Venice Citizen Advisory Board Meeting - August 19, 2026

The Citizen Advisory Board (CAB) met on August 19, 2026, at 2:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included presentations on the Parks Master Plan, the proposed Mayor's Garden, an update on the city's bicycle friendly status, a review of park naming policies, and an update on the website redesign project. The board also discussed a potential legislative referral on customer service. All agenda items were addressed, with several votes taken.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (June 17, 2026): Approved unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public signed up to speak.

Discussion Items

• Parks Master Plan Consultant Presentation: Roger Clark (Planning & Zoning Director) provided background on the need for a parks master plan, noting that the last attempt was in 2015 and was not adopted. GAI Consultants (Kristen Caborn and Amy Zengatita) presented their approach, including fieldwork, public outreach, and a survey running from September to November 2026. Public workshops will be held October 16 (4-9:30 PM), October 17 (farmers market 8 AM-1 PM), and October 28-29 (open house at City Hall). The plan is expected to be completed by early summer 2027. Board member comments included suggestions to add Pinebrook Park to the survey list, clarify the definition of a parks master plan, and consider including putting greens. The student representative, Lily, noted the importance of reaching younger demographics. A ringmaster (Terry) was assigned to coordinate with staff.

• Approval of Mayor's Garden on Lavallee Municipal Campus: Mayor Pichota presented a proposal to create a garden outside the mayor's office, funded personally by him at no cost to the city. Features would include a non-functional flower fountain, a bench, and a sign listing past mayors. The garden would be maintained by VABI (community partner). Staff expressed support. The board voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend approval to City Council.

• Discussion on Elevating the City's Bicycle Friendly Level to Gold: Darlene Culpepper (Special Events & Mobility Coordinator) reviewed the 2024 report card that earned Silver status. Key challenges include connectivity, protected bike corridors, and bike parking standards. She noted that a four-year cycle means the next application is in 2028. No action was taken; the board received the update.

• Review of Code Section 46.5 for Naming/Renaming City Owned Parks: The board discussed the code, which was referred by City Council after controversy over the Maxine Barrett renaming. Members raised questions about residency requirements and gender balance of park names. The board assigned ringmaster Ms. Panfill to review the code comprehensively and bring recommendations to a future meeting. No action items were identified.

• Unfinished Business: Website Redesign Update: Brian Lorenz (Deputy PIO) and Chuck Poor (Consulting Project Manager) provided an update. Staff have audited 400 existing web pages and are working on wireframes and navigation. A public navigation test is active to gather user data. Content migration is planned for Q1 2027, with launch expected in Q2 2027. The board was asked to share the test link with the community. The ringmaster Alex expressed satisfaction with progress.

Key Outcomes

• Parks Master Plan: The board received the presentation and will be involved in future public outreach. A ringmaster was assigned to coordinate.
• Mayor's Garden: Approved unanimously (7-0) to recommend to City Council. The item will appear on the first September 2026 council agenda.
• Bicycle Friendly Level: No formal action; the board took the update under advisement.
• Code Section 46.5: Assignment to ringmaster Panfill for further review; no deadline set.
• Website Redesign: The board encouraged sharing the navigation test; next update expected at the October meeting.
• Customer Service Legislative Referral: Chair Efron raised the idea of a legislative referral to study city customer service standards. After discussion, the board decided to defer the topic to its annual priority-setting process at the next meeting, rather than submitting a separate referral now.
• Board Discussion Highlights: Chair Efron moved the student representative Lily to a seat among the board members for future meetings. Dr. Davis noted she sent personal comments to GAI on park design. Mr. Edmund encouraged attention to environmentally sensitive land planning.