Three bids for restroom project
posted 01/14/04
Three companies submitted bids for the Town of Friday Harbor restroom process. The Town Council will consider the bids at its Jan. 15, 2004 meeting. The bids were:
- Stellar Jay: $277,145
- Bill Bailey Construction: $288,277
- Lowe Construction: $303,418
70 years and 18 days later
council approves restrooms
posted 10/03/03
Sunshine Alley will be the place to go next summer. Friday Harbor Town Council voted 3 to 1 to construct restroom facilities in the town-owned house in the alley. The vote took place 70 years and 18 days after Dr. B.J. Capron first proposed public restrooms in town on Sept. 14, 1933.
Councilmember Bill LaPorte said he has spent the past 10 years trying to move the project along. The most recent delay happened two weeks ago, when the council asked Friday Harbor businessman Gordy Peterson to rework a proposal. He had offered space in his new building at the corner of First and Spring Streets.
Peterson withdrew his offer. The discussion returned to building a restroom facility in the small house the town purchased in 1999. At the time of the purchase, the cost to build the restrooms was estimated by Town Building Inspector Jim Hodges to be $350,000. Town Administrator King Fitch told the council at its Oct. 2, 2003 meeting, a more accurate estimate is $170,000. The town will use hotel/motel funds it has set aside for the project.
Councilmembers Howie Rosenfeld, David Jones and LaPorte voted for the motion. Councilmember Wally Gillette voted no.
Gillette favored approval of Bruce Nelson's offer to have the restrooms in the Paradise Lanes Bowling Alley serve as the public restrooms. The other councilmembers were leery of a public/private partnership in light of the limitations re the use of the hotel/motel funds. Nelson said he understood. He will still offer the use of the bowling alley's restrooms to the public.
Decades-old restroom debate continues
posted 09/23/03
On Sept. 14, 1933, Dr. B.J. Capron appeared before the Friday Harbor Town Council with a proposal for establishing public restrooms. The council deferred the matter. Seventy years later, September 18, 2003, the council heard two businessmen's proposals for public restrooms. Again the matter was deferred.
Gordy Peterson proposed building restrooms at the parking level of his new building on the corner of First and Spring Streets. Vern Howard, owner of King's Market, relayed through Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld an offer to lease a corner of his parking lot for a restroom.
Both arrangements involved leases. Howard's was for $1 per year for 30 years. The council would build the facility in an 18 x 18 foot square.
Peterson's proposal would cost the town around $10,000 per year in a lease. The town would build the interior of the facility estimated to cost $85,000.
In the past, councils have rejected lease arrangments from the Pope family for facilities on Nickel's Walk; from Steve Demarest - under Friday's Historical Inn; Jeri Lawson - in Jeri's mall and from other business owners.
In 1999 the council purchased a small house on Sunshine Avenue to be converted into public restrooms. In November 2001 the council by unanimous consensus requested that progress begin on the restrooms in Sunshine Alley. Mayor Gary Boothman was to direct staff to proceed. Members present at that meeting were Carrie Brooks, Bill LaPorte, Vonda Sheiman, and Debbie Dickinson.
The mayor did not direct the staff to begin the project. Five months later, at the April 4, 2002, council meeting, Councilmember Bill LaPorte asked about progress. Boothman told him the project was on hold pending further site investigation.
Since 2001, Mayor Gary Boothman has been trying to put together a purchase of the old Browne Lumber building on Spring Street. One of the uses of the building would be for public restrooms.
The council's patience over the restroom issue appeared to be up at last week's meeting. LaPorte thanked Peterson for his proposal but said he didn't believe leasing was in the best interest of the taxpayer. "I still think the original plan for Sunshine Alley is the way to go."
Councilmember Wally Gillette preferred a facility on the street level of Peterson's building.
Brooks said, "I'm in the mood to get something done." She agreed to LaPorte's Sunshine Alley plan.
Councilmember David Jones also believed that leasing was the wrong way to go. "It is time to come to some closure. Nothing is the perfect answer," he said. "Go ahead with Sunshine Alley."
Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld agreed the Sunshine Alley location could work. "The thing that bothers me the most is, we are pretty much giving up on bathrooms at Browne Lumber property," he said.
Jones said Browne's could still be used for parking.
LaPorte had enough votes and it looked like a historic moment was at hand. Councilmembers joked that the honor of making the motion should go to LaPorte.
Then Gillette jumped in and made a motion to accept Peterson's offer. Rosenfeld seconded the motion for discussion purposes and the council returned to debating the issue.
At the end of the discussion, they asked Peterson to come to their next meeting with a proposal for a shared facility. The facility would be used by the restaurant in the building and by the public.
The council will resume discussion on the restroom issue October 2, 2003 - 70 years and 18 days after B.J. Capron's proposal.
Ferry agent asks for bathroom relief
posted 07/23/03
Mike Akin, contract agent for the Friday Harbor ferry terminal dropped a large industrial-size roll of toilet paper on the town council's table during their noon meeting on July 17, 2003. "I want to address the ongoing problem with trash and overuse of state facilities," he said. "We go through this every year. A roll of toilet paper would normally last two to three days in the ladies restroom. We're going through three rolls a day per stall when the Open Air Market is open."
The ferry terminal's trash receptacles are overflowing three or four times per day with the majority of the trash coming from the Open Air Market, he said. "It is hurting the image of Friday Harbor," he said. He questioned whether the Open Air Market has adequate trash receptacles and restrooms. "I understand their bathroom facility is locked up and only the chosen few get the key."
He suggested perhaps the other businesses could help clean the ferry terminal restrooms.
Akin made his comments during Public Access time which occurs at the beginning of the town council meeting. Mayor Gary Boothman told him town staff would check to see the town had adequate receptacles in the area. The council held its discussion on the topic at the end of the meeting during non-agenda time. Akin had returned to work and wasn't present for the council discussion.
Councilmember Carrie Brooks agreed bathrooms were a problem. Councilmember Wally Gillette asked if restaurants are required to provide restrooms.
Councilmember Bill LaPorte said there were restrooms at the Open Air Market. "All you have to do is ask for the key," he said. "Those are ferry customers using the ferry bathrooms. Who else is supposed to use them? He (Akin) is blaming the bathroom problem on Roger (Bennett, owner of the ice cream store), the Crab House and the Doctor's Office. For the traffic we have those restrooms are undersized. I don't know if it really is as it has been portrayed. Yes, we do have a bathroom problem around here."
Boothman said, "In fact, that is where most people recommend. They say there is a restroom down there at the ferries." Boothman noted there are also restrooms provided by the Port of Friday Harbor on Spring Street Landing.
Providing public restrooms has been on the town's to-do list for years. The town council purchased property in 1999 for public restrooms and has money set aside to construct the restrooms. The project has been stalled while the council pursues purchasing Browne Lumber's old site on Spring Street. In the meantime the town has rented porta-potties for use as public restrooms.
Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld said the construction of the town's public restrooms wouldn't alleviate the problem at the ferry terminal anyway. He suggested Akin put up signs directing people to the Spring Street Landing restrooms.
Porta-potties back again
posted 04/08/03
The high cost of a sewer hook-up, dysfunction among the mayor and council, and the inability of the new waste-water treatment plant to process septage mean a higher cost for providing restroom facilities for summer visitors this summer. Porta-potties will be placed in several locations in town and the septage will be shipped off-island for processing.
Councilmember Bill LaPorte expressed frustration at the situation. He said restrooms had been discussed for ten years. "Something is wrong, "he said. "Dysfunction is going on right here at this table." He noted he was referring to the mayor and the council not the staff members.
In 1999, the town purchased a small house on Sunshine Alley to be used for restrooms. The plans were delayed as Mayor Gary Boothman attempted to close a deal for Browne Lumber property on Spring Street. He would like to see the house sold and the proceeds and the funds set aside for construction of the restrooms used to help pay for the purchase of Brownes.
With negotiations still underway, Town Administrator King Fitch suggested the town lease restrooms which are in trailers. At the April 3, 2003 meeting, he asked for a final decision on siting of the trailers. Placing the trailer in the parking lot behind Town Hall was considered. Utlility Superintendent Mike Wilks said a sewer hookup would be needed there. The idea was dismissed partly because of the cost of the sewer hookup.
Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld brought up an idea he had offered in 2002. "I brought up the possibility of a stipend to anyone willing to open up private restrooms to the public," he said.
Councilmember Carrie Brooks said, "I would be supportive of that. We would need to do a lot of footwork and offer a good stipend."
Other councilmembers doubted any business would agree to provide the service and the idea was dropped.
Mayor Gary Boothman suggested the town just not provide restrooms this year. The council rejected that idea and decided porta-potties were the only solution.
Fitch said, "We (town waste-water treatment plant) can’t service portapotties. We honestly can’t service them. They would have to be hauled off island." The town stopped taking septage through its wastewater treatment plant earlier this year. Before the $8.6 million upgrade, septage was accepted at the plant.
The council directed Fitch to research the cost of porta-potties. The town may lease fewer porta-potties this summer because of the increased cost.
Councilmember Bill LaPorte said, "Let's not do this next year."
New idea for Friday Harbor restrooms
posted 04/19/02
Friday Harbor Town Councilmember Howie Rosenfeld floated an idea to reduce the town's "Sanican " image. He suggested the town might pay business owners who post signs saying they have public restrooms. Councilmember Bill LaPorte wondered if anyone would want to participate. The council was undecided about whether to pursue the idea.
Friday Harbor will use porta-potties for public restrooms again
posted 04/05/02
The Town of Friday Harbor will pay for porta-potties to be used for public restrooms again this summer. Construction of restrooms in the Sunshine Alley house purchased for that purpose in 1999 have been shelved. Mayor Gary Boothman said new councilmembers disagreed with the old council's plans.
Boothman wants the town to purchase the Browne Lumber site on Spring Street. Public restrooms, parking and office space could be located there he says. Talks are proceeding with the owners of Browne Lumber he told the council at the Thursday, April 4, 2002 meeting.
Friday Harbor will use porta-potties for public restrooms again
posted 04/05/02
The Town of Friday Harbor will pay for porta-potties to be used for public restrooms again this summer. Construction of restrooms in the Sunshine Alley house purchased for that purpose in 1999 have been shelved. Mayor Gary Boothman said new councilmembers disagreed with the old council's plans.
Boothman wants the town to purchase the Browne Lumber site on Spring Street. Public restrooms, parking and office space could be located there he says. Talks are proceeding with the owners of Browne Lumber he told the council at the Thursday, April 4, 2002 meeting.
No more porta-potties in town
posted 02-12-02
Porta-potties won't be placed around town to accommodate the needs of summer visitors this year. Instead the Town of Friday Harbor will provide regular bathrooms in trailers. One of the reasons for the change is the inability of the upgraded wastewater treatment plant to handle septage or porta-pottie pumpouts.
The town has provided porta-potties for the past several years due to a lack of enough public restrooms in town. In 1999, a building on Spring Street was purchased and designs drafted for conversion to public restrooms. Concerns by Councilmembers about the security of restrooms in Sunshine Alley and Mayor Gary Boothman's desire for the town to acquire the former Browne Lumber property have delayed the construction of restrooms.
The town council approved a $1.15 million offer for Browne's property in January, 2003. As of February 11, 2003 no reply had been received.
Goodbye porta-potties
posted 11/19/01
The little house in Sunshine Alley may become one of the most visited spots in Friday Harbor beginning next year. Construction of public restrooms in the building will begin after the project goes out to bid.
"It's a shame we're still using porta-potties,"Friday Harbor Town Councilmember Bill LaPorte said at the Nov. 15 meeting. "We should finish the project and be done with it."
The town purchased the building more than a year ago and plans were drawn up for the restrooms. More than $300,000 for the restrooms has been set aside from the hotel/motel tax money.
The project was put on hold while the council waited for clarification from the state about the use of the funds for the waste water treatment plant. At the same time, Mayor Gary Boothman floated the idea of buying Browne Lumber's site on Spring Street for use as parking, offices and public restrooms. One of the options would have been to sell the Sunshine Alley property and use the proceeds to help fund the Browne Lumber purchase.
Talks with the owners of Browne Lumber are continuing, but councilmembers expressed doubt a deal could be reached. "I think in future years we'll kick ourselves but we don't have the money," said Councilmember Vonda Sheiman.
The council unanimously agreed to proceed with the construction of the restrooms and told Boothman to wrap up talks with the owners of Browne Lumber by the end of the year.
Mayor suggests Browne's for parking
posted 05/09/01
Uses of hotel/motel 2-percent tax money are limited by the state legislature. Creation of parking lots and maintenance of public restrooms are allowed. Building a new wastewater treatment plant may or may not be an acceptable use.
Mayor Gary Boothman has asked the Town Council to consider acquiring Browne Lumber's site on Spring Street to use for parking, restrooms and offices for the town's land use department.
The council purchased a house on Sunshine Alley last year for use as a building for public restrooms. Reconstruction has been put on hold until the town receives a final decision from the state on acceptable uses of the town's hotel/motel money.
If the funds cannot be used for the sewer plant's expansion, Boothman says the funds would cover the cost of leasing with intent to purchase Browne's property. The town could sell the house and develop restrooms in Browne's building. He noted the property has access from Blair and Spring Streets. Employers could lease parking spaces for themselves or their employees, freeing up other parking for customers.
The town expects to receive a definitive yes or no answer soon from the state Attorney General about financing the sewer plant with hotel/motel funds. Once that issue is settled, the council can decide if they want to pursue Boothman's idea.
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