Venice commission authorizes mayor to seek TxDOT approval for Rotary Club poker run crossing at Country Club Road

The Venice City Commission voted April 16 to authorize the mayor to enter an agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation to allow the Rotary Club of Venice’s poker run to intermittently cross the state route at Country Club Road and Baldridge, subject to TxDOT approval and traffic-control requirements.

City staff told the commission that TxDOT recently began requiring guarantees on liability and a formal traffic-control plan for events that cross state rights-of-way. Staff said TxDOT would accept police presence, changeable message signs and other traffic-control devices in lieu of an engineer‑stamped plan for the single intersection, avoiding an additional engineering fee but exposing the city to greater liability if the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is not followed.

"They want to see a proper traffic control plan…that keeps our runners safe, that keeps our motorists safe," a city staff member said while walking the commission through the proposed devices and timeline. Staff said the closure at the intersection would be limited to the morning of the event and that TxDOT’s usual review takes about 30 days.

Rotary Club members who spoke during public comment urged the commission to approve the submission so the event—held for 26 years—could proceed. "This race has been an important part of our fundraising activities for the last 26 years," Bramlett Beard said, noting the club’s donations to local projects and saying the run has been "very safe." Jennifer Wurzbach, also speaking for the Rotary, urged reasonable requirements so fundraising dollars are not diverted to compliance costs.

Speakers cited specific elements in the proposed traffic-control plan: an independent traffic-control contractor placing what were described in the plan as 126 street barriers, 47 signs and seven changeable message boards, and an apparent volunteer staffing figure discussed at the meeting (58 volunteers was mentioned). Staff and commissioners discussed whether volunteers in vests could be used for some functions and emphasized that properly trained personnel must place and manage the traffic-control devices.

Some commissioners said the requirements outside the state-controlled intersection appeared excessive and could impose costs that reduce funds available for community donations; staff said TxDOT’s focus was the state-managed crossing and that the city could work with event organizers on the remainder of the route or hire an engineer to limit measures to what is strictly required to meet TxDOT thresholds.

Commissioner Haney moved to approve the item; a Mayor Pro Tem second was recorded. The chair called for a voice vote, a commissioner responded "Aye" on the record, and the chair declared the motion carried. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally.

City staff said, following the commission’s approval to submit the agreement, they would forward the materials to TxDOT for review and notify the Rotary Club once TxDOT has acted. The commission adjourned at 6:26 p.m.