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Council President Carrie Hartman, Council Members Nick Komives & Dr. Brittany Jones
Title
Providing Free and Accessible Period Products in City-Owned Restrooms in the City of Toledo, waiving competitive bid requirements of Chapter 187 of the Toledo Municipal Code, and declaring an emergency.
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SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
Establishing a pilot program to make menstruation products free and accessible in restrooms in government buildings, neighborhood parks, community centers, and other community partner buildings; and authorizing the purchase by one or more standard purchase and requirement contracts of feminine hygiene products from Aunt Flow for the Department of Public Service; and waiving the competitive bidding process.
WHEREAS, the City of Toledo seeks to implement a pilot program to make period products free and accessible with dignity in restrooms in government buildings, neighborhood parks, and other community partner buildings throughout Toledo’s neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, toilet paper and other sanitary products are universally expected, while feminine hygiene products like tampons and pads are rarely provided despite being medically necessary for people during menstruation; and
WHEREAS, vulnerable populations who face barriers to menstrual health, including low-income people, school-aged students, homeless or incarcerated people, and people experiencing cycle irregularity, are especially affected by lack of access to free menstrual products; and
WHEREAS, making these products accessible and free in public buildings is important considering the financial burdens on people who menstruate; on average, one menstruator spends $13.25 each month on menstrual products, totaling about $6,360 in her reproductive lifetime; and
WHEREAS, in a widely cited St. Louis study of low-income menstruators, 64 percent of respondents did not have the money to buy feminine hygiene products in the past year and 46 percent of respondents were not able to afford both food and feminine hygiene products in the past year; and
WHEREAS, unexpected menstruation disrupts that person’s day if hygiene products are not available; a national study by Free the Tampons, a Columbus-based nonprofit that aims to end restroom inequality, found that 86 percent of menstruators have started their periods while out in public without the supplies they need, and 79 percent end up creating makeshift and poor substitutes out of toilet paper when products are unavailable; and
WHEREAS, access to menstrual products prevents infection caused by inadequate access to or overuse of singular products, lessening the overall burden on the healthcare system; and
WHEREAS, access to feminine hygiene products has been shown to improve the lives of young people during menstruation by increasing school attendance, reducing stigma, and increasing their confidence; and
WHEREAS, other cities, including Cleveland, Columbus, New York City, West Lafayette, Indiana, and Salt Lake City, Utah, provide free feminine hygiene products in city-owned buildings in order to reduce barriers in accessing products; and
WHEREAS, the City of Toledo seeks to implement a program to provide free feminine hygiene products with dignity in restrooms in government buildings, parks, and other community partner spaces to ensure menstrual equity, meaning that menstruation does not lead to financial, social, and safety burdens; and
WHEREAS, this Council encourages other public entities and businesses to offer feminine hygiene products at no cost in their restrooms, many of which do currently exist in Toledo.
Summary
NOW THEREFORE Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That this Council and the Administration establishes a pilot program to make period products free and accessible in restrooms in government buildings, parks, community centers, and other community partner buildings.
SECTION 2. That the Mayor is authorized to enter into an agreement with Aunt Flow for the purpose of providing menstrual products in City owned facilities.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 is authorized from the General Fund Account Code 1001-16200-552100-5632005STDSTD for the purpose authorized in Section 2.
SECTION 4. That this Council finds and determines it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive procurement provisions of Toledo Municipal Code Chapter 187 for the reason that Aunt Flow is an Ohio based non-profit that started in the Toledo area and is a leading provider of menstrual products used by several local organizations and businesses.
SECTION 4. That the Finance Director is authorized to draw warrant or warrants against the above Account Code in an amount not to exceed $50,000 in payment of the above-authorized obligations upon the proper voucher or vouchers.
SECTION 5. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall be in force and effect from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that the Ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 11, nays 0.
Passed: October 9, 2024, as an emergency measure: yeas 11, nays 0.
Attest:
Julie A. Gibbons Carrie Hartman
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: October 9, 2024
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor