Venice council passes series of ordinances, resolutions; key votes at a glance

The Venice City Council approved a series of ordinances and resolutions on May 20, 2025, including a zoning map amendment on first reading, a final comprehensive-plan update, a budget amendment on first reading, changes to the city's camping code and adoption of a new Special Events Guide and related implementation measures. The council also authorized two state grant agreements for airport improvements.

Why it matters: The votes set policy for downtown events, adjust the municipal budget, change how the city enforces camping on public property, and update neighborhood land-use designations that affect future development. Several votes carried without discussion; two measures drew a 5'to—2 split.

What the council decided

- Ordinance 2025-15 (zoning map amendment, Hazeltine property at 3520 Laurel Road E): Approved on first reading, unanimous vote. Staff described the city-initiated rezoning from Sarasota County OUE to the City of Venice —Laurel East— district and noted an owner-approved stipulation allowing continued agricultural use on the site. (Staff presentation: Britney Smith, planner.)

- Ordinance 2025-09 (comprehensive plan update): Adopted on final reading, 5'to— vote. Council discussion included a member's objection that the update had not been sufficiently vetted by the public and some community groups before adoption.

- Ordinance 2025-13 (amendments to camping/storage of personal property on public property): Adopted 5'to—. The ordinance removes a code requirement that police offer and direct people to a shelter and offer transport before initiating enforcement; the police department said the change was needed because staff sometimes lacked practical options (shelter space) during nighttime enforcement. Councilmember Smith voted against the ordinance and explained he opposed removing the earlier language that required police to offer shelter information and a ride.

- Ordinance 2025-18 (budget amendment FY2024—2025): Approved on first reading, unanimous. The amendment increases total expenditures by $1,000,494.51; among additions noted in council discussion were about $800,000 for added parking at South Brohard and a repair allocation for the Venice Fishing Pier that staff said qualifies as a repair and thus will be paid from the general fund rather than the 1-cent sales-tax account.

- Resolution 2025-09 (Special Events Guide and creation of Events Review Team): Adopted unanimously. The guide consolidates existing policies, updates public-space fee schedules using a CPI adjustment, clarifies safety and venue standards, and establishes a cross-departmental Events Review Team to evaluate new event proposals before they reach council.

- Resolution 2025-10 (vacation of a utility easement at 775 S. Tamiami Trail): Adopted unanimously.

- Resolution 2025-11 (FDOT public transportation grant agreement P#456529-1-94-01 for airport PAPI replacement, $176,000): Adopted unanimously.

- Resolution 2025-12 (amendment to an FDOT grant for airport safety/wildlife/security fencing extending the expiration date): Adopted unanimously.

How the votes were recorded: Where the clerk and display recorded tallies, the comprehensive-plan update passed 5'to—2; the camping ordinance passed 5'to—2. Several other items passed unanimously with no roll-call tallies noted in the public display.

Services and next steps: Final-reading ordinances will return per required procedures; the special-events guide takes immediate effect under the adopted resolution and staff will implement the Events Review Team and updated permit materials.

Sources: Staff presentations and formal motions recorded in the May 20, 2025 Venice City Council meeting.

Ending: The council scheduled further consideration on development and stormwater topics later in the meeting and set an application window for filling a vacant council seat by appointment (no special election).