Keller City Council gave city staff the OK to move forward with plans for building restrooms along Bates Street.
The overview
During the work session following the regular council meeting Nov. 3, Public Works Director Alonzo Liñán presented an option of moving the restroom project from fiscal year 2027-28 to fiscal year 2026-27.
“Taking into consideration the cost increases we are seeing year over year, I’d rather lock in today’s prices than next year’s prices,” Council Member Greg Will said.
The tentative location would be next to Bates Street Park, but other options are available with utility relocations, he said.
Bates Street Park opened in the fall of 2024. Adjacent to the Keller History Museum, the park features outdoor seating, a pavilion with a stage, open lawn areas and a climbing feature for young children, according to previous reporting.
The details
The prefabricated structure would cost between $475,000 and $535,000, and the city would budget $500,000-$600,000 for the entire project, which would include additional features, according to the presentation.
Liñán said the restroom building would feature two stalls in the men’s and women’s restrooms, and there would be two family/ADA-accessible restrooms that each include a baby-changing station. He said the premade structure would take 6-8 months to be fully finished. Once delivered, it would be installed and operational that same day.
Additional features that city staff will add include a shade structure, drinking fountain alcove and public art opportunity for a possible mural on one of the walls. Those additions would cost $41,000-$51,000, according to the presentation.
Liñán said through the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative, the city would not have to go out for bids but select a vetted vendor.
What else?
The options presented to council were to make a budget amendment or to reprioritize existing projects in the FY 2026-27 capital improvement projects. One option was delaying the plans for new playground equipment at Johnson Road Park, which had a similar cost. The consensus was to keep that project on its current timeframe.
Liñán said the plan was to have the restroom facility operational closer to the time the Elm Street Road construction concludes. He said work is expected to be finished at the end of 2027 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned in the spring of 2028.
City Manager Aaron Rector said city staff would post a notice for a budget amendment, which would be the first step needed to get the process started. Council would then need to approve the contract for the purchase of the restroom facility.
