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CREATED:20100928T181900Z
DESCRIPTION:	\nReprintPrint  \n"Watsonville Council to decide on water 
 fluoridation"\nBy DONNA JONES - Sentinel Staff Writer\nPosted: 09/27/2010 
 08:13:02 PM PDT\nUpdated: 09/27/2010 08:31:40 PM PDT\n\n"WATSONVILLE — 
 Watsonville's nearly decadelong fight against water fluoridation could end 
 Tuesday as the City Council votes on whether to accept a $1.6 million grant 
 to build a system.\n\nThe decision comes two days before a $200 fine 
 imposed against the city by state public health officials for not 
 fluoridating kicks in.\n\n“If I could name one issue that's most 
 controversial, most divisive, it's fluoride,” said Councilman Manuel 
 Bersamin.\n\nBersamin's been involved with the issue since he joined the 
 council in 2003, a year after city voters effectively banned fluoridation 
 through an initiative known as Measure S.\n\nHe favors fluoridating, which 
 backers say will reduce tooth decay, particularly among the city's many 
 poor children.\n\nBut Bersamin said he also tried to uphold the will of the 
 voters, backing the city's battle against a state order to fluoridate all 
 the way to the California Supreme Court. The high court declined to hear 
 the case, letting stand a state appeals court decision that state law took 
 precedence over municipal ordinance.\n\nAccording to state law, cities with 
 10,000 or more people must fluoridate if costs are covered by an outside 
 agency. There are no municipal water systems in the county with fluoridated 
 water.\n\nIn Watsonville's case, the California Dental Association 
 Foundation is offering money to design and build a fluoridation system and 
 operate it for two years.\n\nThe state pressure hasn't stopped fluoride 
 foes from protesting. Opponents, who don't believe fluoridation is safe or 
 effective, turned out in force when the issue came before the Council in 
 January and a handful continued to press their case at subsequent meetings 
 when fluoride wasn't on the agenda.\n\nWatsonville resident Nick Bulaich, 
 who spearheaded Measure S, argues the grant offer alone isn't enough to 
 trigger state law.\n\nBulaich said the contract under consideration gives 
 too much authority to the foundation to decide, for instance, whether 
 specific costs are acceptable for reimbursement, and could result in the 
 city having to spend its own money.\n\n“The city can't be compelled to 
 sign a contract with considerations that place a financial burden on the 
 city,” Bulaich said.\n\nMayor Pro Tem Nancy Bilicich, who along with 
 Bersamin and Councilwoman Kimberly Petersen, served on a subcommittee that 
 spent eight months hammering out the details of the grant contract, also 
 worries about the potential for the city to take a financial hit and 
 declined to recommend the contract.\n\nBut she was out-voted by Petersen 
 and Bersamin.\n\nPetersen said she believes the contract protects city 
 interests, and is stronger than one rejected by the council in January, in 
 part due to concerns about legal liability.\n\nIn the new contract, the 
 foundation agrees to defend the city against any litigation arising from 
 its decision to fluoridate — a “significant accomplishment,” 
 according to Petersen.\n\nBut Bulaich says a subsequent clause that 
 requires the city to take legal responsibility for the design, 
 construction, operation and maintenance of the fluoridation facility should 
 be struck to avoid potential costs that would have to be covered by city 
 taxpayers.\n\nState officials are watching, waiting to see what the council 
 does with a $200 daily fine hanging over its head.\n\nCity Attorney Alan 
 Smith said Watsonville's in a tough spot.\n\n“We have these competing 
 forces out there,” Smith said. “If we do (fluoridate), we're threatened 
 with a lawsuit, and if we don't, we're threatened with a lawsuit.”\n\n 
 \n\nIF YOU GO\n\nWatsonville City Council\n\n \n\nWHAT: Consideration of 
 contract to pay for fluoridation of the city's water supply\n\nWHEN: 6:30 
 p.m. today\n\nWHERE: Council Chamber, 275 Main St., 4th 
 floor\n\nINFORMATION: www.ci.watsonville.ca.us  "\n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/09/28/18660143.php
SUMMARY:Watsonville City Council to VOTE adding Silicofluoride to city Drinking Water
LOCATION:WHAT: Consideration of contract to pay for fluoridation of the Watsonville, 
 CA water supply\n\nWHEN: 6:30 p.m. today\n\nWHERE: Council Chamber, 275 
 Main St., 4th floor\n\nINFORMATION: www.ci.watsonville.ca.us 
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/09/28/18660143.php
DTSTART:20100929T013000Z
DTEND:20100929T033000Z
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