Editor’s Note:  The Indian River Neighborhood Association emailed the following “Call to Action” to its members today. Written by Deborah Ecker, chairman of the IRNA’s Water and Lagoon Committee, the correspondence encourages attendance at next Tuesday’s evening’s Vero Beach City Council meeting, when the Council is scheduled to consider approval of a new fertilizer ordinance.

Protect Our Lagoon

Your taking time to attend the Vero Beach Council meeting on November 19 at 6PM at Vero Beach City Hall is important.  Amendments to the city’s fertilizer regulations will be having their second and final hearing.  IRNA considers their approval to be essential for controlling fertilizers going into the Lagoon.

Last year Council members adopted regulations controlling fertilizer applications. Recently, much to their credit, they began to look at amendments to greatly strengthen the original ordinance. These include essential provisions that match the county’s requirements:

• No fertilizers during the summer months
• No phosphorus without a soil test proving need
• Parallel training and certification of commercial landscapers

Commercial landscapers conduct their business without regard to city, town and county boundaries. For regulations to be practical and enforceable there must be uniformity about where, when and how fertilizers may be applied.

The reasonable and important changes Council Members moved forward to this second hearing are not a shoo-in. Turf industry lobbyists are persistent in opposing fertilizer regulations and say so at all hearings.  We must demonstrate strong citizen support to Council members that they are doing the right things for the Lagoon by approving the amended regulations.

We encourage everyone to write to cityclrk@covb.org to encourage all the council members to take up these sensible and tougher laws.

Also of note, on November 22 at 3:30 PM, Indian River Shores will be considering taking up the aforementioned stronger regulations. This meeting will be different from what happens in Vero Beach as the Council has decided that debate will be limited to 40 minutes. You can encourage Indian River Shores to take up these tougher rules by emailing townclerk@irshores.com and addressing the council to stand strong against industry pressure that will come to bear.

Both of these issues are of paramount importance to protecting and restoring our Lagoon. We strongly encourage you to attend either or both of the meetings if possible. Even if you are unable to attend, please email the cities to let your voice be heard.

We can only save the Indian River Lagoon by working together.

Sincerely, Deborah Ecker

Chairman, IRNA Water and Lagoon Committee