City Resilience and Sustainability Initiatives

INTRODUCTION

The City of Venice has a responsibility to protect our environment and increase the resiliency and sustainability of the city. The city continually works to further coordinate and enhance environmental awareness and proven sustainable practices to ensure the health and viability of our community. 

RESILIENCE

Resilience is societal, economic, and ecological. It is the ability of a community to successfully and quickly recover after hazardous events rather than simply reacting to the impacts.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is implementing projects and programs that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainability is about balancing the environmental, social, and economic impacts of our actions.

INITIATIVES

The following lists some of the resilience and sustainability initiatives from departments throughout the city:

BUILDING (Through the Florida Building Code)

• Construction practices to withstand hurricane-force winds (durable materials, smart design, and effective construction techniques)
• Implementing and enforcement of the City's flood plain mitigation strategies
• Efficiency in water use and energy (toilets, light sensors, etc.)
• Radon standards and mitigation
• Reclaimed material (wood, glue-lam beams, steel "I" beams) may be used in construction if tested and approved for reuse

CODE ENFORCEMENT

• Sea turtle protection monitoring
• Beach monitoring and inspection
• Implementation and compliance with the building and floodplain management codes

ENGINEERING

• Resilience and Vulnerability Plan
• Curry Creek water quality and channel restoration, Deertown Gully water quality
• Tarpon Center Drive Flood Mitigation Project and Coastal Resiliency Plan
• Multi-Modal Transportation Master Plan
• Tarpon Center Drive resiliency / flood mitigation project
• Major property conversion and conservation projects
• Code improvements to stormwater, environmental lands, state permits
• Beach and shoreline renourishment, protection, and enhancements
• Fertilizer restriction ordinance
• Stormwater Master Plan
• Plan in progress for Flamingo Ditch
• Illicit stormwater discharge monitoring and response

FIRE

• New Fire Station to have LEED features and be LEED certified

PLANNING AND ZONING

• Tree survey
• Adopt a Tree program
• Tree City USA certification
• Florida and National Arbor Day proclamations
• Comprehensive Plan additions:
  • Solar and Floating solar
  • Coastal resilience
• Code changes include:
  • Florida Native or Florida Friendly plant material requirements
  • WaterSense for irrigation systems
  • New environmental section
  • Requirements for environmental assessment / resource management plan
  • Removal of invasive species (there are exceptions to this)
  • Protection of marine sea turtles
  • Protection and preservation of wetlands, open space, and other habitats
  • Expanded tree planting, preservation, relocation, and replacement
  • Wildlife corridors
  • Electric vehicle charging requirements and standards

POLICE

• Police Station construction incorporated green building / sustainability standards
• Purchased EVs

PUBLIC WORKS/SOLID WASTE

• Incorporation of green building / sustainability standards into renovated City Hall / Fire Station complex
• Upgrading energy efficiency of city buildings through lighting and other improvements
• Optimization of vehicle usage and transitioning to energy efficient vehicles (includes EV and hybrid) and maintenance equipment
• Purchase environmentally friendly products, expand reuse / recycle efforts internally
• LED streetlights, city parking lot lights, and city facilities
• Installation of EV charging stations in various locations

UTILITIES

• Erosion and sedimentation control plan for all construction activities
• Solar projects as part of an energy reduction plan, including “net zero energy facilities”
• Purchase electric vehicles and installation of charging stations
• Conduct photovoltaic solar analysis
• Smart metering
• Potential relocation of water treatment plant out of the floodplain
• Use of reclaimed water system for irrigation
• Toilet rebate program
• Improved water treatment efficiency

EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH

• Planning presentations on planning and zoning (including environmental protection efforts and restrictions), trees and tree care
• Public education on proper use of fertilizers and herbicides, Florida Friendly yard, lawn care tips
• Stormwater inlet marker program