SEATTLE -- Here's the chance to one-up that neighbor who has everything once and for all, or perhaps give the perfect gift to that someone who has a big backyard and a desire to own a dubious piece of Seattle's history...

The city of Seattle has finalized plans to auction off their five automatic public toilets that have been the center of controversy since they were installed back in 2004. The bidding will begin on eBay on Tuesday.

The starting bid on the Hering-Bau automatic public toilets is $89,000 each.

The toilets will be removed from service -- locked and fenced in -- on Aug. 1. The units are expected to be physically removed by their new owner sometime later in August.

Neighbors and city-commissioned analysts say the unisex facilities attracted drug users and prostitutes, and were less cost-effective than regular public restrooms.

On May 19, the City Council voted 5-0 to remove the problem toilets. Four council members were not present. Council President Richard Conlin said although people were using the high-tech, self-cleaning silver stalls, they also fostered illegal behavior, such as prostitution and drug use.

Since the automatic, high-tech toilets were installed in 2004, the city has spent about $5 million on them.

In May, the City Council directed utility officials to can the city`s contract for the single-stall restrooms as soon as possible, rather than waiting until January, as Seattle Public Utilities had initially recommended.

At the time, Seattle Public Utilities said the automated doors on the toilets would close for the last time July 1. But that date has been tentatively pushed back to Aug. 1, said Andy Ryan, a spokesman for the utility.

The toilets are at Victor Steinbrueck Park near Pike Place Market, on Pier 58 at Waterfront Park, in Occidental Park in Pioneer Square, in Hing Hay Park in the International District and on Broadway on Capitol Hill.