HomeMy WebLinkAbout0286.093·::) ~ sta'JeI)Ol' ____ -----.
Hay 5, 1993
THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alto# California
~hn80~ P.r~ Restroom Pacility
Members of the Council:
.l.eport iD Brief
At its March lS, ~9~3 ~eetin91 Council directed staff to install a
portable restroom facilit:t in Johnson Park on a trial basis. This
informational report describes tne actions taken to date in
response to that re~~est. No Council action is required.
Piscus,ioll
In preparation for the i~stallaticn of the restroom tacility at
Johnson Park, an informational meeting was held on Tuesday, April
27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Downtown Library. About 1,000 publicity
flyers were mailed to neighbors ~ithin a two block radius of the
park. The ~eetin9 vas conducted by the pirector of Recre~tion,
Open space " Sciences and the superintendent of open space &:
Sciences. Tventy-four Johnson Park neighbOrs attended.
The meeting had two purposes:
1. To provide informati~n about how the restroo~ structure
'Would look, ",here it 'Would be located a!".d holtl long it.
'Would be in use.
2. To provide Johnson Park neiqhbors with an opportunity to
aSK questions ana express their concerns.
In[onr.ation provided at the meeting included photos and slides of
the restroom structure and its location. Construction drawings
were also distributed, and the attendees were told that the.
reatroom 'Would be in Johnson Park for a six month trial period
beginning in June 1993.
Most of the questions and concerns expressed during the meeting had
to do with the concept of putting a restroom in Johnson Park. The
fQllowing issues were raised by the neighbors:
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I"aqe Tt.io
1, ~ Why 'Was the deciedol"!: made to put a restroom in Johnson
Park without input from the neighbors?
2. A re6t~oom is contrary to the purpose of a neighborhood
park and will attract "outsiders· and the homeless.
3. The downtown arp.a needs public restrooms l b~t not in a
neighborhood park.
4. Basketball pli'iyers from outside the neighborhood are
causing the problem. There was strong support at this
meeting for taking the besketball hoop out on a 'trial
basls as an alternative to installing the restroom.
The meeting participants requested a vote on the issue. Fourteen
were against installing a restroom; ten were in favor.
staff is proceeding ~ith the installation of a portable restroom in
Johnson Park on a six month trial basis. The restroom structure
suqqested to Council at the M~rch 15th Ccu!"1cil meeting is not
available for rent or lease, as was first thought, and the unit
would cost about $9,000 to purchase. Staff is planninq t~ install
a handicapped-accessible portable toilet in a visually attractive
-wooden structure. The shelter will res:emble the one recently
installed at the Bayland's Preserve near the old boat launching
ramp. The cost of constructing this shelter will be approximately
$3,000, and the monthly rental and maintenance cost& will be
approximately $450.
The toilet unit ~ill be self-contained and will require no wateI or
sewage hookup. It will be loc~ed at night and cleaned daily. The
installation of this restroom facility will be con6ide~ed by the
Architectural Review Board at its May 20th meeting. Attendants of
the April 27 ~eetinq will be notified of the Architectural Review
Board Jneeting~
~tf~=
Jerry Lawrence, Superintendent
Open Space , Sciences
Flemi~
Hanaqer
CMR: 286:93
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Paul Thiltgen, Director
Co~unity services
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