The City of Venice received notification June 16 from the National Park Service that it has officially been certified and accepted into the Certified Local Government (CLG) program. The CLG program is a federal program recognizing counties and municipalities for achieving certain standards in historic preservation. The City joins 83 other communities in Florida who now have access to technical assistance, training, and grant funds from the Florida Division of Historical Resources.
“The unanimous support of pursing CLG designation by the City Council is one of the many steps we have taken to preserve our heritage and history,” said Venice Mayor Nick Pachota. “I have so many fond memories from my childhood here in Venice, I am just so glad that the City Council, of which I am honored to be a part of, has marked this certification as important for us to pursue.”
The City had considered being part of the CLG program since 2015. It was the update and adoption of the new Land Development Regulations that spurred serious discussion and consideration of the idea.
“Being part of CLG is great recognition of the hard work done by the Planning Commission, City Council, the former Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Boards, the current Historic and Architectural Preservation Board (HAPB), and City staff to set a standard for historic preservation in the new land development regulations,” said Harry Klinkhamer, Historical Resources Manager.
Funding and assistance from the state will allow Venice to better educate citizens and promote historic preservation in the community. In addition, the program requires and funds surveying what historical properties are in Venice. The last survey of historic structures in Venice happened in 1985 and was only done for the 1920s-era buildings around downtown. Klinkhamer, who will manage the program for the City, is looking forward to working with the HAPB on historic preservation awareness and education.
Photo and information provided by Lorraine Anderson, City of Venice Public Information Officer
City of Venice website: venicegov.com
