Phase III

Visioning Meeting

The Bakersfield Californian � March 29, 2000

 

Our Slogan:

�        A better place to live

�        Getting better all the time

 

Our Image:

�        New high tech center of California

�        Attractive on and off ramps to freeway system

�        Demetris Southerd (the Greek)

�        Strong supporter of the Education System

�        Our students have highest GPA in state

 

Our Reputation:

�        Shady, beautiful, not dusty

�        Not the butt of jokes

�        Broad based economy-recession proof

�        A Great Place to Visit..the Greatest Place to Live!

 

Civic Culture:

�        Strong planning committee

�        City and county governments work together

 

Business Environment:

�        National companies with employment presence

�        All businesses are on the leading edge of technology

�        Industrial park land is developed & occupied

�        Light manufacturing

�        Software development

 

Arts & Culture:

�        More activities that Bakersfield is known for

�        Movie theater that shows independent films

�        Affordable family entertainment

�        Public art

�        Downtown activities (more like 1st Night activity)

 

Heart of the City:

�        Large park surrounded by modern buildings, restaurants, and cultural centers

�        Cool new baseball stadium

�        Downtown high rise condo�s

�        Trees, fountains, river emphasis, green, shade

�        Art! To buildings � Centers � more

�        Water theme Park � more for kids/families

�        Quality redevelopment to replace blighted areas

 

Technology:

�        Hub for software development & manufacturing

�        Strong division at Cal State Bakersfield

 

Transportation:

�        Vastly improved traffic light system

�        More telecommuting � less congestion

�        Bikes!

�        Speed rail

 

Our Values:

�        Sense of community

�        Hardworking workforce

�        Cleaner air � trees, water, awnings, lamppost � i.e.: aesthetics, caring for the earth!

 

Biggest Changes:

�        It actually looks nice when you drive down 99

�        Feel safe strolling downtown after dark

 

Break Thrus

�        Fuel cells � no gas, each house business has own generating plant.

�        Longevity � longer productivity

�        Ability to improve air quality developed

�        People are aware that they can make a difference � it�s up to them

 

Looking back I�m most proud of�

�        We�ve become a diverse, integrated community

�        We learned tolerance

�        We planted 1,798,300 trees to become a shady community

�        We preserved our identity as a city of hard working people

 

 

Our Vision for our Economy over the next 10-20 years

�        More diversity

�        Higher median incomes

�        Lower unemployment rates

�        Strong & visible

�        Ethnic presence � i.e.: Hispanic culture integrated and celebrated

 

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

�        Create incentives to attract supplier companies to tech. Backbone of California

�        Ensure Airport expansion happens

 

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

�        High technology jobs

�        Higher paying

�        Manufacturing/more stable blue collar employment opportunities

�        More artistic jobs

�        Work at home

�        Flex-time jobs � walking to work opportunities

 

 

Our Vision for Downtown:

�        Speed rail from Truxtun depot to connect with N/S speed rail along 99

�        Cool landscape concepts at all exits of 99 

�        Really attractive people�s (visitor�s) first impression @ California & 99

�        Trees all along Hwy 58

�        Union Ave. � clean it up!  It�s so visible � better housing, trees, attractive mobiles, clean up trash & litter!

�        Golf course downtown N. of 24th St.

�        Water park, wave pool, water slides at N end of town

�        Entertainment � parks near Museum

�        Manufacturing center near Golden State Hwy

�        A Riverwalk thing with a real river (So. Fork of Kern) instead of canal.  Parks with paths etc. alongside; Hi Tech Building, Veteran building, shops and restaurants all along with art on the buildings/  Museum and TREES

�        Downtown #2 North of Union Ave. between Truxtun and Hwy 178

�        Tear down the old JLJ apartments alongside 178

�        Water in mad made lake  - East Bakersfield

�        Redevelop Lakeview � tear down projects and build new housing

 

 

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

�        A real Kern River � has water, wildlife and is buffered by natural boundaries and flows

�        Efficient roadways, freeway system with well-engineered traffic signals

�        Expanded cultural offerings

�        An airport to accommodate high tech companies/growth

�        Strong economy with job opportunities for professional, technical and labor

�        A zoo that compliments the community

�        A bullet t5ain to San Francisco and Vegas and L.A.

�        Vital downtown with upscale residences

�        Aggressive enforcement of air quality laws and regs

�        High paying clean industry

�        Safer neighborhoods

�        Places to relax in � walk, stroll, enjoy outdoors

�        Old Town �refurbish & Museum redeveloped

�        Upgraded public transportation, lower auto use

�        Downtown street life � caf�s shade, pedestrian walkways

�        Access to health care for all

�        Wide bike lanes � a bike friendly community

�        Public art/statues

�        Access to river

�        Tree-lined streets everywhere

 

What we Didn�t Want and Didn�t Get:

�        Higher unemployment rates

�        Dirtier air

�        More potholes and bad roads at rail crossings

�        No more asphalt patch

�        No more prisons!

�        No more homeless!

�        Trash, litter

�        Crime

�        Gangs

�        County islands within Metro Bakersfield

�        To lose our city�s unique identity

�        Demetris Southerd ( The Greek)

 

 

Common Themes:

�        Clean up and beautify

�        More activity to city

�        Upgrade jobs

�        Real river

�        More trees

�        Higher paying jobs

�        Better transportation

�        Acceptance � embracing diversity

�        Downtown focus

�        Better education

�        Diversified economy