A bag of plant fertilizer. UF/IFAS PHOTO

Given the recent releases from Lake Okeechobee, two Cape Coral City Council members joined more than 50 other elected officials from around the state calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislature to reject any legislation that would attempt to restrict the ability of local municipalities to regulate the use of fertilizer.

“Each of Florida’s municipalities has unique concerns,” said Councilmember Jessica Cosden, who signed the letter along with Councilmember Robert Welsh. “In Cape Coral, one of our prime concerns is water quality in our 400 miles of canals and surrounding waterways. We already contend with nutrient pollution from Lake Okeechobee discharges, but fertilizer runoff is also a threat to water quality. Cities should not be stopped from regulating fertilizer as they see necessary.”

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt took a similar view.

“I thought it was important to make our voice heard on all the various facets of keeping our water clean,” Atterholt said. “I would encourage folks to reach out to their state legislators and share their concerns about this key water quality issue. The runoff of nitrogen and phosphorus from these fertilizers has a direct impact on red tide and blue-green algae.”

Locally, the letter was also signed by Fort Myers Councilmember Teresa Watkins Brown.

The letter, sent to Gov. DeSantis, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and House Speaker Paul Renner, urges them to “reject any bill or measure that would restrict or remove the ability of a local government to regulate urban fertilizer application.” 

Last year, Florida legislators and DeSantis stopped all new strong urban fertilizer ordinances with a year-long moratorium.

The body of the letter:

February 29, 2024

Governor Ron DeSantis

Senate President of the Florida Senate, Kathleen Passidomo

Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Paul Renner

Florida Senators

Florida House Representatives

RE: Support for Strong Local Government Urban Fertilizer Ordinances

Dear Governor DeSantis, Senate President Passidomo, House Speaker Renner, and Florida State Legislators:

We, the fifty-seven (57) undersigned county and municipal elected officials, represent a nonpartisan coalition concerned about the potential preemption of local urban fertilizer ordinances.

As leaders charged with protecting our constituents, keeping Florida’s waterways clean is a top priority. Water quality is of utmost importance to our health, our environment, and our economy. From the beaches to the bays, Florida’s tourism industry and local businesses require clean water.

Multiple forms of pollution, including agricultural runoff, sewage, and industrial waste harm our environment and economy. In all cases, preventing pollution is the most cost-effective solution. Urban fertilizer ordinances are a tool that local governments have to reduce the amount of fertilizer (nitrogen and phosphorus) pollution escaping from urban lawns and landscapes. Limiting when and where fertilizer can be applied can combat excessive nutrient runoff into streams, rivers and bays. The addition of nitrogen and phosphorus into water bodies fuels harmful and nuisance algal blooms, like red tide and blue-green algae, leading to human health impacts, degraded water quality, and negative impacts to local businesses. If we lose our ability to reduce urban fertilizer pollution, progress towards attaining cleaner waters will suffer as will the local economies dependent upon clean water.

We strongly urge the Florida Legislature to reject any bill or measure that would restrict or remove the ability of a local government to regulate urban fertilizer application.

Respectfully,

Jen Ahearn-Koch

Vice Mayor, At-Large

Sarasota, Sarasota County

Mary Alford, PE

County Commissioner, District 1

Alachua County

Jim Atterholt

Vice Mayor

Fort Myers Beach, Lee County

Joseph Ayoub

Mayor

Safety Harbor, Pinellas County

B.J. Bishop

Town Commissioner-At-Large

Longboat Key, Sarasota County

Emily Bonilla

County Commissioner, District 5

Orange County

Thomas Bradford

Village Council Member, Seat 1

Tequesta, Palm Beach County

Woody Brown

Mayor

Largo, Pinellas County

Rebecca Bruner

Mayor

Stuart, Martin County

Ray Christman

City Council Member

Naples, Collier County

Edward Ciampi

County Commissioner, District 5

Martin County

Harry Cohen

County Commissioner, District 1

Hillsborough County

Christopher Collins

City Commissioner, Group 3

Stuart, Martin County

Christopher Constance

County Commissioner, District 2

Charlotte County

Jessica Cosden

City Councilmember, District 7

Cape Coral, Lee County

Ed Dodd

Mayor

Sebastian, Indian River County

Gina Driscoll

City Council Member, District 6

St. Petersburg, Pinellas County

Chris Dzadovsky

County Commissioner, District 1

St. Lucie County

Joan Farrell

City Council Member, Seat 1

Venice, Sarasota County

Rene Flowers

County Commissioner, District 7

Pinellas County

Brandi Gabbard

City Council Member, District 2

St. Petersburg, Pinellas County

Dave Gattis

Mayor

Belleair Beach, Pinellas County

Eric Gerard

Vice Mayor

Largo, Pinellas County

Jeff Gow

City Commissioner

Dunedin, Pinellas County

Lisset Hanewicz

City Council Member, District 4

St. Petersburg, Pinellas County

Sarah Heard

County Commissioner, District 4

Martin County

Nicole Heilman Wilson

County Commissioner, District 1

Orange County

Gwendolyn Henderson

City Council Member, District 5

Tampa, Hillsborough County

Sam Henderson

Mayor

Gulfport, Pinellas County

Elizabeth Jolin

Village Council Member, Seat 3

Islamorada, Monroe County

Charlie Justice

County Commissioner

Pinellas County

Patricia Kemp

County Commissioner, D-6 , Countywide

Hillsborough County

Joanne “Cookie” Kennedy

Mayor/Commissioner

Indian Rocks Beach, Pinellas County

Lorraine Koss

City Councilmember, District 4

Cocoa, Brevard County

George Kruse

County Commissioner, District 7

Manatee County

Lisa Martin

City Commissioner, Zone 2

New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County

Jeremy Matlow

City Commissioner, Seat 3

Tallahassee, Leon County

Daniel McDow

City Council Member

West Melbourne, Brevard County

Michael Miller

Vice Mayor

Sanibel, Lee County

Charlie Miranda

City Council Member, District 6

Tampa, Hillsborough County

Sean M. Parks

County Commissioner, District 3

Lake County

Tyler Payne

Mayor

Treasure Island, Pinellas County

Jacqueline “Jack” Porter

City Commissioner, Seat 1

Tallahassee, Leon County

Campbell Rich

Vice Mayor

Stuart, Martin County

Jamie Robinson

City Commissioner, Seat 4

Largo, Pinellas County

Dan Saracki

Mayor

Oldsmar, Pinellas County

Oscar Sardiñas

Village Councilmember

Key Biscayne, Miami-Dade County

Ken Schneier

Mayor

Longboat Key, Sarasota County

Brian Scott

County Commissioner, District 2

Pinellas County

Doug Shields

County Commissioner District 1

Lake County

Mark Smith

County Commissioner, District 2

Sarasota County

Dean J. Trantalis

Mayor

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Debbie Trice

City Commissioner, At-Large

Sarasota, Sarasota County

Teresa Watkins Brown

City Councilmember, Ward 1

Fort Myers, Lee County

Todd Weaver

City Commissioner, Seat 4

Winter Park, Orange County

Robert Welsh

City Council Member, District 5

Cape Coral, Lee County

Casey Willits

City Commissioner, District 3

Gainesville, Alachua County