Cape Coral will move forward with adopting a fertilizer ordinance and investigate a septic tank inspection program instead of replacing the Ceitus boat lift, the City Council decided Monday.

The 6-2 vote adopted in principle a management plan for the north spreader canal, which runs north of Pine Island Road along the city?s western edge. The former Ceitus boat lift, removed after a major breach in 2006, separated the canal water from state waters in Matlacha Pass.

The vote gives the council?s conceptual approval to complete the projects, said Jon Iglehart, director of the state?s Department of Environmental Protection office in Fort Myers.

?The details would be worked out in the permitting process,? Iglehart said.

?We?ve got to do what is right for the environment even if it means taking a few chances,? said Councilman Pete Brandt, the council?s point person on the plan. Science shows the projects are better for the environment than replacing the lift, Brandt said.

The plan came out of a task force that involved DEP, the city, Charlotte and Lee counties and environmental stakeholders. Lee and Charlotte counties also will help with projects involving the discharge of storm water into the area.

Lee commissioners are scheduled to vote on the management plan today. Charlotte?s vote is scheduled for Sept. 21.

The city, Lee County and DEP also created a $3.5 million fund to pay for the projects, said city engineer Oliver Clarke. The city and county put in $1.5 million apiece and the DEP $500,000. There is $3.1 million remaining in the account. The projects are projected to cost about $4.3 million. The sewer expansion part of the plan would be funded by assessments on the property receiving the services, Clarke said.

Mayor John Sullivan opposed the plan, as did Councilman Chris Chulakes-Leetz
?We have stakeholders out there who want us to spend our money and bring down a lot of assessments on the people of Cape Coral. I have a big problem with that. It?s like putting a gun to our head,? Sullivan said. ?Basically we?re making an agreement we don?t understand.?

The city would have had to replace the lift at a cost of about $4 million if it didn?t agree to the plan and its projects, which include expanding the city?s sewer system into the area.

The city has enough room in its treatment plants to add new sewer customers.

?We have enough capacity there to do the north part of the city,? Public Works Director Chuck Pavlos said. ?I?m talking the whole north of the city, up to about Kismet (Parkway).

The city has several years to comply, so sewers are not coming right away, said City Councilman Kevin McGrail. It could be four or five years, he said.

?Rest assured we will be very sensitive to being cost effective. It pretty much boils down to protecting the water quality in your back yard,? McGrail said.

Five northwest Cape Coral residents spoke for the management plan.

?Our property values depend on a clean environment, as do your tax rolls,? said resident Rick Williams.

Based on the science, the Northwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association supports the plan, said president Stella Peters.