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Redington Shores puts off fertilizer vote
By WAYNE AYERS
| Article published on Tuesday, April 14, 2009 |
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REDINGTON SHORES – An ordinance that would regulate the use of fertilizers to minimize environmental impact has been tabled by the Redington Shores Board of Commissioners.
The commission put off passage of the measure at the April 8 commission meeting after several commissioners questioned its purpose.
Town Attorney James Denhardt, who drafted the ordinance at the request of former Mayor Jody Armstrong, said it is based on a sample proposed by environmental groups.
“Jody (Armstrong) wanted it to be not as strict or restrictive, to encourage rather than legislate,” he said.
A similar ordinance is being considered by the St. Petersburg council and other local governments.
Building Official Steve Andrews said the town is concerned with pollutants going into the bay.
“If we keep the chemicals and concentrations down in the water, the plants and fish can thrive,” he said.
“I don’t understand what is going on with this,” newly elected Commissioner Tom Kapper said of the ordinance, adding he thought the idea behind it was to reduce red tide.
He said he would like to better understand what the ordinance is meant to accomplish.
Commissioner Casey Wojcik said he wanted to know how significant the issue was to the town.
“I’d like a little more information,” he said.
“Is this required?” asked Commissioner Lee Holmes, who recently rejoined the commission.
With the questions and concerns unanswered, the commission agreed they were not ready to pass the ordinance without further study. The measure, which contains mostly recommendations on fertilizer use along with restrictions on nitrogen- and phosphorus-based fertilizers, will be taken up again at a future workshop session.
Kapper offered to have a fertilizer company official, who he described as an expert on the subject, address the commission.
Hearing chuckles from the audience, Kapper quickly added, “He believes in the environment.”
Reached at her home for comment, Armstrong spoke of her intent in proposing the fertilizer regulations. Its purpose, she said, is to improve water quality. Manatee County has a similar ordinance in place and has seen improvements in their water quality, she said.
The city of St. Petersburg is taking the lead already on environmental issues, and the fertilizer regulations ordinance offers an opportunity for Redington Shores, as a beach community, to be a model for others, Armstrong said.
The ordinance’s emphasis is on education, not enforcement, she stressed. “Most important is the educational aspect. We want to shift attitudes towards environmental awareness.”
Police activity jumps
Police services to the town have “doubled or tripled” recently, Vice Mayor John Branch reported. He attributed the increase to economic conditions and “too many people who don’t want to work for a living.”
Branch advised residents to “lock your doors, whether vehicles or residence.”
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Article published on Tuesday, April 14, 2009
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