Council committee advances motion to boost visibility of wheelchair‑accessible portable restrooms at public events

President Pro Tem Victoria Parks told the Healthy Neighborhoods Committee she had met with advocates from Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled (LAD) who said wheelchair users could not find or access appropriate portable restrooms at large events such as the Flying Pig Marathon.

“These accessible units provide a safe, comfortable and dignified experience for all attendees,” Parks said, urging the city to adopt requirements that improve access and visibility of accessible portable restrooms at public events.

Parks said city staff, LAD, the accessibility board of advisors and the Office of Aging and Accessibility worked on suggested steps to increase availability at festivals, sports events and outdoor activities. Council member Scottie Johnson voiced support for the motion, praising Parks’s “heart of compassion and care.”

The committee advanced the motion "without objection" so the administration can prepare the language and next steps for formal consideration. No ordinance or binding standard was adopted at this meeting; the committee moved the item forward for passage at a future session.

Why it matters: Committee members framed the change as removing a practical barrier that can prevent residents with mobility challenges from attending public events. The request asks the administration to craft requirements and guidance that event organizers would follow so wheelchair users have usable restroom facilities.