Naples City Council to reinstate fertilizer blackout period

The Naples City Council plans to reinstate a fertilizer blackout period two years after striking it from the city's fertilizer ordinance in a move that allowed more use of nutrients that can exacerbate red tides like the one that plagued the west coast of Florida for nearly a year.

In 2017 the council passed a revised ordinance that did away with a June 1 to Sept. 30 blackout period, which had prohibited the use of nitrogen- and phosphorous-based fertilizers during rainy season.

Instead, the ordinance now prohibits fertilizer application "when soils are saturated, heavy rain is likely, or during a storm or flood watch/warning."

September:City of Naples weakened a seasonal ban on fertilizer as red tide bloom was forming

Brent Batten:Summer use of fertilizer a growing concern in Collier County and Tallahassee

Stephanie Molloy, the city's natural resources manager, said the city removed the fertilizer blackout period based on studies that suggest fertilizers are best absorbed during the rainy season, when grasses and other plants are growing most.

"Some of the scientific outcomes are counter-intuitive and may take a bit to wrap your head around," Molloy wrote in a memo to City Council. "My initial thoughts were that rain = runoff = pollution. But the scientific data does not support that in this instance. Properly fertilized, healthy plants, with appropriate watering, will protect our water quality."

However, the majority of City Council members supported a summertime blackout period.

In case you missed it:Naples City Council takes second look at fertilizer ban

And:Naples City Council split on how to revise a fertilizer ban meant to stem water pollution

"We've cheapened our water quality position," Vice Mayor Gary Price, who wasn't on council when the blackout period was removed in 2017, said during Monday's council workshop.

"I think we're at a point with our water quality that we have to do everything we can to improve (it). It's not just that we'll get this half right ... at some point we have to say 50 percent isn't good enough anymore."

Councilman Terry Hutchison, who also wasn't on council in 2017, agreed.

"We're in a position now to make a difference," he said.

While Naples repealed its blackout period, other cities throughout the state implemented one.

The Marco Island City Council passed a fertilizer ordinance  in 2016 that included a June 1 through Sept. 30 blackout period. The ban specifically applies to fertilizers that contain nitrogen and phosphorous.

Commentary:Stronger fertilizer ordinance can affect red tide

Editorial:Red tide drifts back, keep focus on fertilizer

Rhonda Watkins, Collier County's principal environmental specialist, said nitrogen and phosphorous can be especially problematic for the fish population.

"When those nutrients get into the water, they can cause algae blooms, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the water, which then can cause fish kills," she told the Naples Daily News after Marco Island passed its ordinance.

Sanibel has had a strong fertilizer ordinance since 2007. Its blackout period is July through September, and fertilizer cannot be applied within 25 feet of waterbodies. In Collier County and Naples, the restriction is 10 feet.

James Evans, Sanibel's director of natural resources, said the city has measured water quality since 2001. Evans said the study shows that water quality has improved since 2007.

"Inorganic nitrogen and orthophosphorus were both significantly reduced as a result of the fertilizer ordinance," Evans said in a previous interview with the Daily News.

Roger Jacobsen, code enforcement manager, said the city's current fertilizer ordinance is difficult to enforce because it includes a lot of suggestive language, like "should" or "may," so it's not easy to determine when someone is in violation of the ordinance.

"Other than blowing grass into the street, I probably haven’t written any code violations under the new ordinance," he said. "A blackout period is obviously very easy to enforce."

In case you missed it:Red tide counts back to normal, background levels for first time in 16 months in Southwest Florida

And:More than 16,000 fish to be released into Gulf to ease effects of red tide

Councilwoman Michelle McLeod was the sole council member in opposition to a blackout period because there's no data that suggests a blackout period is effective in improving water quality.

"I don’t have the data to move it in any other direction than what we have it in right now," she said.

Council directed staff to reinstate a rainy season blackout period and also ban the use of phosphorous year-round unless a certified soil test shows a deficiency.