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In San Francisco, they're called Pit Stops, and some Salt Lake City Council members believe they could help with the nasty problem of people relieving themselves on private and public property in the Pioneer Park area.
Recently, four council members visited San Francisco and described the Pit Stop program there: It includes trailers, each equipped with two toilets, which are deployed where needed. Each is assigned a person to monitor it, and the toilets are withdrawn from service and disinfected every 24 hours.
The need is great in Salt Lake City, according to Jonathan Harman, executive director of the Pioneer Park Coalition. The group of business owners, residents and public officials seeks to improve the area surrounding The Road Home shelter on Rio Grande Street.
"Open urination and open defecation is something we hear about every day," he said. "It's a huge problem."
Once the waste appears on or near a residence or business, there is no one to pick it up, Harman noted. "Most of the time, our residents and business owners have to clean it up."
That is changing, said Jason Mathis of the Downtown Alliance business group. The Clean Team, made up of homeless and formerly homeless people working for the private contractor Advantage Services, has now been certified for biohazards and can clean up human waste.
According to City Hall, one trailer (2 toilets) operating Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. with an attendant would cost $136,000 per year. Ten trailers (20 toilets) operating in the same fashion would cost $1.36 million.
Councilwoman Lisa Adams is among those pushing to fund the trailer potties.
"It's a huge problem, but people have to go to the bathroom," Adams said. "We have to comb through the budget and find the money. ... Some businesses may want to contribute."
Among the advantages of San Francisco's Pit Stop program, she said, is that human monitors ensure the toilets are used as intended.
Finding money in the budget this year will be a challenge. Revenues are flat, and the council must adopt a budget by June 22.
Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall said the trailer toilettes are a good idea, but time and money are running short.
"There is no proposal in this budget for bathrooms," she said. "I would be surprised if we spend a quarter-million dollars on bathrooms."
Council Chairman James Rogers wants to test such a system before buying trailer potties.
"We should test it for a year before making a big investment," he said. "If we can see it working, then we can make the investment."
The San Francisco trip was sponsored by the Downtown Alliance as part of its urban-exploration program. This year's outing included about 40 public officials and business leaders.
Mathis said Salt Lake City's problem is not as severe as that of San Francisco or other big cities, but it could do better. "It's not OK to poop and pee on the streets of the capital city," he said.
The council will continue budget deliberations at 1 p.m. Tuesday during its regularly scheduled work session at City Hall, 451 S. State.