Results from Phase III Community Forums:

The Bakersfield Californian - March 29, 2000

Our Slogan:
· Where you can walk (or bike) to work
· California "Hot Spot"

Our Image:
· Family arrpeciated
· Highly educated community (higher education)

Our Reputation:
· Family friendly
· Business friendly
· The town Buck built

Business Environment:
· Vibrant S.E. businesses

Heart of the City:
· High tech center
· Tress
· Water

Technology:
· City completely wired

Transportation:
· Cross town in 10 minutes
· High speed rail stop
· K.R. Expressway
· Implement major transportation investment strategy

Our Values:
· Family first
· Respect and dignity for all cultural groups

Biggest Changes:
· City/county cooperation
· End of turf battles
· Strong performance of K-12 students
· High matriculation rates to UC

Break Thrus:
· Clean air miracle

Looking Back I'm Most Proud of…
· The people
· Vision 2020

What's our Vision for Our Economy over the next 10-20 years?
· Professionalized downtown with shopping centers - Noon concerts
· Safety and security
· Family environment

What kind of Economic Development Initiatives do we want to create?
· Federal Center & Courthouse
· Low business taxes
· Educational strategies for more high tech work

What kind of Jobs do we want to attract here over the next 10-20 years?
· High paying jobs - high skilled
· Well educated work force
· More high tech jobs

Our Vision for Downtown
· Kern River Parkway thru
· Kern Spring Water Plant
· Garces Park along Parkway near museum - Arts Amphitheatre and ice rink in same location
· Landscaping on North Chester in front of musuem
· Hwy 99 tree lined corridor
· Trolley cars through downtown linking Beale Historic District and Oak St.
· People living downtown
· Transportation from trolley line at Central Park to area S. of California between Union and Chester where shopping, senior housing, and safe community is noted
· Lakeview area = built up neighborhoods

In our Community's Future We Wanted and We Got…
· Friendly local INS & Naturalization
· Clean air and plenty of clean water
· Sustainable economic development
· Lower than average unemployment
· Freeway by-pass around entire city
· Our kids schools rank in the top 10% of the state
· Houseing close to jobs
· Cheapest housing in state

In our Community's Future we didn't want and we didn't get…
· No Fresno INS cattlecalls
· Low wage economic development that benefits corporations outside of Kern Co.
· Strip zoning
· No toll roads

Common Themes:
· Economic Growth
· Education
· Good Transportation
· Water Elements
· Air quality
· Development of downtown & housing downtown
· Safe community
· Strong families
· Business friendly
· High tech jobs

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