Organization hires engineering firm to provide ‘professional proposal’
A representative of an organization that comprises Siesta Key residents, business owners, merchants, the Siesta Key Association (SKA) and the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce recently renewed a plea to the Sarasota County Commission for an investment of “at least $30 million” to rebrand the barrier island, which suffered extensive damage during the 2024 storm season.
At the start of the County Commission’s May 21 budget workshop, Realtor Natalie Gutwein — who again noted that she is the team leader and spokesperson for the Siesta Key Beautification Alliance — told the board members that the organization has secured $30,000 in private funding “and hired an engineering firm to provide the county with a professional proposal for the work that is needed.”
(In response to a Sarasota News Leader inquiry about the engineering report, Gutwein wrote in a May 30 email that the initial phase of it would be ready by June 12. )
The $30 million, she stressed to the commissioners on May 21, should be “seed money” included in the county’s 2026 fiscal year budget for a Siesta Key beautification project. Gutwein also asked the commissioners “to instruct staff to work with the Siesta Key Beautification Alliance to carry out the project.”
She did thank each of the board members for “coming out to Siesta Key and seeing for yourself the true condition of our island. It really does speak for itself.”
Gutwein then pointed out, “Last year alone, we were hit by three hurricanes, a tropical storm and a ‘no-name storm’ that did damage to our island. Hurricane Helene covered our entire island in saltwater, which we all know is one of the most corrosive materials on the planet. And two weeks later, we received a direct hit from Hurricane Milton, with the line of the storm going directly over my house.
“We are your barrier island,” she added, “and we take the hits.”
Yet, Gutwein noted, “We are also the crown jewel of Sarasota County. … We consistently bring in over one-third of the Tourist Development Tax [revenue]. Yet, we actually receive zero dollars back to us.”
The 6% tax is charged on accommodations rented for six months or less time in the county.
Then she pointed out, “Every year, we welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors to our island. It’s a constant strain on our resources, our streets, our sidewalks, our homes, our businesses. Yet, there have been no significant capital improvements to Siesta Key in over 18 years.”
This year, Gutwein noted, TripAdvisor named Siesta Beach No. 1 in the United States and No. 4 in the world. Moreover, she credited Conde Nast with the recent naming of Siesta Beach one of the world’s 50 top beaches; Siesta was the only U.S. beach to attain a place on that list, she emphasized.
“However,” she continued, “if we don’t see a significant and quick reinvestment in our island, those Tourist Development [tax dollars] are going to start to dwindle, room rates will go down, and the millions of dollars that we provide for the rest of Sarasota County will start to decline.
“Conversely,” Gutwein pointed out, “an investment in our island will raise room rates and tourism, thus raising our contribution to the county. We believe that the ROI [rate of return] on your investment in Siesta Key will be exponential.”
The Alliance’s members “have all come together to work with the county commissioners and staff to restore, refresh, revitalize and rebrand Siesta Key,” she said.
As the News Leader has reported, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota County Republican, sent the commissioners a letter in late March, encouraging them to invest $30 million in Siesta Key, “to meet growing aesthetic and safety expectations for hundreds of thousands of visitors annually,” as he put it. Steube called for the money to come “from previous and prospective resiliency funds,” an apparent reference to two federal grants that the county has received to respond to unmet needs in the aftermath of the strikes by Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, plus Tropical Storm Debby.
However, given the need for expensive stormwater initiatives — in response to the 2024 storm season — and the demand for road improvements countywide — a majority of the commissioners has not expressed a desire to spend any amount close to $30 million for work on Siesta Key.