Venice commission approves temporary TxDOT closure agreement to allow Rotary poker run to cross state route

The Venice City Commission voted to authorize the mayor or designee to enter into a temporary right‑of‑way closure agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to permit the Rotary Club’s 5K/10K poker run to cross a state route at the Country Club Road and Baldridge intersection.

City staff told commissioners that recent TxDOT requirements mean the city must act as a guarantor for closures involving a state right of way and submit a traffic‑control plan that shows police presence, changeable message signs and other devices to protect runners and motorists. A city staff member said TxDOT will focus on the state‑controlled intersection and that, if the city provides the specified police coverage and advanced signage, TxDOT may allow the event to proceed without an engineer‑stamped plan for that crossing.

The resolution and staff presentation matter to local residents because commissioners must balance runner safety and compliance with TxDOT standards against the cost and staffing burden placed on a volunteer nonprofit that uses the event for fundraising.

During the public‑comment period, Bramlett Beard, a member of the Rotary Club of Venice, urged the commission to approve the request quickly and described the club’s long fundraising history: "This race has been an important part of our fundraising activities for the last 26 years and has given us the ability to make donations like that to support our community," Beard said, adding the club has given "substantially more than $1,000,000" to charities and previously donated about $350,000 for Rotary Park. Beard said the revised route would cross Country Club at Baldridge only intermittently and that the club had "never had an accident." He said the club had no objection to reasonable safety measures but was concerned the staff‑specified equipment and closures could be onerous.

Resident Jennifer Wurzbach echoed that point, noting one prior injury occurred after a route change and urging the commission to apply "common sense" so required equipment and third‑party contractor costs do not unduly reduce funds the club raises for local charities.

Commissioners questioned staff about the scope of TxDOT’s review and the specifics of the traffic‑control plan, including whether volunteers could perform traffic control. City staff repeatedly cautioned that traffic‑control devices must be installed and operated by properly trained personnel and that deviations from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) "open[] up the city to a tremendous amount of liability." Staff also said the plan displayed for commissioners included a substantial number of barriers and signs; the public presentation referenced figures of 126 street barriers, 47 signs and seven message boards for the overall route plan, and a request mentioning 58 volunteers appeared in staff materials.

After discussion, Commissioner Haney moved to approve Item B1; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. City staff said the signed agreement will be submitted to TxDOT for its approval and that staff will notify the event sponsor once TxDOT responds. The commission did not adopt separate limitations in its motion on the extent of equipment or whether a third‑party traffic contractor must be used for local streets; staff said they would continue to work with the Rotary Club on the remainder of the route while ensuring compliance at the state intersection.

Next steps: staff will submit the agreement and the traffic‑control materials to TxDOT for review and, if TxDOT approves the crossing, will notify the Rotary Club so the event may proceed under the agreed conditions.