JANUARY 2026
Photo by Cindy Desmond
VENICE CITY E-NEWS A DIGITAL PUBLICATION FOR RESIDENTS & VISITORS OF THE CITY ON THE GULF
City Council Members
Mayor Nick Pachota
Vice Mayor Jim Boldt
Rick Howard
Rachel Frank
Ron Smith
Kevin Engelke
Upcoming Council Meeting Dates:
Jan. 13 Feb. 10 Lloyd Weed
Contact all City Council members by emailing citycouncil@venicefl.gov. City Council meets begin at 9 a.m., in Council Chambers at City Hall, 401 W. Venice Ave, or watch online.
Police Department welcomes BRACE Navigators The Venice Police Department joined Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Centerstone, and regional partners on Dec. 2 to welcome the newest BRACE Navigators, part of a community-wide initiative designed to improve access to behavioral health support for individuals and families in crisis. The BRACE program, short for Behavioral Response and Community Engagement, places trained Navigators alongside the Venice Police Department Community Outreach Team, working with community organizations to help residents connect quickly with mental-health care, case management, housing resources, addiction treatment, and other essential services. By integrating Navigators into the response system, the partnership is aimed at reducing redundant emergency calls to law enforcement and improving long-term outcomes by connecting people with the right support at the right time. At the December reception, City and community leaders celebrated the inception of the program and its impact on public safety and community wellbeing. Navigators Ana Costa Morais and Matt Ramlakhan of Centerstone will be housed at the Police Department on East Venice Ave. “It’s inspiring to see our community partners come together to expand support for those most in need. Programs like BRACE strengthen the safety net for our residents, and the City of Venice is proud to stand alongside Centerstone and Gulf Coast Community Foundation in this work,” said Venice Mayor Nick Pachota.
Email Venice Public Information Officer Lorraine Anderson at landerson@venicefl.gov to subscribe