Template revised April 12, 2018.

COMMISSION

AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Item No.

BRIEFING ITEM

Date of Meeting

October 23, 2018

DATE: October 1, 2018

TO: Port Commissioner and Executive Director Stephen P. Metruck

FROM: Veronica Valdez, Commission Specialist

SUBJECT: Update on the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac) All Gender Restroom

Plan

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The purpose of this briefing is to provide an update on the development of the Sea-Tac All

Gender Restroom Plan due to Commission by January 22, 2019 and receive feedback from

Commissioners on progress to-date.

BACKGROUND

On May 22, 2018, the Port of Seattle Commission adopted motion 2018-08 to develop a Sea-

Tac All Gender restroom plan to ensure that all existing and future single-occupant restrooms at

Sea-Tac, beyond meeting the requirements set by the Washington State Building Code (WSBC),

are designated for use by any person, regardless of sex or gender identity.

A working group, made up of representatives from across the Port, was tasked to develop the

all gender restroom plan that includes a recommended design for restrooms and signage,

timelines, costs, alternatives, and implications considered.

On July 31, 2018, the Port of Seattle working group conducted a focus group with key external

stakeholders from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ)-focused

organizations, specifically organizations that support the transgender community, to gather

feedback on design of restrooms as well as signage.

All gender restrooms are facilities that anyone can use regardless of gender. They can be single

or multi-stall. All gender restrooms benefit a variety of people, including transgender and

gender non-conforming individuals. All gender restrooms create a safe space for employees and

community members to use the restrooms as it removes stigma or rationale for judgement as

Gender identity means a person’s gender-related identity, appearance, or expression, whether or not

traditionally associated with one’s biological sex or one’s sex at birth, and includes a person’s attitudes,

preferences, beliefs, and practices pertaining thereto.

COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 7b Page 2 of 4

Meeting Date: October 23, 2018

Template revised September 22, 2016.

to which gendered facilities to use. All gender restrooms also accommodate use by caretakers

and parents when assisting someone of the opposite gender.

For future restrooms, the following projects can be executed earlier to meet customer needs:

(1) Adding waste receptacles in the individual stalls in the men’s restrooms

(2) Strip on stall doors so there is no gap visible between stalls

(3) Doors to open out so that people can easily see that the stalls are available for use

(4) Occupied/Non-Occupied Locks on stall doors

(5) Vending dispensers to include adult incontinence supplies and feminine hygiene

products in both men’s and women’s restrooms: there are currently no vending

machines that provide adult incontinence supplies. Recommendation for discussion with

Airport Dining and Retail to include adult incontinence supplies in their stores. Another

option to be explored is having a vending machine outside of the restroom for anyone

to access with assorted items

RESTROOM DESIGN

Building Code Requirements

(1) Public spaces have a minimum number of fixtures (toilets, sinks, urinals) that must be

available to meet building codes

(2) WSBC requires a specific number of fixtures to be designated male, female, family and

ADA

(3) There may be an opportunity to provide additional fixtures available to all users,

regardless of gender identity, after the code minimums have been met

Restroom Criteria

When designing Airport restrooms there are many objectives that the port is trying to achieve

(in no particular order):

(1) Maintainability

(2) Accessibility

(3) Passenger Throughput (efficiency)

(4) Passenger Experience

(5) Safety & Security

Configurations Explored to Date

(1) Gendered (status quo)

(2) Gendered with additional single user restrooms (all gender/family restrooms)

(3) Multi-user all gender restrooms: Compartment design

(4) Multi-user all gender restrooms: Stalls, urinal room and open washing

COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 7b Page 3 of 4

Meeting Date: October 23, 2018

Template revised September 22, 2016.

SIGNAGE

Signage Requirements

Single-user restrooms standard practice includes displaying the following:

(1) Iconography

(2) WSBC requires the verbiage “Restroom”

(3) WSBC requires at least 5 percent of the total number of restrooms as ADA compliant

with a minimum of one. Therefore, restroom signage must be identified by the

International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) for family or assisted-use toilet and bathing

rooms

(4) Braille translation of the title e.g. Restroom to be in braille

(5) Subtitle description is optional but helpful e.g. All people may use this restroom

Signs shall be readily visible and located near the entrance to each toilet facility. In addition,

directional signage indicating the route to the public toilet facilities shall be posted in a lobby,

corridor, aisle or similar space, such that the sign can be readily seen from the main entrance to

the building or tenant space.

Signage Considered

The working group considered a variety of signage options to include the following:

Icons (single-user)

(1) Toilet (western-style plumbing fixture)

(2) Male and female

(3) Male/Female divided by a line

(4) Male/Female/Half pant and half dress

The working group also considered various family/ADA restrooms signage.

Title

(1) Restroom

(2) All Gender Restroom

(3) Gender Inclusive Restroom

(4) Gender Neutral Restroom

(5) Inclusive Restroom

(6) Universal Restroom

(7) All User Restroom

(8) Unisex Restroom

(9) Water Closet (WC)

COMMISSION AGENDA – Briefing Item No. 7b Page 4 of 4

Meeting Date: October 23, 2018

Template revised September 22, 2016.

Description

(1) No description

(2) All people may use this restroom

a. All people and families may use this restroom

(3) All users may use this restroom

a. All users and families may use this restroom

(4) Anyone can use this restroom

(5) Anyone can use this restroom, regardless of gender identity or expression

Preliminary Recommendation

Plumbing fixture icon: The iconography of the western-style plumbing fixture of a restroom is

gender-inclusive and universally recognizable. The icon of a toilet is recognizable to both

international and domestic travelers. Focus group members were in favor of depicting what

was behind the door as it is clear and does not designate who can and cannot use the restroom.

All User Restroom: This title removes the term “gender” but is clear that all users may use the

restroom. Canada’s international airports, such as Vancouver, use “All User Washroom” signage

and the working group agreed that this described the purpose of the restroom to serve all users

in a simple and straightforward manner.

All users may use this restroom: This description is favored by the working group. The focus

group did not favor including “regardless of gender identity or expression” as it appears to call

out a minority group who may not necessarily want to be singled out in public for using the

single-user restroom. (Note: For family restrooms, the working group is considering “All users

and families may use this restroom” as a possible description).

ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING

(1) Presentation slides

(2) Motion 2018-08

(3) Motion 2018-11

PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS

May 22, 2018 – The Commission approved Motion 2018-08

September 25, 2018 – The Commission approved Motion 2018-11