Title
Resolution to Approve a Contract Not to Exceed $500,000.00 with THRONE Labs, Inc for Installation of Public Restrooms In and Near Downtown Ann Arbor and appropriate up to $300,000 to the General Fund (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and action is a resolution to approve a contract with THRONE Labs, Inc (“THRONE”) not to exceed $500,000.00 for the installation of public restrooms in the downtown Ann Arbor area.
In response to City Council direction to investigate additional public restrooms, the City Administrator initiated a series of downtown listening sessions to better understand the issues surrounding the downtown. The number one priority identified was the need for additional community restrooms, confirming Council’s direction. A task force worked with the Administrator to review options and met with several other communities to evaluate different facilities. THRONE was determined to be the preferred option based on the City’s current needs and situation. Several factors played into that decision:
1. THRONE provides a turnkey option, they own, maintain and are responsible for the 10 units.
2. The contract is for a one-year pilot; if at the end of the year it is determined by the City that this is not the right solution there is no further obligation, and the City has no additional responsibility or infrastructure to maintain.
3. The technology-driven product provides the best solution to the common issues associated with providing public restrooms, including security, cleanliness and flexibility.
4. The City, Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority and the University of Michigan have agreed to partner on the cost of the one-year pilot.
5. The pilot allows for the sighting of 10 units, greatly increasing the effectiveness of the program and access for the community.
6. The pilot allows the City to secure other public, non-profit and private entities to help offset costs.
7. The units allow for multiple access methods creating the greatest flexibility for community use while protecting against negative behavior and other historical issues associated with public restrooms.
THRONE leverages custom hardware with a cloud connected IOT suite, historic usage data and real time user cleanliness ratings to inform operations to provide a consistently clean operation that brings public restrooms into the 21st Century.
THRONE resolves many of the issues of providing public bathrooms by offering a turnkey solution to cities that includes all cleaning, servicing and user support. Their innovative bathroom solution drastically reduces the capital and time required for cities to offer restroom infrastructure and uses technology and behavior science to introduce accountability to the public restroom use. As a mission-driven company, they offer baby changing stations and menstrual products. The THRONE design exceeds Federal ADA standards and they actively work with local partners to enable easy access for unhoused and all members of the community.
The City Administrator is recommending approval of a contract for a one-year pilot program with THRONE making 10 restrooms available by June of 2024.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: The funding for this contract will come from $200,000.00 in previously received American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that is to be utilized for public restrooms as well as $132,000.00 in funding from the University of Michigan and up to $168,000.00 in funding from the Downtown Development Authority.
Staff
Prepared by: Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, City Council approved the Resolution to Encourage the development of Public Restrooms in Downtown Ann Arbor at Enactment #R-22-361 directing the City Administrator to explore the addition of public restrooms to the downtown and other applicable areas of the City;
Whereas, The City Administrator’s Office convened and conducted listening sessions with downtown stakeholders to determine the need and type of issues related to the downtown;
Whereas, Those stakeholders identified the need for additional public restrooms as being a priority;
Whereas, A task force of stakeholders and City staff was established to review options and make a final recommendation to the City Administrator regarding the preferred option to expand the number of restrooms in the downtown and other areas of the City;
Whereas, THRONE was recommended as the preferred option for the pilot program including the sighting and maintenance; and
Whereas, Funding for this project is available in the Major Grants Fund from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and funding from the University of Michigan and Downtown Development Authority;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a one-year contract with THRONE Labs, Inc, not to exceed $500,000.00, to pilot a public restroom program;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a use of up to $200,000.00 for public restrooms with THRONE utilizing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding received by the City and previously appropriated to the Major Grants Fund;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriate up to $300,000.00 to the FY24 Community Development General Fund budget for the purpose of installing ten (10) public restrooms pursuant to the contract with THRONE with the source of revenue being $132,000.00 in funding from the University of Michigan and up to $168,000.00 from the Downtown Development Authority;
RESOLVED, That all amounts herein be without regard to fiscal year; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary actions to implement this resolution, including execution of any partnership agreements for program contributions from local entities, including but not limited to the University of Michigan and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.