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 34^th

�        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 7^th 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