M E M O R A N D U M
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Town Council
From: Council Member Robert "BJ" Duncan, Seat 1
Date: May 20, 2020
Re: Urging Miami-Dade County to Adopt a Countywide Ordinance for Florida-Friendly Fertilizer Use on Urban Landscapes for the Protection of Local Surface and Groundwater Quality.
REQUEST
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF CUTLER BAY, FLORIDA, URGING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TO ADOPT A COUNTYWIDE ORDINANCE FOR FLORIDA-FRIENDLY FERTILIZER USE ON URBAN LANDSCAPES FOR THE PROTECTION OF LOCAL SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER QUALITY; PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Town of Cutler Bay (the "Town"), a coastal community located adjacent to the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, is diligent in its efforts to preserve its environment, including the ocean, bay, waterways, wetlands, and land in between, which is vital to our regional economy and the State of Florida (the "State"). As a leader in the State for promoting environmental stewardship, the Town has ratified various resolutions and ordinances in order to protect the natural environment of the planet and of this community; conserving natural resources by minimizing its impact on said environment and resources.
The water quality of Biscayne Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and area water channels is critical to the health of the environment, the strength of the economy (including the tourism and recreation), and the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the Town and Miami-Dade County (the "County"). Currently, municipal and County stormwater systems discharge nutrients, such as fertilizer, into Biscayne Bay from on-land activities. The well-known effects of unregulated use of fertilizers can lead to the presence of excessive nutrients and increased levels of nitrogen in surface and ground waters, which ultimately result in detrimental effects to the Town's environment and waters.
On Sept...
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