Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/110922
LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTION The cleanliness of Siesta Public Beach has helped it remain a major tourist draw, county officials say. Photo by Rachel Hackney THE COUNTY COMMISSION URGES ITS TALLAHASSEE DELEGATION TO SUPPORT BILLS THAT WOULD GIVE IT CONTROL OVER SMOKING ON COUNTY PROPERTY By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor The Sarasota County Commission has sent a letter to state Sen. Nancy Detert of Venice and the other members of the county���s legislative delegation, urging them to support two bills introduced in the 2013 session that would allow the county once again to restrict smoking on certain public properties. Detert is the chairwoman of the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation. The Feb. 12 letter, signed by commission Chairwoman Carolyn Mason, points out, ���The ability to restrict smoking in Sarasota County parks and properties is an issue of importance to our community.��� It notes that while the county adopted an ordinance in 2007 to restrict smoking in counWe do not believe it was the intent ty parks, on county of the Legislature in 2003 to prevent property where youth counties from regulating activity on activities are in progress and on public county-owned outdoor properties. beaches, a 12th JudiSarasota County Commission cial Circuit judge���s rulFeb. 12, 2013 letter ing in December on a