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e over and over again. Ms. Prichard said the reports indicated that unless something is done soon, the downtown will continue to lose market share. Ms. Prichard discussed recommendations made by various experts regarding downtown. These included development of a management plan, continuing promotion of future office-related commercial developments, location of housing in the downtown, recognition of downtown as a primary destination point, creation of a market-driven merchandising plan, development of centralized retail management downtown, and creation of north-south access downtown. Ms. Prichard referred to the work being done by the Retail Task Force, and said this work dovetailed very well with the work being done by that group. Ms. Prichard said while access is essential, it has to be done in conjunction with a good management program. She said during the last task force meeting, the group was stymied in its progress because members realized that they could not work on a retail management plan without discussing access. Ms. Prichard believed that increased access and a downtown management plan would ensure security and good maintenance. Ms. Aspinwall-Lamberts said the commission is seeking reaffirmation from the council to proceed with the process of opening Olive Street in an expeditious fashion. She said the commission recognizes the key players that must be involved in the discussion, such as Lane Transit District, the Citizen Involvement Committee, Downtown Eugene, Inc., and the Planning Commission, among others. The commission intended to bring these players into the process. She said the commission does not want to lose time getting these groups together, and would like to focus on its vision of how the area should e look and how vehicular traffic would operate on the street. Mr. Schwartz discussed the approach to the street opening. He said the commission must, within its short time line, bring the involved groups together. Public hearings can be held on the redesigned street, with the goal of opening the street after January 1, 1990. Mr. Schwartz said the commission was eager to begin this work, and felt accountability demanded that the commission come to the council with this project. He said in 1978-79 the downtown realized, in present day dollars, $167 million in retail sales. In the current year this figure will be half of that amount, and Mr. Schwartz did not see the situation improving under the status quo. Mr. Holmer referred to goal 1, objective one of the work program, to improve accessibility to downtown businesses. He asked why opening Olive Street was a higher priority now for the commission than the opening of Willamette Street. Ms. Prichard said that the opening was timely due to the development of the Pankow bUilding adjacent to the street. Ms. Aspinwall-Lamberts said if the commission was to present the council with a list of its priorities, opening Willamette Street would be at the top of the list. The commission was attempting to work with the political realities under which the council must operate. Mr. Holmer said he would like a recommendation from the commission about which was the more critical opening. Ms. Aspinwall-Lamberts polled the commissioners, and they all said opening Willamette Street would be their top priority. Mr. Schwartz said the commission's objective had been to consider the opening of Olive Street as quickly as possible, with the ultimate goal of opening Willamette Street. He said the community will need e MINUTES--City Council/Downtown Commission-- October 9, 1989 Page 4 Dinner/Work Session