Flushed: Needle threats put toilet reinstallment down the drain

Oct 16, 2019 | 6:00 AM

Following an outcry over the removal of porta potties at the edge of Linear Park, the People Place has seen its hopes for the reinstallment of the toilets flushed by city council.

The porta potties were removed by city staff at the beginning of October to make way for the new downtown washroom facility on 30th Avenue and 35^th Street

But the removal of the toilets, according to People Place staff, led to an influx of street entrenched relying on their washrooms.

“We require that these folks leave any backpacks, bags or whatever they are carrying with them in our office, and we make it clear that we will be checking on them after five minutes and telling them they need to exit the washroom. lf they do not exit when asked, we tell them they will not be allowed to use our facilities again. The problem is, if we refuse to let them use our facilities, they simply go outside and urinate/defecate against the building,” said Elaine Collison, People Place General Manager in a letter to council.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Coun. Scott Anderson and Coun. Kelly Fehr expressed support for the porta potties.

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But Anderson asked council to defer discussing the toilets until more details are known from bylaw about complaints.

“If there are no issues with it, I’m not against bringing back these bathrooms. The ones that we built are way across the town and they are closed at 9 p.m. They don’t really serve the same purpose, so if there is an issue of people defecating at the People Place, I think we should continue these.”

Coun. Brian Quiring, on the other hand, didn’t think a report from bylaw was necessary and put forward a motion to reinstall one of the two porta potties until December 15.

‘’I would just like to move that we replace one as opposed to two, they had two all summer. They are asking for one so I think one would be sufficient,” said Quiring.

But others on council worried that the porta potties may recirculate ongoing issues with drug activity and crime in the area.

“I’m just a little worried that we are not providing solutions, and that’s what the ultimate goal is,” said Coun. Dalvir Nahal.

While little issues were noted by bylaw, Operations Services director Shirley Koenig revealed recent issues with employee safety, later noting that employees contracted to clean the toilets were threatened by needles.

“Well that puts a new face on it then,” remarked Coun. Anderson

Koenig also advised that because of the most recent issues, a new service provider would need to be hired to complete the work, should the toilets get reinstalled.

Staff also said that a chain used to hoist the porta potties upright was stolen from the site.

Prior to coming to a vote, Anderson stated his change in tune on the matter.

“In lieu of the fact that people were threatened with needles and a chain was stolen and we haven’t heard what else — there’s probably more — I’m going to change my vote to no on this,” Anderson said.

Others followed suit, with councillors Mund, Gares and Nahal bringing the motion to defeat.

by Tiffany Goodwein

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