Community Input

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