Phase III  

Visioning Meeting

Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

March 15, 2000

Our Slogan:

Where the good life gets better

This is God�s Country

The friendliest community in the world

Baker�s Field

Our Image

�        Positive Destination spot (as we once were)

�        Garden spot of the valley

�        Welcoming to all

�        Friendly

Our Reputation

�        A place you want to live and do business

�        Good planning

�        Tolerance for others-diversity

�        THE place to live

�        Absolutely the friendliest people anywhere!

�        Change is possible

�        Our word is good

Business Environment

�        Excellent

�        Diversified

�        Foster retention

�        Constant, balanced growth

�        Diverse industries

�        Welcoming

Arts & Culture

�        Performance Arts Center

�        Symphony Hall

�        Major Art Center (i.e. Balboa Park)

�        Accredited School of Art

Heart of the City

�        Good retail & restaurants

�        People walking everywhere

�        Mass transit available (trolley)

�        Downtown residence

�        Great place for browsing and window shopping

�        Green

�        Fountains

�        �Friendly� environment

�        Expanded street fairs with real commerce and entertainment

�        Cultural & professional center

�        Water elements

Our Values

�        Honesty

�        Integrity

�        Family

�        Embrace all cultures

�        Tolerance

�        Ethics

Technology

�        Known as high tech center

�        City infrastructure supports tech

Transportation

�        International airport

�        High speed rail with depot downtown

�        Pedestrian friendly

�        Buses go everywhere!

�        Great highways/roads � infrastructure

�        Roads maintained � no potholes!

�        Metro/rail transportation / Landscaping along freeways

Biggest changes

�        Broad cultural diversity

�        COMMITMENT and follow thru on �our� vision

�        PRO-BUSINESS City Manager

�        People feel included � willing to participate

�        No City Manager � Mayor - Elected

Break Thrus

�        Developed inner city-No empty buildings downtown

�        A good old girl network

�        Less �Land� in use thru technology

Looking Back in Most Proud of

�        The courage to change!

�        GBCC

�        My children want to stay here!

�        Vision 2020

What�s Our Vision for our Economy over the Next 10-20 years?

�        Diversify x 10

What kind of Economic Development Initiatives do we want to create?

�        Business friendly climate at the local/county/state level

�        Retention of existing business

�        Promotion of tech-savvy workforce

�        Easy access to high-bandwidth (net access)

�        Educate our own to meet new economy

What kind of Jobs do we want to attract here over the next 10-20 years

�        Blue and white collar jobs � manufacturing & service

�        Consulting & development

�        CIS Computer technology

�        Knowledge workers

�        Value added/net export

Our Vision for Downtown

�        Welcome to Bakersfield signs at each 99 entrance

�        Business along the Kern River �restaurants like Sacramento

�        Expanded Museum recreation complex � Landscaping; Art Complex; Water Park; Recreational

�        Flowers decorating city parking structures

�        High Tech District

�        �H� St Noted Antique District

�        Revitalization incentives

�        34^th St. Redevelop � Recreation center partnership

�        Core downtown: River Walk - & taxis

�        Music & Art complex

�        Theater Complex

�        Restaurant District

�        Shops & Restaurants

�        Business & Residences together

�        Brundage Lane landscaping

�        S. of California � revitalization incentives

�        Union Ave.  & Beale � landscaping and trees

�        �Old Town Kern� development; fountains

�        Lakeview: new housing; retail center

�        Recreation center partnership

�        Trees � park-like & playground

�        Redevelopment landscaping

What We Wanted and Got

�        Welfare eliminated

�         Lots of Trees

�        More flowers

�        High tech jobs

�        �River Walk� development

�        Football team �NFL�

�        �Litter-free_ freeways

�        Highway 99 not dividing West and East

�        More water elements

�        Increased property value

�        Kern River with water all the time

�        Appealing freeway corridors and landscape!

�        Good transportation corridors

�        Skilled workforce

�        Clean Air

�        Trees

What We Didn�t Want and Didn�t Get

�        Low paying jobs

�        Traffic jabs/long waits at stops

�        �Unconnected Freeways�

�        Pot holes

�        Child abuse

�        Crime/Gangs

�        Dead end Freeways/Roads

�        Filthy air

Common Themes

�        Diversity

�        Redevelopment

�        Water

�        Landscaping �greenbelt

�        Technology

�        Lots of color

�        Transportation

�        Skilled work force

�        Arts & entertainment

�        Celebration of our history