Venice City Council Meeting - May 26, 2026: Proclamations, Land Development Code Amendments, Police Foundation, and Public Notice Standards
Venice City Council Meeting - May 26, 2026: Proclamations, Land Development Code Amendments, Police Foundation, and Public Notice Standards
The Venice City Council met on May 26, 2026, at 9:00 AM in Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations recognizing Children First's 65th Anniversary and Small Cities Month, approval of consent items including grant agreements for emergency generator and utilities projects, public hearings on easements for FPL relocations, first reading of a land development code text amendment, final adoption of a school zone speed detection ordinance, approval of a resolution establishing the Venice Police Charitable Foundation, and a presentation on neighborhood workshop and property posting standards leading to two unanimous motions.
Proclamations
- Mayor Pachota proclaimed May 2026 as "Children First's 65th Anniversary Month" and June 2026 as "Small Cities Month." Philip Tavill and Jessica Rogers accepted for Children First; City Manager James Clinch and Assistant City Manager Roger Omenhiser accepted for Small Cities Month, noting the city's centennial year.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the May 12, 2026 regular meeting.
- Authorized the Mayor to execute a State of Florida Division of Emergency Management subaward (Grant #4673-213-R) for $937,125.00 to install an emergency generator and wind protection at the Public Works Building.
- Authorized the Mayor to execute a Florida Department of Environmental Protection grant for $850,000 for the Utilities Equalization Basin Tank Project.
Public Hearings
- Easements (26-0619, 26-0620, 26-0621): Three easements to Florida Power & Light were approved unanimously for electrical service relocations related to the Agape Flights hangar and the new Fire Station 2.
- Ordinance 2026-16 (First Reading): An ordinance amending decision criteria for several quasi-judicial application types (zoning map amendments, conditional uses, site plans, preliminary plats, height exceptions) was approved 7-0 after a staff presentation and discussion. The changes aim to clarify and make criteria more objective without adding new burdens. Councilmember Smith raised concerns about Senate Bill 180 restrictions, but the City Attorney noted the effort was to improve clarity. The ordinance was scheduled for final reading.
- Ordinance 2026-19 (Final Reading): An ordinance authorizing speed detection systems in school zones for Venice Elementary was adopted unanimously.
New Business
- Resolution 2026-11: Acknowledged the creation of the Venice Police Charitable Foundation, found it serves a public purpose, and approved the transfer of $68,504.57 in charitable donations held by the city to the foundation. Chief Andy Leisenring and board member Sean Singheisen presented the foundation's mission, which includes supporting employees in need and community programs like Shop with a Cop and Blue Santa. Approved unanimously.
Presentation with Action: Neighborhood Workshops and Property Posting Standards
Planning Director Roger Clark presented research on neighborhood workshop formats and notification standards. The Council discussed three potential changes: requiring hybrid workshops (in-person + virtual), increasing the mailed notification radius from 250 feet to 500 feet, and adopting a larger, clearer sign with a QR code. Two separate motions were made:
- Motion to require hybrid workshops (in-person and virtual) – passed unanimously.
- Motion to increase notification radius to 500 feet – passed unanimously, despite some concerns about Senate Bill 180 burdens. The City Attorney noted the city could absorb costs if needed. The sign size change does not require a code amendment and will be implemented administratively.
Charter Officer Reports
- City Clerk reminded that the June 9 meeting is canceled; next meetings are budget workshops on June 18 and 19.
- City Manager James Clinch reported that the city will not exceed the 3% charter limit for the upcoming budget, planning a lean year with reductions while maintaining service levels. Budget books will be provided late next week. He also noted hurricane season preparations and the upcoming Hurricane and Home Expo.
Council Reports
- Councilmember Smith endorsed a letter from former council member Mitzi Fiedler about acquiring 10 acres near North Venice Park, requested a discussion on reopening Casperson Beach at the joint county meeting, and praised the airport master plan citizen advisory panel, suggesting it become a permanent advisory board.
- Councilmember Engelke reported attending the Florida League of Cities Leadership meeting and noted that Venice is recognized as a well-run city.
- Mayor Pachota announced the Hurricane and Home Expo (May 29-30), the Downtown Venice Craft Festival (June 20-21), and the July 4th centennial celebration including a parade, picnic, and fireworks.
Key Outcomes
- All consent items, public hearing items, and resolutions were approved unanimously.
- Two substantive policy changes were directed: (1) neighborhood workshops must include a hybrid in-person/virtual option, and (2) mailed notification radius for proposed developments will be expanded from 250 feet to 500 feet. Staff will draft ordinances for these changes.
- The Police Charitable Foundation received formal recognition and a transfer of $68,504.57.
- The city will not seek to exceed the 3% charter limit for the next fiscal year budget.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, good morning, good morning. We are gonna call this meeting to order. Madam Clerk, if you'll start us off with a roll call, please. Mr. Engelkey. Here. Mrs. Frank. Here. Mr. Howard. Here. Mr. Smith. Mr. Weed. Here. Vice Mayor Bolt. Mayor Pechota. Here. All right. We will stand for the invocation, and today's pledge will be led by Captain Lewis White of the Venice Police Department. Our father, we pray for this session of the Venice City Council. Bless these men and women as they lead our city into a bright tomorrow. I ask in their name. Okay. Got a couple fun proclamations this morning. We'll start off with two six-six one four. If I can get the children's uh first folks to meet me up front, and we'll get the vice mayor to come down with me. What are we celebrating? Your thirtieth anniversary? Oh boy. Whereas Children's First, Children First was founded in nineteen sixty one in Sarasota County and has spent sixty-five years strengthening children and families by improving the quality of their lives through a comprehensive approach to development, education, health, and well-being. And whereas Children First serves as the exclusive head start and early head start provider for Sarasota County, delivering high-quality early childhood education, health care, nutrition, and family strengthening services to children from birth to five and their families, and is ranked in the top one percent of more than sixteen hundred head start programs nationwide. And whereas Children First continues to be recognized for excellence and impact, including being named a five-time National Head Start Association program of excellence, and a twenty twenty-six top workplace USA by USA Today, reflecting its enduring commitment to both the community it serves and the dedicated professionals who carry out its mission. Now, therefore, I Nick Pashoda, mayor of the City of Venice, on behalf of the Venice City Council do hereby proclaim the month of May twenty twenty-sixth as the sixty-fifth anniversary of Children First, and encourage all residents to recognize and celebrate the organization's lasting impact on children, families, and the future of our community. We tried to get a balloon drop for your 30th, but it didn't work out. Too expensive. Didn't do it. Here you go. Tell us some things about you and your wonderful program. So uh thank you very much, Mayor. Thank you to the council. Uh first to pitch. Uh anybody who loves children. That's everybody. 800 Gulf Coast Boulevard. We love volunteers. Come over and visit us, and you'll be able to see what we do every day. And what we do every day is to serve families that are that are they're vulnerable, economically vulnerable, children who are at risk.
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