Results from Phase III Community Forums:

Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors - March 15, 2000

Our Slogan:
· Where the good life gets better
· This is God's Country
· The friendliest community in the world
· Baker's Field

Our Image
· Positive Destination spot (as we once were)
· Garden spot of the valley
· Welcoming to all
· Friendly

Our Reputation
· A place you want to live and do business
· Good planning
· Tolerance for others-diversity
· THE place to live
· Absolutely the friendliest people anywhere!
· Change is possible
· Our word is good

Business Environment
· Excellent
· Diversified
· Foster retention
· Constant, balanced growth
· Diverse industries
· Welcoming

Arts & Culture
· Performance Arts Center
· Symphony Hall
· Major Art Center (i.e. Balboa Park)
· Accredited School of Art

Heart of the City
· Good retail & restaurants
· People walking everywhere
· Mass transit available (trolley)
· Downtown residence
· Great place for browsing and window shopping
· Green
· Fountains
· "Friendly" environment
· Expanded street fairs with real commerce and entertainment
· Cultural & provessional center
· Water elements

Our Values
· Honesty
· Integrity
· Family
· Embrace all cultures
· Tolerance
· Ethics

Technology
· Known as high tech center
· City infrastructure supports tech

Transportation
· International airport
· High speed rail with depot downtown
· Pedestrian friendly
· Buses go everywhere!
· Great highways/roads - infrastructure
· Roads maintained - no potholes!
· Metro/rail transportation'Landscaping along freeways

Biggest changes
· Broad cultural diversity
· COMMITMENT and follow thru on "our" vision
· PRO-BUSINESS City Manager
· People feel included - willing to participate
· No City Manager - Mayor - Elected

Break Thrus
· Developed inner city-No empty buildings downtown
· A good old girl network
· Less "Land" in use thru technology

Looking Back in Most Proud of
· The courage to change!
· GBCC
· My children want to stay here!
· Vision 2020

What's Our Vision for our Economy over the Next 10-20 years?
· Diversify x 10

What kind of Economic Development Initiatives do we want to create?
· Business friendly climate at the local/county/state level
· Retention of existing business
· Promotion of tech-savvy wirjfirce
· Easy access to high-bandwidth (net access)
· Educate our own to meet new economy

What kind of Jobs do we want to attract here over the next 10-20 years
· Blue and white collar jobs - manufacturing & service
· Consulting & development
· CIS Computer technology
· Knowledge workers
· Value added/net export

Our Vision for Downtown
· Welcome to Bakersfield signs at each 99 entrance
· Business along the Kern River -restaurants like Sacramento
· Expanded Museum recreation complex - Landscaping; Art Complex; Water Park; Recreational
· Flowers decorating city parking structures
· High Tech District
· "H" St Noted Antique District
· Revitalization incentives
· 34th St. Redevelop - Recreation center partnership
· Core downtown: River Walk - & taxis
· Music & Art complex
· Theater Complex
· Restaurant District
· Shops & Restaurants
· Business & Residences together
· Brundage Lane landscaping
· S. of California - revitalization incentives
· Union Ave. & Beale - landscaping and trees
· "Old Town Kern" development; fountains
· Lakeview: new housing; retail center
· Recreation center partnership
· Trees - park-like & playground
· Redevelopment landscaping

What We Wanted and Got
· Welfare eliminated
· Lots of Trees
· More flowers
· High tech jobs
· "River Walk" development
· Football team "NFL"
· "Litter-free_ freeways
· Highway 99 not dividing West and East
· More water elements
· Increased property value
· Kern River with water all the time
· Appealing freeway corridors and landscape!
· Good transportation corridors
· Skilled workforce
· Clean Air
· Trees

What We Didn't Want and Didn't Get
· Low paying jobs
· Traffic jabs/long waits at stops
· "Unconnected Freeways"
· Pot holes
· Child abuse
· Crime/Gangs
· Dead end Freeways/Roads
· Filthy air

Common Themes
· Diversity
· Redevelopment
· Water
· Landscaping -greenbelt
· Technology
· Lots of color
· Transportation
· Skilled work force
· Arts & entertainment
· Celebration of our history

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