Lewiston officials consider adding several public restrooms

Apr. 23—LEWISTON — The city is considering adding seven public restrooms spread between the downtown and recreational areas in response to continued complaints from business owners and a lack of restrooms during public events.

During a budget workshop earlier this month, the City Council debated a proposal to spend $350,000 on seven restroom units, plus an additional $84,000 annually for a Public Works employee to maintain them.

The proposed locations listed by Public Works include next to the Oak Street Garage, Lincoln Street, and locations near Simard-Payne Memorial, Sunnyside, Pettingill School, Lionel Potvin, and Mike McGraw parks.

The issue has been discussed by city officials for years, but the high price tag of an earlier proposal led the previous council to scrap a project. Officials say they continue to receive complaints from businesses and other property owners about entryways or alleyways being used as bathrooms.

City Administrator Brian O'Malley said Public Works staff has since visited Portland, which has more than a dozen of the same public restrooms across the city. The units do not have running water, but are stocked with paper products, hand sanitizer, and sharps collection boxes, and are cleaned and sanitized at least once daily.

The previous proposal considered in Lewiston would have cost roughly $300,000 for a single restroom connected to utilities.

According to the city of Portland, 13 of the bathrooms have been installed over the past three years, and five more are being installed. The locations, like the proposal in Lewiston, are a mix of downtown areas and public parks.

During the council workshop April 11, O'Malley said stairwells in parking garages and entryways to businesses on Lisbon Street are consistently being used as public restrooms. He said while bathrooms at the Lewiston Public Library and City Hall are sometimes available, it's not enough.

"I think it's well worth the money for our businesses," he said.

While the majority of the council appeared to be in favor of funding the project, Councilor Josh Nagine said the issue of public urination and defecation "is a symptom and not the actual problem."

"The problem is unhoused individuals don't have access to a bathroom," he said, adding that he's concerned for spending funds on this instead of addressing the root causes.

"A toilet is not going to fix a dead downtown," he said. "At some point in time, we really need to think about what we're doing to develop our downtown spaces, because we are part of the reason why it's becoming empty."

In 2021, portable toilets were placed in two downtown locations, including Kennedy Park, but were removed earlier than planned due to vandalism.

O'Malley said the need for public restrooms applies to the general public, because the city doesn't have any public restrooms for visitors.

Councilor Susan Longchamps said that while she was initially opposed to public bathrooms due to concerns for overdoses and cleanliness, "there is a huge issue."

Council President Scott Harriman said recent conversations with businesses that have left the downtown have made it clear to him it's a problem. He named Tracy Jeans and Rusty Bus Brewing as examples.

"We need to have facilities, and they're not here," Councilor David Chittim said.

Mayor Carl Sheline said he's dealt with the issue personally at his downtown business, and supports the addition of the restrooms.

"We need to move past this medieval way of thinking and start acknowledging that public bathrooms are a basic human right," he said. "From our unhoused neighbors to families who need to use the bathroom while enjoying a city park, this investment is long overdue."

During the workshop, Nagine said the restrooms should be "for the whole community" and placed at existing amenities.

"It should be used by all folks and be in a place where everyone can use it," he said.

The council is expected to discuss the issue again Tuesday or Thursday, when they would make a decision whether to include it in next year's proposed budget.

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