§ 2-14-70. Certification and training.

(a)

All commercial and institutional applicators within the county shall obtain the limited certification for urban landscape fertilizer application provided for under Section 482.1562, Florida Statutes, within three hundred sixty-five (365) days of adoption of this chapter, or within ninety (90) days of initial employment, whichever occurs later. Applicators are required to keep a copy of such certificate with them during application activities and shall present the certificate to any authorized official of the county, upon request.

(b)

All site supervisors and managers of professional landscape maintenance companies, as well as government and institutional landscape supervisors, shall abide by and successfully complete an approved best management practices training program within five hundred forty-five (545) days of adoption of this chapter. Upon successful completion, a certificate of completion will be provided. Landscape maintenance staff are required to keep a copy of such certificate with them during landscape maintenance activities and shall present the certificate to any authorized official of the county, upon request.

(c)

Employees of lawn and landscape maintenance companies who are not site supervisors, managers or clerical personnel shall also be trained in BMPs through an approved best management practices training program or by the company or a contractor of the company. The training shall also include the more stringent requirements set forth in sections 2-14-62 through 2-14-71 of this chapter. Training may be provided by a certified site supervisor or manager employed by the company. Training shall be required of all personnel of such companies within five hundred forty-five (545) days of adoption of this chapter, or within ninety (90) days of initial employment, whichever occurs later. Prior to the successful completion of said program, each employee shall work under the direct physical supervision of a certified landscape maintenance employee. Landscape maintenance companies shall maintain written records of compliance with this provision and shall present training records to any authorized official of the county, upon request. Certifications issued to employees of lawn and landscape maintenance companies by other Florida counties and cities with equivalent approved best management practices training program requirements will be recognized by the county as meeting the certification and training requirements of this subsection.

(d)

All commercial and institutional applicators, site supervisors and managers of professional landscape maintenance companies, government and institutional landscape supervisors, and any employee of a lawn and landscape maintenance company shall abide by best management practices for which they have been trained or certified, as well as the provisions of this chapter.

(e)

A vehicle decal issued by the county indicating that the company is in compliance with the training and certification requirements of this section shall be affixed and maintained on the exterior of all vehicles and/or trailers used by the company in connection with landscape maintenance activities and/or the application of fertilizer within the area regulated by this chapter. The vehicle and trailer decals shall be provided by the county upon submittal of demonstration of compliance by the company with the certification and training requirements of this section.

(Ord. No. 14-41, § 37, 10-7-14)