Seven-member advisory group will study improvements to streets, landscaping, signage, beach access and public spaces as residents raise questions about the broader planning process.
By ChrisAnn Allen
Sarasota County has taken the first steps toward a big update for Siesta Key.
At its May 19 regular meeting, the Sarasota County Commission unanimously approved a resolution establishing a seven-member Siesta Key Beautification Task Force to spend two years working on a plan to “enhance the appearance and character of Siesta Key” through upgraded streets and pathways, greenery and planting, signs and navigation, gathering areas, beach entry points and overall upkeep.
Per the resolution, each commissioner will appoint one member, with the other two members appointed at-large by the board following the application period. Service is prohibited while employed by, contracted with or in litigation against Sarasota County. Appointees serve for the task force’s duration and meet at least monthly. The chair coordinates meetings and serves as liaison to the Board of County Commissioners.
The task force is advisory only, has no decision-making authority and reports directly to the commission. It may engage residents, businesses, community organizations and subject matter experts to inform its recommendations; provide updates as requested or at key milestones; and submit a final written report before its sunset. The Planning and Development Services Department shall provide necessary staff support.
Initially, the task force was slated to contain five members and last 18 months. Following public comment and commission discussion May 19, its membership and duration were increased to seven members and 24 months, with the option to extend as needed.
Commissioner Tom Knight, who also serves on the Visit Sarasota County Board of Directors, said, “I think we need to pull the trigger and let people know we’re serious about making Siesta Key a nicer place.”
During public comment, Natalie Gutwein, of the Siesta Key Beautification Alliance, a group comprising members of other key-based organizations, which initiated the new beautification plan following the devastating 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton, thanked commissioners and said the task force represents years of work by her organization and others on the key.
“We are all so excited that we’re here today, and we’re going to talk about the Siesta Key Task Force,” Gutwein said. “You’ve all worked really hard on that. We’ve worked really hard on that for many years, and to have it come to fruition today is very exciting for my organization.”
Gutwein said the alliance submitted proposed amendments to the county’s resolution, describing them as “narrow and friendly” and intended to help the task force “succeed from day one.” She said the alliance wants the group’s work to be grounded in a privately funded, $40,000 Siesta Key beautification study prepared by Atwell Engineering and RVI.
“That study reflects months of resident input, technical analysis, and field work,” Gutwein said. “We respectfully ask the board to name that study as the foundational reference document for the task force’s work. It is the starting line that our community has already built, and together, we don’t have to build it twice.”
Gutwein also asked for a written coordination memorandum of understanding between the county administrator and task force chair within 60 days of the task force being seated. She said clear expectations at the outset would help prevent confusion later.
“A clear handshake at the front end on roles, communication and decision flow prevents friction at the back end and lets staff and the task force work as one team,” Gutwein said.
Not all speakers supported the county’s approach.
Lourdes Ramirez, of Protect Siesta Key, a local activist group, said the task force and Siesta Key master planning process are separate items “loosely connected by the word beautification” but have “very different goals,” arguing residents asked for storm resilience, traffic and infrastructure improvements, not zoning or comprehensive plan changes.
Ramirez also cited the state law known as Senate Bill 180, arguing it limits local governments’ ability to adopt rules that place additional constraints or obligations on developers.
“So, if you open the comp plan under today’s legal climate, the plan will be to weaken it,” Ramirez said. “And so, who has been spending years trying to weaken those protections? Mega hotel developers.”
Ramirez said she believed the task force could be used to distract residents from broader policy changes.
“Instead, it does focus on landscaping and beautification, almost as if residents are being asked to look at the pretty flowers, while overturning our comp plan is happening in the background,” she said.
Ramirez, who has previously litigated against Sarasota County and recently challenged a county land-swap decision, objected to eligibility rules barring people in active litigation against the county from serving, and urged commissioners to “scrap the current RFP, treat residents equally, and create a resident-driven effort focused on infrastructure, not changing the comp plan.”
Applications for the two at-large spots on the Siesta Key Beautification Task Force are available through Sarasota County’s advisory boards page at scgov.net/government/advisory-boards-and-council-list. Select “Apply Online” or use the county’s print application. Questions may be directed to advisory@scgov.net or 941-861-5344.
