Title
Downtown Toilets Update
Recommended Action
Briefing and provide feedback to staff/City Council
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive an update on the work completed to date on a public restroom pilot project and Downtown Sanitation Master Plan.
Previous UAC Consideration:
The UAC discussed the potential use of Wastewater Utility funds for constructing downtown toilets on March 3, 2017. Subsequently, the UAC submitted a letter to City Council suggesting that additional work and data analysis be completed as part of the toilet pilot project. The analysis could then be used to guide funding recommendations.
The 2018 Wastewater Utility capital facility plan as adopted by City Council in December 2017 includes $365,000 for the installation of a downtown toilet (Olympia Capital Facility Plan, Program #9703 Replacements and Repair, page 102). The potential location and specifics of the toilet are undefined. UAC discussion of the topic continues in early 2018.
Staff Contact:
Andy Haub, Water Resources Director, 360.753.8475
Amy Buckler, Downtown Programs Manager, Community Planning & Development, 360.570.5847
Presenter:
Amy Buckler
Background and Analysis:
Olympia’s Downtown Strategy calls for the City to locate public restrooms downtown to support businesses and improve public spaces (Recommendation R.1.D). Additionally, the City’s Action Plan recommends increasing the availability of downtown public restrooms as a tool to help make downtown sate and welcoming for all (Downtown Results Map).
In order to evaluate the opportunities and challenges of installing more downtown restrooms, the City embarked on a pilot project in 2016 and 2017. Twenty-four hour public restrooms were provided at five downtown locations.
In 2017, the City also hired Young Architecture, a firm with experience siting restrooms in other communities, to help develop a master plan identifying best practices, needs, potential locations, timing and costs for future downtown restrooms. City Council directed that the plan should consider restrooms for all, and specifically for people who are street dependent as well as visitors. Public restrooms are seen a possible way to reduce human waste in public places.
A draft of the plan has been completed, but is being revised and improved upon.
The pilot project included installing and/or opening various types of toilet facilities for 24-hour use. The locations were:
• Artesian Commons (newly-installed Portland Loo)
• Olympia Ave. and Franklin St. parking lot near the IT bus terminal (Porta-Potty)
• Fertile Grounds near the library (Porta-Potty)
• Salvation Army on Plum St (Porta-Potty)
• Percival Landing West near the Olympia Yacht Club (Existing restroom building)
Monitoring of the pilot projects recorded misuse of the restrooms at Olympia and Franklin and Percival Landing such that they were not meeting their intended purpose. Unsafe conditions included drug dealing and use, prostitution, graffiti, vandalism and unsanitary conditions occurring on an almost daily/nightly basis despite regular inspection and cleaning schedule. The Fertile Ground toilet was removed at the request of the property owner due to similar problems. The Artesian Common and Salvation Army toilets had better outcomes at least in part due to higher visibility and oversight.
The pilots were evaluated based on best management practices from other cities and Olympia’s experience (See attachment). Public restrooms are commonly susceptible to abuse. The best practices are intended to curb or mitigate negative behaviors so that clean, safe restrooms can be maintained for all. Location, facility design and oversight are important.
In February, City staff presented this information to the Council’s Land Use & Environment Committee. The Committee recommended to City Council that the City remove the portable restroom located in the Olympia/Franklin lot, and return the Percival West restroom to its normal operating schedule (completely closed in the winter, open the rest of the year from dawn to dusk.) The Council asked staff to return later this year with a final Sanitation Master Plan to include recommendations for future permanent restroom locations.
Staff’s presentation will cover:
• Results from the pilot project including available data
• Research into existing conditions and needs
• The downtown sanitation planning process
• Best practices for siting, operating and designing public restrooms
• Next steps
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
From business surveys, public outreach events at Sylvester Park, the Farmer’s Market and an open house at City Hall, staff and consultants heard interest in providing public restrooms in order to serve people who are street dependent as well as visitors and as a possible means of reducing human waste in public spaces. We also heard that providing restrooms is an economic development issue, as it supports the needs of downtown businesses.
Options:
None as this time
Financial Impact:
The 2018 Wastewater Utility capital facility plan as adopted by City Council in December 2017 includes $365,000 for the installation of a downtown toilet (Program #9703 Replacements and Repair, page 102). The potential location and specifics of the toilet are undefined.
Attachments:
Best Practices Chart
Restroom Map