Staff proposes permanent restroom upgrades at Bettendorf golf course; council keeps $180,000 project on consent

City staff outlined plans to replace two existing pit restrooms and two porta‑potties at the municipal golf course with three permanent restroom facilities that would include running water, electricity and automated locking. The proposal, discussed May 5 at the Committee of the Whole, would site the new units near existing sewer mains to avoid expensive water tap work and to allow gravity connection into the city sewer system rather than pump‑out service.

Public Works staff said the improvements would cost about $180,000 and that the project is on budget; they characterized the upgrade as a high‑value comfort and amenity improvement for golfers and said automatic locks would limit overnight vandalism. Councilmember Greg Adamson and others confirmed the three permanent units would replace the two pit restrooms and two porta‑potties currently on the course and that the units would be capitalized as equipment in the golf enterprise fund and depreciated.

Staff noted that if the council prefers to keep the current porta‑potties the city could do so, but recommended the permanent facilities as a single‑largest upgrade for the course and said the project is on track to remain within the budgeted amount. The committee left the item on the consent agenda for formal council action the next evening.

Why it matters: permanent restroom facilities improve course amenities, eliminate recurring porta‑potty costs and affect enterprise fund capital accounting; site selection and connections to sewer mains reduce pumping and maintenance costs.

What happens next: the $180,000 restroom project will be listed on the council consent agenda for the next regular meeting.