Public washroom (photo / City of Vernon)

By Kevin Rothwell

Hours to be cut back

Public washrooms repeatedly vandalized

Feb 22, 2021 | 6:12 PM

Repeated vandalism of downtown Vernon public washrooms cost taxpayers over $42,000 in additional expenses in 2020, plus hundreds of additional hours of bylaw enforcement.

Bylaw opened 85 files related to incidents ranging from fornication to people barricading themselves in the stalls.

The washrooms had to be taken out of service 52 times to be repaired after being trashed.

Vernon City Council has heeded a request from the Downtown Vernon Association (DVA) to cut back the hours the washrooms are open.

A letter from the DVA indicates business owners are reporting less feces around their properties since the washrooms were put in place.

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“We really haven’t seen the benefits of having it open 20 hours a day. I have spoken to a lot of businesses near the downtown washroom and they still come to work and find surprises on their doorstep.” Coun. Dalvir Nahal said.

The two near the transit terminal will be open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., instead of 24 hours a day, while the washroom at 35th Street and 30th Avenue will remain open 24 hours.

Plugged washroom toilet (photo /City of Vernon)

The vote was 6-1 with Coun. Kelly Fehr opposed to the move.

“Taking away bathrooms for people that don’t have a home is absolutely inhumane,” Fehr said. “I deeply respect the DVA, but I think their letter is nothing more than discriminating against people living in poverty.”

“Vandalism, fornication and graffiti are not basic human rights,” Nahal fired back.

The three washrooms cost $380,000 to construct and over $90,000 a year to operate, excluding the cost of the vandalism.

Security patrols will be reviewed and staff will report back in June and October to determine if the change in operational hours impacts the level of vandalism.