HomeMy WebLinkAbout071823 My perspective on Healthier Together discussion on public shower facilities________________________________
ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
________________________________
To the BoCC:
I heard Mark McCauley report this morning that at the in-person open house last week that some attendees expressed support for public bathroom or shower facilities and that other people
did not support them. My impression of that meeting and prior ones is different.
I attended both the virtual and the in-person open house last week. In the virtual meeting, during the architect's presentation of the revised designs of the basic and full build-out,
he stated that public facilities "would not work" for the project and that they "could be placed elsewhere," or words to that effect. During the time for questions and comments, I
spoke up to say that it was clear to me from a previous open house that many in our community think providing showers is very important. I expressed my dismay that that feature was
being rejected, and I urged the architects to go back to the drawing board and figure out a way to incorporate them in whatever way they can, if the objection is to having them where
families and children will be showering. Another attendee spoke up in support of my remarks.
At the in-person event the next day, the architect expressed the issue differently, acknowledging that there is support for public facilities but stating that the process of figuring
out where they would be located "might be a separate process." (What did he mean by that?) Two other people spoke up in favor of public facilities. One was Julia Cochrane, who spoke
about the need for universal changing and locker rooms, which are apparently the current approach to locker and shower rooms.*
Attendees near me were muttering about the irony of the project being called "Healthier Together" if it lacks concern for the health of everyone, especially since it appears that the
shelter at the American Legion will be gone before too long. The Port has already closed off its facilities to Port patrons.
*"Universal changing rooms should be provided in every modern facility. These spaces are inclusive solutions that meet the needs of a variety of users who require more privacy, gender
anonymity, accessibility, assistance or space. The design of these rooms includes most of the fixtures found in traditional restrooms but in one private area. Families and individuals
can shower, change and use the toilet with the comfort and ease afforded by a private room."
https://www.athleticbusiness.com/facilities/rec-center/article/15156371/what-to-consider-when-designing-universal-locker-and-changing-rooms
Though there may have been different conversations about this issue among the steering committee, those meetings are not public, so I can't characterize them. But at no public open house
have I ever heard any member of the public express an objection to providing showers to the public at the proposed aquatics/sports facility.
It is my hope that Jefferson County's participation in the Healthier Together process will be supportive of an important community need and cognizant that providing shower facilities
"elsewhere" would involve a lengthy, separate process without a funding source.
Thank you for your consideration of my thoughts.
Deborah