Venice council approves package of ordinances, budget changes, appointments and grants hiring authority; summary of votes

Venice — The Venice City Council approved a series of legal and administrative actions on a range of topics including capital and budget items, board-appointment policy changes, land-use text amendments and personnel search funding in votes taken during the regular meeting.

Key council actions and outcomes (votes shown as recorded in the meeting): - Consent items: The council approved the consent agenda with two items pulled for discussion (resolution of consent passed unanimously in the consolidated motion). One pulled item (beach renourishment, item 25-0039) and the Waterway Second Force Main project (25-0040) were later considered and each passed unanimously. - 25-0039 (beach renourishment): Motion to approve passed unanimously after staff explained the Army Corps survey delay and scope questions. - 25-0040 (Waterway Second Force Main): Motion to approve passed unanimously; staff identified four commercial buildings at Venice Ave addresses adjacent to the water plant as beneficiaries. - Citizens Advisory Board annual report (25-0041): Council accepted and approved the board’s annual report and 2025 priorities unanimously. - Ordinance 2025-01 (land development code text amendment allowing a ratio change for assisted-living/independent-living conversions): Adopted on final reading, 5–2. - Ordinance 2025-02 (text amendment clarifying planned-unit development application rules): Adopted on final reading, 5–2 after council debate about protections for early buyers and definitions for “unified control.” - Ordinance 2025-03 (five-year capital improvement schedule, annual update): Adopted on final reading, 5–2; planning staff noted only minor numbering edits from first reading. - Ordinance 2025-06 (budget amendment increasing FY25 revenues and expenditures by $398,928): Adopted unanimously. - Resolution 2025-02 (extension of temporary building-permit waivers for properties affected by hurricanes Helene or Milton): Adopted unanimously. - Resolution 2025-03 (board-appointment policy): A council motion to deny the resolution failed 2–5; a subsequent motion passed 5–2 to adopt the amended appointments policy. - Appointment to Citizens Tax Oversight Committee: Council voted unanimously to appoint Walter B. to a four-year term, February 1, 2025–January 31, 2029. - Crosswalk and parking direction (Service Club Beach overflow parking): Council directed staff to pursue county approvals and create a marked crosswalk and signage for overflow beach parking; motion passed unanimously. - City-manager search funding: Council authorized up to $50,000 for the mayor to retain a search consultant for the city-manager recruitment process; motion passed unanimously. The mayor said the consultant he contacted estimated a flat fee near $35,000 but that the city will run a request-for-proposals process and expects the broader search and vetting to take several months.

Why it matters: Taken together, the approvals update Venice’s capital and land-use policies, maintain hurricane-relief permit waivers for affected properties, and set fiscal and personnel planning steps in motion. Several items (ordinances 2025-01, 2025-02, 2025-03, and the two first-reading land-use items) drew substantive council debate and were split 5–2 on final or first-reading actions.

Votes at a glance: The meeting record shows a mix of unanimous approvals for routine and emergency items and 5–2 votes on several development- and planning-related ordinances. Several items will return for final readings or implementation steps as recorded by staff.