Venice City Council Meeting - July 14, 2026

The Venice City Council met on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, beginning at 9:00 AM and concluding after 3:00 PM, with a lunch break and an executive session. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, public comments, consent agenda, public hearings, presentations on the Seaboard Phase 1 Technical Plan and the Venice Police Department Staffing Study, and a vote to set the preliminary millage rate. Several key decisions were made, including approval of the Seaboard plan direction, adoption of police organizational changes, and authorization for a fire staffing and assessment study.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of June 18 and June 23, 2026 meetings.
• Approved Third Amendment to Restated Lease Agreement with Skyport Holdings Venice, LLC (pulled by Council Member Smith but later approved after discussion).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Steve Carr, chair of the Central Venice Coalition, requested proactive maintenance of Curry Creek, citing discrepancies in plat designations and the critical drainage role of the creek.
• Gregory Purnaud, an area resident, raised concerns about Flock cameras, requesting transparency on legal authority, data retention, and public safety evidence.

Discussion Items

• Recognitions: Ceremonial swearing-in of Police Officer Mary Wood and Reserve Officer Tim Short; recognition of retiring Utilities Director Javier Vargas for nine years of service; donation of $5,000 from Venice Area Historical Society for newspaper digitization, plus a Certificate of Distinction for the city's centennial.
• Skyport Lease Amendment: Council Member Smith pulled item 26-0683 to discuss community concerns about airport operations; the amendment requires Skyport to have ground power units for aircraft idling over 15 minutes and adjusts fuel flowage fees, effective November 1, 2026.
• Property Purchase (26-0684): Approved purchase of 234 Grove Street from Warfield Grove, LLC for $245,000, adjacent to a previously donated parcel, to create a corridor for future John Nolan Street.
• Ordinances – First Reading:
  • Ordinance 2026-22: Establishes procedures for certified recovery residences and reasonable accommodations, as required by state law. Approved unanimously for final reading.
  • Ordinance 2026-23: Multiple amendments to the Land Development Code to resolve implementation issues, including extending Certificate of Architectural Compliance expiration from one year to three years. Approved unanimously with that amendment.
• Ordinances – Final Readings:
  • Ordinance 2026-07: Floodplain management updates for state/federal consistency. Approved.
  • Ordinance 2026-20: Updates to unsafe structures regulations. Approved.
  • Ordinance 2026-21: Budget amendment increasing revenue and expenditures by $255,000. Approved.
• Resolution 2026-14: Accepting utilities and improvements from MHC Bay Indies, L.L.C. for the Bay Indies Clubhouse Reconstruction Project. Approved.
• Seaboard Phase 1 Technical Plan: Presented by Josh Frank of Dover, Kohl & Partners. The plan focuses on city-owned parcels around Seaboard Avenue and the future John Nolan Street, proposing mixed-use redevelopment, a new street (Nolan Street), marina improvements, and a new Seaboard Core zoning district. Council discussed architectural standards, community engagement, and priorities. Motion passed unanimously to direct staff to engage the public, prepare parcels (demolition, marketability), draft Seaboard Core code with proposed architectural standards, and begin preliminary discussions with WCIND for the marina and swing bridge.
• Police Department Staffing Study: Dr. Marshall Jones and Dr. Brandon May presented findings and recommendations. Key recommendations included a reorganization (adding a deputy chief, professional standards lieutenant, corporals, and a shift in patrol lieutenant structure), hiring two traffic officers, improving administrative systems, and exploring a volunteer program. After discussion, a motion to adopt the new organizational chart and hire two traffic officers passed 6-1. The cost is approximately $212,000 per officer plus $34,000 for reorganization, totaling $467,000 from the general fund.
• Millage and Budget Discussion: Council considered setting the preliminary millage rate. The motion to set operating millage at 3.8450 and debt service at 0.3451 for fiscal year 2027, with public hearings on September 8 and September 22, 2026, passed 5-2. A separate motion to authorize a fire staffing and assessment study ($120,000) passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent items except 26-0683 (later approved).
• Approved purchase of 234 Grove Street ($245,000).
• Approved first readings of ordinances 2026-22 and 2026-23 (with CAC expiration change).
• Approved final readings of ordinances 2026-07, 2026-20, and 2026-21.
• Approved resolution 2026-14 (Bay Indies).
• Adopted direction on Seaboard Phase 1 plan (motion to engage public, prepare parcels, draft Core zoning code, and initiate WCIND discussions) unanimously.
• Adopted police organizational chart and authorized hiring two traffic officers (6-1 vote).
• Set preliminary millage rates at 3.8450 (operating) and 0.3451 (debt service) for FY 2027 (5-2).
• Authorized fire staffing and assessment study ($120,000) unanimously.
• Set public hearing dates: September 8 and September 22, 2026, at 5:01 PM.