Portland City Hall, where the mayor's office is located. (kgw.com Photo)

If you're in downtown Portland after business hours and you have to use a restroom -- come on over to the Mayor's place.

Now, as part of the Mayor's Street Access for Everyone, known as SAFE, the first floor of City Hall's restrooms will be open overnight.

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Mayor Tom Potter said the program will increase downtown livability.

"What we're trying to do is make it better not only for homeless people but for all people in Portland," said Mayor Potter.

Blog: Potty at City Hall

The new hours, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. are expected to be in place by August second. Currently, City Hall restrooms are open to the public from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The additional hours will increase the City's public restroom capacity during hours when no other public restrooms are available.

The cost of additional hours and security is more than $46,000 for a six-month trial period.

"This is another example of City Hall flushing their tax dollars away," said Jason Williams, Director of the Taxpayers Association of Oregon.

Williams said the program will make Portland a desirable place for homeless people. He thinks it will increase the city's homeless population.

"What homeless people need is shelter and assistance," said Williams, "What they don't need is taxpayer funded luxury toilets in the middle of City Hall."

Mayor Potter does not think the toilets will attract more homeless to Portland.

"Will that encourage them to say, 'Gosh that's a nice bathroom. I'm going to stay here a few more months?' That does not make sense to me," said Mayor Potter.

Mayor Potter said the city will evaluate the program after six months. He said if the toilets are not being used overnight or if they are blamed for generating problems downtown, the city will no longer offer its round-the-clock restroom service.

The SAFE initiative also includes providing day shelters for the homeless during hours when most shelters providing services are closed.