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The Honolulu City Council plans to hammer out operating and capital improvement spending plans Wednesday, and there are several items that could stir debate.

Some items that Mayor Peter Carlisle put on the chopping block in March, such as the large white recycling containers placed at schools throughout the island, might get new life. The council has also included in an additional $23 million for the rehabilitation of streets, mirroring an increase it tacked on to Carlisle’s first budget a year ago.

On the other side of the ledger, the council could significantly trim the $24.5 million line item for the expansion of the Sand Island sewage plant. But that’s not set in stone.

For the most part, the council’s largest proposed changes to Carlisle’s budget are additions, not subtractions.

Overall, there haven’t been many large amendments, and the 2013 operating and capital budgeting process for the city’s administration has thus far paled in comparison to that of the controversial rail project, in some ways allowing two dozen city agencies to mostly fly under the radar.

The council’s current operating budget plan includes $5 million more in spending than Carlisle’s $1.953 billion proposal, a relative pittance. In the council’s current proposal for the capital budget, the most significant new expenditures, aside from streets, are for public parks.

Council Budget Committee Chair Ann Kobayashi said many of the new allocations are spread throughout the various council districts, meaning they’re all over Oahu. She also said there also aren’t many big ticket items on the list.

“It’s hard to pinpoint specific things because there are so many little things,” Kobayashi said. “It all adds up. You know $100,000 here, $100,000 there.”

The changes aren’t final yet, and some members have proposed further amendments to be considered at Wednesday’s full council meeting, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. After the vote, we’ll have to wait to see how Carlisle responds to the changes and whether he’ll sign off. His administration has been relatively quiet as of late when it comes to the council’s proposed budget changes. And when Carlisle released his own proposals in March, he said there’s a distinct lack of “fun” projects.

Here’s how the council’s proposed budgets stack up with Carlisle’s, as well as a few interesting tidbits from the documents:

Operating Budget

Carlisle’s proposal: $1.953 billion

Council’s proposal: $1.958 billion

Some of the council’s additions:

• $2.4 million to make sure local schools keep their white recycling bins.
• $350,000 to work with community on creating a Honolulu Family Justice Center for victims of domestic violence.
• $330,000 for a mobile spay and neuter clinic.
• $250,000 for clean-up of tsunami debris that might wash up on Honolulu beaches
• $100,000 for the replacement and repair of cameras in Chinatown.
• $70,000 for an adult bike education program that Council Member Tom Berg wants to remove in his own budget proposal.
• $50,000 for a cost analysis of a reverse 911 system that could help notify people island-wide in case of a large-scale emergency.
• $20,000 added to for “rooster control.”
• $10,000 for DVDs and other equipment to help with ethics training.
• $1,000 for installation of signs telling people they shouldn’t feed animals at the Hawaii Kai Park and Ride.

Capital Budget

Mayor’s proposal: $577.7 million

Council’s proposal: $605.6 million

Some of the changes:

• $23 million added for road rehabilitations. Some streets include Velzyland Road, Waikane Valley Road, South Beretania Street and Sierra Drive.
• $12.5 million cut from $24.5 million Sand Island wastewater treatment plant upgrade. However, there’s a proposed amendment from Kobayashi that could reinsert much of that money Wednesday.
• $2.2 million added for flood control improvements at various locations, including Kahuku, Lualualei and Makaha.
• $2 million to site and build Honolulu Family Justice Center.
• $1 million for Waimanalo sewer plant upgrade.
• $1 million to improve walkways around Haleiwa.
• $1 million allocated to .
• $565,000 for canoe halau at various parks.
• $565,000 for new golf cart paths at Ted Makalena Golf Course.
• $500,000 for pedestrian safety improvements at Lilipuna Road in Kaneohe.

DISCUSSION How do you think Mayor Peter Carlisle will react to the city council’s budget?