Committee discusses 'Portland Loo' purchase and requests cost and maintenance estimates

Infrastructure committee members discussed a nonaction item on July 21 concerning purchase and installation of permanent public toilets (often called the Portland Loo) for downtown and event use. Staff presented a vendor quote and described optional cold‑weather upgrades and shipping; one estimate noted a total of roughly $308,000 if two units with upgrades were procured.

Committee members asked whether double (two‑person) units exist or whether single‑occupancy units are sited back‑to‑back or side‑by‑side. Staff said most Portland units are single‑occupancy and that the city would plumb them into the municipal water and sewer system for a permanent installation. "The intent was that these would be plumbed into the city water and sewer system so they would be permanent," a staff member said.

Councilors requested additional detail before any purchase: whether a factory-made double unit exists, whether units are movable, a baseline estimate of installation and crane/unloading costs, and ongoing maintenance and cleaning frequency and costs. Staff said they would obtain engineering estimates for sewer/water/power connections and produce an estimated cost per service visit so the city can budget maintenance (for example, once daily versus multiple times per day during events).

The committee did not vote on procurement; members asked staff to return with cost estimates, maintenance plans and placement recommendations, and to coordinate with parks/recreation on daily cleaning or contract staffing for maintenance.