[{"_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",6093839,"mediaKeyId","2845318-73da7977c22180f1cb35f660f28a19cf","parentId",2845318,"title","Council hears competing expert testimony on fluoridation; no policy vote taken","audioSeconds",2495,"startMs",3473000,"endMs",5968000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845318-73da7977c22180f1cb35f660f28a19cf&start=3473&end=5968","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845318-73da7977c22180f1cb35f660f28a19cf/thumbnail_3473000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6093839/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Council-hears-competing-expert-testimony-on-fluoridation-no-policy-vote-taken","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093839-7c110f3d940f71ceb4cb83f707d041af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155910&Signature=ZA5hPGwMN8SHb6JZ-9oLRVfnJBR5nuscKh4GtqkCGQ2htYy1deVK-J-nGQ-6LTdy0aMrFOI8BGsRJNWCjXYE63if9MrpmRGe8gv~9TUPrM3G4PIyESST9z1ZZWDMGI0idxTdBwn-rpHVgx9kDUPnYA6H4U8UafidGrjkFPx3-O2BlrVyj-qBX2hxVN6SyfaetuugTX6NOPphDGQqIwPaX0baPBNn8COMDoEmawfvIossraOWOYIpWixQJCwI8QTSx96P0CMtWosmeXMhbNLu1MJxLkpGDLI9CqSqTo4sf~CU28s4Tx3~6rzEHRCsYVSsM7V1CZdbO-NDTwEcS~lknA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Clearwater, FL","date","2025-03-31T21:03:40Z","article","City of Clearwater councilmembers on March 31 heard competing scientific testimony and public comment on whether the city should continue adding fluoride to its public water supply.

The work session featured Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who described recent studies and urged council to consider the possibility that the city's longstanding policy may merit reconsideration; University of Florida epidemiologist Ashley Mallon summarized recent epidemiologic reviews linking early‑life fluoride exposure to neurodevelopment outcomes; and dentist Dan Muller spoke in favor of continuing fluoridation. Councilmember Cotton organized the item and asked the panel to present evidence and answer questions. Councilmembers expressed differing views and asked staff to return with additional information; no formal vote or ordinance was taken.

Why it matters: the debate concerns a public‑health intervention the city has used for decades to prevent tooth decay. Proponents told council topical (toothpaste, dental visits) alternatives and scientific groups supporting fluoridation; opponents and some recent scientific reviews cited studies they say link prenatal or early childhood fluoride exposure to neurodevelopmental effects. Any local decision would affect residents who drink municipal water and could be influenced by state action under consideration this legislative session.

Panel presentations and key points

- Joseph Ladapo, M.D., Florida Surgeon General: Ladapo summarized recent literature and urged council members to \"consider the possibility\" that previously held assumptions about safety may not be complete. He referenced a recent editorial and court findings raising questions about the margin of safety for a 0.7 mg/L fluoridation standard and invited elected officials to weigh uncertainty about population‑level exposures and vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and young children. He said: \"You either have to believe that all of the scientific studies showing harms are wrong, or you have to be comfortable doing something for everyone that could be hurting some people in your community.\" (transcript excerpt)

- Ashley Mallon, Ph.D., M.P.H., University of Florida: Mallon reviewed published epidemiologic studies and systematic reviews, including the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) monograph and a 2023 JAMA Network Open study led by local researchers. She summarized that many peer‑reviewed studies have reported associations between higher prenatal or early‑life fluoride biomarkers and lower measures of child neurodevelopment or behavior, and said the NTP concluded there is \"moderate confidence\" of an association at higher exposure levels and recommended more U.S. studies. Mallon noted that fluoride added to public systems (fluorosilicic acid, sodium fluorosilicate, sodium fluoride) can include impurities and that fluoride accumulates in calcium‑rich tissues.

- Dan Muller (dentist): Muller argued for continuing fluoridation, citing long public‑health experience with fluoride, international and professional organization positions supporting community water fluoridation, historical reductions in tooth decay where community fluoridation occurred, and cost‑benefit considerations. He said national and international health organizations continue to endorse fluoridation and presented Israel's temporary policy change and subsequent actions as a case study.

Council reaction and next steps

Councilmembers asked technical questions about exposure measurements (urinary fluoride vs. water concentration), whether topical fluoride is an effective substitute for community fluoridation, and how responsibilities would shift among city, county and state if policy changed. Several councilmembers said they remained undecided; Councilmember Cotton asked staff to place a fuller discussion on the Thursday council agenda and requested follow‑up material from the panel. No formal motion or vote to add or remove fluoride from City of Clearwater water was taken at the March 31 meeting.

Public comment and context

Public speakers and dozens of written comments have ranged from support for maintaining fluoridation to calls to end it; council members said many emails received in the prior weeks were from outside the city as well as from local residents. State legislative activity on the subject was noted; councilmembers said state or county action could affect any local decision.

Ending

Councilmembers said they would continue the discussion, collect additional technical materials and briefings, and consider whether to schedule a formal vote. The panel and staff will provide follow‑up materials for the next scheduled meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Clearwater - CRA / Council Work Session - 3/31/25","oneSentenceSummary","City of Clearwater councilmembers on March 31 heard competing scientific testimony and public comment on whether the city should continue adding fluoride to its public water supply.","taxTitle","Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida","taxId",4656,"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},6093829,"Votes at a glance: council and CRA approve infrastructure work, grants and property strategy",994,828000,1822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845318-73da7977c22180f1cb35f660f28a19cf&start=828&end=1822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845318-73da7977c22180f1cb35f660f28a19cf/thumbnail_828000.jpg","/articles/6093829/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-council-and-CRA-approve-infrastructure-work-grants-and-property-strategy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093829-8b2b949627d4eb4ba90a78435a05c1a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155910&Signature=iGYTfDO58fq~M6vzHeZ9-j2lLn9BkrPL~2mG2GTOOR2qTd5uTrIrycRRNuWsAUz-keUe1~u~UEei3EkAyB-NnJaGfHkdYwFXLttpDtSqPdceVd~33UMhZiShva2iiXlsTQPRohKU0E4Zjow3JBvhnxuJX8rzx-Nq3gsd-gSx04bn3NFCBhzZB2UmM3iO0exCC84r-0b-0bF4eLAEqvn~-6htUPr6J9Ycg~JjAgyByIq9RrjWHKVNE28gHMXLohDkStKVdQLdZrhfcXnSs~YBJl~LZh0FJBdN2TAmOU3UnA-aWxpNt9dh1NdRYSlNx1mACWcE9IEdEGSsqSPGIOLA3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Clearwater City Council and the Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved multiple items on March 31 through motions and consent actions. Below are the principal actions recorded in the meeting transcript; staff will provide official minute text and formal resolutions in the compiled meeting packet.

Summary of approved actions (selected)

- CRA: Payment to Duke Energy Florida for undergrounding distribution lines on Myrtle Avenue (Cleveland Street to Court Street) — staff requested and trustees approved authorization to pay $671,431.56 to Duke Energy for conversion to underground distribution lines; CRA had previously allocated $1,000,000 toward the work. Outcome: approved by motion.

- CRA: Property disposition strategy — trustees approved a city/CRA property disposition strategy that establishes a phased framework for marketing surplus residential and undeveloped parcels, appraisals, solicitations and scoring criteria for proposals. Outcome: approved by motion.

- North Greenwood commercial grants — Trustees approved two separate North Greenwood commercial grants: (1) Tory and Timothy Charles, property at 1215 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., grant not to exceed $74,516.91; (2) Culinary 6 Investment Group (1107 & 1115 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.), grant not to exceed $75,000. Grants require maintenance standards and performance conditions under the program. Outcome: approved by motion.

- Utility agreements and undergrounding (Council): Approve Duke Energy underground conversion agreement and utility relocation agreement supporting downtown/Civic Hall area work; CRA committed funding earlier in the day and council consented to associated agreements. Outcome: approved by consent.

- Seminole Boat Ramp repairs — Council approved a purchase order to Tampa Bay Marine Inc. for above‑water repairs, replacement of gangways and floating docks at Seminole Boat Ramp; work to occur in two phases and boat ramps to remain open during construction. Outcome: approved by consent.

- Sole‑source purchase orders and maintenance agreements — Council approved a sole‑source purchase order to Xylem for pump parts/service and other single‑vendor contracts for water and wastewater pump maintenance; council also approved radio replacement purchase orders for compatible handheld and mobile radios. Outcome: approved by consent.

- Airport branding direction — Council directed staff to proceed with changing the Clearwater Airpark name to \"Clearwater Executive Airport\" to align with industry nomenclature and existing redevelopment plans. Outcome: direction given by council consensus.

Appointments and routine consent items

- Appointment: Gregory Keane named to serve the remainder of a four‑year trustee term on the Clearwater Firefighters Supplemental Trust Fund (term to 06/30/2027). Outcome: approved by consent.

- Multiple consent items passed including purchase orders and contract increases for vehicle maintenance and materials; second readings of several ordinances (11.1–11.7) were also advanced by the council as second readings on the agenda.

Items deferred or removed from consent

- Fire apparatus purchase: a request to authorize purchase of two Pierce Velocity pumpers and one Pierce tiller was removed from consent to permit additional review of financing and future fiscal commitments; council instructed staff and the city attorney to review funding and return with options prior to final approval.

Where to find the record

This \"votes at a glance\" list is drawn from staff presentations and the meeting transcript. The city's official minutes and staff reports (posted with the agenda) will include the finalized motion language, roll‑call vote record with member names, and any related contract documents or conditions.

Ending

Staff will prepare and publish the formal minutes and contract documents; council and CRA staff said they will return any items removed from consent with additional financial detail for formal action.","The Clearwater City Council and the Community Redevelopment Agency approved several infrastructure and grant items by motion or by consent on March 31; one large apparatus purchase was removed from consent for additional financial review.",{"_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},6093834,"Citizens press council over proposed sale of Garden Avenue right‑of‑way to Church of Scientology; council discussion continues",7171,120000,7291000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2845318-73da7977c22180f1cb35f660f28a19cf&start=120&end=7291","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2845318-73da7977c22180f1cb35f660f28a19cf/thumbnail_120000.jpg","/articles/6093834/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Citizens-press-council-over-proposed-sale-of-Garden-Avenue-rightofway-to-Church-of-Scientology-council-discussion-continues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6093834-7f64e10270cb741af5e00b6eb125cdde/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155910&Signature=nPCCqTPUyXUwz6i33KdGNkmwzgWQYPn-wUll7wjwkGVKh7XK26YxSOjDEoVo~Q7XLMETudF7Hq9AF7QZEosQK52VtSsMpykQGseBPvBkR8a2~8x-a~42bDwz1-P9ZbP8uRQzZfaj6L7SeMuHHksfTLkeF~gAL36VY0vpikIwW0J~68WEi8tvkXG4LkQKJoMMsL7~GIXJsXT-1mtqKs6mZXTBu23F8EJbcS2Jo8gbjznPru8FL~uWdWmLfPQVYCt~-is~SK6UQQF73O6VZKDIvXBqDBLILDayWayyAaZHukTgqK-bouBIwbheYOOj8ks3DGct8HjaWBFaqKhQn1GglQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff presented a proposal on March 31 to declare a vacated portion of Garden Avenue (Garden Street) surplus and to sell it to the Church of Scientology for $1,375,000; the item prompted extended public comment and a detailed council discussion but no final sale vote at the March 31 meetings.

Public commenters asked how the deal was negotiated and whether the public and council had adequate notice. Jill Gibbs and Kelly (identified on the record as a 17‑year Clearwater resident and leader of the Pinellas Biblical Citizens Task Force) spoke during the CRA public comment period, raising concerns about transparency, public access to the vacated right‑of‑way, the Church of Scientology's past activities in Clearwater and whether the proposed vacation would remove space that planning documents identify as part of multimodal or public access plans.

What staff presented

- Tom Mahoney, Public Works: staff asked the council to declare the vacated portion of Garden Street surplus and presented a purchase offer for $1,375,000. The proposed sale would preserve easements for city utilities; staff said necessary easements to cover utilities would be retained by the city.

Council and agency concerns

Councilmembers said they had recently met with Church of Scientology representatives and described \"robust\" and candid conversations. Several councilmembers said they sought written commitments on public activation and access, but that the buyer had declined to provide certain guarantees. Councilmember comments included requests for clarity about whether the right‑of‑way will remain publicly accessible and concern that some council members learned of the proposed transaction only weeks before votes were expected.

Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) staff also participated in the discussion. Darden Rice (PSTA chief planning and community affairs officer) and Devin Deal (PSTA planner) told council that closing the street would affect bus routing and recommended signalization changes — notably a signal at Pierce Street and Myrtle Avenue (near City Hall) — to maintain connectivity to the planned intermodal transit center. PSTA said routing changes could substitute for Garden Avenue access but that signalization would be an important mitigation step; responsibility for signal costs was not resolved at the March 31 discussion.

Outcome and next steps

The garden‑avenue sale was presented to the council and CRA trustees for consideration; the transcript does not record a final council approval on March 31. Councilmembers said they would revisit the item at an upcoming council meeting (scheduled discussion on Thursday) and requested additional written details and clarifications from staff and from PSTA on operational impacts and signalization costs. The sale price and the city's retention of utility easements were recorded in the staff presentation.

Ending

Staff will return with requested clarifications; councilmembers asked staff to seek written activation commitments and to provide cost estimates for traffic mitigation options before a final decision is scheduled.","At the March 31 CRA meeting and council work session, residents questioned transparency and potential uses after staff presented a proposed sale of a vacated portion of Garden Avenue to the Church of Scientology for $1,375,000. Council and PSTA asked technical and access questions; no final council vote was recorded.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears competing expert testimony on fluoridation; no policy vote taken

Votes at a glance: council and CRA approve infrastructure work, grants and property strategy

Citizens press council over proposed sale of Garden Avenue right‑of‑way to Church of Scientology; council discussion continues