Pittsburgh City Council tentatively voted today to spend $500,000 to open a curfew center for the first time in five years, despite the fact that a fiscal plan passed yesterday apparently limits it to one year of funding.

"This is an alternative to sending them to Shuman Center, where they will be locked up," said Councilwoman Tonya Payne. "That's what a lot of these kids need, is some intervention from some adult to show them that someone cares."

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has sought to pay the nonprofit group Three Rivers Youth to run a new center at 200 N. Dithridge St. in Oakland, and to find help for the kids taken there by police, at a cost of $500,000 for one year.

He had planned to open the curfew center's doors May 1, but council has taken its time considering the funding. And yesterday, council approved a five-year recovery plan under Act 47 for distressed municipalities that includes no funding for the curfew center after this year.

Council President Doug Shields argued vigorously against funding the center, presenting a binder full of reports and articles suggesting that curfews don't work.

During the last five months of operation of the city's prior curfew center, in 2004, just 22 youths were taken there, typical of its light usage.

Most council members, though, said they could not stand against a wave of community sentiment that police need to start enforcing the curfew after a five-year hiatus.

"For me, the compelling reason is that residents are screaming for a curfew center," said Councilwoman Theresa Smith.

The vote was 8-1, with only Mr. Shields voting no. A final vote could come Tuesday.

Mr. Ravenstahl's administration did not immediately respond to an inquiry on when the center will open and whether it will seek to fund it in future years despite the recovery plan. Three Rivers Youth's director could not be immediately be reached for comment.

The curfew ordinance requires youths younger than 17 to be indoors in the summer, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and midnight to 6 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Hours are an hour earlier on weeknights during the school year. There are some exceptions, like returning home or going to or from a job.