Washrooms in River Mill Park were back on the agenda at the General Committee meeting in March. In November 2016, Town staff had been directed to return with a report on a possible location for a permanent washroom structure in the park.
Staff did a site visit to look at the infrastructure available to determine the best location for a washroom, taking into consideration its most likely users. “For the most part it’s families at the playground,” said Kari Lambe, the Town’s Director of Community Services. The ideal location is “off in the treeline to the side of the playground so they don’t have to cross parking lots or roads. There is hydro located near that area as well as water and sewer.”
The cost to connect a washroom facility to hydro and water and sewer services would be approximately $12,400. The cost of constructing the building would depend on size and materials.
Background
At the General Committee meeting in October 2016, Town staff recommended that the Town continue with its lease with Coldwell Banker Thompson Real Estate for the washrooms located at 8 West Street North, to the southwest of River Mill Park. The existing lease expires on June 30, 2017. Other options included in that report were: adding portable washroom units to the park, building a permanent washroom facility in the park or purchasing and installing freestanding pod units. Staff were instead directed to consider altering one of the storage sheds behind the bandshell into a washroom and report back with details.
In November, staff presented a report for information only on the work required to convert one of the sheds and were directed to bring back a report on potential locations for permanent washrooms in River Mill Park including the cost of water and hydro hookups and the funding source for construction.
What councillors think
Councillor Dan Armour acknowledged the length of time the discussion has been ongoing but didn’t agree that a permanent structure was the best solution. “We’ve been dealing with this for a year or longer. I think we need to sit down with Coldwell Banker. We need to look at extension (of the lease)… before we go down this road.” He added that if a permanent structure was to be considered, it would need to meet accessibility standards.
Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano argued that the cost of the lease with Coldwell Banker – currently $500 per month but would rise if the lease were extended – was quietly eroding the reserve created after the Town was reimbursed for its investment in the washrooms when the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce sold the building. “We do have $50,000 in reserve that we are quietly eating away at by not doing anything. I propose we go out to get the cost of building a single, stand-alone washroom and make a decision… The cost of the lease per month at Coldwell Banker is probably more than what we would ever pay for porta-potties. I don’t understand why we don’t just go out for an RFP now and build the thing by June.”
After discussion about size and materials, during which Director of Operations and Protective Services Steve Hernen noted that the type of washroom being proposed would serve the playground but not any events happening in the park, a new resolution was prepared directing staff to go out for an RFP for the construction of a permanent, seasonal washroom structure in River Mill Park with the funds to come from additional reserves and/or parks capital and/or development charges. Staff will bring a report back to council.
The resolution was carried with Councillor Armour voting against it. Councillors Alcock and Wiebe were absent from the meeting; Mayor Scott Aitchison, who works for Coldwell Banker as a realtor, had excused himself from the discussion and did not participate in the vote.
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