The sight of sanitation workers cleaning sidewalks and streets in the French Quarter may soon become a thing of the past.

"This will eliminate the enhanced, Disney-like services, such as street sweeping and power washing in the Vieux Carre and downtown areas of the city," Mayor Ray Nagin said in a news conference on Friday.

The reduction of sanitation services in the French Quarter is just one change Mayor Nagin wants to implement in next year's city budget. In the French Quarter and downtown, that means twice a day pick-up will be reduced to once a day, keeping garbage collection services at their most basic level.

"We think that will be sufficient to maintain public safety, public health throughout the community," Mayor Nagin said.

Yet, some City Council members are already expressing concern about that proposal, which would affect an area of the city that is a major draw for tourists.

"Personally, I would prefer that it not be cut back on sanitation services in the French Quarter. I would rather see us do something to adjust the residential garbage collection," said Councilwoman Shelley Midura, District A.

"I think we at least have to ask ourselves, ‘Can we afford the level of sanitation we are getting from all of the contractors?’ It's not just about one or two, this is about the entire package," said City Council Vice President Arnie Fielkow.

In a statement to Eyewitness News, SDT Waste and Debris Services President Sidney Torres said his company is still evaluating the proposed cuts of their services to the French Quarter and downtown. However, he added, "(T)he services that will be eliminated are the very services that have made a difference in the French Quarter.... Elimination of these critical services will have a substantial impact on the cleanliness of the quarter.... Unfortunately, the trash and smells will quickly return without constant clean up efforts."

However, the mayor says once a day pickup in the Quarter should suffice.

"I think we're kind of on a roll right now, as it relates to tourism, and hopefully, by doing once a day pickups of garbage, that will continue on that roll," Mayor Nagin said.

Torres also said if the mayor's changes to sanitation services goes through, his company will have to layoff 75 people who currently service the French Quarter and downtown areas. The City Council is expected to take up this budget issue later on this week.