Improvements to Siesta Drive approach a possible topic for upcoming joint meeting of County Commission and Sarasota City Commission
With unanimous support from his colleagues on Feb. 11, Sarasota County Commission Chair Joe Neunder requested that County Administrator Jonathan Lewis have staff prepare a report on action that county workers could take to improve the appearance of the south entrance to Siesta Key.
During part of his routine report to his colleagues, during their meeting on Feb. 11, in Venice, Neunder noted that he represents the southern portion of the barrier island as the District 4 commissioner. Commissioner Mark Smith represents the rest of Siesta, Neunder added.
The day after Hurricane Milton struck Siesta on Oct. 9, 2024, Neunder said, he saw how much the storm had changed the island’s appearance, especially in regard to the landscaping. That fact has been the top focus of conversations that he has had with his constituents on the Key, Neunder indicated.
“How can we, perhaps, beautify [both entrances to the Key]?” Neunder asked.
Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University in Miami — known worldwide as “Dr. Beach” — put Siesta Key in the spotlight by twice naming its beach No. 1 in the United States, Neunder noted. (That occurred in 2011 and again in 2017.)
“It is very singularly unique in our geographical area in the state of Florida,” Neunder pointed out of the island, because of its white, quartz-based sand.
He would like to talk with his colleagues, he continued, about an effort to improve the appearance of the entrance to the Key from Stickney Point Road, and possibly from the Siesta Drive entrance, to the north, he added.
“If it’s the will of this board, perhaps we can have a board assignment” on the possibilities, Neunder continued.
A “board assignment” refers to a document produced by staff when the commissioners call for research into specific topics and possible solutions to situations that have arisen.
In the meantime, Neunder said, “I will do my best, as I am sure Commissioner Smith will,” to seek ideas from people on Siesta about what they would like to see done to make those entrances more attractive once again, in the aftermath of the 2024 hurricanes.
Smith did remind Neunder that the Siesta Drive entrance is part of the jurisdiction of the City of Sarasota. (During the Jan. 9 meeting of the county-appointed Tourist Development Council, Siesta businessman Michael Holderness, who is part owner of the Siesta Key Beach Resort and Suites hotel in Siesta Village and manager of numerous rental properties on the island, complained about how dirty the north entrance to the Key looks. Neunder is chair of the Council. Holderness became a member of that advisory board in September 2024.)
However, Smith said, since County Administrator Lewis has been working with interim City of Sarasota Manager Doug Jeffcoat on a joint meeting of the County and City commissions, which is scheduled for March 28, perhaps a discussion about the Siesta Drive entrance to the Key could be added to that agenda.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Smith added, in regard to Neunder’s comments about a board assignment on county efforts to improve the look of the south entrance.
In fact, Smith continued, many Siesta residents have been emailing him with their concerns about that issue, as well.
As The Sarasota News Leader reported last week, Sarasota resident Suzanne Armbruster has organized two cleanup events thus far for the south approach to the Key — on Feb. 1 and Feb. 8, in response to public concerns about the lingering storm damage and debris.
On Feb. 11, Commissioner Tom Knight also concurred with Neunder’s call for the board assignment. “Siesta Key is very important to this county,” Knight pointed out, particularly in terms of tourism. A special look for the entrance to the island is a good idea, Knight added.
With no commissioner indicating disapproval of Neunder’s proposal, County Administrator Lewis said that he had clear direction from the board for the assignment.
Typically, the timeline for completion of such reports is no longer than 30 days.