Laserfiche WebLink
<br />The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional <br />service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity <br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br />To <br />Parks and Recreation Commission <br />Item Number <br />7.3 <br />Agenda Section <br />Action Item <br />Meeting Date <br />October 9, 2019 <br />Prepared by <br />Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director <br />Item Description <br />Babcock Memorial Rest Area Portable Toilet <br />Reviewed by <br />Cal Portner, City Administrator <br />Reviewed by <br />Ron Nierenhausen, Police Chief <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Discuss the need for a portable toilet at the Babcock Memorial Rest Area. <br /> <br />Recommend, by motion, the installation of an ADA portable toilet at the Babcock Memorial Rest Area <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />Roland Ring-Jarvi contacted staff in late August about the need for a portable toilet at the Babcock <br />Memorial Rest Area. He wanted to know why we have toilets in many of our parks, but not Babcock. It <br />was explained to him toilets at Babcock were removed because of public safety concerns. <br /> <br />The rest area is owned by MnDOT and we have a contract to maintain it. He requested the Commission <br />discuss the need for a portable toilet at Babcock. A portable toilet would, by law, need to be ADA <br />compliant. <br /> <br />The previous restroom structure was removed a few years ago following public safety concerns. Chief <br />Nierenhausen expressed the following concerns: <br />1. The police encountered numerous public sex acts. Interviews with those arrested found that <br />several online publications had Babcock Park as a destination for these types of activities. <br />2. Frequent criminal damage to property reports relating to the restroom. <br />3. The park required heavy police patrols. License plate checks found most cars were within a 50- <br />mile radius. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br />The costs of additional police patrols and an ADA portable toilet installation. <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> Babcock Memorial Rest Area Map