By Tiffany Goodwein

Public bathroom coming to transit stop, other location undetermined

Oct 30, 2019 | 5:25 AM

Vernon council deliberated on the location of new public washrooms on Monday and it appears Linear Park may be out, the transit stop on 31 Avenue is in, and the other location is yet to be determined.

A total of $365,000 was set aside in the 2019 financial plan to fund two public washrooms, but budget savings combined with reserve funding allows for a third facility.

One washroom on 30th Avenue is already operating, and on Monday council was tasked with determining the location of the other two facilities.

Staff proposed using the funds to place two public washrooms at the transit exchange. But following an outcry from those at the People Place, staff put forward a second option that included the cost of one washroom facility at the transit exchange and one at Linear Park.

During the meeting Councillors Scott Anderson, Kelly Fehr and Dalvir Nahal noted the importance of having the washrooms open in the evening and throughout the night to reduce the amount of public defecation on the streets.

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Coun. Kelly Fehr supports public washrooms at Linear Park — a location that had portable toilets removed by the contractor after concerns for employee safety.

“I think it is important that we have one by Linear. The purpose is to provide bathrooms for people who don’t have homes, who don’t have bathrooms. I think if we can spread those out, it gives people more options and takes away the need to relieve yourself in an alley,” he added.

As previously reported, city staff said they were against placing washrooms at Linear Park because of cost increases and unknown bylaw and RCMP expenses.

On Monday Coun. Dalvir Nahal opposed placing a washroom at Linear Park and suggested asking other agencies like Gateway to see if they would be willing to have one on their property.

“We have had complaints from residents and the other thing is during the day they can go to the Upper Room Mission or at night there’s one just a few blocks over. We don’t want people congregating at Linear Park, that’s the whole thing. We’ve had residents write letters and email us,” she said.

Coun. Akbal Mund echod Nahal’s idea and suggested asking the Upper Room Mission to see if they would be open to having a public washroom facility.

“Not only would it be cheaper but the services would be closer. That seems to be where most of the street entrenched population is. I know the People Place wants a bathroom close by in the area but that might be a possibility right on there,” Mund said.

Council ultimately decided to select the second option and Mayor Victor Cumming made a friendly amendment to decide on the location of the third washroom at a later date.

When asked her thoughts after the vote, Nahal told Vernon Matters more needs to be done to ensure the washrooms are open 24/7 to reduce public defecation on city streets.

“The whole point, which I expressed last council too, is where do people go to the bathroom after the Upper Room Mission closes or after the Portland Loo style washroom closes at 10 p.m.? Where do people go?” she said.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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