The City Council decided not to abolish its controversial airport advisory board Tuesday but took the drastic step of asking the panel's members to resign.

The council's action was another sign of ongoing tension over future development and intensity of use of Venice's airport.

Airport issues consumed most of an all-day City Council meeting, during which the council did not act to bring back Hanson Professional Services -- formerly the MEA Group -- to develop a long range plan for the facility.

Instead, the city will continue looking for a new consultant to write the plan, required by the federal government as a condition for grants.

Council members exchanged terse words before voting 5-2 to ask for the airport advisory board's resignation. Councilmen John Simmonds and Rick Tacy voted no.

"It's too late to try and salvage this board," said Councilwoman Sue Lang, who accused the panel of representing the interests of airport businesses rather than residents. "The correct thing to do is repeal and reconstitute the board."