Phase III  

Greater Bakersfield Vision 2020

Visioning Meeting

Kern County Administration Building � April 6, 2000

 

Our Slogan:

        The best kept secret in California

        Working together for a better tomorrow

        The Heart of California

        Bakersfield � If you haven�t been there lately, you haven�t been there!

        Bakersfield-the Best of California

 

Our Image:

        Cultural center

        Vibrant

        Family oriented

        Clean!

        Friendly

        Modern

        Business center of the South San Joaquin Valley

        Silicon Valley of the Southern Valley

        Culturally diverse

        A place to visit and have fun when you were on vacation

        A little bit country, a little bit Rock N Roll

 

Our Reputation:

        Great hospitality

        We enjoy our families, friends, & visitors

        Safe

        Smart

        Ethical

        Diverse

        A place to get a high dollar job in a pleasant living area

        Excellent place to get a vocational education

 

Business Environment:

        More job for children � to feel good about themselves

        Knowledge based

        Jobs/professional opportunities

        High tech/high pay jobs that support oil & Ag � process, package, etc. here

        Tourism = economic development �We are a destination�

        Fair to all participants

        Access to Federal Courts

 

 

Arts & Culture:

        Lincoln Center Complex

        Performing Arts Center (free for the children)

        Larger Art Museum

        Noon concerts downtown

        Historic theatre district and arts and cultural center

        Youth oriented concerts

        More than just the Crystal Palace

        Keep our Symphony � new facility

 

Education:

        Vocational education

        Computer Tech/Science Univ.

 

Heart of the City:

        More recreation for teens:  teen club 15-18 years; Recreation Center

        Promote urban village community � residences, shops, recreation in the heart of the city

        Easy transport from everywhere to the heart of town � for business, entertainment, shopping, dining and seeing people

        Homeless in homes outside of city limits

        More boutique shopping

        Famous Medical Center �Ex: UCLA/USC

 

Technology:

        Virtual reality entertainment complex

        Center for high tech development in oil & ag and �new industries�

 

Our Values:

        Collaboration

        Honesty

        We Care About Kids

        MidWestern � strong work ethic � still

        Family values

        Embracing our differences

 

Transportation:

        Circular � Beltway

        Airline connections

        Hi-speed rail system

        Metro Rail System: Rosedale-Downtown

        Light rail/Expressways

        Shuttle from hotels and major centers to recreation/art/sports areas

        Major airlines

 

Biggest Changes:

        Financial district

        Knowledge based economy

        Loop freeway

        Nordstroms

        Downtown is (again) the major site of business, entertainment, & govt.

        Theme park

        Bakersfield � as far South as you can get in Northern California

 

Break Thrus:

        Acceptance of cultural differences

        Valley Fever

        Great grandkids not afraid to go out on Halloween

 

Looking Back I�m Most Proud of�

        The Vision 2020 process!

        �being involved

 

 

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

        Destination Market � tourism � sports & entertainment

        More technology business

        A haven for professionals

        Complaints from L.A. Chamber of Commerce of flights of businesses to Bakersfield

        Shopping & restaurants around professional office buildings

        Neighborhoods built to last

        Less reliance on oil/agriculture

        Clean industry

        Promote image of economic activity by development and concentration of high-rises in downtown area

        Knowledge based cow �?

        Educating Hispanics about resources available to them

        Show people how to get involved more for children

 

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

        Airport access

        Plan to apply for all grant issues � used more widely in other areas

        Tax incentives for new development that stays within the 2020 or 2010 plans

        Solid diverse economy

        Youth job development (training)

        Youth internships in farm businesses �volunteer organizations

 

 

 

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

        Computer technology

        Good teachers

        Major manufacturing

        Excellence in education beyond secondary level

        Craftsmen to support new and existing industries

        Professionals: architects, doctors, lawyers

        Multinational businesses � manufacturing and technology

        High tech corporate offices

        Light industrial/manufacturing

        Health care

        Technology support services

 

 

Our Vision for Downtown:

        Remove Hwy 178 in Downtown

        Light rail along Truxtun to Rosedale, along Union, Proceed from downtown to the Northeast

        Green belt along 34th

        Big Park in center

        Restaurant Row

        Fountains

        Hi storied walking/working

        Baseball stadium

        Federal Court and Federal Agencies on California and Chester

        Business corridor on Lakeview

        Indoor shopping mall on Truxtun and Union

        Outdoor shopping mall closed to traffic, e.g. Santa Monica

        Recreation Complex � Nascar/Softball/water Park/hiking paths, etc.

        Focus on the River � cleanup and beautify

        Beautification of Hwy 99 of entrances to the city � Monument signs both ends of 99

        Crystal Palace and more ET clubs

        Baseball stadium at the Metro Rec. Center  - Museum grounds

        UC Medical Center near Columbus

        Urban residential area

        Cut and cover Hwy  178

        Historic Theatre district on Chester

        Green belt along California

        Small police substations scattered around

        Upscale shopping mall (Nordstrom)

        Antique Row along H St. with more eateries

        Beyond H.S. education center between Union and Chester � also Senior Housing

        High density housing  and good day-to-day shopping between Lakeview and Union

        Attach a park to every school

        Professional Men and Women Soccer stadium on Union between Truxtun and California. Also, ice rink ;and YMCA

        Old Town Historic Cultural Center near Beale

        Riverwalk along So. Fork of river

        Retail/parking along Chester � Educ. Center

        Hi rise residential around Riverwalk

 

 

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

        Pedestrians downtown

        Regional youth centers

        Business involvement with K-12 education

        Efficient use of taxpayer dollars

        Recreation complex in Northeast

        New Central Park Downtown

        Horseback riding stables along Kern River Trail

        More restaurants

        More play areas after school

        Bigger Malls

        Nordstroms

        More moral and ethics in school in relation to solving problems of broken families and new families � in relation to pregnancy � abortion, achievement in school, job level and educational attainment and all vocational training

        Theme park

        More electric cars

        Pioneer & Fairfax area needs more things for the kids to do:  We need swimming pool, arts & crafts, teach children to love themselves and neighborhoods

        All buildings and developments overseen by licensed architect

        Justice for Federal jurors

        High speed rail � downtown

        Ice rink

        To see the mountains more often

        Easy parking/transport for all civic functions and entertainment

        More bike trails

        Excellence in vocational education

        Retail in-fill/improvement rather than abandonment of existing retail centers

        Neighborhoods built to last a lifetime

        Professional baseball stadium

        Mixed use development

        Big skateboard park

 

 

 

In our Community�s Future, We didn�t Want and We Didn�t Get�

        Congested streets and highways

        No dumping grounds

        Leap-frogging

        Billboards

        Unrestricted growth � stay within the plan

        Dairies (got milk)

        No gas cars

        No forced trips to Fresno

        Gangs

        Urban sprawl and large welfare rolls

        Further loss of prime Ag land to unplanned urban sprawl and cheaply made homes

        No more cheesy housing and neighborhoods

        No more strip malls

 

 

2010 Area Map

        Beltway along 7th Standard, Shafter Hwy, Bear Mt. Blvd.

        River all the way through town with restaurants and entertainment

        Keep River native with trees and native habitat in the flood plan, undeveloped area

        Extended bike trails and green belts � Brundage, Gosford, Buena Vista Rd. Stockdale, Mt. Vernon

        High �rise offices and big park downtown

        Arts ampitheatre

        Federal Court center

        Welcome to Bakersfield signs

        Outlet mall E. of Union

        Industrial Center � Cottonwood

        Baseball  stadium � Mt. Vernon and Beale area

        Residential development in the Northeast (E. of 178)

        Recreation/sport complex on Kern Canyon Rd.

        Supermarkets spread out through town

        Incentivize infill in the core of the city

        Landscaped and maintained bike paths � Alfred Harrell

 

 

Common Themes

        Beltway

        Environmental issues

        Develop downtown

        Art & recreation centers

        Light rail

        Kern River greenway

        Lots of green

        Youth issues

        Nordstroms

        S.E. blighted area developed

        Educational system to support new industries � vocational training

        Restaurant Tow

        Federal building and court house

        High tech/hi paid jobs

        No leapfrog development