Phase II Executive Summary  Strengths & Weaknesses

What Phase 2 Was All About

During Phase 2, the assessment phase, conducted from September 1999 through January 2000, more than 12,500 residents from across the city voiced their opinion on what they perceived to be the strengths and weaknesses of Greater Bakersfield.  This information, along with data detailing demographic, economic and other trends of the Greater Bakersfield area, will be the foundation for a shared vision which will build on our strengths and address major challenges.  

What People Said � Bakersfield�s Major Strengths

�        Friendly, caring people: Friendly, community-minded people, community spirit and pride, high level of volunteerism, compassion for those less fortunate

�        Location: Easy access to the mountains, beach, and larger urban areas; central location; air, rail, truck hub, easy state-wide access

�        Variety of entertainment: Increasing variety available; shopping malls, movie theaters, Marketplace, Crystal Palace, and night clubs

�        Parks and outdoor recreation: Neighborhood parks, Kern River Parkway, Panorama Park, nearby outdoor recreation areas

�        K-12 Education

�        Cultural diversity: Increasing cultural diversity, including churches, museums, theatre, the arts

�        Business activity: Positive business climate, family-owned businesses, affordable labor

�        Centennial Garden

�        Affordable housing

�        Low cost of living

�        Light traffic: Relatively light traffic, short commute times, wide roads

�        Small town character and atmosphere

�        Family oriented: A �great place to raise a family�; many family activities

�        College level educational opportunities: California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield College, other extended universities, Bakersfield Adult School

�        Downtown revitalization: Redevelopment and increasing revitalization of the downtown area, the recent streetscape

�        Public safety, strong law enforcement

�         Climate: The Spring and Fall seasons, cool evenings, summer nights; the opportunity to play golf and other outdoor sports year round

�        Agriculture and oil: A world leader in these two important industries

What People Said � Major Weaknesses  

  �      Air quality: Poor air quality, air pollution, low visibility, the inability to see the mountains on many days

�        Youth activities: A lack of affordable afternoon and evening activities for youth, especially on the East side

�        Gang activity: A wide spread concern, even in areas with little gang activity

�        Blighted neighborhoods: The lack of development and redevelopment in some areas; Southeast and East Bakersfield, vacant strip malls, Union Avenue specifically mentioned

�        Urban sprawl, leapfrog development: A lack of planning for growth; uncontrolled development; residential encroachment on agricultural lands

�        Schools: K-12 performance below state averages; limited vocational training; high drop out rates; lack of local UC

�        Freeway planning: Poor freeway planning, �freeways to nowhere�; poor downtown and East-West connections

�        Jobs: High unemployment rate; low wages

�        Litter and graffiti: Large amounts of litter and graffiti; visual blight

�        Traffic flow: Increasing traffic; lack of synchronized traffic lights; specific congested areas resulting from the lack of connected freeways

�        Airport and air service: Meadows Field airport too small and antiquated; air service not adequate; no jets

�        Drug traffic: Drug sale and use with related crime; high level of methamphetamine labs

�        Public transportation: A need for extended hours, Sunday service, and more frequent service expressed by youth and people in more transit dependent neighborhoods

�        Image and self-image: A belief that the community has a negative image with outsiders; a low self-image

�        City-County Cooperation, government: Lack of adequate cooperation between the city and county, particularly in the areas of new development, services to the urban area, and duplication of services; government unresponsiveness; lack of visionary leadership

�        Road maintenance: Inadequate road maintenance, especially potholes

In February 2000 the Facilitation Team of Greater Bakersfield Vision 2020  reviewed the strengths and weaknesses from Phase 2, as well as the level of community participation.  Based on the large number of participants, the diversity of both meeting locations and participants, and the consistency of responses from across the community, the Facilitation Team concluded that Phase 2 had been successfully completed and that moving into Phase 3, the Visioning effort, could be done with confidence.