HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse To Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 4/28/2015 - Letter From Ray Martinez To Sondra Link Re: FluorideCity Council
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6878
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
April 23, 2015
Sondra A. Link
505 Columbia Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Dear Ms. Link,
I know the Mayor responded to your concerns on April 7, 2014 through a written letter.
Nothing has changed regarding the fluoridation of the City of Fort Collins’ drinking water.
Fort Collins Utilities has been managing fluoridation of our water supply since the 1950’s and
was reauthorized to do so via a public vote in 2005. Therefore, based on City Code Fort Collins
Utilities is directed to fluoridate its water to the levels established by the state Department of
Public Health and Environment.
In January of 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed to
change their recommended level of fluoridation from a range of 0.7 – 1.2 mg/L to a single value
of 0.7 mg/L. The recommendation included two years of solicited and analyzed public
comment and expert review on the proposed recommendation. The HHS plans to issue their
final recommendation on fluoride later this year.
The City of Fort Collins participates in the State of Colorado’s non-regulatory fluoride program,
which advocates for the provision of an optimal fluoride level in drinking water in order to
reduce dental cavities. The program consists of the provision of split-sample results,
fluoridation equipment inspections, technical support, training, and education. Since the
Colorado program relies on the HHS’s recommendation on the optimal level, a change in the
HHS recommendation will cause a change in the Colorado program.
Fort Collins Utilities strives to provide clean, safe, good-tasting water to all of its customers. The
City’s source (untreated) water generally has a background level of 0.6 mg/L fluoride.
Currently, the City of Fort Collins drinking water fluoride is in the range of 0.9-1.05 mg/L, with
the fluoride system monitored continuously. In addition, the ISO140001 certified Water
Treatment Facility follows stringent safety procedures when working in and around the fluoride
as part of its Environmental Management System.
I understand from your correspondence that you have strong feelings about the addition of
fluoride to our drinking water. The Council’s role is to act on behalf of the citizens. To express
concerns regarding our action you may do so in the following ways:
1. Contact the Councilmember in his/her district via email or phone to see if the
Councilmember would request Council consideration. There is more information on
this at http://www.fcgov.com/cityleadership/.
2. Attend a Regular Council Meeting and speak during Citizen Participation in an effort to
garner support. See http://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/agendas.php for more
information.
3. Our Charter grants registered electors the power to propose ordinances or resolutions
via the initiative process. Citizens may circulate petitions for the purpose of getting the
measure on the ballot. When the Council is presented with a petition containing a
sufficient number of signatures for placement on the ballot, the Council has the option
to adopt the proposed ordinance or place the measure on the ballot. More information
on the petition process can be found at
http://www.fcgov.com/cityclerk/initiativegdlns.php.
If you need further clarification please contact Mark Kempton at 221-6692.
Thank you again for your letter and opinions.
Regards,
Ray Martinez
Councilmember
City Council District 2
Cc: City Councilmembers
Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kevin Gertig, Utilities General Manager
Mark Kempton, Water Production Manager
Lisa Rosintoski, Customer Connections Manager
Lois Rellergert, Environmental Regulatory Specialist