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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - March 25, 2014 SSLODI CITY COUNCIL SHIRTSLEEVE SESSION CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014 An Informal Informational Meeting ("Shirtsleeve" Session) of the Lodi City Council was held Tuesday, March 25, 2014, commencing at 7:00 a.m. Present: Council Member Johnson, Council Member Nakanishi, and Mayor Katzakian Absent: Council Member Mounce, and Mayor Pro Tempore Hansen Also Present: Interim City Manager Schwabauer, Interim City Attorney Magdich, and City Clerk Johl-Olson Public Works Director Wally Sandelin provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding downtown public restrooms. Specific topics of discussion included issues giving rise to the discussion, alternatives, mapping of the surrounding area, Lodi Station, Beckman Park, and examples in San Francisco and Portland. In response to Council Member Johnson, Mr. Sandelin stated when he refers to portable facilities, he is not referring to the temporary single facility, but rather trailer-mounted facilities that have approximately four units and are nice and secure. In response to Council Member Johnson, Mr. Sandelin confirmed that there is general public access to the Lodi Station restroom facility. In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Sandelin stated maintenance costs increased slightly with the Lodi Station restroom expansion but those costs are not broken out separately. In response to Council Member Johnson, Mr. Sandelin stated the Portland facilities were installed without consideration of sewer connections. In response to Council Member Nakanishi, Mr. Sandelin stated there are other cities, both small and large, that have portable facilities similar to Portland. Nancy Beckman spoke in regards to a recent downtown business survey she conducted regarding public restroom use and the results of the same. In response to Council Member Johnson, Ms. Beckman stated some businesses have indicated that they do not provide public restrooms due to liability concerns related to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Interim City Attorney Janice Magdich stated ADA litigation ebbs and flows and currently it appears to be on the decline. Ed Miller spoke in regards to his concerns about costs for constructing and maintaining additional facilities and encouraged the City to work with the merchants to allow restroom facility use for customers. Myrna Wetzel spoke in regards to her concern about access to public restroom facilities and the distance of the same. A. Roll Call by City Clerk B. Topic(s) B-1 Receive Information Regarding Proposed Public Restrooms in Downtown Lodi (PW) Robin Knowlton spoke in regards to her concerns about restroom facility use by those that are not customers and restroom facility referrals to her business from other businesses. Greg Soligan spoke in regards to his concerns about ADA liability by allowing use of restrooms located in businesses and unsanitary use of the alley by the homeless population. Dianne Setten spoke in regards to her concerns about encouraging the homeless population to congregate and stay in downtown by providing public restroom facilities and encouraged removal of the last benches due to the same. Pat Patrick spoke in regards to his concerns about providing a multi-pronged approach that addresses challenges associated with both homelessness in the area and customer access to restrooms. In response to Council Member Johnson, Interim City Manager Steve Schwabauer stated staff could look into options for maintenance of restroom facilities through the UCP contract. Marilyn Field spoke in regards to her concerns about the homeless population utilizing the Methodist Church for improper use and supported a public restroom option. Dan Ingram spoke in regards to his concerns about the homeless population utilizing public restroom facilities and encouraged alternative solutions for customer use of existing facilities. None. No action was taken by the City Council. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 a.m. C. Comments by Public on Non-Agenda Items D.Adjournment ATTEST: Randi Johl-Olson City Clerk Downtown Public RestroomsShirtsleeve SessionMarch 25, 2014 Issues•Lack of public toilet facilities•Installation and maintenance costs•Free or pay•Automated or manual•Unsanitary conditions•Illegal activities/security Alternatives•Construct public restroom facilities at a downtown City property•Extend open hours at Lodi Station restrooms•Direction signs with hours to existing public facilities•Pay per use reimbursement to downtown businesses•Nice portable restroom facilities (pumping required)•Combinations of the above Ancient Rome Downtown Public Restrooms Lodi StationRestroom Expansion Cost = $300,000TDA fundingOpen hours could be extended as needed Beckman Park - $200,000Modular construction2-stall facilitiesConstructed 2008 San FranciscoCost = $150,00025 locationsAutomatic cleaning (twice daily)Maintenance intensiveADA accessibleJCDecaux pays for the facility, maintenance and an administrative fee to the city in exchange for advertising revenues. PortlandPORTLAND LOOCost = $60,000 - $100,00Annual Maintenance = $12,000Open-air top and bottomStainless steel constructionNo wash water and no mirrorManual flushNoise transparentADA Accessible Questions?