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City hasn't flushed Rotary's public toilet idea

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In an effort to clean up public urination in downtown Yellowknife, a service club floated the idea of building a public washroom at a high-profile location.

And the Rotary Club of Yellowknife is still waiting to hear back from city council, which heard of the plan in January and had some concerns over the cost and location.

SA国际影视传媒淲e're taking a number of things into consideration, including the possible location, ongoing operating costs, how to address safety, and is a stand-alone washroom the best model for Yellowknife?SA国际影视传媒 Mayor Mark Heyck told Yellowknifer on Wednesday.

SA国际影视传媒淲e're also currently considering the future use of the 50/50 lot, which creates some uncertainty if we were looking to locate a washroom.SA国际影视传媒

The City of Yellowknife is offering a $500 incentive for any business who opens up their washrooms to the public.
Michael Hugall/NNSL photo

Heyck said council has not taken a definite position on whether or not they would build a public washroom in the city.

In the interim, SA国际影视传媒渨e're continuing to look at ways to let the public know about the availability and locations of washrooms,SA国际影视传媒 he said.

During the summer months, Somba K'e Civic Plaza washrooms are open to the public.

As well, all city-operated buildings are supposed to offer bathroom access to people who need it, said city communications officer Iman Kassam.

Those restrooms are looked after by city workers.

The Rotary Club of Yellowknife under former president Kam Hogan wanted to open the facility on the corner of 50 Street and 50 Avenue this summer. The service club, along with Williams Engineering Canada and Guy Architects offered a total $100,000 in resources for the public washroom, said Wayne Guy.

In addition Guy Architects would offer planning services. Williams Engineering would supply mechanical and electrical services.

The group made a presentation to council in January but Guy said they have not heard back.

SA国际影视传媒淲e think a public washroom would be a positive addition to Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e were hoping to begin the process of building it this summer.

Meanwhile, the city is again offering an incentive for local businesses to open their washroom for public use.

The program is designed to increase the amount and accessibility to public washrooms in the downtown area.

Businesses are offered $500 to participate. As of April 10, no business had applied for the washroom incentive this year.

Part of the incentive requires businesses to keep a sign on their front door.

Birchwood Coffee Ko owner Patrick Scott said having a sign outside would "make it difficult to manage the intoxicated people who come in,' to his 49 Street business.

SA国际影视传媒淪ometimes it can be a nuisance ... we are not isolating homeless people, it's the intoxicated people who are difficult," he said.

Scott said there is a misconception to the lack of available washrooms in businesses.

SA国际影视传媒淭here are a lot of accessible washrooms, but in order to use them you need to ask for a key ... even I feel uncomfortable asking for a key,SA国际影视传媒 said Scott. SA国际影视传媒淔or the homeless, keeping their dignity is important. I keep my bathrooms unlocked for anyone to use.SA国际影视传媒

Twist & Shout Bar owner Jason Perrinos said although he applied for the city's $500 incentive last year SA国际影视传媒 the only business to do so in 2017 SA国际影视传媒 his building has always offered public washrooms to homeless people.

SA国际影视传媒淪ince January 2015 we've always had our bathroom doors open to the public,SA国际影视传媒 said Perrinos, who insisted it doesn't make Twist special.

SA国际影视传媒淪ome Yellowknife residents have the attitude that if you're down on your luck it's your own fault."

"Some think 'When you are poor, you made your own choices and you deserve what you get' that's the real problem.'"

Perrinos said since he opened Twist's bathroom to the public he has not encountered any problems.

SA国际影视传媒淣o messes to clean up and no drugs to be found,SA国际影视传媒 he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t is part of our license to monitor the building so when I make my rounds I check all of the doors, including the washroom. When people come in they know we are watching.SA国际影视传媒





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