"A lot of the business community say it's an impediment for trading as it's inaccessible for vehicles.
"They say there has been a decline of foot traffic along Tutanekai between Hinemoa and Pukuatua streets.
"We want to trial it as a shared space with very slow-moving traffic and see if it works and if the public like it - we could be wrong," he said.
Mr Steiner said a large number of retailers thought allowing traffic to travel over the City Focus along Tutanekai St would make it easier to navigate the central city.
Rotorua District Council Strategy and Partnerships Group manager Jean-Paul Gaston said the council would wait for the Inner City Focus Group to come back to the council with its recommendation after Thursday's meeting.
"The group wants to see vehicles being able to travel straight ahead at the City Focus intersection (on Tutanekai St), in addition to the current permitted left turns.
"The trial would involve the lifting of traffic bollards and the addition of temporary lanes defined by planter boxes to let vehicles travel slowly across the edges of the City Focus plaza area.
"The bollards would be put back in place at night."
He said council staff would then investigate things like pedestrian and motorist safety, preparatory work and signage, as well as any costs before putting the proposal before the mayor and councillors for a decision on a trial.
If the council agreed with the proposal, the trial could begin in October or November.
But former Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall, who was mayor when the City Focus was built in 1994, said opening it up to traffic was a backward step.
"I find it staggering they want to increase the number of cars going through the centre of town when Tutanekai St should really be pedestrianised.
"I think it's moving in the wrong direction when many cities in New Zealand and around the world are looking to pedestrianise their CBDs.
"I can understand retailers wanting to see more traffic, but I don't think it will make one iota of difference for them - it could be counter-productive with people dodging cars.
"But, I do think the City Focus needs to be enhanced for our pedestrians, you only need to look at the success of Eat Streat to see how well that works," Mr Hall said.
Councillor and Inner City Revitalisation Strategy portfolio leader Karen Hunt said the trial would be "interesting and unique" and the council would ask for public feedback on it.
"There're so many people who are attached to the City Focus and a number who want to get rid of it.
"It's just a trial.
"We haven't discounted trying other suggestions," she said.