Protect Florida's Waters: Sign to have Sarasota County have a Robust Fertilizer Ordinance

Please Read and Sign (and share) this petition if you agree with the following:

August 28, 2018

Dear Sarasota County Commissioners, Sarasota County Pollution Control and Sarasota County Code Enforcement,

Good day. I am writing to show my support for a strong New Fertilizer Ordinance in Sarasota County, to stand in solidarity with other Florida counties that have adopted strong ordinances, including summer bans and restrictions. Florida’s water is a vital precious environmental resource needed for citizens and the economy to thrive. Unfortunately, our waterways are most commonly impaired from too much nitrogen and phosphorus. Fertilizers contain nitrogen and/or phosphorous -- During the rainy season, summer rains wash these excess nutrients into our lakes, rivers and water bodies, damaging what makes this state so beautiful and impairing our precious resource.

Therefore, a strong Fertilizer Ordinance in Sarasota County is necessary to ensure we feed our grass responsibly, to prevent these nutrients from entering the water and further degrading it.

The good news is there are many ways to keep our yards beautiful, while also keeping algae-feeding nitrogen and phosphorus out of our waterways.

Summer blend fertilizer formulations, containing iron, and other micro-nutrients, but no nitrogen or phosphorus, are already being used by industry professionals and many varieties are available in retail settings.

As a proud Floridian, I support a regional approach to fertilizer restrictions, which would greatly help in improving water quality and would also make compliance easier for professional applicators. A regional example of an excellent fertilizer ordinance is the one recently adopted by Seminole County, effective February 28, 2017 and began enforcement on October 1, 2017. Sarasota County should very seriously consider adopting an ordinance like that of Seminole County. *One addition to Seminole's provisions that would make compliance easier for homeowners, would be a requirement for retailers to display point-of-sale signage, informing the public of the basic fertilizer restrictions found in the ordinance.

Please find the link to the Seminole ordinance here: http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/core/fileparse.php/4092/urlt/certified-Final-fertilizer-ordinance.pdf

Also, here is the link to the video they produced to alert the public of the new ordinance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK0XjJYiob0

The provisions below are to be implemented into a strong, New, Sarasota County Fertilizer Ordinance:

· Fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus cannot be applied to turf during the restricted season from June 1st – September 30th. Fertilizers containing Iron, Manganese and other "micro-nutrients" also referred to as "summer blends" can be applied during the restricted season to keep lawns healthy and green (as recommended by Florida Yards Neighborhood/Florida Friendly Landscape Program).

·Current fertilizer ordinance policies will stay in place which are:
Commercial Applicators must take the Green Industry Best Management Practices training;
No application during identified storm “Watch” or “Warning” periods or when soils are saturated,
Do not leave fertilizer, grass clippings, or landscape trimmings on impervious surfaces (asphalt or concrete) or allow to enter stormwater drains or ditches, wetlands, or water;

· Fertilizer containing nitrogen that is used during the non-restricted season (October 1st – May 31st) must contain at least 50% or more slow release nitrogen. This slow release nitrogen content will increase to 65%, three (3) years after adoption of the Fertilizer Ordinance to allow time for educational outreach to residents and retailers.

· Fertilizer containing phosphorus cannot be applied to turf or plants unless a state certified soil or tissue test verifies that there is a phosphorus deficiency.

· Current fertilizer ordinance will be changed .No fertilizer may be applied within fifteen (15) feet of any pond, lake, stream, canal, or other water body, including wetlands. The current ordinance is 10 feet.

· Sarasota county will request all HOA's include the ordinance in their HOA agreements. Landlords will be notified and requested to include information on this ordinance to their renters. This will be especially important to give to snowbirds Often times, the newcomers will want to garden or have nice landscaping, but are not use to the Florida soil or climate and may over fertilize.

· “Point of Sale” signage requirements, including language which states: "Any business that sells fertilizer shall post a notice provided by Sarasota County stating that the use of lawn and landscape fertilizers is restricted in accordance with this article.”

In addition to the ban we also request Sarasota County create an extension program. Taught by an extension agent, we request Sarasota county to offer a three-session workshop to offer everything from energy and water conservation to how to create a nature-friendly yard, Participants thru this extension will learn how long to water their yards and gardens, how much fertilizer to use and the nine principles of Florida Friendly Landscaping. First, they have to submit a soil test to make sure we know what kind of grass they have or what kind of soil they will be gardening in. And then, they can get fertilizer recommendations through the extension.

·Assuring compliance with our county's environment laws needs to be one of Sarasota counties primary commitments. In carrying out this responsibility,Sarasota County will establish a tip line in which residents can submit tips anonymously to be able report violators and submit evidence of violations. In addition to the tip line we request Sarasota County offer an investigation form on the scgov.net website. Violators found to be guilty should be fined. In addition, citizens should also be allowed to submit complaints to Sarasota County Code Enforcement and those complaints should be investigated. Since this last red tide outbreak in 2018 citizens of Sarasota have changed the way each of us looks at how our own actions can make a difference. Most importantly, the public, is seeing themselves as custodians of the nation's environment, and have become aware of how their actions can affect the health and welfare of our communities. Reports from the public will ultimately serve environmental protection well.

The overall goal of these provisions is to minimize excess fertilizer runoff and protect the County’s natural water resources. I urge you to adopt these provisions into a strong NEW Sarasota County Fertilizer Ordinance. Our Florida waters depend on your leadership.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration in this very important matter and for all that you to for Sarasota County, we are grateful for your efforts.

Best regards,

(Your Name Here)

***
ADDITIONALLY: After signing and sharing this petition, Please consider taking the time NOW to write your own email to the Mayor and the County Commissioners in regards to this topic as well. You may copy and paste this petition in your email. We need as many people on public record with this petition as possible, folks. Thank you.

Their emails:

mmoran@scgov.net
pcaragiulo@scgov.net
ncdetert@scgov.net
amaio@scgov.net
chines@scgov.net