Title
Adoption of Alachua County Fertilizer Ordinance (B)
It is proposed that the City Commission adopt a Resolution opting into Alachua County's Fertilizer Ordinance (Ordinance 09-06). The Resolution would allow Alachua County to enforce Florida Friendly Fertilizer rules within the City of Gainesville. This Resolution will satisfy Florida Legislature requirements put forth by SB494 and SB2080.
Explanation
The Florida State legislature recently adopted SB494 and SB2080 which require Florida counties and cities located within watersheds of water bodies impaired for nutrients at a minimum to adopt the Department of Environmental Protection's model ordinance for Florida Friendly Fertilizer Use on urban landscapes.
On September 22nd, 2009, the Alachua County Board of Commissioners adopted a fertilizer ordinance based on the model ordinance. The ordinance includes standards for timing of fertilizer application, training and licensing requirements, fertilizer application rates, and fertilizer-free zones.
It also requires training for all businesses applying fertilizer to turf and/or landscape plants in Alachua County. Each business must ensure that at least one employee has an appropriate "Florida Friendly Best Management Practices for Protection of Water Resources by the Green Industries" training certificate by 2011. Information on training classes is provided at alachuacountywater.org.
Currently this code is only applicable in the unincorporated part of the County. As Gainesville is located within watersheds of water bodies impaired for nutrients, SB494 and SB2080 requires that the City adopt such a fertilizer code. While the state has no set timeline for adoption, this code has the potential to assist immediately in reducing pollutant loads entering local water bodies. Such efforts also satisfy requirements of the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.
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