TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: Proposed Revisions to Fertilizer and Landscape Management Code
Recommended Action
Provide direction on proposed revisions to Fertilizer and Landscape Management Code.
Background Information
Fertilizers from many sources can enter the City of North Port's waterways and could potentially contribute to algal blooms, excessive growth of aquatic vegetation and Florida red tide with widespread detrimental effect along the coastal communities.
During their Regular Meeting held on October 9, 2018, the City Commission adopted Resolution Number 2018-R-26 to encourage the year-round non-use of fertilizers. The Commission directed staff to critique the City's existing City of North Port Code Chapter 22 - Environmental and Natural Resources, Article II - Fertilizer and Landscape Management, to determine appropriate changes with respect to the application of fertilizers. The Commission also requested clarification on exemptions from the fertilizer regulations. Staff has prepared the attached PowerPoint presentation which includes proposed changes to Ordinance Number 2007-45 which includes measures to reduce excessive fertilizer runoff.
The State of Florida, through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), adopted a State Model Ordinance for Florida-Friendly Fertilizer Use on Urban Landscapes in 2010. The State Model Ordinance was revised in 2015. Florida Statute 403.9337 encourages all county and municipal governments to adopt and enforce the State Model Ordinance. However, any county or municipal government that adopted its own fertilizer ordinance before January 1, 2009, is exempt from adopting the State Model Ordinance. Since the City's Fertilizer ordinance was adopted on November 26, 2007, the City is exempt from adopting the State Model Ordinance.
Pursuant to Florida Statute 403.9337, local government may adopt additional or mor...
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