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Council weighs $325,000 appropriation for prefab restroom at West State Park amid cost and maintenance concerns
Summary
Council heard debate over a $325,000 appropriation for a prefabricated, accessible restroom at West State Park. Concerns included per-square-foot cost, whether local contractors could build cheaper, hurricane/flood design, cleaning schedule and whether suspension of rules should be used.
Council members debated whether to appropriate $325,000 for a new prefabricated accessible restroom at West State Park during the City and Safety Services Committee on Monday, Aug. 4.
The ordinance introduced for first reading would increase the project appropriation by $325,000 to cover a prefabricated building ($250,000) and site preparation ($75,000). The proposed facility is described by administration as four single-user accessible restrooms with baby-changing tables, one adult-size universal changing table, a drinking fountain and flood venting.
“It's my understanding we're gonna have to suspend the rules this evening without that answer. Not a good practice,” Council Member Swank said after asking whether cleaning during the season would be daily. The parks director said seasonal employees typically clean park restrooms daily but promised to confirm and send a definitive cleaning schedule.
Council Member Swank raised cost concerns, citing the building’s 520-square-foot footprint and saying the price equates to about $625 per square foot. “Why couldn't we just build this ourselves using local contractors, employing local people, and keeping the money local? This seems like an exorbitant amount of money for a prefab building,” Swank said.
Administration responded that bids for stick-built construction came in far above estimates and that the city had put the project out to bid three times; in some instances staff received no bids. “We bid this 3 times and nobody — no local contractor was interested in doing it for remotely close to the cost that was the design cost,” Director Stone said. He added the prefab option included site preparation and plumbing under the building and was selected after evaluating cost and availability.
Other council members argued the structure would be an improvement over seasonal porta-potties and that the project had been planned for several years; the mayor and staff said the purchase order closed inadvertently at the end of the prior year and a reappropriation is needed to meet manufacturing and installation timelines so the restroom can be installed this fall.
No suspension to pass the ordinance was taken Monday; the ordinance was read for first reading and council requested additional information about cleaning schedules and clarification of procurement options before any suspension or final vote.
What’s next: Administration will answer questions on cleaning frequency and circulate additional procurement information; the ordinance will return for a subsequent council reading where council may consider suspending rules to meet manufacturing/installation timelines.
