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City of <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />River <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL <br /> <br />STEPHEN ROHLF, BUILDING <br />ZONING ADMINISTRATOR ,~ <br /> <br />DATE: <br /> <br />MARCH 19, 2001 <br /> <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />REQUEST BY THE CITY OF ELK <br />RIVER FOR ORDINANCE <br />AMENDMENT REGARDING LAWN <br />FERTILIZER - CASE NO. OA 01-02 <br /> <br />Attached is a copy of a proposed ordinance amendment that would allow the city to <br />regulate the application of lawn fertilizer. This ordinance is patterned after similar ones <br />from metro area cities. The ordinance is specifically aimed at reducing phosphorus in the <br />city's waterways. Typically, soils in this area have high levels of naturally occurring <br />phosphorus and, therefore, adding to it fertilizer is not necessary. The concern is that <br />phosphorus increases the intensity and duration of algae bloom in Lake Orono. The <br />proposed ban is citywide because run-off from most of the city ends up in the lake. <br /> <br />The ordinance will be used as a teaching tool, in as much as it is probably unenforceable <br />on individual property owners. The message carries more weight if it includes that not <br />only is phosphorus unnecessary, but it is also illegal to use. The Lake Orono Water <br />Quality Task Force will use the proposed ordinance in combination with other <br />educational efforts to reduce the unnecessary application of phosphorus. Some examples <br />of these efforts include: news articles in the city's Current, demonstration sites and <br />signage in stores where fertilizer is sold. The city can make it illegal to use phosphorus, <br />but prohibiting the sale of it runs into problems with interstate commerce laws. <br /> <br />If passed, commercial applicators will be required to get a city license. When they get a <br />license, they will be informed of the ban on phosphorus. Fertilizer containing phosphorus <br />will still be allowed on newly established turf or if testing specifically indicates <br />phosphorus is needed. Attached is a resolution establishing a license fee for commercial <br />fertilizer applicators. Staff is recommending that the fee for this license be forty-five <br />dollars ($45). <br /> <br />Members of the Lake Orono Water Quality Task Force will be at the Council meeting to <br />further address this issue. <br /> <br />6.1 <br /> <br />13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · TDD & Phone (763) 441-7420 · Fax (763) 441-7425 <br /> <br /> <br />