The Court directed the Office of County Engineering to add a requirement for at least one single-occupancy restroom in all new Harris County facilities, with public-facing facilities placing that restroom in a public area.

What it means for you

Future county buildings must include a single-occupancy restroom, and the engineering office must try to apply this standard even before the formal design guidelines are updated.

Outcome

A motion was made by Commissioner Garcia, seconded by Commissioner Briones, to direct the Office of County Engineering to include in the next update to the Facility Design Guidelines and Standards a specification that all new Harris County facilities will include one single-occupancy restroom, and that in facilities with a public-facing aspect, the single-occupancy restroom will be in a public area; and to direct the Office of the County Engineer to make best efforts to include the above specification in new construction that is developed prior to the completion of the next update of the Facility Design Guidelines and Standards. The motion carried by the following vote: (4-1)

How each member voted

4–1, per the official record.