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Commission approves purchase of Portland Loo and temporary porta‑johns for downtown restrooms
Summary
The commission approved a sole‑source purchase to acquire a Portland Loo restroom and directed temporary portable toilets at three downtown locations while staff completes site evaluations for permanent installations; the city said $600,000 was allocated in 2024 for downtown public restrooms and related work
The Kalamazoo City Commission on Monday approved a sole‑source purchase with Madden Fabrication for a Portland Loo public restroom and authorized temporary portable toilets at downtown sites while staff completes design and site‑selection work.
What the commission voted: Commissioners approved a contract to procure a Portland Loo unit at a cost the city reported as $196,955 and directed staff to deploy temporary porta‑johns starting June 6 at three locations: 510 North Burdick Street, Bronson Park (Academy Street side) and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park. The city reported a 2024 allocation of $600,000 for downtown restroom projects; staff said that budget will cover procurement, site work and temporary units.
Why it matters: Downtown advocates and businesses have long urged more public restroom access. City staff and downtown ambassadors told commissioners the temporary locations will provide immediate relief and generate operational data to inform permanent siting decisions and utility design.
Site selection and timeline: Director Baker, public services director, said staff is preparing detailed utility and constructability drawings for several candidate permanent sites, including a city lot near Bates Alley, a Kalamazoo Mall location near Public Safety, a Lehigh Street alley site by the Epic ramp, and Lot 9 on Water Street. He described a 37‑week project schedule once a permanent site is selected and noted the Portland Loo itself has an 18‑week lead time from manufacturer. Staff said the goal is to have the unit available in early October if the order is placed and site work proceeds on schedule.
Operations and maintenance: Staff told commissioners permanent installations will require utility connections, stormwater and foundation work, and recorded stormwater maintenance agreements where required. The temporary porta‑johns will be serviced and include small dumpsters; ambassador reports and service logs will help staff evaluate demand and effects on downtown cleanliness and human‑waste incidents.
Commission and public comment: Commissioners thanked public‑services staff and downtown ambassadors for the work. Several commissioners noted that the temporary program and the permanent procurement aim to address dignity and public‑health concerns. Vice Mayor Hess singled out the ambassadors’ ongoing downtown work as “instrumental.”
Budget and contingencies: Staff said installing a single Portland Loo (unit plus site work) could approach the city’s available budget depending on site‑specific construction needs. The commission approved procurement to lock pricing and start the lead time.
Next steps: Staff will complete detailed utility evaluations for candidate permanent sites, share findings with the Downtown Development Authority and other partners, and return with bid and construction recommendations. Temporary porta‑johns will remain in place while staff gathers data and proceeds with site selection and construction planning.
