OROVILLE — Time has passed, but tension once ran deep between Oroville and Cal Water, when the utility company refused the city’s request to add fluoride to its water supply in 1954.
In fact, Oroville complained to the California Public Utilities Commission in 1955, asking it to order Cal Water to obtain its fluoridation permit. Its case with the CPUC met a petition with the California Supreme Court in 1957, but Cal Water ultimately applied for and received its permit from the state Department of Health by the end of that year. It was said to be the first request of its kind in the United States to a state regulatory body like the CPUC, according to the March 1, 1955 Oroville Mercury-Register.
But that’s all history, now that the Oroville City Council will consider Tuesday whether to require Cal Water add fluoride to the domestic water supply in city limits.
According to a staff report, the percentage of water systems treated with fluoride in the state went down from 64% in 2014 to 59% in 2018. It also said the city isn’t required by state law to fluoridate its water because it receives no public funding for the service.
“In 1954, this matter was brought before the Oroville City Council at the request of many Oroville residents, as a way to help prevent tooth decay,” the staff report stated. “Since this time, other methods have been introduced as a way to apply fluoride to your teeth.”
Public hearings
An ordinance on accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs returns after city councilors added and subsequently removed a 30-day minimum stay requirement. Another added change to the ordinance, based on state requirements, will include the ability to convert a primary residence garage into an ADU.
Mobile food vendor villages, or food truck villages, are also back on the City Council’s agenda with changes including a one-mile minimum separation between villages and clearance requirements including a 500-foot minimum distance from Highway 162 for any mobile food vendor. Any existing permits within 500 feet of Highway 162 will expire after 180 days if the ordinance is adopted.
The City Council will hold also hold a hearing on proposed development fees by the Feather River Recreation and Park district. A staff report stated that the district would like to withdraw its proposal and return at a future date.
Regular business
In other items:
Related Articles
Dollars and sensibility? Chico City Council assessing ’24-25 budget
Downtown businesses outperform rest of Chico
Planning Commission approves housing code revisions; bound for council
Old Humboldt Road renewed by pedal power
Chico housing codes up for review
• The Oroville Police Department will formally submit its annual military equipment report.
• Councilors will consider a zoning change to 2560 Feather River Boulevard in response to an application by Edwards Self-Storage to build a 212-unit facility.
The Oroville City Council meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at the Oroville City Council Chambers at 1735 Montgomery St. Closed session starts at 4. Meetings are free, open to the public and are also streamed on Zoom and YouTube. The council agenda and links to live feeds can be found at cityoforoville.org.
+ There are no comments
Add yours