Healdsburg Fluoridation Moratorium Initiative 2016: City Attorney’s Title and Summary
The City Attorney of the City of Healdsburg has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:
Title: AN INITIATIVE TO INSTITUTE A MORATORIUM ON ALL MUNICIPAL WATER FLUORIDATION PENDING FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING FLUORIDATING CHEMICAL
Summary of Initiative: The proposed initiative was filed with the City Clerk of the City of Healdsburg on October 30, 2015. If approved by a simple majority of voters voting on the initiative, it would institute an immediate moratorium on the City of Healdsburg’s fluoridation of all municipal water until such time as the manufacturer of the fluoridating chemical provides the public with: (1) an accurate list of all contaminants and their amounts accompanying each batch sold to the City of Healdsburg, (2) a detailed toxicological report of the fluoridating chemical, and (3) a written statement verifying the chemical’s safety for ingestion by all water consumers, once introduced into the water supply.
The initiative also states that if these documents are provided, the moratorium will be lifted and the City of Healdsburg will resume fluoridating water. If these documents do not exist or are not provided by the manufacturer, the moratorium will continue and the water will not be fluoridated.
The stated purpose of the initiative is “to secure studies verifying the safety for ingestion by all consumers of the Healdsburg’s fluoridation chemical.” The initiative contains proposed findings that recent studies indicate that fluoridated water has adverse effects on early childhood brain development and plays a role in hypothyroid condition and certain cancers, and that fluoridation chemical certification addresses average concentrations per contaminant but that each raw additive batch supplied to water facilities does not label concentrations per contaminant.
The initiative states that City of Healdsburg fluoridation does not fall under mandatory fluoridation required by California Health and Safety Code Section 116410(a). However, the City of Healdsburg operates under a Domestic Water Supply Permit issued by the State, which describes approved treatment processes including fluoridation. It is presently unclear whether the State would issue an amended permit authorizing discontinuance of fluoridation.
/s/ Robin Paige Donoghue
Robin Paige Donoghue
City Attorney
City of Healdsburg
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Healdsburg Fluoridation Moratorium Initiative
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