04/11/1977 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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(, Mr. Bradley made a substitute motion to reschedule the flu~ride.issue election for the May, 1978 ballot. Mot10n d1ed for lack of a second. . Mr. Obie questioned whether there wasn't a State election .:oming prior to the June 28 local election and whether the 1ssue could be placed on that ballot. Manager noted there ~as.a.State election on May 17 and he had checked with County off1c1~ls, who have reported that there was serious doubt if a ~ocal 1ssue could be added, as State statutes might prohibit 1t. Mr: Haws reque~ted staff to look into information, he had re- ce1ved concern1ng cloud seeding with fluoride. Manager noted that the Governor had lost that battle. Vote was taken on the motion which passed with all members voting aye, except Mr. Bradley voting no. Item B.5.--Fluoride issue--Council approved putting on June 28 ballot. PUb,lic testimony was taken on the issue. Richard Greene, 1651 Grant Street said he supported the Council's action to allow voters to vote early, as he felt this was a very important and urgent issue. Stephen Brown, 195 East 49th Street, noted that he was a fluoride proponent, and felt the Council was being blackmailed by a small, vociferous group. He said that in the past general election, 20,455 people had voted in favor of fluoride to 19,394 against. He said in the last special elections held, there had been no more than 20,000 votes cast. He felt the issue being placed on a special election would, in effect, disenfranchise the 20,000 people who voted for fluoride. He recognized the legal obligation of the Council to put it on the ballot, but felt it should be placed on the general election ballot in May 1978. - R. J. Martens, 1457 East 22nd Avenue, thanked the Council for the position it had taken last week. In regard to the blackmail issue, he felt the new,s medi a had impl i ed there was a group organi zed to defeat the Ci ty budget. Me had never, in any group discussions with which he had been involved, seen any organized movement to that end. He felt city services were required and he was going to support the budget. Jeanne Fox, 60 Fairway Loop, spoke as a local dental hygienist. She noted that in an L-COG dental task force report, the No.2 priority had been given to dental health, with fluoride placed in the water supply to meet that need. She was in favor of putting the issue on a general election ballot where more people would be able to vote for the health measure. Mr. Haws moved, seconded by Mr. Ubi e. to p I ace U\t:! n uor-l dt! issue on a ballot June 28, 1977, and regardless of the outcome, place the issue on the November 1978 ballot. Mr. Bradley moved to amend the motion to put the issue on the . general election ballot of May 197R. Oiscussion followed in which the / amendment was ruled out of order. A substitute motion was not lallowable. Mr. Haws and Mr. Obie withdrew their motion. !". :305 4/11/77 - 26