Los Gatos is one step closer to having a permanent public potty downtown.
On Sept. 17, at their regularly scheduled meeting, Council voted to put the project on the list of prioritized capital builds, and directed staff to begin design work.
“I’m really glad to see us moving forward,” said Councilmember Maria Ristow. “I really want this project to happen. My youngest daughter is 24, and I just remember all the time with little kids being downtown, and the only option to find a restroom was to pop into a store or a coffee shop. And 1, that just feels so unfriendly to our visitors. And, Number 2, our two coffee shops that have older plumbing are going to be very grateful for this.”
No one spoke during public comment for the item.
There was some difference of opinion about where exactly the restroom should go—in (or around) the location of the recently added port-a-potty at Town Plaza Park (by the bus stop), or across the street in the parking lot near the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce office.
Ristow argued for the Plaza Park option, which was supported by the Parks and Public Works Department and the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department.
“This is way overdue,” she said, noting many retailers stopped letting the customers use their restrooms during the pandemic. “I’m grateful that we have the port-a-potty right now. It’s used on a regular basis. I’m glad that we have a location that will feel safe for all users in a highly visible place. And it also won’t be hard to find.”
She said she’d like the structure to have a nice design.
Ristow moved to make it a priority capital project and have staff begin design work at this location.
Councilmember Rob Moore said he fielded two questions during a recent event about whether or not there’s a public restroom downtown.
“One of the people was okay with the port-a-potty, and the other person said, ‘I think I’m going to go home,’ which was disappointing with Taste of Los Gatos happening. I really think it’s critical for us to do this. And I really appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into this,” he said, also voicing his support for the Town Plaza Park option. “I feel like having this in a very easily accessible location is going to be really important.”
But Vice Mayor Matthew Hudes presented an alternate motion. While he didn’t oppose having a restroom in the park, he said he’d rather have it put in the median at the entrance to the parking lot across the street.
He suggested an automated public toilet right next to the old bank building could make a lot of sense.
“The advantage of these automated public toilets is that they come with a great degree of security. You can’t stay in there, because they open. They give you good warning. They are very hygienic. I had the opportunity to use one in San Francisco last week,” he said. “And what happens is that…it goes through a cleaning cycle for a few minutes where the whole thing is cleaned and then it becomes available to the next person. And they’re very secure. They come with I think a quality look to them. They started in Paris, with sort of an art deco look. They’re green. But they have a more modern one that’s more stainless steel and glass that you see in Manhattan. And Palo Alto has implemented these as well.”
Hudes’ preferred location was not recommended by Town officials, due to the potential for crime and other issues.
Mayor Mary Badame seconded this alternate motion, which allowed for consideration of both sites.
Ristow said she was happy to vote in favor of the superseding motion, in order to make progress on the project.
“I really think that having a public restroom on a median between cars moving—and in a parking lot—is about the least desirable place to put it,” she said. “However, if the motion allows us to explore both locations with a variety of designs, and that keeps it going, I’ll support it.”
It passed unanimously.
