IMAGE: WW Staff

Much ink has been spilled over Mayor Sam Adams’ budget decision to divert $20 million from Portland’s backlog of sewer-system repairs to help build new bicycle boulevards.

But that’s not the only spending question facing the mayor as City Council enters budget work sessions this month. The city faces a spending gap for 2010-11 of $17 million to $20 million.

To close the gap, city bureaus have proposed eliminating programs that provide essential services. The Police Bureau, for example, might have to cut its patrol unit on horseback to save $650,000. And the Fire Bureau may have to close one of its 30 fire stations and eliminate six positions for firefighters.

Yet even in this tough economic climate, bureaus are asking for extra money in a $371 million budget to expand services that aren’t essential to the city’s core responsibilities. Here’s a look at 12 of those requests, which total about $2 million. The city’s budget office opposes all of them except where noted.

NEIGHBORHOODS

Sunday Parkways, $190,000
The Bureau of Transportation wants to host five Sunday Parkways events this summer instead of three like last year. The temporary car-free traffic loops in neighborhoods have proved popular. But each event costs $95,000, and the city’s budget office says, “While Sunday Parkways is a popular event and great public relations for the City, [the financial planning division] cannot support funding for this program when basic services are being cut.” The budget office says three is enough.

Last Thursday, $25,000
To help control traffic, noise and disruption to neighbors, the city wants to give the money to business owners in the Alberta Arts District to plan and coordinate the monthly, warm-weather event. The budget office says businesses should form a nonprofit to pay for Last Thursday.

EDUCATION

Mayor’s education program, $741,750
Adams wants to continue funding many of the education initiatives he started last year. And he is proposing a few new ones, including a program for community-college scholarships. He proposes spending $168,000 on scholarships by raising the utility license fee on Portland’s sewer and water rates. He also wants to give $100,000 to the Portland Schools Foundation and $100,000 to SUN Community Schools. The budget office approves of just $172,424 of this $741,750.

Education director, $100,000
Adams has three staffers devoted to education policy, although that isn’t a core city function. He would like to add a fourth position.

Roosevelt athletic field, $200,000
As Portland Public Schools considers closing at least two of its nine neighborhood high schools, the city would help Roosevelt High renovate its athletic field.

Durable lunch trays, $70,000
The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability hopes to increase its commercial trash collection fee to help schools stop using disposable foam trays. City Council hasn’t approved this increase yet.

Youth planning program, $141,044
The existing service teaches kids about city planning.

ARTS

Oregon Symphony Association, $200,000
The Symphony will perform for the first time at Carnegie Hall in May 2011. Adams proposes $200,000 to help fund the trip to New York.

Northwest Children’s Theater & School, $100,000
The 101-year-old building at Northwest 18th Avenue and Everett Street needs fixes to make it comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

PDX Pop Now! 2010 City Hall Show, $1,958
Adams just hired Cary Clarke, co-founder of PDX Pop Now!, to be his new arts and culture policy coordinator. Now the mayor also wants to give the all-local, all-ages free music festival $1,958 for another summer show at City Hall.

OUTREACH

Hispanic and African-American chambers of commerce, $250,000 each
Since 2007, the city has given both chambers $250,000 to mentor business owners in minority communities.

Oregon Food Bank, $65,000
Last year, Adams gave the food bank $50,000. This year, he’s proposing a 30-percent increase.