Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/360116
committee, reminding them about the ses- sion. "Obviously, I'm going to be there," he said on Aug. 5. "I'd love for [all the others] to go." SKVA Vice President Mark Smith ended up drafting the most recent version of the ordinance after the first revision, prepared last summer by then-Siesta Key Chamber Executive Director Kevin Cooper, was rejected as too lenient. Past SKVA President Cheryl Gaddie pointed out at the Aug. 5 meeting that the process began after retailers complained last year that they saw a significant drop in sales following their receipt of county Code Enforcement staff warnings that they no longer could dis- play merchandise outside their shops. Their protests and the county action came on the heels of a May 2013 educational session the SKVA hosted about the provisions of the SKOD. While Toomey and other members of the busi- ness committee have worked over the past several months to get the proposal in front of the Planning and County commissions, SKVA members have complained that not all mer- chants and rental firm operators have been adhering to the new guidelines, as they had vowed to do as a good faith demonstration. Still, Jacobsen said on Aug. 5, "The major- ity of the people have been following the rules, according to what Mark and Cheryl put together." Coconuts on south Siesta Key had two racks of clothing displayed outside in early March. Sarasota News Leader August 8 & 15, 2014 Page 52