PORT ANGELES — Two public meetings in October will precede a single-question, nonbinding survey mailed in November to all residential and business addresses that receive the city’s fluoridated water asking them if the practice should continue after May 18.

The mailer will cover city addresses and include about 1,500 addresses east of the city limits in the Clallam County Public Utility District’s service area where businesses and residents are hooked up to the city’s water system.

The City Council unanimously decided Tuesday to schedule the meetings for Oct. 22 and 29, with a survey expected to be mailed out the following week.

Council members decided on the hearing dates and survey language after 70 minutes of public comment during which speakers were against fluoridation of the city’s water supply by a 3-1 margin.

Opponents said they had proof fluoridation is physically harmful and that they had the right to decide if it is added to the city’s municipal water supply.

For and against

Proponents said they had proof fluoridation prevents tooth decay and is one of the most successful public health measures ever undertaken.

The survey language is based on wording of an advisory ballot on fluoridation that council members had decided not to run in the Nov. 3 general election.

The county Auditor’s Office said voters are segregated by precinct, not geographic area, so it would be impossible to select only PUD customers who are on city water.

The survey will consist of three sentences: “The city of Port Angeles is contractually obligated to continue fluoridation of the municipal water supply until May 18, 2016.

“After that date, fluoridation will continue unless the City Council takes action to discontinue the practice.

“Should the City of Port Angeles continue fluoridating its municipal water supply after May 18, 2016?”

The contract referred to a 10-year agreement with the Washington Dental Service Foundation that expires in 2016.

October hearings

The Oct. 22 hearing will consist of presentations by one speaker in favor of fluoridation and one speaker opposed.

The Oct. 29 hearing will allow for public comments.

The survey, which will include a return envelope, will be mailed by the city and PUD to the households and businesses within a week after the Oct. 29 hearing, City Attorney Bill Bloor said Wednesday.

The survey will include statements for and against fluoridation written by a fluoridation committee headed by Dr. Tom Locke, Jefferson County health officer, and Dr. Eloise Kailin, a longtime fluoridation foe.

Those mailed the surveys must return them by mail within 21 days to an as-yet-unnamed neutral location.

Bloor told council members Tuesday that City Manager Dan McKeen will make arrangements to have an independent third party — not the city or PUD — collect and return the results to the city.

“We don’t have all the details yet,” Bloor said.

1 survey per address

Each address will receive one survey regardless of how many adults live at an address connected to city water.

Someone who owns a business and lives at or owns a home or homes in the survey area could receive more than one survey, Bloor said Wednesday.

“There had to be some way to get the poll out in a reasonable way,” he said.

“Look at it the other way: If we went only by registered voters, there would be lots of people who are not registered voters, but they use the utilities.

“There is no perfect way that we know of, short of going out and doing it by hand, which is not practical to allow every adult to participate.

“If you look at the pros and cons of each way, the thought was you are probably being more inclusive by doing it this way.”

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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.