Image Credit: PEXELS

KAMLOOPS - Kamloops city council has approved funding and found community partners to help maintain two new public washrooms downtown.

The new washrooms will be located on Victoria Street, according to staff report from an in camera, or private council meeting. They will be open to the public between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m., seven days per week. The washroom at 103-340 Victoria Street will be overseen by Kamloops Central Business Improvement Association, and the 48 Victoria Street West location will be maintained by Kamloops Aboriginal Friendship Society.

After the city deemed the Portland Loo-style community washroom to be unsuitable for Kamloops winters, the Community and Protective Services department has been trying to find a better alternative.

At a closed council meeting on Sept. 18, 2018, the previous council approved increasing the Business Improvement Association's service agreement by $12,000 annually for two years to allow them to "relocate to another location," the report says. The capital construction costs are estimated at $150,000 with a projected annual maintenance cost off $20,000 per year.

At the Oct. 16, 2018 closed council meeting the City approved a capital construction cost estimate of $210,000 for the Aboriginal Friendship Society's public washroom, with a 40 per cent contingency. In addition they expect an annual maintenance cost of $20,000 per year for two years to renovate and clean the space.

Council has also authorized funding for a third community washroom, but city staff are still working with their community partners to find a suitable location on the North Shore.

The report cites two main benefits of adding public washrooms. It says these facilities "provide dignity as people need privacy and a place for personal cleanliness" and that they could help businesses see a decrease in cleaning costs associated with people using their washrooms.

Gotta go? Go here to see a map of public washrooms in Kamloops.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shelby Thevenot or call (250) 819-6089 or email the editor You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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