HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/14/98 AGENDABREMERTON CITY COUNCIL
239 4TH STREET
BREMERTON, WA 98337
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
SPECIAL MEETING
SEPTEMBER 14, 1998
CALL TO ORDER: 7:30 P.M.
A. Pledge Of Allegiance
2. NEW BUSINESS
Ao
Fluoridation of Bremerton's Municipal Water Supply
#AB98-209
#AB98-210
AGENDA BILL
BREMERTON CITY COUNCIL
SU~ECT: Resolution #2671
placing the proposition to
fluoridate the water supply
system of the city of Bremerton
on the November 3, 1998 election
FOR AGENDA OF: September 14~ 1998
ORIGINATING DEPT: City Attorney
ORIGINATOR: Glenna Malanca
DATE SUBMITTED: September 10~ 1998
~: (comment on back
if n~e~sary) ~
City Attorne~~~
Resolution
ENDORSEMENT~ I~O~T ION
APPROVED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR SUBMITTAL:
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
SUMMARY STATEMENT AND REOUIREMENT FOR COUNCIL ACTION:
In an effort to provide the opportunity to the qualified voters of the
City to express their views on the proposed fluoridation of the City's
water supply in an expeditious manner City Council is to consider
placing this issue on the November 3, 1998 election.
RECOMMENDATION:
Motion to pass Resolution #2671 providing for the submission to the
qualified electors of the City at the November 3, 1998 Election, an
advisory vote on a proposition to fluoridate the water supply system of
the city of Bremerton, Washington.
RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL:
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL:
EXPIRATION DATE:
REVIEW DATE:
PULLED TABLED
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE:
10. NQTICE OF ACTION
APPROVED DISAPPROVED
DATE:
2. ~LEARANCE COMMENTS (cont,):
4. SUl~4ARY STATEMENT (cont.):
5. IMPACT ON NON-PASSAGE:
e
IMPACT ON STAFFING~ BUDGETS~ FACILITIES~ EOUIPMENT OR OTHER RESOURCES
N/A
7. RESEARCH SOURCES:
RESOLUTION NO. ~ (~-/ I
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of Bremerton,
Washington providing for the submission to the qualified
electors of the City at the November 3, 1998 Election, an
advisory vote on a proposition to fluoridate the water supply
system of the City of Bremerton Washington.
WHEREAS, the County gaxditor requires a request An the form of a resolution adopted by
the City Council, that a matter be placed on the November 3, 1998, election, at least 45 days prior
to the election date; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is desirous of providing the opportunity to the qualified voters
of the City to express their views on the proposed fluoridation of the City's water supply, by an
advisory ballot to be placed on the election tO be hdd on the first Tuesday following the first Monday
of November, 1998.
NOW, THEREFORE,. BE IT REflOLVED by the Bremerton City Council that the
proposition "Whether to Fluoridate the Water Supply of Bremerton, Washington" be placed on the
November 3, 1998 Election for an advisory vote of the qualified voters.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Attorney shall draft and forward the
appropriate ballot title to the County Auditor for the Proposition.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Bremerton this 14t~ day of September, 1998.
DAVID D. FARR
Council President
Fluoridation. Res
~GENDA BILL
BREMERTON CITY COUNCIL
1. SUBJECT:
Motion to cease the implementation
of fluoridation
FOR AGENDA OF: September 14, 1998
ORIGINATING DEPT: Legal ~/~/~-~
ORIGINATOR: Glenna Malan
City Attorney
DATE SUBMITTED: September 10, 1998
~. ~X~_ ..~N~S: ~mmen~ on back if necessary) $. E~IBITS:
ENDORSEMENT [] INFORMATION []
MAYOR
APPROVED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT FOR SUBMITTAL:
COUNCIL PRESIDENT
4. SUMMARY STATEMENT AND REQUIREMENT FOR COUNCIL ACTION:
Due to the strong public interest in Fluoridation of the City's water
distribution system, cease implementation of fluoridation until a February 1999
Special election initiative vote of the people can be obtained.
8. RECOMMENDATION:
Approve motion to cease the implementation of fluoridation if and until
February special election results from initiative petition on this issue.
9. RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL:
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL:
EXPIRATION DATE:
REVIEW DATE:
a
10. NOTICE OF ACTION
PULLED [] TABLED [] APPROVED [] DISAPPROVED [] AMENDED [] DATE:
COUNCIL DIRECTIVE:
(OVER)
2. CLE/~.ANCE COMMENTS:
5. IMPACT OF NON-PASSAGE:
6. IMPACT ON STAFFING, BUDGETS, FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT OR OTHER RESOURCES:
7. RESEARCH SOURCES:
FLUORIDATION - Agenda Disk - 9/10/98
September 14,1998
Bremerton City Council Members
239 4th Street
Bremerton, WA. 98337
~ATE ~
Dear City Council Members:
I will not be able to attend your special meeting tonight as a prior commitment conflicts with the
meeting time. However, I am hopeful that you will consider this letter in lieu of my live
testimony as you consider the issue before you.
The decision you face tonight is not about fluoride. It is about the functioning of our system of
government and fundamental fairness. As I understand Mr. McConnell's motion, you will decide
whether to allow an advisory ballot to be placed on the November ballot, regardless of the fact
that the petition drive was unsuccessful in obtaining the requisite number of signatures to be
certified.
If Mr. McConnell's motion passes, the Bremerton City Council will be passing special
legislation for a special interest group that has not proven it represents even 25% of your
constituents. The message that special legislation sends to the rest of us is simple: "Don't follow
the rules, don't tell the truth, engage in threats and bullying, and the city council will give in to
your demands and give you special treatment. If you follow the rules, don't expect any favors
from your local officials."
I would like to review some of the history of this whole issue. First, the city council almost
unanimously passed the resolution to fluoridate the water supply in April, 1997 after hours of
public testimony and review of stacks of documents. No action was taken by the anti-fluoride
groups to legally challenge this action or to start a petition drive until almost a year later. In the
meantime, the city moved ahead with installation and budgeted and spent those necessary funds.
Then, late in the game, a lawsuit was started which claimed that the city council's action was
somehow "unlawful". The city defended this lawsuit and used resources of its legal department
to rebut the allegations only to have the lawsuit voluntarily dismissed on the eve of trial, because
there was nothing there to complain about. As the attorney for the petitioner, Randall Keyes
admitted that the city council had acted properly and so they folded their tents and went away.
Unfortunately, the damage and cost was done.
In addition to this frivolous lawsuit, the anti-fluoride group also sponsored a petition drive which
gathered enough signatures to be certified but which was struck down by a Washington State
Superior Court judge as containing improper language. The actual language of the petition did
not follow the state mandated law and as such, the entire petition was tainted. The anti-fluoride
group started over.
Their second petition drive was done with some dispatch. Remember though, the time crunch
was one of their own doing. They had over 15 months from April of 1997 to September of 1998
and still didn't get it right. The anti-fluoride group provided false information to the Sun as to
the time frames involved in an apparent effort to create pressure for an expedited review of their
petition. That tactic almost worked but the most recent petition was not certified by the Kitsap
County Auditor as it did not have sufficient number of qualified signatures. It wasn't even close.
The statement to the Sun was not their first misstatement of the truth as can be seen fi-om the
various letters to the paper indicating that the cost of the fluoridation would be millions of dollars
when the truth is that it will cost less than $300,000 according to the mayor's own numbers.
During this entire time, the anti-fluoride group has also involved itself in threatening behavior,
personal insults and an assault on a community member. As Rod Johnson, indicated last week to
you, these kind of behaviors have no place in a civilized community. He was right.
Now, as a reward for their misbehavior and bullying tactics, the anti-fluoride group has somehow
convinced five members of this council to call an unprecedented special meeting to pass an
unprecedented legislation putting the issue on the November ballot. The ballyhoo has been that
you would be seen as being "anti-vote" if you did not cave in to the demands. The ballyhoo has
been that the costs of a special election should not be foisted upon the city. If we examine the
costs incurred by the city in responding to the frivolous lawsuit and in going ahead with the
installation, the small cost of a special ballot seems minimal.
Regardless of anyone's feelings on whether the water supply should be fluoridated, a more
important issue is before you. How does government work? Is it the province of special
interests and favoritism or is it a system of rules and procedures that define the rights of all
citizens. Will we have a government that "spot" zones for squeaky wheels and "spot" legislates
for those who do not follow the rules? Only you can answer that question tonight.
Very tLu_ ly yours,
2015 N. Cambrian
Bremerton, WA. 98312
l~ ~drona roint ~rive
~ ~ ~+
Bremerton, ~"~,aohin~on P8312
beptember 11, 1998
City Council ~ffice
239 Fourth ~treet
Bremerton, ,Vashington 98337
Dear Council
if it is true that you would like to dispel talk tha~ the Council
has been tr~ing to block citizens from voting on the fluoride issue
then perhaps it would be more sincere sounding to put a stop on
quotes such as Carlos ~ontgomez-y's conmment,"~'~hy shoui[d we go r~round
changing the damn law to satisfy a small group of people %d~o don't
icnow vd~at's going on in the world?"
'~,~hat a careless and. crass statement to utter! You were quooec- by
The ~ on 9-10-98. So much for good intentions l
Intelligent h~man beings keep open ~%%uds and seek out new infor~mtion.
[~ve you not wondered why countries like oweden, Japan, India, Denn~rk,
Germany, No,ray, Australia, Nmv Zealand~ Itr~ly, Frmnce and ~.%0S~ more
have removed fluoride from their systems s.nd banned .adding it to the~_r
~ater ~upplies? They found no correlation be+~.ve~n fluoride and
cavities.
The orZky people who truly benefit from the wides~oread use oz £1uoride
for"dental" purposes are the big industries that generate iZLuoride as
a v~aste product. 'ib.ey not only solve their ~?olution problems~ but
?make a hanaisome profit by selling their torgc residues to be eaten,
d~unk, and spread on teeth by ~ u~suspccting pop~.~lation ~overned bT:
gullible officials.
~incerely.,
l To th, Editor:
! Nobel prize winner Hugo Theorell
stated that fluoride up ix) 1PPM i~ so
: close to toxic doses that hesitation
; should be justified in drinking it. In
children it causes distturbance~ bone
growth~ mottled teeth, chalky bones. It
causesspinal defects and lesions in
children. Fluoride in the region that
fom~s heart muscle causes problems
i embryos caused by the mother's inUtke
i of fluoride. Itip believed that it causes
!mongoloid births and stillborn deaths,
~ brittle teeth, enlarged dental roots,
. adverse spinal condition, osteoporosis,
coliagen-~akdown, arthri~ and
deformed teeth and bone.
After 12 years of age, the fluoride
! longer helps children's teeth, but dot~
! cause ~ of these other pro'blems. ;~.
i Standard doses are impossible to
i achieve because some people drink
more water than others. Different par~s
of the city will receive varied dosage$;
I have been unable to locate a
company that manufactures a water
filter that can remove fluoride from ~e
water. If they say they do, make theni,
prove it in writing. If you buy bottled~,*
water, whose spigot fills them and dbms
it have fluoride?
Is the city going to flnailsh pure
water to those of us who ca:mot
tolerate sodium fluoride? All this to
treat a feW hundred children 12 years:qr!
younger. It would be much cheaper for
'the city to have a dentist paint their
teeth with fluoride, and not poison
multiple thousands of the rest of us.
In conclusiOn, this means mandated,
involuntary public medication for the
old, the young and the new. Oh yes, it-,
does affect your brain: It makes people
docile and submissive. Most, of ti,is
information is from the Interact,
www. m~fax.org/mem~chem.html#
fluorides. Do as you ~qll. ,-"~
Bremerton
FLUORIDE
People shouM vote on it
To the Editor:
Well, we see that t'Litsap Cares for
Dental Health, or KCFDH, has used a
last-minute injunction and the judicial
system to go against the will of the
people.
Yes, the judge interpreted the
preamble of the initiative as politicz~.l
lang~mge, but he also believed tha~; the
people should be able to vote on a
matter that ,efffects us all.
What is the real cost? It is far
greater than the proponents claim --:
the greatest cost of all is the loss of, ;
rights of the people who are allergic'
to or just don't believe the city should
be spending money cn medicating the'
city's water supply.
There are many questions that
should be answered. - '
Why were there so many hidden ' ~'''
costs in the city's budget?
If the concerns of KCFDH are for~ °'
the poor children of our city, why
that one of the committee's dentists'?
doesn't even accept DSHS coupons .' ~':
for our poor children? What
hypocrisy; these are already paid for
by our hard-earned tax dollars.
~ Lastly, the city should really look at'
~0~going forth with its proposal, sincd
there is an iajunction pending and it !:
was just political language that keptI ~
off the ballot. Let's let the people
't
decide.
Rod Johnson '
Bremerton '~
ZWA REPORTS:The ADA and Liability for Fluoride Overexposure
'HILADELJ~HIA, July 22/PRNewswire/- The American Dental Association (ADA) may be building a legal defense to shield itself from
culpability in patient lawsuits for fluoride overexposure. Dentists and patients should take note. So says Lynn Landes, Director of Zero
Waste America, a non-profit organization specializ/ng in waste and toxic issues, and author of America: OverDosed On Fluoride.
gd~ce 1995, the Journal of American Dental Association 0ADA) has published a series of scientific reports on the growing prevalence of
.flaorosis in the U.S population. Fluorosis is caused by over-exposure to fluoride, resulting in tooth and bone decay. Fluoride is also
ii nked to Alzheimer's, kidney damage, cancer, genetic damage, neurological impairment, and bone pathology. Fluoride is in most
toothpaste products. It is also in an unknown number of food and drink products, due to the artificial fluoridation of over half of the U.S.
m ~micipal water systems.
The JADA reports and ADA's actions should raise a red flag for dentists and patients," says Iandes. "At the same time that the A DA
promoting fluoridation of municipal water systems nationwide, they are warning of fluoride overexposure. They seem to be working at
cross purposes," adds Landes. She believes that there will be a growing movement by patients to sue over the harmfi~! health effects of
']£uofide overexposure.
0emtists may be at significant risk of liability if they have prescribed fluoride supplements since 1994. In April of that year, the ADA's
Council on Scientific Affairs approved a new Fluoride Supplementation Dosage Schedule with the following cautions, "All sources of
~[aonde nmst be evaluated with a thorough fluoride history ... Patient exposure to multiple sources can make proper prescribing complex
Caries reduction benefits must be balanced ~4th risk for mild and very mild fluoros is."
The ADA directive to dentists, amounts to "Mission Impossible," according to Landes. "How can a dentist take a 'thorough fluoride
]t~;storyg'" she asks. "Americans ingest fluoride from multiple sources. Any assessment ora patient's fluoride exposure would be highly
3peculat~ve, she adds.
~eports of'increased cases offiuorosis have caused concern within other dental organtZations. The Academy of General Dentistry,
which represents 34,000 dentists, issued a press release in February of 1997, warning parents to limit their children's intake of juices due
ro e~cessive fluoride content.
,.,qOURCE Zero Waste America
O: Zero Waste America; American Dental Association
Pennsylvania
:q: ENV HEA
3U:
.37/22/98 08:44 FDT hrtp://www, pmews wire.corn
Seturday, Augue;t 16,1~ Am~tlca Online: klochenana Pa~e: I
Editor, The ~un
Bremerton, i'~ashington 98~7
Editor:
People in a free society have a right to choose v~hether or not
they wJ_ll acceot medication, and they have a right to individual
treatment and monitoring, l]~ose who believe fluoride '~orks are
entitled to their opinions. They may choose their o~,na experts
and distrust the proven e-fidence of leg,~l proceedings in court.
'~]~ey may ignore their ~m~ oeer-re-~iewed ~,edical journal reports
sh~ring significant and serious risks. £hat is their right.
But they have no right to force others to d~'i~: or use fluoride
gainst their wills, especially in the face of so much credible
evidence of h~us, vrlth little or no benefit, ~-ond when more
effective, democratic and medically res~ponsible for~.~s of medi-
cation exist. Nor should they promote ti~e use of fluoride
~rlthout reference to its dangers.
~ihe only people ~,~o truly benefit from the -~ri~iespread use of
fluoride for"dental" ~urposes are the bi~] industries that
generate fluoride as a vmste product. They not only solve
their pollution problems, but ~%%ke a l~andsome ~rofit by
selling their toxic residues to be eatcn~ dr%u~% and spread on
teeth by an unsuspecting population governed by g~Lllible officials.
~incerely,
FLUO IoE
~he l~gaUty of fluoride was tested in
- ] front of Judge Flaherty, now a
II Supreme Court Justice in the Court
of Pennsylvania~ ,,
He found that~ 'What I have read is
quite convincing that the addition of
sodium fluoride to the public water
supply is extremely deleterious to the
human body ..."
And he wrote, "What I have read
(since) convinces me all the more that
in-depth, serious effort should be
undertaken before further expansion of
this questionableipractice. Those who
belittle critics of fluoridation do the
public a disservice, yet it seems in the
face of?rong prima facie evidence,
that is the t~ctic most often employed."
Gloria Lamb
Bremerton
~ ] was very disturbed to see that tw6 of
~ the fluoridation supporters filed an
I~ i~junction to keep the fluoridation
initiative off the September ballot. I
agree with attorney Randall Keys, who
you quoted as saying that it seemed un-
American to block a vote by the people
on this issue.
· It seems the two gentlemen who
filed the injunction request are so
desperate to get our water fluoridated
that they will stoop to lOOking for an
administrative error on the part of their
opponents to achieve their goal. I think
it's an underhanded tactic and far
removed from our spirit of democracy.
Let the citizens of Bremerton decide
this issue, as it should have been in the
first place -- not the city council.'.
Stefanle ~el ·
Bremerton
informed
Totl~ Edltoc
Regarding the latest on fluoridation of
Bremerton's water supply, I think it
would be prudent to lea-the ~)eople wh~';'-
will be drinking this water get on the ,',~
Internet and find out for themselves
about the medical hazards of
fluoridation.
I have seen the articles concerning
cancers, elderly bone fractures, and
other diseases medically researched wit~
ILvflcs to-fluoridatior~
All you have to do is search the net
Fluoridation and get tons of Web links
the topic and then reacL See the real
problems for yourse~ and do not let
othem do your tlxinkifig.
You will find persecu~on in the
medical ranks for those doctors who
speak out agair~t fluoridation.
Bremerton
Another waste of money
To t{~ Editor. ·
In reply to the AugJ 17 letter to the
editor, 'Council made a good ,
decision," by Anna M,'~I~urie:
The council did not ma&e a good
· decision for me,,They did not *
Bremert~n ~t~z~T~s W.~ cheated of
-: 'dectdingfor themselve~ whether
fluoridation was fight for them. Tlxe
water department has Sc~anderecb
~ another, waste Of my'money, which
will be~ added t6 all Sf Our' already~
exorbitant water billS! ~
Bremerton '
A Crest kid goes anti-fluoride
To the Editor:
Late last spring, as'part of my
master's degree program, I had to
choose a research topic. My topic was
fluoridation.
I went into this study slightly
biased as pro-fluoride -- after all I
was a Crest kid! Like most, I had
understood mmq. y American icons:
_.re. om, apple pie, and fluoride.
Looking at both sides, I re'Ed
numerous studies both from the
United States and other countries.
Articles ranged from the wacko to
very serious government studies.
Countries such as Sweden, Japan,
India, Denmark, Germany, Norway,
Australia, New Zealand, Italy, France
and many more have removed fluoride
from their systems and banned adding
it to their water supplies. They found
no correlation between fluoride and
prevention of cavities. Many studies
these countr/es have accepted have
shown fluoride is detrimental to
health..
Recently, the American Medical
Association published a study
showing a direct correlation between
low levels of fluoride and hip
fractures in white women over 65.
I also learned that one teaspoon of
fluoride can kill a 160-pound adult.
After so much data, my bias
changed to not wanting to ingest
fluoride. It became a freedom of
choice issue.
If you want fluoride, there are
many other sources: toothpaste,
dental treatments and fluoride pills. If
a from the pro-fluoride group
person
drinks water that is not fluoridated_~
LUORIDE
'i
'l nks ehan to !
To tl~ gdltor:
Thank you and congratulations,
citizens of Bremerton, for signing the
petition and forcing the city of
Bremerton to give us a chance to vote
yes or no to have fluoride added to our
pure water.
'Big Brother'' in Washington, D.C.,
already regulates our lives from 'the
womb to the tomb," and we do not need!
the city fathers mandating health issues
for us.
Recently we traveled in Ca~la, and,~
the newspapem gave front page
coverage to a fierce battle that is being
waged in Calgary to remove the
fluoridation. We are not alone in
questioning the validity of fluoridation.
Thank you, The Sun, for your fair
coverage of fids important issue.
Alvina B~lllnger
Bremerton
Harm is kell documented
To the Editor:
Brian Stallcop's Aug. 8 editorial
indicates that he is the one who is ill-
informed about detrimen~tal fluoride in
our water. Sodium fluoride is apoison
'(~t POison) and its cUmulative effeets~
our bodies are deleterious in many
serious and/or life-threatening ways
Many elderly people such as those
~hi-~-l~er~ofi-'h-~-'~choice of findin~ ;_, with cardiovascular or kidney problem~:'
other sources, of fluoride. ~' 0~vlare unummlly susceptible to the toxic
However, .... ff a person who does n ~.,~ effects. See:Toxicological Profile on
want to mgest fluonde drinks ~ "~ Fluoride, TPgl/17. For a free copy, cafl,~.,
fluoridated water, that. person, canfi0~t~], r~,~ (404) 6394k~2. This publication is'n°t, a7
choose not to Ingest fluoride. This.': '~1
person is forced to drink it, cook .'.w~:i leaflet written by just anyone; it is a U.~,~;
it, bathe in it, etc. The pro-fluoridd' ! . _g)y~mm_ ent document distributed bY
crowd not only unposes Its vail up~J federal ~gency, written by. doctors andf
~cien~ism with the purpose of giving
the other group, but also does not.' ~.~
,f~ about fluoride. ,
allow them to opt out. . ' Fluoride can also cause dental
The anti-fluoride petition is ' ~'~:
the"'";' ~ fluoros~, cancer, infertib't;y, btam
reasonably asking to allow us, damage and increased numbers ofbon
voters, to decide what is best for 0~'~:, fractures in the elderly. There is a
health. ~ ~, mountain of information available on
Virgil Elklnton I Internet that will enlighten those who
Bremerton ~ have merely been spouting rhetoric
: } the pro-fluoride groups.
Bremerton
To:
Karen Flynn
Kitsap County Auditor
614 Division Street, .MS-31 * Port Orchard, Washingt(
Glenna Malanca
City of Bremerton Attorney
Post-Ir. brand fax transmittal memo ,7671 l# ct imge~ ~ J
Bria~ Mohor~
Ad~ Ariwoola
From: Karen Flynn
Kitsap County Auditor
Date: September 14, 1998
Re: FLUORIDE BALLOT MEASURE COST
NOVEMBER ELECTION
Total Estimated Election Cost
Estimated portion, for the City of Bremerton
$220,000
8,000
FEBRUARY ELECTION
For the February Special Election, as the participating jurisdictions are still u~lmown, two
scenarios are offered.
With participating districts:
Kitsap County' - one ballot measure
North Kitsap Schools - bond
Bremerton Schools - levy
Central Kitsap Schools - levy
City ofBremerton - one ballot measure
Total Estimatcd Election Cost $150,000
Estimated portion for City of Bremerton I 1,000
With above participating districts except Kitsap County
Total Estimated Election Cost $ 96,000
Estimated portion for City of Bremerton 16,000
ACCOUNTING
337-7125 '
ACCOUNTS
PAYABLE
337-7122
AUTO
PAYROLL LICENSING
337-7123 3374440
Toll Free from: Olalla 85r-4147 * Bainbridge Island a42-206!
ELECTIONS
337-7128
RECORDING
& MARRIAGES
]137-,4935