The Venice City Council convened on June 30, 2025, for a Flamingo Ditch Workshop aimed at addressing ongoing flooding issues in the area. The meeting focused on analyzing various alternatives to improve drainage and reduce flooding, particularly in the Flamingo Ditch region.

The workshop began with a presentation of several alternatives designed to alleviate flooding. Key discussions centered around two primary options, labeled as Alternative 6a and 6b. Both alternatives proposed raising specific road sections, including West Flamingo Drive and Gardenia Drive, to an elevation of 5 feet to help mitigate what has been described as "nuisance flooding." The alternatives also considered adding approximately half an acre of additional water storage adjacent to the Flamingo Ditch and modifying existing drainage pipes to one-way systems to prevent backflow during heavy rainfall.

The distinction between Alternatives 6a and 6b lies in the inclusion of an outfall pipe in 6b, which was projected to improve drainage during smaller rainfall events. However, both alternatives showed limited effectiveness against larger rain events and storm surges, which remain significant challenges for the area.

Further discussions introduced Alternatives 7a and 7b, which explored the impact of constructing a dune system versus an open channel. While the dune was found to block storm surge effectively, it also posed risks by trapping rainfall behind it, potentially exacerbating flooding in neighborhoods.

The workshop concluded with a summary of findings, emphasizing the need for a phased approach to address flooding. The analysis indicated that elevating the area to the FEMA flood elevation could reduce flooding risks during significant storm events. However, the feasibility of implementing large-scale pumping systems was questioned due to spatial constraints in the area.

City officials acknowledged the public's concerns regarding flooding and expressed a commitment to exploring immediate relief measures while addressing more complex long-term solutions. The meeting underscored the importance of continued dialogue and engineering assessments to develop effective strategies for managing flooding in the Flamingo Ditch area.