[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6393668,"mediaKeyId","2105810-dfc20e7be058055d0635a4f98c24725b","parentId",2105810,"title","Vice mayor and staff flag PFAS as a county priority; staff to prepare a countywide status report","audioSeconds",457,"startMs",2515000,"endMs",2972000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2105810-dfc20e7be058055d0635a4f98c24725b&start=2515&end=2972","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2105810-dfc20e7be058055d0635a4f98c24725b/thumbnail_2515000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393668/Broward-County/Florida/Vice-mayor-and-staff-flag-PFAS-as-a-county-priority-staff-to-prepare-a-countywide-status-report","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393668-c74fa76e428f1bd76a219ace41f97d70/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148427&Signature=Vgf7QY8jROqjno2pdJjHW-dn8YkxCt7IXcA8XQlVuFFq2~PrhoUxREW8SELbXSscxjKog9lz0-SVpfO0OxFMwMLk5X8t1IScByH7T~ypEhtJ3qIHUZ0nubnrwIuCL7JavFn8rfVNgSZxIb6BQWTZ8x8hrulVhWR1Fy-MpeOzaWnhEYI5c64Lu4uwfBpPmXB5HLBI2k1eD3pooyFekXGIb14XkW1yqLzWV20b18MI0sT1HUgOlEMrYvLomIP0tzi1TWGrBJOvuu~PKrq9X-bgFM-85L1SFGbvBhuafhaFUZEEJTaHCJDK960NNpeOyXb~bXOXhmGQkg4pajICcTrwbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Broward County, FL","date","2025-01-10T17:03:39Z","article","Vice Mayor Mark Bogan, newly appointed to the Water Advisory Board, raised per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as his primary focus for the year and urged county action; Broward County staff said they will make PFAS the main topic at the next meeting.

Bogan described concerns that some local water providers are allowing PFAS to remain at detectable levels in drinking water and said he will conduct outreach in his district and through media about options to remove PFAS, including reverse osmosis. Several board members, including Council Member Susan Starkey and Commissioner Goode, described state and national efforts and legislative activity addressing PFAS and pledged support for county coordination. Dr. Hirado reported that staff circulated a survey to public and private utility directors to collect information about planning, treatment goals and whether utilities intend to implement full PFAS removal beyond any federal or state limits.

Members directed staff to prepare a countywide status report summarizing utilities’ responses to the survey, planning timelines, technologies considered (for example, reverse osmosis and other removal methods), and potential funding avenues. Staff said they will coordinate responses and return with a fuller program at a future meeting.

Ending — Board members asked that PFAS be the major program at the next joint meeting so members and municipal representatives can review the countywide status report and discuss funding and technical assistance options.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Water Advisory Board Meeting - January 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Vice Mayor Mark Bogan and staff raised PFAS contamination as a county priority; staff circulated a survey to utilities and will prepare a countywide status report for a future meeting.","taxTitle","Broward County, Florida","taxId",2871,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393673,"Board hears proposed code updates to Water Advisory Board membership and attendance rules",464,2980000,3444000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2105810-dfc20e7be058055d0635a4f98c24725b&start=2980&end=3444","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2105810-dfc20e7be058055d0635a4f98c24725b/thumbnail_2980000.jpg","/articles/6393673/Broward-County/Florida/Board-hears-proposed-code-updates-to-Water-Advisory-Board-membership-and-attendance-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393673-a1c817d6f0859f9b9aeb7e463a3d928c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148427&Signature=Yui7o3cCNZ6XLUIa~64c~ZmHtbEFtQtTw3TWUcNocL4dPLcBLd1eqnjE6p3fuFv5WmXI-GjX20MvYim5EBXG2-WhxGZFficLIkA3IOXQ8PvDD8IufeerbZf-sekMxsyEG4V3zupnVngo2jglBgINzrdqZVjf3hmmT4Us14qvqCorKDi9KMoyBO1dUqSsOmdIOPD7JB7lHOrOWCbsKvDkYcVc48K1eMYJvUy2Phia2maDNN~Yqv2lZL2XF9dM8b0WUiqiHCtpV4t-RvlsqC0m1YgBnLiu1KVsx8y-5OW8s~iA7wuH3CtDSH~hkDUxMPSWB07M3zpqYrsn6EnLNj1jug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Broward County staff presented a sunset review and proposed updates to the Water Advisory Board’s enabling provisions, focusing on technical corrections and measures to improve attendance and geographic representation.

Marty Cascini, director of intergovernmental affairs and boards, told members the changes are mostly technical: updating the board name (Water Advisory Board / Surface Water Coordinating Committee), correcting sponsoring‑department references that predate more recent organizational changes, and removing archaic code language that dates back decades. Cascini also proposed language intended to encourage geographic representation across the county so appointments do not cluster in one municipality.

A substantive change discussed would allow automatic removal of advisory members who miss multiple meetings: staff explained that for boards meeting more than quarterly, a member would be removed after three consecutive absences or four absences in a calendar year. Several members asked for clearer replacement rules when the Broward League of Cities appoints municipal representatives. Council Member Susan Starkey and others suggested allowing an alternate to assume the seat during transitions and a 60‑day window for replacement rather than a shorter period because the board meets monthly.

Commissioner Doug Bell (who identified himself as the drainage water control district appointee) asked that the code language preserve the special appointment status for certain drainage district seats; staff said they would confirm and retain that clarity. Members recommended staff engage further with the Broward League of Cities to ensure the county and the league have a coordinated process for removals and replacements and to add deference language if desired.

Ending — Staff said they will revise the draft to reflect the board’s suggestions (60‑day replacement window, alternate elevation language, and explicit language preserving drainage‑district appointments) and return to a future meeting for additional review or action.","County staff proposed technical changes to advisory-board provisions including updated committee name, sponsoring department, and a removal process for members with repeated absences; members asked for clarification on League of Cities appointments and replacement timing.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393678,"Broward advisory body hears pro-fluoride testimony, board approves resolution endorsing community water fluoridation",4940,3460000,8400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2105810-dfc20e7be058055d0635a4f98c24725b&start=3460&end=8400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2105810-dfc20e7be058055d0635a4f98c24725b/thumbnail_3460000.jpg","/articles/6393678/Broward-County/Florida/Broward-advisory-body-hears-pro-fluoride-testimony-board-approves-resolution-endorsing-community-water-fluoridation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393678-8815496174000597fd6c5213ab8854ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148427&Signature=c5tsgXDt1Aa6Cpcq2FhNmn-pqYx8UP0JxVUbR7i4Vv22K10dmPrYdOxxQSOWQNCGPx9hYMF3rRL0H8Q6CzLtMt-bisVeDpTLZDGwvqKiqVfN5JTbyTW-34A1M9k3rGBhnhwRVVGMPdVhoEeCstMqw0rhi0bQnARiMQAxqmJi97fFTg0hdli9NVTN5fanqbQPUzQsfySTt~avoIS671e26Ns6MsQlhIsEgjJxKI1FU1A4Isoxfl83NKv5DWZrA0AJ3jTH7T55oUtPsm0EQIx0SkxJ7XbHyCzf3ADX9Zs2nVss~yJoBddaHXgN3Hgc4oi~76Ln2LnITRg2ycwRjMasgw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The joint meeting of Broward County’s Water Advisory Board and Technical Advisory Committee on fluoridation produced technical presentations from two clinicians, a discussion of recent research, and a county-level resolution reaffirming support for community water fluoridation.

Pediatric dentist Dr. Johnny Johnson and pediatrician Dr. Rana (preferred name) presented scientific, clinical and public-health material about community water fluoridation, its history, its benefits in reducing cavities across the population, and its safety at the levels recommended for U.S. water systems. Both speakers cited long-standing public-health endorsement by organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association. Alan Garcia, director of Broward County Water and Wastewater Services, summarized local operations and monitoring procedures the utility uses to maintain an optimal fluoride concentration.

The presentations focused on three core points: (1) community water fluoridation reduces dental decay across populations and reduces hospitalizations and general-anesthesia procedures for severe childhood tooth decay; (2) the United States recommends a target concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for community water fluoridation (earlier guidance used a different range and some speakers discussed historical values such as 1.2 mg/L); and (3) regulatory limits and monitoring remain important — the Environmental Protection Agency’s maximum contaminant level for fluoride is 4.0 mg/L and utilities test background fluoride and adjust dosing so total fluoride in distributed water meets the public-health target.

Speakers addressed a January systematic review and related news coverage that examined associations between fluoride exposure and child IQ. Dr. Rana and Dr. Johnson said the studies that reported associations used higher fluoride concentrations than those typical in U.S. community fluoridation programs or were based on data sources and designs that limit causal conclusions for U.S. practices. Dr. Rana emphasized the distinction between studies of high natural fluoride concentrations overseas and the regulated, low concentrations used in U.S. systems; Dr. Johnson described methodological limitations in some of the studies cited in public debate and reiterated that longstanding reviews by major U.S. and international public-health bodies find no credible evidence of cognitive harm at the U.S. recommended concentration.

Board members asked about dosage and monitoring. Garcia said Broward’s treatment plants treat raw Biscayne aquifer water with a background fluoride of about 0.15 mg/L and typically add about 0.55 mg/L to reach the 0.7 mg/L target; he described continuous monitoring at treatment facilities. Members also raised questions about bottled water and household filtration (reverse osmosis removes fluoride; carbon filters do not). Presenters and staff noted that some bottled waters contain fluoride naturally or list added fluoride on labels.

After the presentations and discussion, the board considered a resolution reaffirming the county’s support for community water fluoridation and directing the county administrator to transmit certified copies to municipalities and water providers. Council Member Susan Starkey moved the resolution; Commissioner Casciano seconded. The motion passed with one recorded opposition: Commissioner Kevin Biederman voted no; the chair recorded “everyone else in favor.” The resolution as adopted includes language affirming county support for fluoridation as a preventive public-health measure, cites CDC and ADA positions, references the EPA maximum contaminant level of 4.0 mg/L, and states the county will remain compliant with applicable federal and state regulatory guidance.

The board noted requests from some members to distribute the final resolution to municipal water utilities and suggested the county post the presentations and a plain-language information page on its website to improve public outreach and counter misinformation. Members also asked staff to continue coordination with municipal utilities on background fluoride testing and to monitor any upcoming federal or legal developments that could affect national guidance or regulatory standards.

The resolution is advisory in character; staff and members emphasized the measure does not compel municipalities to act but expresses the county board’s position and requests transmission of the resolution to local water providers.

Ending — The board closed the fluoridation item to take an 11:00 time‑certain and to continue other scheduled business; presenters and staff said they will return with materials and public education plans at a future meeting.","After presentations from a pediatric dentist and a pediatrician, the joint Water Advisory Board and Technical Advisory Committee voted to send a resolution reaffirming support for community water fluoridation; Commissioner Kevin Biederman registered the sole recorded no vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Vice mayor and staff flag PFAS as a county priority; staff to prepare a countywide status report

Board hears proposed code updates to Water Advisory Board membership and attendance rules

Broward advisory body hears pro-fluoride testimony, board approves resolution endorsing community water fluoridation