COUNCIL APPROVES PAY TOILETS CITY COUNTS ON $150 MILLION AD REVENUE.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

The City Council approved a plan Tuesday to install 150 self-cleaning pay toilets throughout Los Angeles, along with bus shelters and information kiosks that are expected to bring the city at least $150 million in revenue mainly from advertising during the next 20 years.

The council voted 12-2 for the plan, despite concerns that the toilets would harbor criminal activities such as prostitution and drug dealing, and complaints that the initial contract lasts too long.

But supporters praised the toilets as a way to prevent public urination by the homeless, as well as give tourists a comfortable, clean public facilities.

``It is a concrete option to provide for the homeless community a place to relieve themselves other than the public streets and Porta Potties,'' said Councilman Nick Pacheco, who co-sponsored the plan.

Councilmen Dennis Zine and Jack Weiss, who both represent parts of the San Fernando Valley, voted against the measure.

``I don't think they'll be successful in the 3rd District of the west San Fernando Valley,'' Zine said. ``I just don't think we'll have that need in that area of the city.''

He also said 20 years was too long for the contract, and said the city should instead consider a pilot program. Zine noted that in San Francisco, which has had the toilets since 1995, police have had a problem with people in certain neighborhoods using them for drug and sexual activities.

City officials said they would work with the Police Department in locating the toilets and developing ways to minimize crime.

The council vote was to begin negotiations with Infinity Decaux, a partnership between a French firm and a Viacom Inc. subsidiary, for a contract that includes 150 automated pay toilets and 2,500 bus shelters, along with trash receptacles, computerized information kiosks and newsstands.

Infinity Decaux will sell ads on the street furniture and will share revenue with the city, guaranteeing a minimum of $150 million during 20 years. The contract is estimated to be worth about $750 million to the company. The company will also be responsible for maintaining the facilities. City staffers have 60 days to negotiate a contract with Infinity Decaux and then bring that contract back to the council for final approval.

The toilets will cost 25 cents per use, with a maximum time of 20 minutes, although free reusable tokens will be distributed to the homeless. After each use, the toilet cleans itself using spray jets and air dryers.

One aspect left out of the proposed contract involved the city purchasing modular news racks from the company, to consolidate street news racks into one unit. Several newspaper publishers, including the Daily News, objected to that plan, out of concern it would restrict their First Amendment right to sell their papers. < The council mostly separated the news rack portion out of the contract, retaining the option to purchase the news racks, but subjecting their location and other details to further negotiations with the newspaper companies.