Phase III  

Visioning Meeting

Government Review Council (GRC)

Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce

April 7, 2000

Our Slogan:

�        Where you can walk (or bike) to work

�        California �Hot Spot�

Our Image:

�        Family appreciated

�        Highly educated community  (higher education)

Our Reputation:

�        Family friendly

�        Business friendly

�        The town Buck built

Business Environment:

�        Vibrant S.E. businesses

Heart of the City:

�        High tech center

�        Tress

�        Water

Technology:

�        City completely wired

Transportation:

�        Cross town in 10 minutes

�        High speed rail stop

�        K.R. Expressway

�        Implement major transportation investment strategy

Our Values:

�        Family first

�        Respect and dignity for all cultural groups

 Biggest Changes:

�        City/county cooperation

�        End of turf battles

�        Strong performance of K-12 students

�        High matriculation rates to UC

Break Thrus:

�        Clean air miracle

Looking Back I�m Most Proud of�

�        The people

�        Vision 2020

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

�        Professionalized downtown with shopping centers � Noon concerts

�        Safety and security

�        Family environment

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

�        Federal Center & Courthouse

�        Low business taxes

�        Educational strategies for more high tech work

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

�        High paying jobs � high skilled

�        Well educated work force

�        More high tech jobs

Our Vision for Downtown

�        Kern River Parkway thru

�        Kern Spring Water Plant

�        Garces Park along Parkway near museum � Arts Amphitheatre and ice rink in same location

�        Landscaping on North Chester in front of museum

�        Hwy 99 tree lined corridor

�        Trolley cars through downtown linking Beale Historic District and Oak St.

�        People living downtown

�        Transportation from trolley line at Central Park to area S. of California between Union and Chester where shopping, senior housing, and safe community is noted

�        Lakeview area = built up neighborhoods

In our Community�s Future We Wanted and We Got�

�        Friendly local INS & Naturalization

�        Clean air and plenty of clean water

�        Sustainable economic development

�        Lower than average unemployment

�        Freeway by-pass around entire city

�        Our kids schools rank in the top 10% of the state

�        Housing close to jobs

�        Cheapest housing in state

In our Community�s Future we didn�t want and we didn�t get�

�        No Fresno INS cattle calls

�        Low wage economic development that benefits corporations outside of Kern Co.

�        Strip zoning

�        No toll roads

Common Themes:

�        Economic Growth

�        Education

�        Good Transportation

�        Water Elements

�        Air quality

�        Development of downtown & housing downtown

�        Safe community

�        Strong families

�        Business friendly

�        High tech jobs