Council to move Benroost skate‑park restroom design to consent after debate on cost and ADA access

Parks Director Matthew Vokes presented updated designs and cost estimates for the Benroost skate park restroom, parking lot and pump‑track area at the Anacortes City Council meeting on June 2. Council indicated broad support for moving the design contract to the consent agenda, while reserving final approval for the completed design and budget.

The issue centers on two prefabricated restroom options and site layout: a Portland Loo model and a CXT modular restroom. Vokes told council staff had checked with the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), which said two Portland Loos would be an acceptable replacement for the existing facility, but added a caveat: "the current Portland Loo unit does not meet the required turning radius for wheelchairs in the state of Washington." He said Portland Loo manufacturers are working on a revised model but that the larger, ADA‑compliant version could cost substantially more.

Vokes summarized cost estimates presented to council: the newer Portland Loo variant would be roughly in the range of $200,000 per unit delivered with the extras staff recommended; the CXT option — the modular unit the city has used elsewhere — was estimated at roughly $175,000 for site delivery and outfitting. Vokes said those figures reflected vendor estimates and additional groundwork costs.

Councilmembers framed their concerns around three factors: safety, utility (including ADA access), and cost. Councilmember Young said the data presented showed comparatively few safety incidents tied to the restroom itself and urged balance between accessibility and fiscal prudence. Councilmember Fantini said public input was split but noted that the CXT option “is a much more responsible fiscal decision” at current estimates. Councilmember McGrath noted user experience at other local Portland Loo installations but said the lack of ADA turning‑radius compliance with the current Loo design was problematic.

Several councilmembers asked staff to incorporate Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles — such as sight lines, lighting, and low‑growing vegetation — when finalizing orientation and landscaping. Vokes said staff will include orientation and sight‑line considerations in the final design and will return with a finalized site plan and costed contract for council review.

On funding, councilmembers referred to the existing appropriation for this phase of the skate‑park work. Vokes said about $700,000 had been set aside for phase two of the skate‑park project; that figure covers lot construction, restroom installation and other site improvements. Council signaled support for bringing the design contract back on consent for authorization to proceed with engineering and detailed design, subject to final budget reconciliation.

The council did not take an immediate binding vote on construction; the direction was procedural: authorize the design contract on consent in the near term and return to council with final design, exact bid prices and any adjustments needed before moving to construction.