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Sarasota News Leader December 28, 2012 MAY 30 Three Siesta Key organizations have sent letters to the Sarasota County commissioners over the past week, urging them to proceed with plans to upgrade the Siesta Public Beach. The letter-writing initiative was spurred by a discussion during the May 21 Presidents Council meeting on Siesta Key regarding an effort by the president of the Sarasota County Coalition of Neighborhood Associations and the president of Sarasota Citizens for Responsible Government to seek the reallocation of funds designated for the Siesta beach to other beaches in the county. The Presidents Council is a group of representatives from various island organizations. Members meet regular- Page 31 ly to discuss issues of importance to all of them. The only Siesta organization expected to do so that has not weighed in thus far on the beach matter in a letter is the Chamber of Commerce. However, Mark Smith, the chamber president, tells The Sarasota News Leader the hold-up has been his architectural firm���s office renovations and his inability to use his computer equipment. He anticipates sending the chamber letter this week, he says, as his board is concurred about the importance of the renovations at Siesta Public Beach. ���Frankly,��� Smith says, ���the facilities [at the Siesta beach] are an embarrassment ��� and we got the No. 1 beach ranking in spite of the facilities.��� % The historic pavilion at Siesta Key Public Beach is one of the buildings slated for rehabilitation as improvements begin at the park. Photo by Norman Schimmel