County Commission Chair Neunder and County Administrator Lewis to meet with members of group
In response to a formal letter and public comments during their March 11 meeting, the Sarasota County commissioners agreed with a proposal put forth by Chair Joe Neunder to direct County Administrator Jonathan Lewis and his staff to work with a new Siesta Key organization focused on improving the appearance of the barrier island as it continues to recover from the 2024 hurricane damage.
During the Open to the Public comment period of the meeting, which was held in Venice, Natalie Gutwein, team leader of the Siesta Key Beautification Alliance, read a letter that the organization sent the board members on March 10.
The letter reads as follows:
“Siesta Key has long been recognized as one of the most beautiful destinations in the country, earning the prestigious title of the #1 beach in the United States by numerous organizations and travel agencies. Most recently, TripAdvisor ranked it #1 in the nation and #4 in the world for best beach towns. However, in the wake of recent hurricanes much of Siesta Key no longer reflects its well-earned reputation.
“The Siesta Key Beautification Alliance, comprised of local associations, property owners, business owners, and concerned citizens, believes that Siesta Key is in urgent need of revitalization. We are proud to have the support of members from key organizations, including the Siesta Key Association, the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, and the Siesta Key Merchants, all of which recognize the need for action to restore and enhance our community.”
The letter continued, “As one of the most significant drivers of tourism in Sarasota County, Siesta Key generated the highest tourist development tax revenue for the county in 2024. [See the related article in this issue.] However, its importance extends beyond tourism — Siesta Key is the crown jewel of Sarasota County, cherished not only by visitors but also by the residents who call it home. Its natural beauty, vibrant community, and coastal charm make it a defining part of our county’s identity. Yet, when compared to other iconic Sarasota locations — such as the Historic City of Venice, St. Armands Circle, UTC Mall/Benderson Park, and Downtown Sarasota — Siesta Key is noticeably lacking in aesthetic appeal. Several key areas require attention, including:
- “Entranceways— The main gateways to Siesta Key should reflect the prestige of our destination, welcoming visitors with well-maintained landscaping, lighting, and signage that properly directs guests to the beaches and commercial districts.
- “ Right-of-Ways— These high-visibility areas should be properly maintained and enhanced with beautification efforts to improve the overall appearance of the island.
- “Commercial Districts— Siesta Key Village and the South Bridge District need refreshed landscaping, improved pedestrian pathways, upgraded lighting for safety and ambiance, and an overall revitalization to address numerous safety concerns and to ensure a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere for residents and visitors alike.
- “Interstate Signage— Improved directional signage to make it easier for visitors to access the island, reinforcing its status as a premier beach town.
“Given Siesta Key’s status as a world-renowned destination, we support expanding the County Commissioners’ 2/11/2025 directive to evaluate and implement measures that will restore Siesta Key’s beauty to match its #1 designation. We urge the County to prioritize beautification efforts to ensure that Siesta Key continues to be a cherished destination for generations to come.
“It is time for the County to reinvest in one of its premier drivers of tourism.
“We ask the Board of Commissioners to instruct staff to engage our advisory group to develop and oversee the beautification project, to include both entranceways, rights-of-way, commercial districts, and interstate signage, and to review budget and funding sources.
“We appreciate your leadership and look forward to collaborating with you to restore, refresh, and revive the beauty of Siesta Key,” the letter concluded.
Catherine Luckner, president of the Siesta Key Association (SKA), also addressed the board members during the Open to the Public period, joining Gutwein in seeking their assistance.
‘Significant landscape improvements’
The report that Chair Neunder had sought on that was completed on March 7.
The report explained that the entrances to the island “are generally located in the areas of the two [drawbridges]” over the Intracoastal Waterway, via Siesta Drive and Stickney Point Road.
As Commissioner Mark Smith, a long-time Siesta resident, pointed out during the Feb. 11 discussion, the north entrance to the barrier island is within the City of Sarasota’s jurisdiction. Thus, the March 7 report focused on efforts to improve the appearance of the south entrance to the Key.
In February, the report said, county staff “made significant landscape improvements to the west of the [Stickney Point Road] bridge and along Midnight Pass Road …” The county initiatives included new plantings, tree pruning, mulching, debris removal and street sweeping.
The work was paused to allow the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to complete its maintenance project on the Stickney Point Road drawbridge, the report continued. That initiative is expected to be finished this month, the report noted.
After the FDOT crew has left, the report said, county staff “will complete other planned improvements in areas adjacent to each side of the bridge,” including mulching, landscaping and a general clean-up. Further options, the report added, could include upgraded landscaping and the installation of new signage and lighting.
However, the report pointed out, none of that work had been planned or funded in the county Public Works Department’s budget for this fiscal year, which will continue through Sept. 30, or in the county’s current five-year Capital Improvement Program.
Then the report noted that, unlike the situation with Stickney Point Road, the county has limited control of the areas adjacent to the Siesta Drive drawbridge. Thus, the report said, any improvements on the north approach to the Key would necessitate county staff’s going through the city’s permitting process.
‘Rather interesting ideas’
During his report to his report to his colleagues as part of their regular meeting on March 11, Chair Neunder said he planned to meet soon on the island with leaders of the Siesta Key Beautification Alliance. “They are the business owners that have unfortunately been impacted the greatest [by the 2024 hurricane season]. They know what’s going on, and I think they have some rather interesting ideas,” he added.
“They certainly have the institutional knowledge, the wherewithal and the determination to help [with improvements],” Neunder pointed out.
After Neunder asked for his colleagues’ support for County Administrator Lewis and staff to work with the new group, Lewis noted that the owners of property within the Siesta Key Public Improvement District pay an annual assessment for the maintenance of that area. The district is the part of Siesta Village where the county completed an approximately year-long beautification project in early 2009. Therefore, Lewis added, those persons are “as familiar as anybody” with the island’s needs.
After ensuring that he had his colleagues’ consensus for the staff engagement with the Alliance, Neunder suggested that he and Lewis could visit the Key together to talk with members of the organization.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Lewis responded.
Commissioner Teresa Mast told her colleagues that she “had reached out” to Erin Silk, president and CEO of the Economic Development Corp. of Sarasota County(EDC), asking that Silk and her staff do what they can to assist business owners countywide who are dealing with hurricane damage and recovery.
The commission does have partners who can help with the type of effort that Neunder had proposed for staff, Mast added.
The EDC receives county funds each year to support its work, Neunder responded. Commissioner Ron Cutsinger is the commission’s representative on the EDC board, Neunder said, so perhaps Cutsinger could work with the EDC leaders in regard to any help they could provide business owners.