[{"_1":2,"_106":-5,"_107":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,96],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6663878,"mediaKeyId","2388900-e01e40621786f361c82ea2102e9eda60","parentId",2388900,"title","Council approves budget change, planning updates and flood-management items; pension COLA study ordered","audioSeconds",3203,"startMs",990000,"endMs",4193000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388900-e01e40621786f361c82ea2102e9eda60&start=990&end=4193","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388900-e01e40621786f361c82ea2102e9eda60/thumbnail_990000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6663878/Venice/Sarasota-County/Florida/Council-approves-budget-change-planning-updates-and-flood-management-items-pension-COLA-study-ordered","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663878-45df2498caa1f5bfdb6db37406049521/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179678&Signature=MfufMhcEd0kduLOBkGoFUrDXAaA-IF6P~dL~lsofKV5FoaHRX7B6UkCrFrL-zApEpyrrjD9YI-4Hl5FzT3ecoLF6hDsw0CPLYdxNfl44aR2DDk7QDfPMIsKGRCotyDioKIRtPZGZGrEdotKF1jBD3DaQvp3IoIMJ99MZrVS-wdgwBfHXt2ScRnGBHbn1Sr1t7Pih482oGb8K006yjchv3zSMP-6I5sMiQ0TUogGn~jrx0hkxXGuYw7-xGMVE629tuMdG5faXWUNNtOpA2sL44zD6q54-wQ16DY4XjK6ho6uxk8TXQIly-yeaMRapMb7qpzlksu43Kd3hBsEhtWUs7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Venice","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","Venice City Council members voted unanimously on multiple ordinance and resolution items on March 11, 2025, approved annual reports from two advisory boards, and instructed staff to prepare a cost estimate for a 1% cost‑of‑living adjustment to the police and firefighter pension plans.

The council approved an ordinance to amend the comprehensive plan development data for mixed‑use land‑use designations (petition 24‑52 CP) and advanced it on first reading. Council adopted a final‑reading ordinance increasing the city’s 2024–25 budget revenues and expenditures by $500,000. The council also approved a resolution rescinding a temporary reduction of valuation‑based building permit fees established in 2022.

Council accepted annual reports from the Historic and Architectural Preservation (HAP) Board and the Planning Commission. It adopted the floodplain management plan yearly report, the local mitigation strategy project list update, and the program for public information/flood insurance promotion plan. During the floodplain discussion, the council directed the floodplain manager to submit a project sheet for a Flamingo Ditch watershed/feasibility project and add it to the Local Mitigation Strategy project list; staff were given a March 14 deadline to file the project sheet with the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council and related agencies.

On pensions, after a presentation from the finance director on preliminary buyout estimates, the council voted 6–1 to continue city administration of the existing police and firefighter pension plans and directed staff to return with the cost of a 1% COLA for each plan.

Other formal actions included approval of contract/administrative agenda (consent) items, authorization to order a commemorative plaque for the Union Missionary Baptist Church, and adoption of edits to the city’s logo/policy language (centennial/clock‑tower logo preservation).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Venice - City Council on 2025-02-25 9:00 AM - Feb 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Venice City Council members voted unanimously on several budget, planning and flood‑management measures on March 11, 2025, and approved directing staff to research a 1% pension cost‑of‑living estimate after public comment from police and fire retirees.","taxTitle","Venice, Sarasota County, Florida","taxId",56285,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6663865,"Multimodal master plan near final: city staff, consultant outline pedestrian, bicycle and intersection priorities",0,2879000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388900-e01e40621786f361c82ea2102e9eda60&start=2879&end=2879","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388900-e01e40621786f361c82ea2102e9eda60/thumbnail_2879000.jpg","/articles/6663865/Venice/Sarasota-County/Florida/Multimodal-master-plan-near-final-city-staff-consultant-outline-pedestrian-bicycle-and-intersection-priorities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663865-0dc3ef60b3cf99f9eda667900ed53f65/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179679&Signature=BXlZlrkpvYp6j51RATK9Vj9G~F9qw-ha3pRuwLBOJX3JUdSidJnlsLlV0frH1a8cMg9y~HnuQpmMj2XZsOlmerPrmVO9CJIcfq8kG6eRxbN52Dt0OpjgOGtSWL2ov26xGfUTD8XegEciNlvKXaH8bAD3rk4Auz9TfFyEcYfCG~keboishqlur28n0~sX11Nei1RtsG9TL-mGpQW69iKpgHTs3x6BoC6QwuiqgksPurSwBlDOjNtBxvA~U4ncdi~7uMKieUqaDTXXmREbDpSf5hnfT-5rMMToPdyv8uhdq5yNEFHRXMubtcxEhvyNi6LQbcKNFLrOkQKdEHh1eW8aHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assistant City Engineer John Kramer and consultant Jared Schneider (Kimley‑Horn) presented a near‑final multimodal transportation master plan update to Venice City Council on March 11, 2025. The plan frames long‑term and prioritized short‑term projects for all transport modes—vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, freight and transit—and identifies safety hot spots and programmatic funding options.

Schneider summarized public engagement: nearly 200 survey responses, two in‑person pop‑ups (Legacy Trail and venue event), an in‑person community workshop and an interactive online mapping tool that allowed residents to pin safety concerns and project ideas. The plan highlights recurring themes—Venice Avenue/US‑41 corridor safety, island connectivity, Legacy Trail/Mertz Trail connections, and intersection improvements in the expanding Northeast growth area.

Recommendations include targeted intersection improvements where crash data concentrates, pedestrian crossing upgrades and lighting, expanded trail and crosswalk connections to the Legacy Trail, separated bicycle facilities where feasible, and multimodal considerations in the proposed Seaboard redevelopment and airport approach. Funding and implementation emphasis focuses on federal and state grant opportunities, partnerships with Sarasota County and the MPO, and lining the plan’s prioritized projects with the city’s Capital Improvement Schedule (CIS).

Council members and speakers discussed golf‑cart parking demands on the island, future trail connectivity to the Florida Gulf Coast Trail corridor, and the plan’s role in informing the county’s long‑range transportation plan and development review. The plan is positioned to guide future CIP projects and grant applications; no formal council action was required at this meeting.","Consultant Kimley‑Horn and city engineers presented the draft multimodal transportation master plan, highlighting safety hot spots, prioritized corridors, and a toolkit of pedestrian, bicycle, roadway and transit improvements that will feed into the city’s CIP and regional planning processes.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":78,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":91,"_51":92,"_53":93,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":94,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":95,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6663870,"City of Venice adopts floodplain management reports; CRS upgrade to Class 5 yields larger premium discounts",3737000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388900-e01e40621786f361c82ea2102e9eda60&start=3737&end=3737","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388900-e01e40621786f361c82ea2102e9eda60/thumbnail_3737000.jpg","/articles/6663870/Venice/Sarasota-County/Florida/City-of-Venice-adopts-floodplain-management-reports-CRS-upgrade-to-Class-5-yields-larger-premium-discounts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663870-25e203ed666a709cc596cfc2693ba7c8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179679&Signature=HSsC7WSR4UyFZo0e0QgRUUxPLqt6BFMTgjTkf8C1yaoRTcXV6PeU2CFRVVJ0Sn0iIZHheSlokNIfDTInsjdAvwc5HNwUD3X8BPpl97K5wNtjK9C8narUoaUl39Ly6Y5dZOqZwPqlFk0af6cSkupw8RgalvabtqhtH2pQseHzO~aBqbPN832MPaA09UQj4vQXf8jekYdnETDbvTOxgRFFuyrvJkvy5JU5f4V2ix7MWVrurU5EDm1UvjHHneydCUufXXQ90f0OFlYYwKP0wX7FF0sMx8kG2jtqA-zmXj1hTWGtOX3mMndMex-zOazFdCH3~3PuLIHanDhSzami5-6ZCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Christina Rimes, the city’s Community Rating System (CRS) coordinator and a certified floodplain manager, presented the annual floodplain management plan, the Local Mitigation Strategy project list update, and the program for public information/flood insurance promotion plan during the March 11 council meeting.

Rimes told the council that the city was promoted to CRS Class 5 effective April 1, 2025, which yields a 25% discount on flood insurance premiums for policyholders purchasing coverage through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). “To show you the dollar amount in savings… between 01/20/2024 and 01/20/2025 our residents would have saved $1,200,000 had we been a class 5 community at that time,” Rimes said. The presentation included a breakdown of activities that earned CRS points, such as open‑space preservation in mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas, elevation certificate audit accuracy, improved flood warning and response, and public information programs.

Rimes added that moving to a still higher CRS class would require additional activities and prerequisites, including a watershed master plan; she cited the Sarasota County/City of Sarasota watershed master plan cost at about $200,000 with a 75/25 grant/community match as an example. Councilmembers discussed whether the city should pursue the watershed master plan as a candidate project for the regional pipeline; Councilmember Farrell successfully moved that staff prepare and file a watershed master plan project sheet to be added to the Local Mitigation Strategy list and submitted by March 14.

Council adopted the floodplain management reports and related program documents by unanimous vote. Rimes said the city currently has about 2,800 buildings in the Special Flood Hazard Area and that roughly 85% of those are insured through the NFIP. She noted that moving to higher CRS classes produces greater discounts to insured residents but also typically requires additional planning, staffing or regulatory steps.

The adopted reports form the administrative basis for the city’s CRS participation and help staff apply for mitigation funding and public‑information grants.","City CRS coordinator presented annual floodplain reports and the council adopted the documents. The city will be Class 5 under the NFIP as of April 1, 2025, which staff said increases average policyholder savings.",{"_33":97,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":98,"_41":78,"_43":99,"_45":99,"_47":100,"_49":101,"_51":102,"_53":103,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":104,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":105,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6663874,"Residents urge city to apply for federal funds for Flamingo Ditch; council directs staff to file mitigation project",988000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388900-e01e40621786f361c82ea2102e9eda60&start=988&end=988","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388900-e01e40621786f361c82ea2102e9eda60/thumbnail_988000.jpg","/articles/6663874/Venice/Sarasota-County/Florida/Residents-urge-city-to-apply-for-federal-funds-for-Flamingo-Ditch-council-directs-staff-to-file-mitigation-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663874-9e53f8a11f455e814c5b9352957fb7ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771179679&Signature=nFsPd3cnRKqf6-9pNjuyI03dS-t~NrDo3dkJtYedmUtkrgZZ0csOcX~n2ADhR4xfIPG~1HQjxcnw5Vjb1dbQx0HhKUKDhfEm22zmzUYKc4jPjzT2Ez59uNDZ2WbKtO2I59joUmc9gPXc29F8WLxGdDJ3Ri-gdwZ0dVVt8KoZVREKv3iIryj2tAfpR8xaA7JeSJFzQ7045VnwvtHNuJ3JVhRb7FhQqtTP4l6CDT-N1xAGlBE7SCNdLkNRjS5SQGsyErg0iXPJ-LeQtdykxYBqX8HSI6-Wh-8xFqw4qAFLBtAiOD-vI0eEDDp~VhyECvK2W90-T9hne-btoH5amfzTSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the audience participation portion of the March 11, 2025 Venice City Council meeting, resident Bayat Lyman urged the council to apply for soon‑to‑be‑announced federal funds to address flooding tied to Flamingo Ditch in the Golden Age neighborhood.

“Please don't pass up this opportunity to receive free money for a project that is desperately needed and will prevent the stormwater flooding that trapped hundreds of people in their homes in 2022 and destroyed many homes in 2024,” Bayat Lyman told the council. He said the city has an easement to use Flamingo Ditch for public stormwater drainage and that the ditch is part of a larger drainage system for several streets and many properties.

Council members discussed the public comment during the floodplain agenda item. Christina Rimes, the city’s Community Rating System coordinator and a certified floodplain manager, presented the CRS annual materials and explained how participation reduces policyholders’ premiums. Councilmember Farrell moved that the floodplain manager submit a project sheet for a Flamingo Ditch watershed/feasibility project and add it to the Local Mitigation Strategy project list, with a March 14 filing deadline; the motion passed unanimously.

Council and staff noted that the Flamingo Ditch item remains in a feasibility stage; the motion asks staff to prepare the required project summary that county and state grant programs use to rank projects for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and other funds.

The council action does not obligate local matching dollars; it adds Flamingo Ditch to the prioritized project list used by regional partners. Staff said a consultant’s cost estimates and feasibility findings—provided by the city’s hired consultant—will be important to complete the project packet.

The council also heard that the city removed a large outfall pipe at Flamingo Ditch a few years ago and that residents attribute part of the neighborhood flooding to that change; staff said the feasibility study will examine jurisdictional, easement and technical constraints before any construction is proposed.","Neighbors said Flamingo Ditch flooding traps residents and urged the city to seek federal stormwater mitigation funds; council directed the floodplain manager to prepare and submit a project sheet by March 14 and add the item to the countywide mitigation list.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves budget change, planning updates and flood-management items; pension COLA study ordered

Multimodal master plan near final: city staff, consultant outline pedestrian, bicycle and intersection priorities

City of Venice adopts floodplain management reports; CRS upgrade to Class 5 yields larger premium discounts

Residents urge city to apply for federal funds for Flamingo Ditch; council directs staff to file mitigation project