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....
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