The city will have fewer car shows, pops concerts and culture classes because of budget cuts to a city-operated nonprofit dedicated to arts and literacy.
The City Council has sliced the budget of the Arts and Community Foundation by more than half, from $1.15 million to $455,000.
The city created the nonprofit in 2008 with a one-time investment of redevelopment money to advance a broad agenda of redevelopment goals such as providing affordable housing and promoting the arts, literacy and education.
"We started the foundation with one-time money, and we were hoping it could generate some of its own, but business has been slow," City Manager Joe Sbranti said. "Other businesses that pay rent to the (foundation) have started slowly."
One of the centerpieces of the nonprofit's efforts has been the creation of a community bookstore in the city's redeveloped downtown. It also sponsors weekly car shows, concerts and farmers markets during the summer, art classes and reading programs.
The city reduced the foundation's events budget from $300,000 this year to $145,000 in 2011-12 and eliminated the contract of part-time events director Paul Flores.
The reduced budget will force the nonprofit to shorten the car show and Pittsburg Pops concert season from five months to three months this summer.
The foundation also spent $100,000 to put on a daylong cycling event through Pittsburg's downtown in May, which won't be continued unless other money can be found, Sbranti said.
"There's no money in the budget currently for the (bicycle criterium)," he said.
The city eliminated the foundation's $162,000 marketing budget used to attract business to Pittsburg's Old Town and did not renew the contract of marketing director Caryn Wegerbauer.
The foundation spent about $600,000 on six primary contractors and a group of part-time contractors in 2010-11.
"Creating a nonprofit has enabled the foundation to receive tax-deductible donations," Sbranti said. "We've received a lot of donated books."
The remaining contractors will take over Wegerbauer's and Flores' responsibilities and also will work with the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce, he said.
Janis Glover, wife of Pittsburg Supervisor Federal Glover, will continue to coordinate the nonprofit's low-income housing programs.
Glover helps nonprofit developers with planning, permits, fundraising, building permits and other issues.
Separately, the chamber is trying to replace $100,000 in police and maintenance services it was receiving from the city for the annual Seafood Festival, said chamber Executive Vice President Meredith Ladich.
The city cut its aid to the festival to help balance its 2011-12 budget.
Contact Rick Radin at 925-779-7166.