OCEANSIDE -- Downtown booster group MainStreet Oceanside plans to hire an executive director and cut some less popular programs during the next two years as it shifts its focus from large events to smaller seminars for merchants, city officials said.

The organization, which is partially funded by the city, presented its work plan for fiscal years 2008-10 to the city's Redevelopment Advisory Committee on Wednesday.

MainStreet officials said budget issues led them to cut several events, including the spring Antiques on Mission show, the Arts Alive banner program, the Saturday for Giving donation drive and July Fourth activities on The Strand.

The city's July Fourth activities were scaled down this year; the seaside carnival that had been a staple of the holiday's annual O'Fest celebration was canceled. The proposal discussed at Wednesday's meeting would eliminate some of the remaining activities.

The Arts Alive banner program would also be stopped. The annual program featured colorful, hand-painted banners that were hung from streetlights along Coast Highway and Mission Avenue for several months before being auctioned. Proceeds from the sale of the banners were split evenly between the artist and MainStreet Oceanside.

The organization also said it plans to hire an executive director to replace Kim Heim, who has been leading the group as a part-time consultant since 2002.

Heim said he will serve MainStreet in some capacity but with the organization hosting five to seven special events and roughly 100 streets markets each year, "it really needs a full-time, dedicated executive director."

MainStreet will make its regular funding request to the City Council on Aug. 13. It will ask for $190,000 this fiscal year and $160,000 in 2009-10.

That's more than the city has given the organization in previous years. Typically, the city provides $50,000 to $100,000. The last fiscal year was an exception. On top of a $100,000 payment, the city gave MainStreet $100,000 to start its Sunset Market and $50,000 for July Fourth activities on The Strand.

If the council approves MainStreet's funding request, the money would pay for half of MainStreet's administrative expenses, a third of its rent, and all of its utilities. It also would cover the annual Developer's Forum and Freedom Days Parade, a city report states.