110 likes | 229 Views
PROPOSED FERTILIZER ORDINANCE. Board of County Commissioners Meeting July 14, 2009. Staff Recommendation. Authorize staff to draft an ordinance adopting the Model Ordinance for Florida-Friendly Fertilizer Use on Urban Landscapes . PURPOSE. Reduce nutrient pollution in
E N D
PROPOSED FERTILIZER ORDINANCE Board of County Commissioners Meeting July 14, 2009
Staff Recommendation Authorize staff to draft an ordinance adopting the Model Ordinance for Florida-Friendly Fertilizer Use on Urban Landscapes
PURPOSE Reduce nutrient pollution in Alachua County’s creeks, ponds, lakes, rivers, springs, and groundwater
Background Local government adoption of Model Ordinance required by recently approved Water Conservation Bill, Senate Bill 494 Model Ordinance was developed by Florida Consumer Fertilizer Task Force in 2008 Some local government have adopted local ordinances based on Model Ordinance (Marion, Lee, Sarasota Counties, Jacksonville)
Public Meetings Community Planning Group September 16, 2008 Board of County Commissioners November 25, 2008 Landscape Maintenance Stakeholders - February 24, 2009
Community OutreachFebruary 2008 – May 2009 Environmental Protection Advisory Committee Rural Concerns Advisory Committee University of Florida – IFAS Municipalities General Public
Model Ordinance Sections • Timing of Fertilizer Application • Fertilizer Content and Application Rates • Impervious Surfaces • Fertilizer Free Zones • Mode of Application • Management of Grass Clippings and Vegetative Matter • Exemptions (e.g. doesn’t apply to farms, atheletic fields or golf courses) • Training
Applicability to Municipalities Initial adoption proposed for unincorporated Alachua County only Proposed provision for municipalities to opt in to be included in County ordinance’s jurisdiction Proposed future amendments to County ordinance to incorporate municipal requests to opt in.
ISSUES Current budget and staffing constraints will limit proposed implementation efforts Implementation will focus on public education and compliance Enforcement will be complaint based
ISSUES SB 494 authorizes implementation of “additional or more stringent fertilizer-management practices at the local government level” based upon consideration of “all relevant scientific information…on the need for additional or more stringent provisions….”
PROPOSED FERTILIZER ORDINANCE Board of County Commissioners Meeting July 14, 2009