People who hike in La Quinta will soon have a restroom at the cove trailhead after the City Council on Tuesday approved spending $520,000 to buy and install with all required ADA improvements and other improvements at the parking lot.

Adding a restroom in the parking lot on Avenida Bermudas near Calle Tecate was included in the 2018-19 capital improvement projects. 

“I was amazed when I turned the page and saw the cost, for just one stall,” said Councilwoman Kathleen Fitzpatrick, who thought it was for four stalls. “For one unit, I was flabbergasted.”

Other council members said they were equally surprised by the total cost when the project was presented to them at Tuesday's meeting. But they and staff members have for years fielded requests from residents and hikers for a restroom at the trailhead.

“It’s the most expensive single-stall I’ve seen in the valley,” Mayor Linda Evans said.

The vandal resistant, prefabricated Portland Loo single-stall facility itself costs $104,000, plus tax.

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The Portland Loo was developed by Madden Fabrication in conjunction with the city of Portland, Oregon. The kiosk-designed restroom is made of graffiti-proof steel wall panels and is easy to clean and can last up to 100 years, according to the company’s website.

Council members felt better about the cost when staff presented the full breakdown, which includes the addition of handicapped parking and a concrete path to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, bringing the utilities to the area plus irrigation and landscaping — all of which add up to $276,000 in construction costs.

The remaining $140,000 is the total cost for design, survey, inspection and testing, plus contingency.

Trailhead improvements will include trail entrance signs, seating, shade and a drinking fountain, similar to the cove trailhead entrance on the west end of Calle Tacate.

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“Including these improvements as part of this project vs. constructing them as a separate CIP project will reduce overall construction costs,” said Julie Mignogna, management analyst for the city.

Evans suggested less landscaping as one way to reduce costs.

“There doesn’t need to be a ton of landscape around there. We’re going very desert and we can keep it minimal,” Evans said, adding people take rocks from the area for their homes. “Keep it simple, right?”

The council unanimously approved the project.

Councilman Robert Radi said he would support it because citizens listed it as a top priority capital improvement project at a community workshop.

“This is an amenity that is needed,” he said, adding the city cannot render itself exempt from the ADA rules. “I will support this, but the cost is really hard to swallow, as needed as it is.”

Desert Sun reporter Sherry Barkas covers the cities of La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. She can be reached at sherry.barkas@thedesertsun.com or (760) 778-4694. Follow her on Twitter @TDSsherry