Kamloops has been denied grant funding of $1 million to build new public washrooms.
Through grant funding available from the Union of BC Municipalities, the city had applied in April for $2.5 million, to build new Portland Loo-style public washrooms, fencing along the CN Rail lines from Mission Flats Road to the city centre, to hire up to two security guards and two community service officers, and to buy a mobile washroom building with shower facilities.
The city’s community development manager Barbara Berger says part of the application was denied because it would’ve been tied to new operational costs.
“We were, initially, looking at two kind of more permanent structures. Like Portland Loos. We moved off of that to more kind of temporary structures. But the criteria with this application was whatever infrastructure you applied for, it could not be tied to any kind of operating expense,” Berger says.
“Whether or not we can reapply for funds that, potentially, are all tied to temporary programs. Security, outreach, things like that are what we could explore. But that was where our application was denied.”
Councillor Denis Walsh said other communities including Kelowna and Vernon applied for the same grant funding through the UBCM and received the full amounts they were eligible for, based on their populations.
Kamloops did receive a portion of what it was eligible for, being approved for $1.47 million in grants to spend on a number of matters related to social issues.
Those include community cleanups and maintaining sharps bins, and training people who interact with residents on the street. The money will also help hire additional community service officers for one year, and the city will review those positions before the term is up. Other funds from that grant will also reimburse the city for spending during the pandemic for providing security and other health and safety measures for vulnerable residents.
There was no mention of the grant covering costs for security guards, or fencing along the rail line, as had been discussed in April. Mayor mayor Ken Christian mentioned the mobile washroom and shower facility was dropped from the application because of operational costs, the same reason as the Portland Loo-style washrooms.
Councillor Bill Sarai says there remains a need for more public washrooms for marginalized residents. He suggested bringing in portapotties on a short-term basis.
“Individuals shouldn’t have to be going to the bathroom out in the street or in front of someone’s business. And I think we have to do something until a long term solution is made. We haven’t done anything in the short term and I think we should be looking at that as well.”
Community and protective services director Byron McCorkell says the city could explore how, and where, to add more public washrooms at council’s direction. He says more than 20 are already open in different parts of town.
“There is difficulties on Victoria Street with the ones that we have, because of vandalism. It’s not because we don’t want them open, it’s because we just can’t seem to keep them open. The North Shore side, Tranquille, the bus exchange there, has no serviceable access points for us. So we have no ability to put a washroom there.”
Christian says there needs to be supervision for public washrooms to prevent vandalism.
“You must have attendance there to maintain the facility and the behaviours that can occur within the facility. And that, I think we’ve proven on Victoria Street, to our own expense.”
