Special Board of Alderman Meeting on Unsheltered and Downtown Bathrooms - October 10, 2025

The Board of Aldermen held a special meeting on October 9, 2025 (recorded as October 10, 2025 UTC) to discuss the impact of unsheltered individuals downtown and potential solutions, including increased police presence, a downtown clean team, and public restroom options. The meeting featured presentations from city staff and discussions with public health and police officials.

Discussion Items

• Overview: Mayor Jim Donchis introduced the issue, noting two prior listening sessions with downtown businesses. The main concerns are safety, cleanliness, and human waste. Proposed solutions include a downtown clean team (modeled after Manchester's program costing ~$530,000/year), increased police enforcement (16 hours/day at ~$30,000/month), and public restrooms.
• Public Restroom Options: Economic Development Director Liz Hannem presented three options:
  • Permanent Portland Loo: $185,000 per unit plus $100,000–$200,000 for foundation/utilities (total ~$285,000–$385,000). Annual operating cost: ~$145,000 for daily cleaning. Features 360-degree visibility; police can see feet from vehicles. No heating; designed to discourage lingering.
  • Mobile Trailer Units: $100,000–$150,000 each (ADA accessible). Operating cost ~$130,000–$145,000/year for three units. Less visible; require more monitoring.
  • ADA Porta-Potties: ~$3,000 each, but high operating costs and safety concerns (e.g., fires, drug use).
• City Hall Bathrooms: Previously piloted extended hours (open until 8 PM) but had issues: people sheltering, substance use, and one overdose requiring Narcan. Public Health officials cautioned that monitoring is essential, as a fatal overdose can occur in ~15 minutes. ADA accessibility is also a concern (stairs only).
• Transit Center Bathrooms: ADA compliant but require constant supervision. Available during normal transit hours (8 AM–5 PM). Previous misuse led to closures.
• Pine Street Extension Encampment: Public Health reported ~75 people living at Mine Falls. Police recorded 117 confirmed responses to that area in July–September 2025, including overdoses, fights, and drug offenses. Porta-potties placed there have had fewer complaints than downtown.
• Police Enforcement Pilot: Deputy Chief Brian Kenny described a pilot program with officers on Main Street for 16 hours/day. Downtown businesses reported a small positive difference. However, police expressed concern that adding amenities like bathrooms could incentivize more unsheltered individuals to remain downtown.
• Clean Team: Director Hannem noted Manchester's contract at $530,000/year for a 6-day/week, 14-person team. Nashua is exploring a similar model.
• Legislation: Police Commissioner Jim Tolner indicated two pieces of legislation will be in the next meeting packet: one addressing open containers and another regarding overnight camping. He urged prompt action.

Key Outcomes

• No formal decisions were made; the meeting was a discussion to gather input from the Board and city staff.
• Aldermanic comments revealed a split: Several aldermen favored the permanent Portland Loo (e.g., O'Brien, Moran, Lopez) citing durability and safety. Others (e.g., Clemens, Tebow, Kelly) favored using existing City Hall or transit bathrooms as a lower-cost interim solution, with increased monitoring.
• Concerns about cost and effectiveness: Many aldermen noted that a single bathroom would not solve the human waste problem entirely and questioned the $400,000 investment given competing needs (e.g., police staffing, warming stations).
• Next steps: The Board will receive proposed legislation at the next regular meeting. No timeline for a restroom decision was set.

Public Health and Police Perspectives

• Public Health Director Bobby Bagley and Housing Services Officer Latonia Mucielli emphasized that a drop-in resource center (welcome center) would more comprehensively address the root issues, including providing bathrooms and connections to services. They submitted two capital improvement requests for such a center, but funding was not prioritized in the current budget.
• Police Deputy Chief Kenny reported that the downtown enforcement pilot has cost ~$30,000/month and shown modest improvement. He noted that the department is understaffed and struggling to recruit new officers.
• Fire Department (Assistant Chief Adam Pulliot) stated they would respond to emergencies regardless of bathroom location, but had no recommendation on the type.

Statistics and Costs Referenced

• Portland Loo unit: $185,000; installation: $100,000–$200,000; total ~$385,000.
• Mobile unit (3 stalls): $100,000–$150,000 each; annual cleaning: ~$145,000 for three.
• ADA porta-potty: ~$3,000 each, but high servicing costs.
• Police enforcement pilot: ~$30,000/month.
• Manchester clean team: $530,000/year.
• Pine Street encampment: ~75 people; 117 police responses in 3 months.
• Cost per jail day for homeless: $131; hospitalization: $1,200; supportive housing: $72.