Title
Approval of Funding for a Permanent Restroom (Portland Loo) at Artesian Commons Park and Additional Portable Restrooms Downtown
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The General Government Committee is anticipated to recommend, at its Feb. 3 meeting, using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for a permanent restroom (Portland Loo) at Artesian Commons Park. The Finance Committee recommends using Sewer Utility funds to pay for two additional portable restrooms, as part of an ongoing Downtown sanitation pilot.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve funding a permanent restroom (Portland Loo) at the Artesian Commons Park using CDBG funds, and move to approve funding two portable restrooms in Downtown using Sewer Utility Funds. Then receive a report on findings from a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) analysis of making Percival West Restroom a 24-hour facility.
Report
Issue:
Whether to authorize the use of CDBG funds to fund a permanent restroom at the Artesian Commons Park and authorize funding two new portable restrooms using Sewer Utility Funds. And whether to receive a report on Percival West Restroom.
Staff Contact:
Mark Rentfrow, Downtown Liaison, Community Planning and Development, 360.570.3798
Paul Simmons, Director, Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation, 360.753.8462
Presenter(s):
Mark Rentfrow, Downtown Liaison, Community Planning and Development, 360.570.3798
Paul Simmons, Director, Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation, 360.753.8462
Background and Analysis:
The City’s Finance Committee has recommended approval of the funding for two additional portable restrooms in Downtown using Sewer Utility Funds. The Council has also approved the funding for a permanent restroom project in the Artesian Commons Park (Portland Loo) using prior year carry-over funds and Sewer Utility dollars. Since Council took action on funding the permanent restroom, another funding source has emerged. Staff continues to monitor Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) spenddown activity and program income levels, and there is capacity in the CDBG program to fund the Portland Loo component of the Artesian Commons restroom project. In order to facilitate timely spend down of CDBG funds, the General Government Committee is anticipated (at it Feb. 3 meeting) to recommend that approximately $90,000 be allocated from CDBG funds for acquisition of the Portland Loo. The remainder of the Artesian Commons restroom project funding would come from the Sewer Utility and previous carry-over funds.
Finally, at their meeting on January 3, 2017, City Council asked staff to complete a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) analysis of the Percival West restroom to determine what changes, if any, would be needed to convert the restroom into a 24-hour facility. Staff has completed the analysis and will present the findings along with planning-level cost estimates.
Options:
1. Fund acquisition of a Portland Loo using CDBG funds and fund two new portable restrooms using Sewer Utility Funds
2. Fund a Portland Loo and fund two new portable restrooms using Sewer Utility Funds
3. Identify a third (unknown) funding source for permanent restroom funding and fund two new portable restrooms
Financial Impact:
Funds for a permanent restroom can be used from the Sewer Utility Fund or from CDBG funds. The cost of the restroom unit (Portland Loo) is approximately $90,000. The total Artesian Commons restroom project has an estimated cost of $345,000. The Cost for two additional portable restrooms is $70,200.58. Cost estimates for potential upgrades to the Percival West restroom will vary depending on Council direction as to which (if any) upgrades to pursue.
Attachments:
Finance Committee Minutes