Water-Related News

Venice Council resolution urges residents to curb fertilizer use

VENICE — City leaders formally encouraged residents to not use fertilizer year-round but never discussed the prospect of banning the use of fertilizer or glyphosate herbicides.

A key element of the resolution approved by the City Council would be developing an educational component for city residents.

The amount of nutrients and herbicides pouring into the Gulf have become a hot topic in recent months as the red tide bloom has persisted. The resolution passed, 6-1, with City Council member Jeanette Gates in dissent because the resolution didn’t go far enough.

Gates said she would have preferred if the resolution included herbicides, addressed stormwater runoff, and included exempt entities such as golf courses, schools and government-owned lands.