The Los Angeles City Council’s Homelessness and Health Committee is set to meet Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in City Hall to consider a motion that would launch a citywide effort to expand hygiene infrastructure. Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Ysabel Jurado, who introduced the proposal in October, asked that the initial focus be on the Skid Row area, where access to public restrooms is especially limited.
What the motion calls for
If approved, the motion would require the city administrative officer, the Bureau of Street Services, the Bureau of Sanitation, the Department of Water and Power, and the Board of Public Works – in consultation with Metro – to deliver a set of recommendations within 60 days. The recommendations would outline a comprehensive plan for adding public toilets, hand‑washing stations, and permanent water spigots throughout Los Angeles.
Public‑private partnership options
The council members asked staff to explore partnerships with private entities. One example highlighted is the Hollywood Partnership’s proposal to fund and operate 40 public bathroom stalls on the ground floor of the city’s parking garage at 1627 Vine Street. The motion also calls for an examination of opportunities to place restrooms and hand‑washing facilities on city‑ and county‑owned property, including locations near Metro station entrances.
Funding considerations
Raman and Jurado requested that staff assess whether funds from the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program could support the expansion. Jurado, who represents portions of downtown Los Angeles, also asked staff to identify stable funding sources to keep existing public toilets in Skid Row operational, regardless of the broader expansion timeline.
Background on existing infrastructure
In 2021, Los Angeles signed a contract with Outfront/JCDecaux for the Coordinated Street Furniture Program, which envisioned up to 150 automated public toilets. During the contract term, 14 such units were installed. When the contract ended, the city was required to replace 13 units because the restrooms were owned by the private company. Funding constraints from fiscal year 2025‑26 onward have left only four replacement toilets currently operating.
Public health impact
The motion notes that the limited scale of public hygiene infrastructure forces many residents, especially those experiencing homelessness, to resort to outdoor defecation. In 2025, the Los Angeles Sanitation Livability Services Division collected and disposed of more than 70 tons of human waste from the public right‑of‑way. Council members argue that expanding restroom access would improve health and safety for all city residents.
Previous temporary measures
During the COVID‑19 pandemic, the city provided portable toilets and hand‑washing stations at encampment sites to curb virus spread. Those measures were temporary. The current proposal seeks a permanent solution that includes a designated lead department or office to ensure clear accountability for planning, funding, operations, and maintenance.
Next steps
After the committee’s review, the recommendation would be forwarded to the full City Council for a vote. If adopted, city agencies would begin drafting the detailed plan and exploring funding and partnership options within the next two months.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
