Jax councilman wants baby-changing tables more available in public buildings

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If you have your young child with you when you are out and about in Jacksonville, one city councilman wants to make sure you have a comfortable place to take care of his or her needs.

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Councilman John Crescimbeni has filed a bill that would require baby-changing tables in many new construction projects and existing buildings that undergo substantial renovations.

The bill would require access for men and women, whether that be a changing table in each respective restroom, or one in a communal space.

“If parents can’t find a diaper-changing station, that, in my opinion, is a huge problem,” Crescimbeni said.

This action is inspired by the complaints Crescimbeni says he’s heard.

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“Particularly from fathers, who have the baby for the afternoon and maybe they meet a friend for a sandwich or something, and there’s nothing available in the men’s room. If the restaurant does have a baby-changing station, it’s in the women’s room,” Crescimbeni said.

But he says women also face times when they can’t find somewhere to change their children.

“Come up short in being able to find establishments that are sensitive or provide the amenities to change a diaper. They have to go out to the car in the parking lot on a 90-degree day, or change the kid’s diaper on the tailgate of a pickup truck or an SUV. There’s something wrong with that,” he said.

If the bill passes, then starting Oct. 1, the rules would apply to new construction or any renovation of more than 50% of a building, if the building has restrooms accessible to the public.

This includes theaters, sports arenas and stadiums, convention centers and exhibition halls, public libraries, passenger terminals, permanently located amusement parks, most restaurants with a seating capacity of at least 50 people, shopping centers and malls larger than 25,000 square feet, and retail stores that are larger than 5,000 square feet.

The changing tables would need to be accessible equally to men and women on each floor that has a bathroom.

“Why wouldn’t restaurants or these places want to make their visits enjoyable for their guests, their patrons, their customers,” Crescimbeni said.

There would also be required signage to indicate the location of each of the changing tables.

Crescimbeni’s bill closely mirrors legislation that was in front of state lawmakers this past session but which died at the committee level. Crescimbeni says that measure was inspired by a similar measure passed in a South Florida county around two decades ago.

“I think it’s high time we move into the convenience lane and provide these amenities,” he said.

This bill has been introduced to the Jacksonville City Council and now faces a few weeks of vetting before a final vote.

Cox Media Group