Move over porta-potties, trailer toilets coming to Edmonton this summer
CBC
Edmonton is opening the door to a new temporary public washroom realm, as it prepares to install trailer-style toilets this spring, instead of placing porta-potties in key downtown locations like it did last summer.
The city released an update on its washroom strategy Thursday, which will be discussed at council's community and public services committee Jan. 17.
Puneeta McBryan, executive director of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, is grateful for the upgrade from the porta-potties.
"We need these washrooms to be safe and appealing and well-maintained for everyone," McBryan said Thursday. "I'm hoping that members of the public, regardless of who they are, are going to be willing and comfortable to use them."
McByran said that last year, some patrons were aggressive toward attendants and using drugs in the porta-potties, which were set up while other places like libraries and restaurants were closed to the public.
She was hoping for at least one permanent washroom downtown in 2022, noting that the trailers are not ideal.
"It's really hard to maintain visibility and safety when you've got this opaque, very private environment that we're tasking these washroom attendants to kind of keep an eye on."
The city's long-term plan to establish permanent public washrooms in high-traffic areas and administration plans to present the estimated costs to do that later this year, in preparation for the 2023-2026 budget cycle.
But this year, the city has earmarked $2.26 million to install the trailers, although it's not clear how many trailers that will get.
In the operating budget passed in December, council also approved $3.6 million to support initiatives related to providing safe, clean and well-managed washroom facilities.
Those include attendants at three locations for another year: Churchill Square, Whyte Avenue and Borden Park.
The funding allows the city to hire a dedicated public washroom coordinator in 2022, to liaise with local businesses on the challenges they face and lead the washroom strategy and its goals.
Coun. Anne Stevenson said she believes it's a step in the right direction.
"The washroom strategy is really transitioning from temporary usage to this permanent facility," Stevenson said in an interview Thursday.
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