The El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission has committed to funding half of the estimated cost to build public restrooms downtown.
On Jan. 14, commissioners voted in favor of a funding request of $65,000 to apply to the proposed project, which comes with a preliminary cost estimate of $130,000.
The El Dorado Works Board and El Dorado City Council previously agreed to pull the other half of the funding from the El Dorado Works Tax, a 1-cent, city sales tax that is earmarked for municipal infrastructure, economic development and quality-of-life projects.
The money will come from the construction, maintenance and non-designated category, which takes up 26% of tax revenue — 20% for construction and maintenance and 6% for non-designated.
Just prior to the A&P commission vote, Commissioner Paul Choate, also a city councilmember and the proponent of the restroom project, said a secondary location is under consideration for the restrooms.
Choate said he has been in talks with the Murphy Arts District about the property that is adjacent to Hill's Recreation Parlor and behind an ATM in the 200 block of East Cedar.
Choate had proposed placing the 360-square-foot restroom building on the northeast side of Oil Heritage Park, which holds down the northwest corner of the intersection of South Jefferson Avenue and East Cedar Street.
The funding approval from the El Dorado City Council came with a caveat that other downtown sites be considered for the restrooms.
Councilmembers Billy Blann and Vance Williamson said they would prefer that the restrooms not be placed in OHP, a pocket park that sits on city-owned property and includes monuments that detail the city's oil boom history, seasonal plantings, benches, brick pathways and lighting.
Downtown developer and property owner Richard Mason strongly opposed installing the restrooms in OHP and threatened to file a lawsuit against the city if the project moved forward in the proposed location.
Choate previously said he had spoken with a downtown property owner about another site near OHP but the deal fell through.
On Jan. 14, Choate said he has since set his sights on a property that is catty-corner from OHP. The area serves as a walkway, linking visitors between Cedar Street and the MAD entertainment complex.
"There was some question as to doing it in Oil Heritage Park … It's actually more visible, probably more secure because it's visible from all sides. The construction costs should be quite possibly less than what was anticipated to begin with," Choate said of the newly proposed site.
He later said the restrooms would run parallel to Hill's.
Choate also said he had spoken with the El Dorado Historic District Commission about the matter and commissioners said Choate would have to submit a Certificate of Appropriateness application.
COAs are required for most exterior projects within the city's commercial historic district, which covers most of downtown El Dorado, including OHP.
Historic district commissioners said they would review the COA request to make sure the restrooms fit the design guidelines for the district.
"What I'm doing today is coming to tell you that we've got a location, we've got a floor plan and we've got everybody on board except the A&P commission and I think it would be remiss if we didn't approve funding for the other half of the restrooms downtown," Choate said Jan. 14.
"OK, stop talking so I can make the motion," A&P Commissioner Barbie Luther joked before moving to approve the $65,000 funding request.
Commissioner Dianne Hammond noted that A&P chairman Barry Bagwell previously asked that all seven commissioners be present for the discussion regarding the funding request.
Commissioners Sanjay Patel and Jesse Prado were unable to attend the Jan. 14 meeting
"How are we supposed to get them to be here?" Luther asked.
"It was a hope that we would have everybody here. It's an important vote and I would love to have everybody here," Bagwell said. "If we don't, we don't and we may not next time."
Choate noted a quorum was present.
"I support it. I don't have a problem with it but I know that it would be nice if the other committee members were here," Hammond said.
"It's time to pull trigger on this and have it ready for summer," Choate said.
Commissioners then unanimously approved the request.
Choate and Robert Edmonds, director of public works, have said the city will take care of the day-to-day maintenance of the restrooms, which will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day.
During special events downtown, event organizers who request the use of the public restrooms will be responsible for making sure they are adequately stocked and maintained during the hours of the events, Choate said previously, adding that event organizers can request assistance from the city for a cost of $20 an hour, per employee.
Choate has also noted that most downtown retail shops and offices do not have public-access restrooms.
Additionally, when destination developer Roger Brooks drafted the "Festival City" brand and plan for El Dorado, Brooks stressed the importance of public restrooms, Choate has said.
Public restrooms and a police substation were included in the original design concept for MAD.