Q.   What is Vision 2020?

Vision 2020 is comprehensive picture of what the community wants Greater Bakersfield to be in the next 20 years. The process starts by assessing our community�s strengths and weaknesses and then creating a �big� picture (vision) of what we want our community to be in the future. In the last phase, it determines how to get there through action plans that will be implemented over the next two decades.

This process will build upon and incorporate activities that are already underway such as the 2010 General Plan, the Kern County 2000 plan, the Natelson Report recommendations, and the Community Development Principles. But Vision 2020 is much more than a city/county land-use plan or workforce development plan as it involves all aspects of the community � infrastructure, jobs, education, quality of life, and the health of our residents.

Vision 2020 offers the benefit of bringing all these activities together into a comprehensive, integrated, and focused effort.

Q.    What is different about the Vision 2020 process? 

It starts from the future (Vision) and works back to the present to create and implement action plans.

It is includes the broader community. (It is inclusive).

It builds on the past�what we accomplished/learned from Future Bakersfield, the Vision 2020 Community Development Summits.

It does not duplicate the present (2010 General Plan, Kern County 2000 plan, and Natelson Report recommendations).

It brings all these activities together into a comprehensive, integrated, and focused effort.

Q.    What is the geographic scope of the Vision 2020?

Vision 2020 covers the metropolitan �Greater� Bakersfield area. This would include the City of Bakersfield and surrounding areas. It is roughly equivalent to the area covered in the 2010 General Plan.

It does not include the nearby cities of Wasco, Shafter, Arvin, or Lamont. However, we recognize that many residents of those cities work or shop in Bakersfield, go to school in Bakersfield, or participate in cultural or recreational activities here. Residents of these outlying cities who have an interest in the future of Greater Bakersfield are invited to participate in Vision 2020.

Q.  What is the role of the city and county policymakers in the Vision 2020 effort?

Representatives of the City of Bakersfield and Kern County are active participants in the Facilitation Team. In addition, the process is designed to involve city and county policymakers through out the assessment and visioning process. Resulting action plans will be recommended for implementation by the city and county as well as the business, education, and non profit communities and the general public.

Q.    How did the Vision 2020 effort get started?

Vision 2020 is an outgrowth of the Chamber of Commerce Community Development Summits that led to the development of the Community Development Principles. Vision 2020 goes beyond the Community Development Summits to include the broader community in a process to develop a comprehensive �big� picture (vision) of what we want Bakersfield to be in 20 years.