Port and city clarify RCO restroom requirements; draft lease and parking near Muriel Iverson Park in discussion

Port and City officials said they are following Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant conditions that require public access to the waterfront restrooms built under the grant, and they are negotiating a draft lease that would govern parking near the Muriel Iverson Waterfront Park restrooms.

Why this matters: The RCO grant was raised during the meeting as the reason restroom access must be available to the public. Port manager James Weaver and city staff said they have clarified RCO rules in a meeting with RCO staff and that restroom access during business hours is required under the grant terms.

Port and city staff described operational compromises used to protect transient-berth users’ privacy while satisfying grant requirements. The port said the restroom code is available from the port office during business hours and that staff rotate the access code weekly to deter misuse. City and port staff said RCO staff accepted signage as an appropriate compromise during the grant renewal review.

At the same time, the city said it is exploring a draft lease with the port that would allow the city to manage several curbside parking spaces near the restrooms and Waterfront Park to reconcile port operations with the RCO grant’s public-access intent. City administrator Rob Gelder said staff expect to circulate a draft lease for port review soon.

Next steps: staff said they will circulate the draft lease to port commissioners for comment and continue to coordinate on signage, code access procedures and parking management so the port remains compliant with the RCO grant while protecting privacy and operational needs.