The downtown Riverfront Pavilion will be getting restrooms this year, but not the architecturally-designed building. The Orange City Council Tuesday voted to buy pre-fabricated restrooms like the ones at Northway Park and the Boat Ramp.
District 2 Councilor Dr. Wayne Guidry questioned why the current city council is bound to follow a plan that a city council three years ago made. He suggested the city spend more money developing the acreage around the Boat Ramp on Simmons Drive rather than the downtown pavilion.
The city built a boardwalk and entertainment pavilion downtown in a plan that was on the drawing board for years. After the bids were double of what was estimated, the council removed features with a plan of gradually adding them.
The restrooms were taken out of the original construction and the city has rented portable toilets for events. Economic Development Director Jay Trahan said the city pays $600 to $1,800 for the portable stalls depending on the event. During the annual Mardi Gras parade, the city rents as many as 16.
Last month, the city staff presented a plan to pay $299,000 for a 1,200 square foot building with public restrooms and a 410 square foot “green room” with restroom for the entertainers. The city has saved money from the hotel-motel occupancy tax for three years to pay for the building.
Spaw Glass, the original contractors on the riverfront project, was going to build the restrooms based on original designs. The city was able to use the company through a State of Texas bidding program.
Council members, though, rejected the plan but wanted to discuss more options. Removing the “green room” would cost $199,000. The construction would include hook-ups to water and sewer lines and electrical service.
Public Works Director Jim Wolf received information from CTX Concrete Buildings for prefabricated restrooms. The building costs $136,000 including shipping charges. The city staff would install the building and the hook-ups, plus build a sidewalk. Wolf said project would end up costing a total of $182,000. If a contingency fund is not used, the facilities would cost an estimated $172,800.
The prefabricated restrooms will be divided by sex and include disabled facilities. The restrooms will have a total of five sinks, nine toilets and two urinals.
Wolf said the prefabricated buildings are hurricane proof and can be cleaned by hosing down.
District 4 Councilor Annette Pernell asked if the custom-designed building was “just something to look pretty.”
Guidry said the pavilion is used to capacity twice a year, for the Fourth of July and Mardi Gras. He said the boat ramp area has been popular and perhaps the city council should invest park money there.
The boat ramp has a small prefabricated restroom for use by boaters. The city brings in portable toilets for big events like fishing tournaments and boat races. Trahan said the small restroom is not designed for the pressure of large crowds.
City Manager Dr. Shawn Oubre said the city attorney will need to research whether hotel-motel occupancy tax can be used at the Boat Ramp. State law restricts uses for the tax income.
In other business Tuesday, the city’s Economic Development Corporation board and the City Council approved spending $11,630 for installation of a water line along Highway 62 north of Interstate 10. The money will come from the special sales tax for economic development. The line will go to the Blue Beacon commercial truck wash.
The nationwide company plans to build a $2.7 million facility and hire about 50 people.
Mayor Pro Tem Larry Spears presided over the meeting in the absence of Mayor Jimmy Sims. The council also approved the 2016-17 budget, which starts October 1. The general fund budget is $20.2 million with a tax rate of 70.96 cents per $100 valuation.
The council appointed Ledet MaQuettia to a two-year term on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Joe Love and Michael Smith, who currently serve on the commission, were reappointed for two-year terms.
During the citizens comments part of the meeting, Martha Tallent asked if Orange could become a smoke-free community by the council banning smoking in public buildings, including restaurants. She said Beaumont has had a public smoking ban for several years.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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