The City of Venice Citizen Advisory Board on April 21 reviewed draft recommendations compiled from a community hurricane survey and agreed to finalize its report at the board's May meeting, then seek City Council consideration on June 10.

The board's review focused on communications, sandbag distribution, evacuation locations, debris removal, drainage, volunteer mobilization and special-needs outreach. The board voted to continue discussion of the hurricane after-action review at the May meeting; the motion carried by roll call.

The report under development is intended to reflect resident perceptions as well as operational findings. Mr. Clinch (Assistant City Manager) told the board that the city runs its own sandbag operations but coordinates with Sarasota County, and that debris operations following the recent storms required extensive contractor work and, in one measure the city tracked, debris collection took about "52 days." He urged education for residents on how debris collection is scheduled and how to prepare piles so contractor crews can work efficiently.

Board members debated whether recommendations should address items beyond direct city control, such as utility companies and county-run landfill arrangements. The board voted in favor of including resident perceptions so the City Council would have both the community's experiences and the city's operational responses on the record.

On communications, members agreed to revise a draft recommendation that had suggested "mailing to all residents"; the board instead directed language toward developing a broad distribution plan to make preparedness information available through multiple channels and community pick-up locations (for example: community centers, groceries, senior facilities), while allowing the city to choose specific methods based on cost and feasibility.

On sandbags and staging, board members asked staff to consider how volunteers, faith-based organizations and local nonprofits could supplement city efforts. Mr. Clinch confirmed the city operates its own sandbagging and coordinates regionally, but the board supported looking for volunteer-run options to relieve city staff during extreme events.

On evacuation centers, staff and board discussed state facility requirements that limit which buildings can be designated shelters (generators, structural capacity and accommodations for medically dependent residents). The board recommended identifying potential higher- ground or multi-site options closer to Venice and urged the city to document and clearly communicate which centers accept pets and medically dependent people and why some sites cannot be used.

Debris removal prompted repeated calls for clearer public guidance. Board members and staff agreed a key recommendation should be improved public education on how to separate and place debris so haulers can collect it more quickly and to explain reimbursement and FEMA rules that affect disposal sites. The board discussed but did not add pallets or city-run dumpsters as a formal requirement given reimbursement complexities.

Drainage recommendations singled out watershed-level study and prioritized clearing of known problem culverts and catch basins; the board asked that any short-term work be targeted to areas that flooded in the recent storms (for example, Flamingo Ditch watershed) and that the report reflect both near-term and longer-term actions.

Board members supported including a short addendum encouraging neighborhood- and individual-level preparedness (neighbor-check systems, volunteer chainsaw teams, liaison roles), but left the drafting of that addendum to board volunteers to submit before the May meeting.

The board set a schedule: members will submit final suggested edits to the draft via the board clerk, the board plans to complete its final draft at the May meeting, and if finalized the board will request a City Council slot on June 10 to present its recommendations before the start of the June hurricane-season work cycle.

Public commenters told the board that residents who experienced severe damage need clearer, prioritized channels to get rebuilding and permitting help, and urged that communications and debris timelines be more visible to residents with limited internet access. Israel Salinas, a Golden Beach resident, said the experience of those who lost homes is "much more substantial than needing to get together for a cup of coffee and a donut," and asked that the board's report treat those losses with explicit empathy. Jenny Housner, a Tarpon Center Drive resident who lost walls in her home, told the board: "This is the most difficult thing I have ever been through," and asked the board to seek clearer metrics on how many households still lack completed repairs.

Votes at a glance: the board approved the March 19, 2025 minutes by voice vote; re-elected the chair for a second year and re-elected Dr. Davis as vice chair by voice/roll procedures; and approved a motion to continue discussion of the hurricane after-action review at the May meeting (roll-call vote). The clerk will publish formal minutes and vote tallies.

The board asked staff to provide cost estimates for printed distribution options and to return at the May meeting with key staff available to answer factual questions on operations if the board decides that would assist final wording. The board also requested staff to forward the original City Council motion that requested the advisory board's review so members could confirm the charge.

The board will accept written member input compiled by the clerk before the May meeting; due to public-meeting rules those inputs must be routed through the clerk to avoid post-meeting revisions to a working draft.