Venice meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Venice City Council to weigh $245,000 property purchase and $255,000 budget amendment

The Venice City Council's July 14 meeting agenda includes the proposed purchase of 234 Grove Street for $245,000 and a budget amendment that would raise both revenue and expenditures by $255,000. Minutes from the meeting have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

City Council — July 14

The council was scheduled to consider buying the property at 234 Grove Street from Warfield Grove, LLC for $245,000.

Also on the agenda:

• **Ordinance 2026-21**: A budget amendment increasing total revenue and expenditures by $255,000.
• **Ordinance 2026-22**: An amendment adding Certified Recovery Residences and related land-use procedures to the Land Development Code.
• **Third Amendment to Restated Lease Agreement** with Skyport Holdings Venice, LLC.
• **Resolution 2026-14**: Acceptance of utilities, improvements, and a one-year developer maintenance bond for the Bay Indies Clubhouse Reconstruction Project.
• Setting dates and rates for upcoming public hearings on the millage rate and budget.

Minutes are not yet available, so it is not confirmed which items passed, failed, or were continued.

City Council — July 8

A budget wrap-up workshop was scheduled to finalize upcoming fiscal decisions. Discussion items included a cost-benefit analysis comparing IT server costs against cloud solutions, a review of items removed from the General Fund Budget, and calculation of the proposed millage rate. No votes or figures from this workshop are available yet.

Planning Commission — July 7

The Planning Commission was scheduled to conduct quasi-judicial hearings on two variance requests:

• A variance request for 201 The Esplanade.
• A variance request for 412 Hunter Drive.

Each case included staff reports and applicant site plans for review. Minutes have not been published, so decisions are not confirmed.

Historic and Architectural Preservation Board — July 9

The board was scheduled to review a pre-application request involving floorplans and elevations for 401 Nassau St S. Members were also set to discuss proposed changes to the city's facade color requirements. No outcomes are available.

Why this matters

The July 14 agenda items carry the most direct impact for residents. The $245,000 property purchase and the $255,000 budget amendment involve public dollars. The Certified Recovery Residences ordinance could affect where and how recovery housing operates in Venice. The Bay Indies Clubhouse resolution relates to infrastructure acceptance for a reconstruction project. The millage rate discussions on July 8 and July 14 will determine the property tax rate residents pay in the upcoming fiscal year.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents seeking confirmed outcomes from the July 7, 8, 9, and 14 meetings should watch for published minutes on the City of Venice website.

Venice meeting roundup: Recent minutes pending; Council set to act on $245,000 property purchase and budget amendments July 14

Minutes have not yet been published for any of Venice's four most recent public meetings, so no decisions from those sessions can be confirmed as of this report. The most consequential items on the horizon are scheduled for the July 14 City Council meeting, where council members will consider a $245,000 property purchase, a $255,000 budget amendment, and changes to the city's land development code.

Special Magistrate — Code Enforcement (July 1)

The Special Magistrate for Code Enforcement was scheduled to hear several cases on July 1. The agenda included a notice of violation against Justin Junda (case CEZN25-0008) and a notice of violation against Hawks Run Development LLC regarding street drainage (case CESW26-001). The magistrate was also set to hear three citation appeals related to water and irrigation restrictions: Jose and Katherine Requeima (CEMI26-0019), John and Nancy Eiseman (CEMI26-0018), and Samuel George Joynson and Anna McLean (CEMI26-0023). Minutes have not been published, so outcomes are not yet available.

Planning Commission — Variance Requests (July 7)

The Planning Commission was scheduled to hold quasi-judicial hearings on two property variance requests: one for 201 The Esplanade and another for 412 Hunter Drive. Each case included staff reports and applicant site plans for review. Minutes have not been published.

City Council — Budget Workshop (July 8)

City Council held a budget wrap-up workshop on July 8. Agenda items included a cost-benefit analysis comparing IT server project costs against cloud solutions, a review of items removed from the General Fund Budget, and a discussion of the proposed millage rate calculation. No votes or decisions can be confirmed because minutes have not been published.

Historic and Architectural Preservation Board (July 9)

The Historic and Architectural Preservation Board was scheduled to review a pre-application request involving floorplans and elevations for 401 Nassau St S. The board was also set to discuss proposed changes to the city's facade color requirements. Minutes have not been published.

Coming up

City Council — Tuesday, July 14: The council will consider purchasing the property at 234 Grove Street from Warfield Grove, LLC for $245,000. Also on the agenda: Ordinance 2026-21, a budget amendment increasing total revenue and expenditures by $255,000; Ordinance 2026-22, an amendment adding Certified Recovery Residences to the Land Development Code; a third amendment to the restated lease agreement with Skyport Holdings Venice, LLC; and Resolution 2026-14, accepting utilities, improvements, and a one-year developer maintenance bond for the Bay Indies Clubhouse Reconstruction Project. The council will also set dates and rates for upcoming public hearings on the millage rate and budget.

Residents seeking confirmed outcomes from the July 1, 7, 8, and 9 meetings should watch for published minutes on the city's official website.

Venice City Council discusses police staffing, train depot purchase; budget workshop set for July 8

The Venice City Council reviewed a police staffing study, considered buying the Venice Train Depot Lift Station for $10 from Sarasota County, and discussed a proposed $255,000 budget increase during its June 23 meeting. No binding votes have been published yet, as minutes remain pending. The week also saw code enforcement hearings before a special magistrate. Upcoming meetings include a City Council budget workshop and Planning Commission variance hearings.

City Council discusses staffing, depot, and budget

The council’s June 23 agenda included a presentation on Police Department staffing levels. Council members also considered an ordinance to increase the city’s total budget revenue and expenditures by $255,000, though no final action has been recorded. They discussed adopting a revised Land Development Schedule of Fees and Charges and held an appeal hearing regarding multifamily construction at 816 Ormond Street. The council also reviewed a request to proceed with the Venice Airport environmental review.

One item listed for possible action was the purchase of the Venice Train Depot Lift Station from Sarasota County for $10.00. The meeting was an agenda-only event; official minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed.

Special Magistrate hears code violations and water restriction appeals

On July 1, the Special Magistrate for Code Enforcement reviewed several property violation cases. Cases included a notice of violation for Justin Junda (case CEZN25-0008) and for Hawks Run Development LLC regarding street drainage (case CESW26-001). The magistrate also heard citation appeals for water and irrigation restrictions filed by Jose and Katherine Requeima (CEMI26-0019), John and Nancy Eiseman (CEMI26-0018), and Samuel George Joynson and Anna McLean (CEMI26-0023). As with the council meeting, minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes of these hearings are not yet available.

Coming up

Planning Commission – Tuesday, July 7: The commission will hold quasi-judicial hearings on variance requests for properties at 201 The Esplanade and 412 Hunter Drive. Staff reports and site plans are available for review.

City Council budget workshop – Wednesday, July 8: Council members will finalize fiscal decisions, including a cost-benefit analysis comparing an IT server project to cloud solutions, a review of items removed from the General Fund Budget, and calculation of the proposed millage rate for the coming year.

Historic and Architectural Preservation Board – Thursday, July 9: The board will review a pre-application for floorplans and elevations at 401 Nassau St S and discuss proposed changes to the city’s facade color requirements.