Conservancy urges committee not to weaken Marco Island's fertilizer ordinance

Amber Crooks of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida urged the committee to keep Marco Island's fertilizer ordinance strong and to focus on education and implementation rather than weakening key provisions such as the summer/rainy-season ban.

Crooks noted that Marco Island's ordinance was well vetted when adopted and is consistent with many Gulf Coast municipalities. She warned that the city of Naples's attempt to weaken its summer blackout policy led to a multi-year legal battle with the turf industry, and she recommended the committee preserve blackout periods and explore improved compliance strategies instead.

A committee member clarified his proposed amendment to the fertilizer ordinance would not change the seasonal blackout but would remove a requirement to mandate turf grass, saying the city would be better served by encouraging Florida-friendly landscaping rather than required turf. Public commenters and committee members also recommended stronger public education, enforcement patrols and cooperation with regional researchers and university programs (for example, FGCU and the Calusa Waterkeepers were suggested as resources).

The committee discussed related code-enforcement efforts and the city's plan to operate a canal-patrol boat under code enforcement authority; one member presented an estimate of patrol costs and suggested linking enforcement and education to improve compliance.