Library has taken steps in response to rising use of washrooms

The Prince George Public Library has seen a rise in the use of its washrooms over the years.

According to a recent tally, 21 to 43 people used the main branch's washrooms each hour on a "slow day," staff says in a report to city council, with 14 per cent going into the library for that sole purpose.

And in 2018, there were 144 incidents related to those facilities, up from 59 in 2015.

In response, the library moved from contract to staff security personnel, doubled security detail during social assistance weeks, and overlapped security staffing at busy times of the day.

In 2015, actual security costs were $55,476. In 2019, security costs are budgeted at $155,520.

Elsewhere, since 2017 public washrooms at city hall have been limited to the first floor and a Service Centre representative who presses a buzzer to open the door.

Washrooms in City parks are generally locked and unavailable to the public unless City staff are working onsite.

Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park and Duchess Park washrooms are opened and closed daily by security personnel, and cleaned twice daily by City custodial staff.

And washrooms at Masich place are now open during operating hours while those at Memorial Park Cemetery is open and closed by City staff during business hours and by a security company on the weekends. Cleaning is done three times per week by City custodians.

The City has also increased security presence at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, Four Seasons Pool, and the Via Rail Building to address a range of incidents, including inappropriate use of public washrooms.

- Nielsen