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Boys & Girls Clubs of Lewis‑Clark Valley reports rising participation, defends restroom design and security measures
Summary
At a Lewiston City Council meeting, Boys & Girls Clubs Executive Director John Evans reported membership and program counts tied to the city contract, described restroom design and surveillance measures, and said Nez Perce County discontinued funding two years ago.
John Evans, executive director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lewis‑Clark Valley, told the Lewiston City Council on April 28 that the club’s programs provided services to city residents and that participation numbers tied to a city services agreement had increased.
Evans said the club served 1,604 youth participants through the city‑funded programs and counted 2,172 members who are city residents. “For each one of those programs [the council has] the number of participants that we had, and those are all city residents,” Evans said.
The report was presented as part of the club’s annual accounting tied to the City of Lewiston service agreement. Evans also described facility uses and partnerships, including space provided for adult volleyball and basketball and an on‑site podcast studio that will host a series involving the police department.
Council members asked about funding and facility operations. Evans said the organization previously received support from Nez Perce County but “they discontinued that support two years ago.” Councilor Specklemeyer asked whether funding had been sought from neighboring counties; Evans said the club had been in the county budget for close to 20 years but was recently told funding would be diverted to another entity.
Evans answered a series of questions about restroom design and supervision after council members raised concerns about public misunderstandings. He described the Schweitzer Clubhouse restrooms as individual, fully enclosed units with doors and said staff monitor use from outside the individual stalls. “Because they’re individual restrooms with their own doors, we can actually have a staff member outside because technically they’re not inside the restroom and we’re able to monitor and supervise,” Evans said. He added that since the Schweitzer Clubhouse opened in August, “we have yet to have a single incident in our restrooms in that particular” facility.
The director also discussed theft and behavior policies, saying the club’s membership handbook and policies outline consequences that range from single‑day suspensions to permanent dismissal depending on severity, and that the club has rolled out camera and video surveillance at the Schweitzer Clubhouse as a deterrent and investigative tool.
Evans flagged several upcoming community events hosted by the club and asked council members to refer groups seeking meeting or event space to the club. He singled out a May 6 breakfast honoring Dr. Ed and Beatrice Schweitzer that will feature TV and Broadway performer Mary Lou Henner.
Councilors complimented the facility and thanked Evans for the update. No council action was taken on the presentation.
