AUSTIN, Texas — Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis announced a resolution that hopes to provide diaper-changing stations in restrooms across the city.
Council members passed the resolution Wednesday afternoon during a special called meeting.
In a press release from the District 8 office, Ellis is calling for changing stations in restrooms "regardless of the gender of the caretaker."
The resolution was prompted by concerns from citizens in District 8 who struggled to find restrooms equipped with diaper-changing stations.
“In our community, we’re very inclusive, and it’s not just a mother’s role to make sure that her child has a place to have a diaper changed," Ellis said. "A caretaker is no longer just assumed to be the mother. It’s fathers, aunts, uncles and grandparents.”
The city council's goal is to ensure gender-neutral access to at least one safe, sanitary and convenient diaper-changing station on each of a building's floor levels that has a public restroom.
These include all public-serving city facilities like parks, libraries and recreation centers and non-city facilities like restaurants and offices that are new or are about to undergo renovation.
With this vote, the city manager will have to develop an estimate of the timeline and funding needed to install changing stations.
Austin City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Mayor Steve Adler, Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza and Council Member Alison Alter sponsored support of the resolution.
The complete resolution can be found here.
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