Administrative Regulation 12.10-2

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:   AR: 12.10-2 DATE APPROVED: April10,2018
SUBJECT: Florida-Friendly Landscaping Green Industry Best Management Practices (FFL/GI-BMP) Educational Program ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: Community Services

POLICY:

It is the intent of the Board of County Commissioners to lead by example to the citizens of Citrus County by implementing procedures that will result in the reduction of nutrient leaching and runoff into ground and surface waters and to encourage practice changes by employees and citizens through education.

PURPOSE:

To establish guidelines for managing existing and future turf and landscapes at all Citrus County facilities utilizing the educational guidelines of the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Green Industry Best Management Practices (FFL/GI-BMP) programs. The FFL/GI-BMP training is designed to preserve and protect Florida's water resources from non-point-source pollution occurring from improper/inappropriate landscape cultural practices. Florida Statute Section 482.1562, states that, beginning January 1, 2014, any person applying commercial fertilizer to an urban landscape must complete training in the FFL/GI-BMP

PROCEDURES:

  1. Education
    1. All appropriate Park s and Recreation/ G rounds Maintenance staff will be trained and certified in the FFL/GI-BMP. New employees will be trained within one year of starting a new position. The UF/IFAS Citrus County Extension Urban Horticulture Agent will schedule and conduct all training.
    2. Training and certification in the FFL-GI/BMP will be offered to commercial landscape contractors, who are required by state law to become certified.
    3. Division of Extension Services staff will present public education
    4. The Extension Office facility will serve as an educational example and demonstration site of building, landscape, and/or design principles related to natural resource conservation including water, energy, and landscapes.
    5. Demonstration landscaping areas will be developed at various other County facilities to enhance the public’s awareness of landscaping options. Informational signs will be displayed and brochures will be made available for public use.
  2. Facility Design and Maintenance
    1. All County facilities (landscape/green spaces) will be managed by the FFL/GI-BMP.
    2. All commercial landscapers will be required to have a FFL/GI-BMP certification to be eligible to bid on County projects.
    3. All County landscape service contractors will adhere to the FFL/GI-BMP. All new bid specifications and contracts will reflect this requirement.
    4. All future new and renovated County facility landscapes will be designed to facilitate FFL/GI-BMP recommended principles and developed using Florida- friendly approved plant list as well as Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles as detailed in UF/IFAS publications and Extension Services staff will participate in the plan review of all new facilities.
  3. Community Incentives
    Local businesses and consumers who utilize the recommended FFL-GI-BMP will be recognized through various incentives and public recognition.

 


FOOTNOTES & REFERENCES RELATED TO AR's: Supersedes AR 12.10 dated September 28, 1999; AR 12.10-1 dated April 26, 2011.