The City of Venice will present its 5th Fire and Police Public Safety Day event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave. S., inside and outside.
Fun for the whole family, the free event will include first responder vehicles and big trucks that children can sit in and learn about; demonstrations every half-hour; photo ID cards for kids; free food, snacks, face painting and balloon twisting; music; and other activities and giveaways. In addition, come check out the nearby Venice Museum (open that Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Old Betsy Museum.
We are fortunate to have a current NFL Assistant Coach living in the VGRC who will be conducting an informal seminar as to what it is like to be in the big leagues of professional football. The seminar was originally scheduled for today, March 31st, but due to his scheduling conflicts, it has been changed to June 16th at 5pm. Flag it on your calendar.
The Community Association, in coordination with Venice Utilities, is sponsoring a tour of the Venice Water Booster Station (WBS) on Tuesday, April 14th, beginning at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This WBS (there are 2 WBSs in Venice) is located on Gene Green Road off Knights Trail. More specific directions and a map will be provided.
Please sign up HERE starting at 8 a.m. on April 5. Click HERE for Directions.
We have spaces for the first 15 residents who are interested in this tour. You will be able to get firsthand information on how the water pressure system works in the city and specifically how the WBS has impacted our water pressure here in Venice. VGRC CA members will be given priority for website signup starting on April 5.
Venice City embarked on a project in 2020 to enhance the quality of potable water service and fire protection in the northeastern part of the city’s service area. This initiative aimed to potentially increase water pressure and flow during peak water demand periods for the entire service area. The project concluded in the Fall of 2025 with the construction of a water booster station on Gene Green Road.
Venice water utility engineers have meticulously optimized system operations citywide, resulting in NE Venice now experiencing pressure levels comparable to the rest of the city. According to Venice Utilities and the Water Booster Station (WBS) pressure sensors, every resident in Venice receives between 51 and 56 psi from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Overnight, from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., the pressure is reduced to facilitate water storage tank refilling and maintain water quality throughout the system.
Beyond ensuring equitable and consistent water service for residents, the project has also led to an increase in water flow pressure during emergencies, significantly enhancing fire protection in NE Venice.
This improvement has resulted in improved water flow for hydrants in the area, thereby enhancing safety for everyone and providing better protection for the community.
According to the city, the station has significantly stabilized water pressure in the northern part of the city. Before activation, residents north of I-75 experienced daytime pressures ranging from 42 to 46 psi. Since the station came online, consistent readings by City Utilities have been recorded between 48 and 51 psi, with fluctuations limited to just 1 psi throughout the day.
Interestingly, many residents have reported no noticeable increase in water pressure since the WBS went online. According to Venice Utilities, this suggests that the issue may be related to private service lines in a home or internal plumbing.
If your home has water fixtures manufactured after January 1, 1994, they are mandated to be low-flow due to federal and state codes that came into effect around that time. Most high-flow fixtures were phased out by 1998, and if your house or renovations were permitted after 1994, you should have low-flow fixtures throughout. TheEnergy Policy Act of 1992 established these standards. While early low-flow fixture models occasionally had performance issues, designs improved significantly in the subsequent years. By 2007, the EPA WaterSense program further enhanced efficiency standards.
It’s also worth noting that not all low-flow fixtures perform identically. Factors such as age and design quality can significantly impact their performance. Additionally, having a water softener or treatment system can reduce water pressure in your home. It should be correctly sized, high-quality, and well-maintained. Industry experts and manufacturers generally cite a 2 to 5 psi drop as the standard for a residential water softener that is functioning optimally.
Additionally, “back flow preventers” installed in residents’ water systems prevent contaminated water from flowing backward into the potable water supply. While this system requires periodic maintenance (to remove grit), it is a service provided by the city. If you suspect an issue, especially if you notice noticeable drips from the pipes in your front yard, please contact Venice Utilities at (941) 480-3333.
As many of our seasonal residents begin preparing to leave for the summer months, we want to ensure everyone has the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding hurricane preparedness. Taking these steps now can greatly reduce potential damage and help safeguard your property while you are away. Please review the updated preparation reminders below:
Secure all outdoor furniture, umbrellas, grills, flowerpots, garden hoses, flag poles, and any items that could become projectiles during high winds.
Inspect your roof for any loose tiles and ensure no repair tiles are left unsecured on the roof.
Check your trees and remove any dead or loose limbs.
Hurricane shutters may be deployed when a watch or warning has been issued for Sarasota County, or earlier if authorized by the Property Manager and approved by the POA Board. Shutters must be those originally supplied with the home or those approved by the Architectural Control Committee under the Community-Wide Standards.
Inform your home-watch provider, neighbor, or designated contact of your departure date and share your updated contact information.
Inform your home-watch provider, neighbor, or designated contact of your departure date and share your updated contact information.
Keep an eye out for communications from Mary Rau-Foster and the Community Association Hurricane Response Team as the season approaches.
Due to extreme drought conditions, watering restrictions have changed in Venice City from April 3rd.
The interpretation is that this restriction, as mentioned in the Venice pamphlet below, impacts residents
who use potable water for car washing,
who irrigate with a sprinkler connected to their potable water supply, or
who water plants in their garden or landscape using a water hose connected to the outside water faucet.
The drought is curtailing use to specific hours or days depending on your address.
The source for the potable water is the Venice Water Treatment Plant which is near the intercostal/Venice bridge at 200 North Warfield Ave.
Venice Utilities asks that we also limit use of irrigation water which is supplied to the VGRC via the Water Reclamation facility at 3510 East Laurel Road.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, says the region currently has a 13.7 inch rainfall deficit compared with the average 12 month total. Aquifers, rivers and lakes continue to decline and “public water supplies are extremely low for this time of year.
The most recent 12-month period (ending March 2026) has been significantly drier than normal. This follows a particularly dry calendar year in 2025, which saw only 37.75 inches total.
To track your household water usage, like everything else it seems, there is an app! See EyeOnWater and register. This app uses your water meter to gauge how much water you use by day, by week or by month.More significantly, it will alert you when you have a leak.
The changes for City residents are as follows:
Watering hours (sprinklers)
BEFORE: Watering before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., once per week
NOW: Watering 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. OR 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., once per week
Hand watering
BEFORE: Any day, any time
NOW: Any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Vehicle/boat washing
BEFORE: Once per week, any time
NOW: Once per week, 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. OR 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
New lawns/landscaping
BEFORE: First 60 days, any day during restricted hours
NOW: First 30 days, any day during restricted hours, AND days 31-60, 3 days per week during restricted hours
The VGRC Community Association presented “Community Forum 2026” on March 16, 2026 to a packed house at the Venetian River Club.
Information updates by Tom Jones concerning external developments outside the gates included:
Venice Crossings Shopping Center home to a Walmart and Home Depot to be constructed on Laurel Road
the Village at Laurel and Jacaranda across from the VGRC entrance,
two hotels being built nearby, one on Laurel Road and another on Pinebrook Road
the newly constructed Water Booster Station close to and northwest of the community, and
other issues in the city of Venice and Sarasota County.
Mayor Nick Pachota spoke on the Water Booster Station and issues related to water pressure for NE Venice, upcoming elections for seats on the council, the status of property taxes in the state, the new city Fire Station under construction on Venice Avenue next to the Police Department, and the need to either harden the city water treatment plant or move it elsewhere since it sits in a flood plain.
Dr. Joe Neunder, County Commissioner for District 4, spoke about the long awaited construction on Laurel Road for its widening to 4 lanes. He expects construction to begin by December of this year, although it could start sooner. Dr. Neunder also briefly described the strategic plan for the county, the budget and traffic issues in the city, as well as county preparations for hurricanes and the opening of Midnight Pass.
In addition to external developments, representatives from the CDD and the POA gave updates. CDD Vice Chairman Cheryl Harmon Terrana spoke on the newly hired amenity management company for the River Club, budget issues, staffing stabilization at the River Club, access to the community and the use of the Ciltadella Road exit There are no plans to upgrade this exit until the shopping center is open across the street. Finally, Cheryl discussed the need to update the irrigation system in the community. Barbara Silkworth of the POA described the need for volunteers for the HOA and POA boards and the committees. Barbara stressed the need to give the Venetian a “Wow!” factor by replacing landscaping, especially hardwood trees which were either destroyed by hurricanes and disease or were removed prematurely.
Cheryl Harmon TerranaBarbara Silkworth
The highlight of the forum was the presentation of the Gratitude Awards to John Moeckel, Steve Thomaston, Pamela Henard and Nancy Spokowski. This was the third year that gratitude awards were presented to residents and has become the most rewarding feature of these annual gatherings. The true strength of a community like ours is found in the quiet, selfless actions of the people who live here. This award was created for those who make the community a better place to live.
John Moeckel and Tom JonesSteve Thomaston and Steve HeflerSharon George and Pamela HenardDarlene Schimberg and Nancy Spokowski
For those who could not attend the forum in the River Club or the LaSala room, the Community Association organized a live TV presentation and a “Zoom” feature so that others could view the proceedings from outside the main dining room or from home. While the video quality was excellent, the audio was not. The reconstructed video with improved audio is available on our YouTube Channel. Click on the yellow card on the YouTube page to view the video.
The Community Association sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience or frustration to those residents who participated in the Zoom session and those in the LaSala room for the sound distortion of the presentations.
For those who wish to reference the various handouts used by Tom Jones for his presentation of external developments in the area during the video:
Page 1AgendaPage 2 Survey TopicsPage 3 NE Venice Map Page 4 NE Venice Development DataPage 5 Milano Shopping Center Map
On Tuesday, March 10th, the Community Association hosted their 17th “Knock Your Socks Off” Seminar at the River Club titled “Preparing your Final Wishes”. The Presenter, Mr Darwin Reeck, spent an hour advising fifty community members about actions recommended for people to complete before the death of a loved one. Mr. Reeck has years of experience assisting people plan memorial and burial services as the Director of Lay Ministries at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Church along with being a Family Service Coordinator at Toale Brothers Funeral Home.
Click HERE for the After Death Comprehensive Checklist of Actions.
Thank you all for a very successful event with a team of volunteers, the City of Venice, Goodwill and Shred-Medic participating, as well as all the residents who junked, shredded and donated to Goodwill!
Tad Johnson won the contest with a selection of Seattle and a spread of 13 points. Congratulations! Click on the image or HERE for finalists and their predictions.
