Phase III  

Visioning Meeting

Boys & Girls Club � March 23, 2000

 Our Slogan:

�        Bakersfield � the state�s best kept secret

�        �We lead and stand together�

�        The heart of California

�        The heart of the valley

�        City of possibilities

Our Image:

�        No more perception as �red neck town�

�        Scenic entry way into town

�        Diverse and friendly community

�        Great place to live

�        Fun 4 Families

�        Leaders

�        Progressive

�        Great schools like Clovis� image

Our Reputation:

�        Skilled workforce

�        Warm & Friendly

�        Family atmosphere

�        Open minded & educated

�        Hospitality capital of the West

�        Philanthropist

Civic Culture:

�        Jazz coffee houses

�        Modern baseball stadium

�        A Mayor � not a figurehead

�        Another Junior College

�        Open and inclusive

Business Environment:

�        Business friendly

�        Diverse

�        Access to capital � minority businesses

�        Strong ag export

�        Latinos are an economic powerhouse!

�        MAOF has its own building

Arts & Culture:

�        Performing arts center

�        For lower income children to have the opportunity to have instruments/lessons paid for

�        Theatre- plays, Broadway shows, concerts

�        Biggest Latino Cultural Center

�        �Music in the park� events

�        Big Broadway shows

�        Horse show

�        Block parties with lots of food and music - dancing

Heart of the City:

�        Fountains/water

�        Trees

�        Lighting (�gas lamps�)

�        Riverwalk

�        Art

�        A mix of central city neighborhoods thruout central city

�        Neighborhood redevelopment

�        Beautification

�        Fountains

�        Police on bikes � safe

�        Residents mingling and having fun together

Our Values:

�        Education first

�        Dignity/respect

�        Children/activities

�        Family

�        Teach (the youth) at home and school the respect for seniors

�        Work ethic (strong)

�        Everyone motivated

Technology:

�        Computers for every students

�        Computer classes for seniors

�        Microsoft warehouse

Transportation:

�        Full service airport

�        7/24 public transportation

�        High speed rail thnru Taft to I-5 (N & S)

�        Train directly to coastal area

�        Reliable transportation for seniors �in time� and at low cost

�        International airport

�        High speed rail

�        Bus transportation to all parks

�        Meachum & Hageman to Downtown

�        Trams

�        Major daily air service

Biggest Changes:

�        Unemployment below 5%

�        Lower the crime rate in East Bakersfield

�        Low percentage of people on public assistance

�        Clean air

�        Air quality

�        City provides all metro services

�        Building and redevelopment on East side in the foothills

�        Youth centers in East Bakersfield

Break Thrus:

�        Major air service

�        Vacation destination

�        Higher test school results in elementary and secondary schools � above state average

�        Un centro Espanol

�        One hour freeway to the beach

�        A specialized entertainment center for seniors

�        Computers in every home

�        Everyone can read

Looking back I�m most proud of�

�        City/county partnership

�        Vision 2020

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

�        Everyone with some kind of job

�        High paying careers with full benefits for the entire family

�        Develop volunteer programs for out-of-school yourths and provide learning. Result: Increase employment

�        Work subsidy program

�        Women in higher paying jobs overall

�        Trade schools

�        Service businesses

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

�        Vocational training schools for everyone

�        One-stop community center in East Bakersfield somewhere on Niles Street (not CSC)

�        Factory outlets

�        Tax incentives

�        Trade schools

�        Jobs for youth as after-school programs:  cleaning up neighborhoods; community gardens; Demolish old/burnt buildings and plant trees � e.g. Union Ave.

�        Develop family centers where children do homework & play then adults come for dinner and have classes on parenting, learning stress reduction, healthy behaviors, other cultures

�        Amusement park

�        Emphasize to young females need to develop employable skills since many women may need to suppport themselves or families

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

�        Computer programming

�        Car manufacturing

�        Chemical engineering

�        Invention factory

�        Processing of our agricultural commodities

�        Technology training (structured wire) � skilled workers

�        Knowledge workers

�        Amusement park � jobs for youth

�        The kind where seniors can still be productive

�        Teachers respected and admired

�        Medical training in advanced areas � M.D.s, PHPs,  Psychiatry

Our Vision for Downtown

�        YWCA, Water Park, Mall, Movie Theatre, Gym near museum grounds

�        Soccer Park and Baseball park north of 24^th St.

�        Apartment complex

�        Boys and Girls Club South of California between 99 and Chester

�        Restaurants YMCA and Park between Union and Chester, S. of California

�        Factory Outlets, shopping Center W. of Lakeview, S. of California

�        E. of Lakeview � Horse stables,. Boys & Girls Club, Farm College, Biotechnology

�        River Walk like San Antonio

�        River Extension

�        Federal Court House

�        Transport to Taft and Tehachapi

�        N. of 178, River Walk cafes & lounges, Swimming Park,  �Park�

�        Elevated traffic Circle where 178 ends

�        North East � Senior center & cheap Toys R Us

�        Underground subway to West side and N/S

�        A large central shopping plaza with Huge trees

�        �Outdoor� sports complex � NW

�        Basketball stadium and Lake near Museum

�        Frisbee golf course N of 24^th

�        Hospital converted to Senior housing on Truxtun

�        Community gardens S of California

�        California Ave. beautified

�        Neighborhoods mix of housing types � redeveloped and new

�        Boys & Girls Club between Union and Chester, S. of California

�        Large chain grocery store S. of California

�        Community gardens

�        River walk with little cafes, with gas lamps

�        Flourishing businesses

�        New central city housing

�        Gondolas on the S. Fork river

�        Green belt along 34^th St.

�        Community Gardens � 34^th St.

�        Medical centers N. of 34^th

�        Old Town Kern area:  �Basque Country�

�        Renewal of blighted structures

�         Boutique shopping mecca

�        E. Sumner St. is Bakersfield�s �Olvera Street�

�        Performing Arts Center

�        Youth center

�        Also youth center N. of 178

�        Senior center with buses for seniors � NE

�        Gyms for seniors, swimming pool for seniors� exercise

�        Activity center for all age groups

�        All core routes: electric trains (commuter)

In our community�s future we wanted and we got�

�        Healthy persons

�        Exercising

�        Eating healthy, nutritious foods

�        Acceptance and understanding of all cultures

�        Neighborhood pride

�        Year-round schools or access to schools year round

�        All persons wanting to live fully, develop uniqueness/talents

�        Childcare at all government agencies like D.H.S. S.S. schools for parents to take care of paperwork required

�        Human rights for the unborn

�        Equal child care, for the working poor/middle income, do not focus on Calworks families

�        No drugs � clean community

�        Lowest high school drop-out rate in the state

�        Lots of trees, shrubs, green lawns

�        Efficient transportation for seniors-with fixed routes and schedule

�        Longer school hours

�        Moe affordable & quality after school programs for working parents

�        Big amusement park @ Buena Vista & Stockdale Hwy

�        Bike and motor scooter pathways with secure parking areas (shopping, parks, museum downtown areas)

�        Bakersfield hockey

�        City and county gets along great

�        There are no blighted neighborhoods

�        More street lights

�        More road space

�        Consistent supply of quality water

�        Fountains/trees everywhere

�        Computer caf� (dot.com)

�        Trams & shuttles

�        Police around neighborhoods

�        Outlet stores in �EB� and South �EB�

�        Open space

�        Updated parks for kids � skating, etc.

What we didn�t want and didn�t get�

�        Ignorance of ethnic strengths and culture

�        Obese/fat unhealthy persons

�        Billboards

�        Gangs

�        High unemployment

�        HMO

�        Distinction of the masses

�        More traffic congestion

�        Blighted, boarded-up structures! � fix or clear

�        Run down schools

�        Student work instead of school suspension

�        Slum landlords

�        Abandoned property

�        Prisons

�        Poor stats-teen pregnancy, drop-out rates

�        Big city like L.A. and their problems and lack of community awareness

�        No traffic

�        No gangs

�        Litter on street curbs

�        Graffiti

�        Low paying jobs

�        Continued good ol� boy govt. policies

�        Poverty families

�        No homeless people standing on corners with signs

�        A dump

�        Abandon apartments

Common Themes

�        S.E. development � mix old/new; planning

�        Exercise opportunities

�        Amusement parks

�        Mass transportation

�        Community Gardens