Changing table measure aims to give fathers more access

Oct. 09--The Norman City Council is considering changes to city code that would require diaper changing tables in not just women's bathrooms, but men's bathrooms, as well.

The ordinance in progress would only apply to new commercial spaces and to those that undergo major renovations that affect existing bathroom facilities.

Council member Kate Bierman said her hope is the move will have the broadest quality-of-life impact with the lowest financial impact for business owners.

"It is both a quality-of-life issue and an economic development issue," she said. "If we're going to bill ourselves as a family-friendly community, we need to provide these types of amenities."

Bierman said many businesses are not equipped with changing tables, and far fewer have changing tables that fathers can access, as they are generally in women's restrooms.

"Not once has my husband been able to change our child in a restroom facility when we're out in public, because they're all in women's restrooms, if they're available at all," she said.

She said fathers' access to those facilities has to be addressed because, as a reflection of the times, they are taking a greater role in child care and should have equal opportunity.

Council member Robert Castleberry is the only council member to express explicit opposition to the proposal.

He said he will not support any ordinance that codifies changing tables, which city staff estimates would cost up to $1,500 per table to install, as a requirement.

"I think the businesses that don't do it are at a competitive disadvantage," he said. "To me, it's an overreach of government, and I don't want to support it."

Bierman said it's not just about making parental accommodations, however, and has broader accessibility implications.

She said there was a time when requiring disability-friendly bathroom stalls was also described as a government overreach.

"If you have any number of physical limitations, you can't change a diaper in a vehicle," she said. "Telling those people that they should not bring their child out in public is not an inclusive perspective."

The concept, which came out of the city council's annual planning session in August, will likely be the topic of a study session in the coming months, Mayor Lynne Miller said. She said city staff is working to fine tune the language, but said it shouldn't be too difficult to execute. She said though issues like stormwater and a new senior center are top priorities for the council, and her singular focus, the council can pursue multiple goals simultaneously.

In this case, the city isn't working from scratch. In 2016, the Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act was passed, making changing tables a requirement for all bathrooms in publicly accessible federal buildings. Similar policies have been enacted by many cities and states.

"The International Building Codes already have lots of rules," Miller said. "Our issues will be with our small retail businesses that might have space issues. I hope we can build in some flexibility. I do not want to make it too difficult for our small businesses."

Details concerning exemptions and where changing tables should be located are still under consideration, but the council has expressed support for exempting small businesses and requiring that tables be located outside of handicap-accessible stalls to ensure those are free for their original intended use.

Establishments that provide a gender-neutral bathroom with a changing table would meet the requirements of the proposal, and 21-and-up establishments would be exempt.

___

(c)2018 The Norman Transcript (Norman, Okla.)

Visit The Norman Transcript (Norman, Okla.) at www.normantranscript.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.