Spokane City Council Virtual Testimony on the issue to start fluoridation in Spokane.

Due to the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, City Council will continue to hold its 6 p.m. legislative sessions on Mondays virtually and provide the availability for public testimony remotely. Instructions on how to participate in the September 14, 2020, meeting are below.

Here is how it works:

1) Beginning at 3:00 p.m., sign up for the items you would like to testify on at https://forms.gle/RtciKb2tju6322BB7 . Testimony sign up closes at 5:30 p.m.

Testimony sign-up will begin at 3:00 PM and close at 5:30 PM. Please contact Hannahlee Allers at hallers@spokanecity.org if you have technical issues during that hour and can’t sign up, letting her know the items you wish to testify on.

If you signed up to give testimony and need the call in information, it can be found below.

2) At 6:00 p.m., call in to the meeting using the information below. You MUST be on the phone and SHOULD NOT tune into the meeting via CityCable5 or the web stream to wait for your name to be called because there is a significant delay in the video broadcast.

3) Wait for Council President to call your name.

4) When Council President calls your name, hit *3 on your phone to raise your hand to be unmuted. DO NOT hit *3 before your name is called or you will not be able to give testimony.

5) You will hear a message that you have been unmuted and should then begin delivering your testimony.

6) Council President will interrupt you briefly to let you know when you are nearing the end of your allotted time.

7) At the end of your testimony, hit *3 again to lower your hand and allow the next person to speak.

CALL-IN INFORMATION:

Phone: 1-408-418-9388

Access Code/Meeting Number: 146 427 8667

Meeting Password: 0320

The September 14, 2020, agenda can be found here: https://my.spokanecity.org/citycouncil/meetings/

Those giving testimony typically have 3 minutes to speak to Council, but depending on the number of individuals who sign up, that time may be limited to 2 minutes or less, at the discretion of the Council President.  Given the interest in this matter, speakers should prepare for a two-minute limit on testimony.

Council President also has the discretion on setting the order of testimony.  The current expectation is that he will alternate between pro and con speakers on the subject.  Priority for speaking will likely be set by residency, with City of Spokane residents speaking first, followed by residents of the City of Spokane Water Service Area, and finally any speakers from outside of either boundary.  There are two related fluoride matters to be considered on Monday, an ordinance setting policy and a grant agreement.  Each speaker will be invited to address either or both issues but will likely only be given one opportunity to speak.

See also:

• The Documents in support of fluoridation are on the City of Spokane’s website “Items of Interest“. The first document from SmileSpokane is in pdf format. We have converted it to html and it can be accessed here.