May 19 County Commission meeting to include appointment of members of Siesta Key task force to oversee initiative
During the regular meeting of the Sarasota County Commission on April 21, Assistant County Administrator Brad Johnson reported that staff has “developed a scope of services and a scope of work” that are necessary to the hiring of a consultant to “conduct the community engagement” that will lead to the creation of a new Siesta Key community plan.
Johnson added that staff hoped to begin advertising a Request for Proposals from consultants within the next couple of days.
In fact, the solicitation was released the afternoon of April 22, The Sarasota News Leader learned.
Further, Johnson said on April 21, staff’s goal is to bring the commissioners the recommended contract before they begin their traditional summer break. The board recess will start on July 9 and end on Aug. 15, the commission’s 2026 meeting schedule shows.
The solicitation says that proposals must be submitted to county staff by 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, with the first staff meeting to evaluate the responses set for June 30. However, it notes that presentations and a second evaluation meeting are scheduled for July 14.
Following a Feb. 11 workshop on Siesta Key issues — which featured presentations from leaders of numerous island organizations — the commissioners voted unanimously to direct county staff to facilitate the crafting of a new community plan for the barrier island, as Siesta continues to recover from extensive hurricane damage that occurred in the fall of 2024.
Additionally, Johnson told the commissioners on April 21, staff has prepared a draft resolution for them to consider, as part of their May 19 regular meeting agenda, regarding the establishment of a Siesta Key Task Force to oversee the development of the new master plan.
Johnson’s remarks came as he and Deputy County Administrator and Chief Financial Management Officer Steve Botelho were providing updates on the board’s 2026 Strategic Policy issues.
As the News Leader has reported, Natalie Gutwein, spokesperson for the Siesta Key Beautification Alliance — which was established in 2025 — addressed the commissioners during the Open to the Public comment period before the start of their March 25 budget workshop. That came after Johnson had sent the commissioners a memo, dated Feb. 27, proposing that the process for Siesta be modeled after the planning that led to the creation of the 53-acre Bay Park in downtown Sarasota.
On March 25, Gutwein pointed out that Siesta leaders were concerned that elements of the planning process might be moving ahead “prior to the establishment of a clear, commission-directed governance structure.”
She asked that the “stakeholder oversight entity” be put in place before a consultant was engaged.
“Ultimately,” she concluded her remarks that day, “this is about establishing a process that the community can trust.”
In a statement that the News Leader had requested in response to Gutwein’s comments, Lourdes Ramirez, president of the nonprofit Protect Siesta Key, wrote, “We’re not opposed to the County bringing in a consultant but we do want to make sure there’s true independence there, and that whoever is helping develop the Siesta Key Master plan isn’t also in a position to benefit from the projects that come out of it.”
Neal Schleifer, acting president of the Siesta Key Condominium Association, also provided the News Leader a statement, at the publication’s request. Among the points he made were the following: “[W]e support a transparent, independent and inclusive process. Parts of the Bay Park model may apply, but Siesta Key is different; it’s a popular barrier island and a home to many.”
The Condominium Council represents 100 associations with more than 7,000 households, he noted.
Facets of the Request for Proposals
The solicitation that county Procurement staff issued on April 22 provides the following details about the Scope of Work:
Then, under the heading Services Required, the solicitation explains that the preparation of a Siesta Key Community Master Plan — referenced later in the document as just the “Plan” — is to include the following:
- “Conduct a review of the entirety of Siesta Key’s existing conditions, opportunities and challenges relating to Siesta Key Beautification, Funding and Maintenance, utilizing baseline information, including but not limited to,
- “The February 11, 2026, Siesta Key Workshop.
- “The 1999 Siesta Key Community Plan.
- “The Sarasota County Comprehensive Plan.
- “The County Code of Ordinances.
- “The District.
- “Any other previous relevant work.
The solicitation also calls for the consultant to “[c]reate an engagement plan for Siesta Key stakeholders, including property owners, residents, businesses, associations, community groups, applicable County Advisory Boards and/or Task Force, County Commissioners, County Administration, County staff, etc. Engagement work to include but not be limited to:
- “Surveys.
- “Public workshops..
- “Interviews
- “Meetings.
- “Advisory Board and/or Task Force meetings.”
The next sections begins, “Implement the engagement plan throughout the development of the [Community] Plan to determine and deepen understanding of community identified challenges and opportunities. The engagement plan shall include an initial discovery process to identify preliminary findings and extend throughout the development of the Plan to adoption to ensure comprehensive understanding of community desires and input.”
Section D says, “Strategically assess and translate understanding of the initial engagement plan outcomes and identified challenges and opportunities into preliminary findings for preparation of the Plan. Preliminary findings shall include:
- “Identification of strategic focus areas based on engagement outcomes.
- “Short and long term challenges and opportunities with strategic focus areas.
- “Preliminary recommendations based on analyses.
Section E calls for the presentation of the “preliminary findings to the community and the County, including the Siesta Key Beautification Task Force and any other applicable Advisory Boards, County staff, County Administration, and the [County Commission].”
Section F says, “Based on [County Commission] policy direction, prepare a draft of the Plan to include:
- “Short and long term recommendations with strategic focus areas.
- “Prioritization and timelines of recommended actions.
- “Probable costs and viability considerations.
- “Funding model potentials, including the District.
- “Updates and/or amendments as needed to the Sarasota County Comprehensive Plan and the County Code of Ordinances.”
Section G calls for the consultant to “[p]resent a draft of the Plan to the community as part of the engagement plan. Refine the Plan based on public feedback into a final draft plan.”
The final steps are provided as follows:
- “Present the final draft plan to the [commission].
- “Conduct regular coordination meetings with County staff throughout the duration of the project. Provide monthly progress reports to the County.
- “Provide consultation services as requested by the County relating to implementation of the Plan.”