The Venice Historic and Architectural Preservation Board convened on April 24, 2025, to discuss the 2025 Legacy Award, a program aimed at recognizing contributions to the preservation of Venice's historical and architectural heritage. The meeting revealed a significant challenge: only one nomination had been received for this year's award, prompting discussions on whether to reopen the nomination process to encourage broader participation.

Harry Klinkhammer, the historical resources manager for the City of Venice, presented the current status of the award program. He noted that the single nomination came from the Venice Area Historic Society, which had previously received the award in 2006. This raised concerns among board members about the fairness and relevance of awarding the same organization again without considering their recent contributions.

Board members expressed a desire to revamp the nomination process to include a wider array of candidates, particularly emphasizing the importance of recognizing historic architects and designers who have shaped Venice's architectural landscape. Suggestions included revising the award criteria and actively seeking nominations from the public, as well as allowing board members to nominate individuals as private citizens.

The timeline for the award process was also a point of discussion. Originally set to conclude with a presentation during Preservation Month in May, the board acknowledged that they might not meet this deadline due to the limited response. Klinkhammer suggested that a more effective approach would be to extend the nomination period and promote the award more vigorously to increase community engagement.

In conclusion, the board agreed to postpone the current nomination and to actively seek additional candidates for the Legacy Award. They plan to revisit the nomination process at their next meeting, with the hope of generating more interest and participation in the future. This meeting highlighted the board's commitment to preserving Venice's rich history and ensuring that the Legacy Award remains a meaningful recognition of contributions to the community.