Parks commission backs staff pivot to concrete masonry restrooms at Mingus Park

City of Coos Bay parks staff told the Parks Commission on Aug. 7 that they plan to recommend replacing a previously proposed prefabricated restroom at the pond side of Mingus Park with a concrete masonry unit (CMU) block building to reduce cost and lead time.

The change matters because the city has a $343,464 reimbursement grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Local Government Grant program for the restroom revitalization project and needs to spend the award within the grant term, staff said.

Staff said the original prefabricated unit’s quoted price rose sharply after the grant application; with installation and utility work the total project price moved into the roughly $320,000–$330,000 range. Staff presented a predesigned CMU block building option that, including freight, would cost about $250,000 and would require less on-site concrete work because the vendor pours the pad. Staff told commissioners the CMU lead time is about four to six months from purchase order to delivery, compared with 10 to 12 months for the prefabricated unit, and that both options fall within the grant’s expiration in December 2026.

“Last week...First Community Bank...donated a thousand dollars for the cause,” parks staff member Greg Hamlet said, summarizing fundraising support and the project background. Hamlet said staff’s recommendation will be for the council to accept the CMU option and to use the dollar difference between the two building options to buy spare fixtures that are standardized between the two restrooms so parts can be swapped quickly if one unit is damaged.

Commissioners praised the cost- and time-savings approach. Commissioner Arush Ambodhi said the CMU option was “a more reasonable way of going” given escalating costs. Commissioner Kurt (last name not specified in the transcript) asked whether vendor prices and freight were still being held; Hamlet replied that the vendor was holding its quoted price and freight estimate for the city.

Commissioners also asked practical questions about the CMU unit: whether doors would be lockable to secure restrooms when the park is closed (Hamlet: “Yes, completely, lockable and fully secure”), whether skylights or clerestory windows were planned (Hamlet said no skylights because prior skylights had leaked), whether plumbing would be protected from freezing (Hamlet said plumbing penetrations through the floor and the fixtures sitting inside the structure addressed that concern), and whether substitutions by the vendor require prior approval (Hamlet said the vendor will submit plans for city approval and deviations would require approval).

No formal motion or council action occurred at the Parks Commission meeting; Chair Christine Sylvester noted the commission had a “general consensus” to support the staff recommendation and approved the commission’s direction to forward the recommendation to City Council. Hamlet said staff will include a request that the savings be used for spare, standardized fixtures that can be used at both the pond-side and the ballfield restroom.

Commissioners also discussed warranty and storage language attached to the metal roofing package: one commissioner voiced concern that improper storage by the vendor or contractor could void the roofing warranty; staff explained that metal-roof manufacturers commonly condition warranties on proper storage and timely installation.

If approved by City Council, staff said the shorter lead time and lower vendor price would allow the city to deliver the pond-side restroom sooner and keep replacement parts on hand to reduce out-of-service time when fixtures fail or are vandalized.

Evidence: the project financing, lead-time comparison, and staff recommendation were presented during the Parks Commission’s work session on Aug. 7 and recorded in the meeting transcript. The commission did not take a formal vote but recorded general consensus to proceed with the staff recommendation to present the CMU option to council.