At the Sept. 9 meeting the board voted to adopt the draft of the 2003-07 strategic plan that was in the development stage for more than a year.

"This is a turning point for us," Cathy Adkins, first vice president and owner of Willow Glen Books, said.

The organization, dedicated to improving the business district, has existed for more than 20 years and has never before clearly articulated a plan for assisting its members, Lincoln Avenue merchants.

"When I came to my first meeting in 1983, I asked what the goals were, and they all looked at each other," Linda Waltrip, third vice president and owner of Park Place Vintage, said.

The mission statement for the approved plan states that downtown Willow Glen will be "an economically strong, pedestrian-friendly business district of mid- to high-end shops, services, dining and cultural uses serving The Greater San Jose Area (4-10 mile radius from downtown WG)."

The strategic plan outlines what the downtown will uniquely offer, such as specialty and lifestyle retail, entertainment until midnight, street performers. It also plans to target Willow Glen residents and customers living in the greater San Jose area.

To accomplish this, the association identified five goals—increase downtown awareness, strengthen its membership, expand human and financial resources, retain and recruit more businesses and make downtown more pedestrian- and customer-friendly.

"It's trying to improve the bigger picture; the strategies are not set in stone," Adkins said.

Executive director Norma Ruiz was adamant about developing the groundwork for a consistent policy, especially since board members are only elected to one-year terms.

"I've always felt this was needed," Marvin Bamburg, secretary and owner of MBA Architects, said.