transfer switch at about $50,000 and a portable generator at about $300,000, plus fuel-delivery challenges. Councilman Inglekey and Councilwoman Fray supported replacing the generator item with about $250,000 in technology improvements, including sound system, projector/cameras, movable lights, and an LED panel wall, to make the facility more rentable. City Manager Clinch noted the National Guard is generally self-sufficient and the main post-storm value of the center is as a long-term recovery location.
• For South Jetty/Humphreys Park reconstruction, $4.3 million is a placeholder in the beach renourishment fund, with design anticipated in FY28 and construction in FY29 depending on Army Corps timing. The mayor said the money is for repairing Humphreys Park, not the jetty itself; council discussed the need for pavement, restrooms, and a resilient design.

Airport Projects

• Airport Director Nick Dumas received praise from residents for improved communication, including with David Cervello and Nick Dumas.
• Midfield T-hangar design and construction total $2.2 million. The airport has the longest T-hangar waitlist in Florida and the second longest in the country, and rates are below market. Staff is starting an appraisal study and exploring a public-private partnership; Councilman Inglekey encouraged accelerating the project to generate revenue/profit.
• The proposed maintenance facility relocation would move airport maintenance operations to a centralized location and free Airport Avenue property for potential development.
• Taxiway F construction, currently planned for FY31, would build a parallel taxiway on the east side and could concentrate jet operations away from nearby homes. The city is exploring a developer-funded approach with rent credits because FAA/FDOT generally will not fund projects solely for economic development. Several council members asked staff to find ways to move Taxiway F and related mitigation earlier.
• Dumas said he is working with airport legal counsel to update minimum standards and rules so commercial tenants that service jet aircraft must provide ground power units instead of using jet engines or auxiliary power units while parked. The current FBO has two ground power units that are reportedly down, and operable units are not currently a lease requirement.
• Wildlife and security fencing is proposed for FY27, and staff confirmed it would not disturb the golf course. A planned runway 5/23 rehabilitation project includes asphalt work and LED lighting. Vehicle service road relocations are safety projects to reduce runway crossings, funded largely by federal/state grants at approximately 80 percent federal, 10 percent state, and 10 percent local cost share.
• A remote control tower is projected for around FY31 and would be 100 percent funded through the federal contract tower program; it would use cameras rather than a tall traditional tower. The ARFF building and related aircraft rescue firefighting capability are driven by the airport's path toward Part 139 certification. The $3.5 million building estimate assumes a part-time facility; Mayor Pichoda said he expects a more robust, hardened, 24/7 facility with at least two staff, possibly co-located with an ambulance. Staff noted a used ARFF truck may be available from Punta Gorda for a nominal cost in about two years.
• On the airport master plan, staff said the plan is expected to be complete in the first quarter of next year, with an environmental/NEPA review next year. City Manager Clinch noted the airport is operationally self-sufficient but relies heavily on grants for capital; expediting projects will likely require public-private partnerships.

Utilities, Stormwater, and Solid Waste

• Bay Indies utility relocation is proposed at $5 million in FY27 and $5 million in FY28. Utilities Director Javier Vargas said the original replacement concept was roughly $70 million; the current scope is repair of the sewer collection system inside the park for about 1,300 customers. He said no other single pipe project over $10 million is currently on the five-year horizon, though water main phase 7 and a $9 million equalization tank are being funded through SRF loans.
• Flamingo Ditch drainage improvements triggered substantial council discussion. City Engineer John Kramer said phase one begins in FY27 and will not be complete before the June hurricane season; moving it sooner would reduce service elsewhere in the city. Future phases are not currently funded, but Coastal Protection Engineering recommendations include pipe improvements and possible roadway raising. Council members Weed, Bolt, Inglekey, and Fray pressed staff to put future phase placeholders in the CIP labeled as grant-dependent so the public can see the city's intent. Staff agreed to add later phases as placeholders, likely around FY30, subject to grant funding. Kramer also said the pipeline diversion concept to Deertown Gully is not being pursued because it would cost tens of millions of dollars and transfer flooding from one basin to another.
• Other stormwater items presented included North Comas Avenue outfall water quality, Parkside/Parkdale improvements, Seaboard area intercoastal outfalls, and Venencia Park water quality, all programmed in future fiscal years.
• In fleet replacement, staff said a new commercial garbage truck is needed for growth near the hospital and could be used for either garbage or recycling. The rough staffing rule is one additional truck and driver per approximately 3,000 homes, though staff hopes to avoid adding headcount through efficiencies. The truck takes more than a year to build, so funds would be encumbered in FY27.
• Finance Director Seni announced two post-publication additions: a $1.2 million public works facility project from an HMGP grant, with FEMA paying 75 percent and the city 25 percent, and a $200,000 FEMA alternative project for the North Brohard ADA ramp, both to be added to the FY27 CIP or earlier through a budget amendment.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were recorded; council direction was by consensus.
• Council directed staff to rename and more fully describe the fire department ALS training mannequin project and add a future replacement in FY31.
• Council reached consensus to remove the $1 million Venice Community Center fixed generator from FY28 and add approximately $250,000 in technology improvements to the facility, with the generator replacement shifted to a possible $50,000 transfer switch rather than a fixed unit.
• Council directed staff to add future Flamingo Ditch phase placeholders to the five-year CIP, labeled as grant-dependent, to show commitment to continuing improvements.
• Council supported keeping the Drone First Responder program in FY28 so staff can refine costs, technology, and vendor options; initial capital could come from police impact fees, with ongoing maintenance in the general fund.
• Staff will include a summary of grant funding and grant-funded projects in the proposed budget and will continue pursuing federal/state grants, including FEMA alternative projects and airport-related opportunities.
• Staff will bring the HMGP public works facility grant project and the $200,000 North Brohard ADA ramp project into the FY27 CIP (or via budget amendment if timing requires).
• Airport staff will continue work on T-hangar appraisal and public-private partnership options, Taxiway F acceleration, ground power unit requirements, and community engagement.