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Council President Carrie Hartman, Council Members Nick Komives & Dr. Brittany Jones
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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 b...
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