Venice to promote use of refillable water bottles in city facilities

Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
The city of Venice is seeking to promote the use of refillable water bottles both in city facilities and public parks.
The city of Venice is seeking to promote the use of refillable water bottles both in city facilities and public parks.

VENICE – The city of Venice is closing in on a goal of eliminating single-use plastic water bottles in all city-owned buildings, as well as offering options for people downtown to skip single-use bottles, too.

Environmental Advisory Board Chairman Tom Jones briefed the City Council on the effort Tuesday.

The environmental board resolved at its last meeting that the best way for the city to accomplish that was by installing water bottle refilling stations in all of its municipal buildings.

Jones brought a green metal refillable bottle that he’d used for several years to illustrate his point.

Venice Environmental Advisory Board Chairman Tom Jones used green metal refillable bottle to illustrate his point that the city could use something similar to raise awareness of stations to refill water bottles in the city.
Venice Environmental Advisory Board Chairman Tom Jones used green metal refillable bottle to illustrate his point that the city could use something similar to raise awareness of stations to refill water bottles in the city.

Jones said that while the bottle was from Wisconsin, the city could consider its own bottle to help promote reuse.

He said the city or business partners such as Venice MainStreet could compete to create a water bottle branded by the city, “encouraging people to purchase that and not throw it away.”

Related:Sea turtle sculpture at Venice Beach encourages recycling

Assistant City Manager James Clinch said Venice is already seeking opportunities to install water refilling stations in city buildings,.

Council Member Dick Longo suggested the city could work with Venice-based Tervis Tumbler to create a bottle, “and find a way to benefit the city, benefit the environment and benefit Tervis.”

Council Member Helen Moore noted that Venice MainStreet is in the process of opening a virtual marketplace, where people can purchase wares featured in city stores.

“That might be a really good venue, where if we have that kind of product available that would be a good fit,” Moore said.

Jones noted that while the city does not have an outdoor station along Venice Avenue, the Public Works department is adding one to the water fountain located at the public restroom facility at Centennial Park.

Earlier:Venice council agrees in principle to three development rule changes

In other action

The City Council also:

• Approved the second reading of an ordinance establishing a one-time permit fee for restaurants and shops that provide outdoor dining on city sidewalks.

• Approved a collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Association covering Oct. 1, 2022 through Sep. 30, 2025. The contract boosts the minimum base salary for an apprentice firefighter from $37,262 to $45,960 and set a maximum annual base salary of $79,434.

• Approved the first reading of an ordinance annexing properties north of Laurel Road known as the Laurel Road Assemblage and establishing the land use for mix uses. The two separate applications cover five parcels totaling about 23 acres. The zoning was set for commercial general.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Venice seeks to expand availability of water bottle filling stations