Local Delegation Votes Against Moving Forward Siesta Key Incorporation Tuesday: Report

SARASOTA, FL — In a split 3-3 vote Tuesday night, a delegation of state leaders from Sarasota County — including five Florida state representatives and one state senator — failed to support the advancement of Siesta Key’s request to incorporate.

A majority vote was needed to move forward the bill, which was proposed by State Rep. Fiona McFarland, for consideration by the Florida Legislature, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported.

Sen. Joe Gruters, Rep. Michele Rayner and McFarland voted in support of the bill while State Reps. Will Robinson, Tommy Gregory and James Buchanan voted against it.

"This is about a community organizing to take back control, control of what happens within their border, control of decisions that impact them on a daily basis and control overall about their quality of life," Gruters said before the vote.

After years of living with decisions being made for them by Sarasota County leaders, some Siesta Key residents had enough, forming the group Save Siesta Key in late 2020 to push for the barrier island's incorporation.

Related Story: Save Siesta Key: Group Explores Barrier Island's Incorporation

“We are disappointed with the outcome of (Tuesday’s) vote, but we are not discouraged. We are currently evaluating our next steps and have no intention on giving up. We are so grateful for the support of our community and the volunteer Neighborhood Ambassadors,” the organization shared on Facebook. “Save Siesta Key will continue to work on getting incorporation on the ballot for our island community.”

Much of Siesta Key is considered a census-designated place within Sarasota County. Though county leaders frequently ask residents to share their thoughts before decisions affecting Siesta Key are made, they often don't take those opinions into consideration, Tracy Jackson, the chair of the group’s communication and media committee, told Patch in May.

"We recognize the county has 427,000 people in it and we're a small portion of that," she said. "We just believe that we are the best stewards of our island."

The organization was inspired by three major recent projects that residents spoke out against but moved forward anyway include the proposed Siesta Promenade plan from Benderson Development Co. at U.S. 41 and Stickney Point Road, the dredging of Big Pass and the decision to build a roundabout at Midnight Pass and Beach Road, she added.