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Home My WebLink About6.i. Restriction on the Use and Sale of Phosphorous Lawn FertilizerN CITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: April 3, 2001 AGENDA ITEM: restriction on the use and sale of phosphorus lawn fertilizer AGENDA SECTION: Consent PREPARED BY: Alyson Morris, Water Resource Engineer AGEND ATTACHMENTS: Proposed resolution and information on the APPROVED BY: effects of phosphorus. Attached is a draft resolution relating to the use and sale of phosphorus lawn fertilizers. City Attorney LeFevere has reviewed the resolution. Phosphorus from lawn fertilizers is a major contributor to the growth of algae in lakes and wetlands. The City's current ordinance limits the amount of phosphorus to 0.5% by weight in liquid fertilizer and 3% by weight in granular fertilizer. Fertilizer can not be applied within the buffer zone of a water body. The proposed resolution shows the city's continuing commitment to raise public awareness on the effects of phosphorus. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt a resolution relating to restriction on the use and sale of phosphorus lawn fertilizer. COUNCIL ACTION: CITY OF ROSEMOUNT DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA RESOLUTION 2001— A RESOLUTION RELATING TO RESTRICTION ON THE USE AND SALE OF PHOSPHOROUS LAWN FERTILIZER WHEREAS, the City of Rosemount is tributary to significant fresh water resources; and WHEREAS, there has long been established a well - documented relationship between the use of phosphorous lawn fertilizers and the degradation of water quality; and WHEREAS, as a matter of policy, the City of Rosemount desires to reduce the consumption and use of phosphorous lawn fertilizers; and WHEREAS, subject to unique circumstances, regional soil conditions have an abundance of natural phosphorous; and WHEREAS, industry leading fertilizer manufacturers and retailers have failed to produce and market low phosphorous lawn fertilizers to the public; and WHEREAS, over two decades of public education has had minimal effect when in competition with corporate advertising and their refusal to formulate to local needs; and WHEREAS, the City of Rosemount finds it important to encourage the reduction in the use of phosphorous lawn fertilizers within the City; and NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Rosemount declares its commitment to phosphorous lawn fertilizer reduction by encouraging the adoption of regulations regarding restrictions of use and sale of phosphorous lawn fertilizers with the City. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of Rosemount supports legislation restricting the sale of any lawn fertilizer, liquid or granular, that contains any amount of phosphorous or other compounds containing phosphorous, such as phosphate, except, small quantities may be sold when a soil test indicates added phosphorous is needed to support healthy turf growth, or during the first year when new area or turf is being established. In addition, displays of lawn fertilizer containing phosphorous shall be limited to ten percent of the quantity of non - phosphorous lawn fertilizer on display at any given time. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, such legislation should require that displays of such fertilizer must be clearly marked as containing phosphorous and must be separated from the display of other fertilizers, and that for each sale of such fertilizer the seller must provide the buyer with a copy of the appropriate printed consumer information. r RESOLUTION 2001- BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of Rosemount does request and encourage its state legislative delegation to consider and enact legislation to regulate and limit the use and sale or phosphorous lawn fertilizers. ADOPTED this 3' day of April, 2001. Cathy Busho, Mayor ATTEST: Linda Jentink, City Clerk Motion by: Voted in favor: Second by: Voted against: 2 J .- CITY - OF - SHOREW_ 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD • SHOREWOOD, MINNESOTA 55331 -8927 • (952) 474 -3236 FAX (952) 474 -0128 • www.d.shorewood.mmus • cityhall @ ci.shorewood.mmus - February 22, 2001 Mayor Cathy Busho City of Rosemount 2875 145" Street West Rosemount MN 55068 -4941 Dear Mayor Busho: - The purpose of this letter is to request your support for the adoption of a resolution relating to restrictions on the use and sale of phosphorous lawn fertilizers. I am writing to you in my - - capacity as the Mayor of the City of Shorewood. I have been involved and concerned with water quality issues for many years, particularly the impact of phosphorous additives found in lawn = fertilizers, most recently as mayor and previously as a manager with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. As with many issues, it frequently requires the accumulation of local - initiatives to bring about broader state legislative changes. We have learned a lot about the impact of phosphorous lawn fertilizers over the last many years. Please find enclosed a phosphorous lawn fertilizer fact sheet prepared by John Barton with Hennepin County Parks. The City of Shorewood has already adopted this resolution, and I urge you to consider adoption of the enclosed sample resolution, - or one tailored to your Council. We, as local units of government, can send a strong message to the fertilizer producers and raise public awareness through local initiatives such as this. Upon adoption of the resolution; please return it to me at the City of Shorewood, and I will forward it to the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts and appropriate legislators. Since the Legislature is in session it is important that the resolutions be returned by March 15. I am happy to discuss these issues with you at your convenience. Also, if you feel it would be helpful, I can arrange to meet with your Council to answer questions you may have. Please reach me at (952) 470 -25 or (952) 474 - 7802.' Sincerel r 1 ayor Woody Love - City of Shorewood Cc: Ray Bohn, Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts «� PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER r- GREEN LAWNS - GREEN LAKES THE PHOSPHORUS - CONNECTION Homeowners in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area apply over six million pounds of phosphorus fertilizer to lawns each year. The fertilizer helps to keep lawns nice and green. Unfortunately, the phosphorus also helps to make lakes nice and green during the summer, which diminishes swimming, boating and fishing for many people. Recent studies have shown that 50 percent of the phosphorus in runoff from residential areas comes from lawns. Most of the rest comes from sources such as leaves, grass clippings and sediment on hard surfaces. It takes only one pound of phosphorus to grow 500 pounds of algae. SOIL PHOSPHORUS FERTILITY LEVEL ve Roofs voways The unfortunate thing about all this fertilizer use, is that it is unnecessary. Soil tests have shov,3 that most lawns, almost 70 percent, have very high levels of phosphorus and do not need any additional phosphorus fertilizer. The accompanying figure shows the results of 181 soil tests done on lawns in Plymouth, Maple Grove, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. Similar results Medium Maple be expected throughout the metropolitan area Very High =P> 50 Ibs /acre ❑ High = P - 50 Ibs /acre When phosphorus fertilizer is applied to lawns with very high ® % l ed;urn — P < 20 lbrs!acre levels of phosphorus, much of it runs off of the lawn into the street where it can be carried into Likes, streams, and wetlands. The graph shows the concentrations of phosphorus in runoff water from lawns with different fertility levels and fertilizer application practices. As the graph shows, much more phosphorus runs off of very high fertility lawns than other lawns. 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