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Everett committee hears staff explanation for delayed portable toilet serving community garden; three items referred back to sponsors
Summary
The Everett City committee was told a vendor error canceled an initial May 6 portable-toilet order for the Everett Community Growers, delaying delivery until May 23. The committee referred all three agenda items back to their sponsors and asked City Services to follow up.
The Everett City Council Committee on Government Operation, Public Safety and Public Service heard on June 17 that a vendor error — not a city failure to place an order — delayed delivery of a portable toilet requested for the Everett Community Growers.
Aaron Devaney, identified in the meeting transcript as the city’s chief of staff, told the committee the council’s request to City Services was received on April 24 and that the order was placed with the vendor on May 6. "The order for the portable toilet was placed with the vendor on May 6th," Devaney said. He said a vendor representative later performed a site visit and, when entering GPS coordinates to indicate placement, "inadvertently canceled the initial order that should have been delivered on May 17th." Devaney said City Services discovered the error during follow-up and the equipment was delivered to the site on May 23.
A committee sponsor said he had told constituents and the Everett Community Growers the request began on April 24 and that he expected the toilet "in a week," and pressed staff for clarity about the timeline. Devaney reiterated the sequence in response and noted there was e-mail communication between the city business manager and the vendor before delivery.
Councilor Garcia asked who is responsible for routine maintenance of the unit. Devaney said the vendor is responsible for cleaning, emptying and supplying the unit and said residents should report problems to 311 so City Services can follow up with the vendor.
The committee also handled two other items on the agenda: a request that the chair of the zoning board of appeals appear to provide two years of variances and denials data, and a request for the DPW (City Services) director to explain maintenance of city islands and parks. For all three agenda items the committee voted to "refer the item back to the sponsor," according to the meeting record; the transcript does not include a recorded roll-call tally.
No formal ordinance or policy change was adopted at the meeting. The items were returned to their sponsors for additional information or follow-up; the committee directed City Services to continue coordinating with the vendor and to rely on 311 reports for community complaints.
