SEBASTIAN — Nearly a month after the Sebastian City Council approved a city-wide ordinance on fertilizer use, the city’s Natural Resources Board is coming up with ways to educate citizens on the issue. Among the tools at the board’s disposal are the city’s government TV Channel 25 and the city’s website.
“My thought is, ‘Why reinvent the wheel?’” said board chair Robin Graves during Tuesday evening’s meeting.
She said she has already reached out to various government agencies and others for education materials, including videos that could be aired on the city’s television channel and linked to on the city’s website.
The ordinance the Sebastian City Council passed is not enforceable, but instead recommends property owners to follow Florida’s best management practices as they pertain to applying fertilizer.
Such practices discourage the use of fertilizers that contain phosphorus and encourage the use of slow-release formulas.
Board member Jane Schnee raised concerns that despite the city’s best efforts to run its educational material on Xfinity/Comcast Channel 25, many residents would probably never see it.
She explained that she, herself, is a Dish subscriber and does not have access to the city’s channel – others are on Dish or have AT&T U-Verse’s service.
“I don’t know how many people watch” the city’s channel, Schnee said of those who do have access to the channel.
Schnee recommended that the board consider other options for getting the word out on the new ordinance, including having board members serve as community speakers at various groups’ meetings. She also suggested taking the matter to the media, seeking the publication of articles about the ordinance.
Lastly, Schnee suggested they explore grants to help fund educational mailers that would be sent to homeowners in the city.
Graves added that the Natural Resources Board perhaps launch a Facebook page to reach out to residents and provide educational materials about fertilizer and other environmental issues.
The Natural Resources Board will hold a special meeting to continue the education discussion at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 13, immediately preceding the regular City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m.
