Oregon Public Broadcasting

Sidewalks in downtown Portland will be subject to new rules within the next 60 days.

City commissioners are negotiating a complex debate that affects business owners, city visitors, and people living on the streets.

They're seeking a replacement for the sit-lie ordinance that was struck down in court  earlier this year.

The city proposes to expand daytime resources for the homeless - one is under construction. The plan calls for more police training, and more free public restrooms, in the style of the prototype Portland Loo.

Israel Bayer is the publisher of the monthly newspaper Street Roots, which is produced and sold mostly by homeless people. He's cautiously optimistic about the plan.

Israel Bayer "The one thing we would caution is any anti-pan-handling campaign or zero tolerance downtown, because we feel like that would be targeting individuals in the streets and would lead to more polarization, instead of solutions."

The Portland Council voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the first part of the plan.