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REQUEST FOR COUNCII, ACTION <br />DAT'E: 9/10/0 1 <br />ITEM NO. : s _ 1 <br />Department Approval: 1�Tanager Reviewed: Agenda Section: <br />��� ����i Ordinances/Resolutions <br />Item Description: Consider Approval of Resolution Supporting Restrictions on Use and Sa1e <br />of Lawn Fertilizers Containing Phosphorus, <br />Background: The Department of Agriculture's House File 3582, was brought before the <br />Legislature last spring proposed to prohibit the use of fertilizer containing phosphorous on turf <br />within the seven county metro area, in effect imposing a fertilizer restriction for Roseville. <br />Phosphorus is commonly added in lawn fertilizers sold throughout the state even though it <br />naturally occurs in abundance in NTinnesota soils. It is estimated that 70 to 80 percent of the soils <br />in the state ha�e sufficient Phosphorus for healthy plant growth. Soils can only hold so much <br />phosphorus. Excess phosphorus from lawn fertilizers is not needed and is carried by rain and <br />lawn sprinkling into our storm sewer systems, lakes, wetlands, and streams. <br />Cities are required by several levels of government to improve and enhance the quality of surface <br />waters. This is evidenced by our partnerships with Grass Lake Watershed, Rice Creek <br />Watershed, and Capitol Region Watershed. Phosphorus is a nutrient that can have a tremendous <br />negative effect on water quality. One Pound of phosphorus produces 300 to 500 pounds of algae. <br />Studies ha�e shown that SO percent of the phosphorus in Stormwater runoff comes from <br />residential lawns. The cost to remove one pound of phosphorus ranges from $200 to $500. This <br />translates into millions of dollars in taxes and Stormwater utility charges. <br />Reducing the amount of phosphorus entering these systems and water bodies would result in <br />significant savings in capital and operating costs. The most cost-effective way to reduce <br />phosphorus in our lakes, wetlands and streams is to prevent it from entering these systems on the <br />front end. <br />RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: <br />Adopt the attached Resolution Supporting Restrictions on Use and Sa1e of Lawn Fertilizers <br />Containing Phosphorus. <br />Prepared by: Debra Bloom <br />