05-13-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CrutMnn mfETING MAr 1 3 2002 cifv UfunuNu CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD • SHOREWOOD. MINNESOTA 55331-8927 • (952) 474-3236 FAX (952) 474 0128 • WWW ci.sHorewood.mn os • cityhall®ci sliorewood mn.us April 30,2002 Mayor Barbara Peterson City of Orono PO Box 66 Orono, MN 55323-0066 Dear Mayor Peterson: We have achieved a major, overwhelming victory at the Legislature. A new bill was been signed into law on April 19 that will restrict the use of lawn fertilizers containing phosphorus throughout the state. Minnesota is the first state in the nation to take such an action to further improve the quality of our waters and thus reduce the public costs to treat the effects of phosphorus pollution. Your support and that of over 50 cities, other local governments and associations, largely through governing board resolutions and contacts with legislators at key moments, were critical to the passage of this legislation. I would like especially to acknowledge the financial support given to Shorewood by the cities of Cottage Grove, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Falcon Heights, Plymouth, and Stillwater. While we sought State regulation of the sale of these fertilizers, this broad of a scope proved unpassable. By restricting the use of such fertilizers, however, we believe that manufacturers and retailers will not want to cause or abet illegal activity by their customers; hence, they will need to make low- and no-phosphorus fertilizers readily available to consumers. The key provisions in the legislation, nearly all of which will take effect January 1,2004: Maximum of 0% phosphorus content in the seven-county Metro area, and 3% phosphorus content in the rest of Minnesota, will be allowed to be used. (Reasonable exceptions, of course: establishment of new turf, or soil test results showing a deficiency of phosphorus.) Non-metro local units of government may adopt ordinances to go to 0% phosphorus, provided that they subsequently notify the Department of Agriculture. Local ordinances more restrictive than the new law are grandfathered if they were effective prior to August 1,2002. (The League of Minnesota Cities and Association of Metropolitan Municipalities are developing sample/model ordinances for cities that may want to have restrictions on the sale of fertilizers with phosphorus.) Golf courses and commercial applicators are exempted, provided they have State license, training, or certification. The Department of Agriculture, with consultation fiom other interested organizations, will develop point-of-sale information. fRINTEO ON RECVCLEO RARER i