Trailer-style washrooms, like the one shown here in Denver, Colorado, will be rented by The City of Red Deer as part of a pilot project in 2022. (The City of Red Deer)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

when ya gotta go

Pilot project aims to provide washroom access downtown

Mar 1, 2021 | 5:55 PM

A permanent washroom facility planned for downtown isn’t going ahead, but increased access in the area is still a priority for The City of Red Deer.

City council had tabled a $512,000 request presented during 2021/2022 budget talks, money which would have gone towards constructing such a facility in order to address complaints about a lack of publicly accessible washrooms in the area.

Sarah Tittemore, Community Services GM, says while those complaints are plentiful, data needed to determine a location, hours of operation, who’d use it, and how it could be utilized safely during the pandemic, is unavailable. Much of the feedback on this matter was gathered during The City’s Crime and Community Safety engagements (about a year ago).”

The budget request has been withdrawn, and in its place is a hybrid two-year pilot project council approved on Monday.

The first aspect will see The City provide responsive service with portable toilets during events such as Ross Street Patio, Wednesday market on Little Gaetz and others extending into Capstone for 2021. In 2022, at a cost of $45,000, The City will install trailer-style washrooms in various locations with the goal of assessing which may work best for something permanent. It will be operational eight hours per day, five days per week, though exact times may vary and are yet to be determined.

Nov. 28

Workshop coming to Red Deer for cow-calf producers on data literacy

Nov 22, 2024

gun fired

Ponoka RCMP arrest two people in rural area, warn residents of taking matters into their own hands

Nov 22, 2024

Firearm possession

Red Deer RCMP arrest Stettler man for possession of multiple weapons

Nov 22, 2024

The 2021 portion will utilize, “already approved operating funding to be responsive in addressing washroom demand in [the downtown] on a case-by-case basis, within the changing parameters of COVID-related public health orders,” says Tittemore in an agenda report.

“It should be noted that there are other publicly accessible washrooms in this area offered by other private and not-for-profit operators in non-COVID years.”

Four seasonal and one year-round washrooms are already operated by The City in the greater downtown area during the warmer months.

Turning Point Executive Director, Stacey Carmichael, notes a lack of washroom access downtown has been a problem for years.

“There have been a lot of conversations, but not a lot of action. It’s even worse now with COVID. Not everyone can go to Safe Harbour or The Mustard Seed,” she says. “Also, a supervised consumption site would have had bathrooms for the folks who typically have problems accessing one, and there there are none overnight anywhere.”

Tittemore says while the pilot won’t address overnight need, it is The City’s hope that as the more systemic issue of housing and shelter is addressed, the need for people to find a facility overnight will be alleviated.

Administration’s initial recommendation was to run a pilot project which would see the reopening of a washroom in Centennial Plaza Park nearby the downtown McDonald’s. With the exception of Councillor Frank Wong, the rest of council agreed that would not be ideal given the facility was shut down in 2016 and a solid plan doesn’t yet exist to prevent the same antisocial behaviours from occurring there again.

Funding for revitalization of that area along 52 Avenue between 45 Street and 48 Street is in the capital plan for 2023.

Another option was to increase operating hours at Sorenson Station’s year-round washroom for $180,000.

Tittemore concluded that the options council went with will allow The City to collect the necessary data to determine a future permanent solution. She also noted that complaints about human waste have been down over the past year, but it’s unclear whether that’s because more people are in the temporary shelter, or if less people are Downtown to report it.

“This discussion is around a basic human need,” said Councillor Tanya Handley. “We scratch our heads as to why we have this problem with having to clean up waste and so on, and I can’t think of too much that is more dehumanizing than that being a person’s only option at some point in their life.”

Next steps will be brought forward during the 2023+ budget cycle.