Baker
Community Action Guide
In 2016, the community embarked on a planning process to develop a community plan. Two public workshops were held on November 29, 2016 and January 23, 2017. These workshops, open to any Baker residents, business or property owners addressed strengths and weaknesses of the community, the community’s value, and what Baker aspires to be in the future. Plan participants brainstormed areas of focus and actions to help the community move forward to achieve its aspirations. This Community Action Guide is a framework of actions identified by the community and supports implementation of the actions by the community.
-
Our Community
Learn about who we are, our values, and more.
Go to Our Community -
Our Aspirations
Learn about our aspirations for the future of the community.
Go to Our Aspirations -
Action Plans
See the actions we'd like to take to realize our aspirations.
Go to Action Guide
Who We Are
Baker is a family-oriented community with a small town feel. Baker values the quietness, open space and views of the desert. The community is one that its residents take great pride in. They have a strong trust in each other and have created a community that can get things accomplished. Baker aspires to grow by improving the tourism capture and opportunities of Las Vegas traffic and reinvigorating hospitality and travel-oriented businesses on Baker Boulevard. They hope to improve job opportunities and ensure their youth have access to a good education, job training and post-secondary education to ensure their success.
-
Community workshops were conducted in each community as part of the engagement process. In addition, input was gathered through the Countywide Plan website. As part of the process, participants defined the strengths of and opportunities for their community. The word cloud below was created using the input provided during the Strengths, Opportunities, Values and Aspirations exercises and served as part of the base information utilized to develop the Focus and Action Statements of the Community Action Guide. The word cloud quickly informed participants of key issues and focus areas that could be addressed in the guide. The more a word or phrase was articulated, the larger the word appears in the cloud. The full results of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats gathered as a part of the engagement process is found in the Community Profile.
-
The Values are those shared assets, principles, standards, mores, and in the judgment of the community, what is important in the lives of its residents and businesses. A community’s values are an important consideration in shaping its aspirations, focus and actions.
As a community Baker values:
A Safe Community. Baker prides itself on being a community in which its residents feel safe due to its strong ties with law enforcement and its close-knit community spirit.
Small Town Feel. Baker residents value their community for its family-orientation, quietness, open space and views of the desert.
Community Pride. Baker is a community whose residents take pride in the place that they live. The long-term relationships, trust amongst neighbors and hard-working residents have created a community that can get things accomplished. -
The community profile is a summary of the social, cultural, economic, and historic dimensions of Baker. It presents data collected through secondary sources to inform future actions. The profile, together with future studies and information gathered from residents, highlights essential facets and “tells the story” of the Baker Community.
The Aspirations Statement is a written narrative illustrating how the community desired look and function once the Community Focus Statements and Action Statements are accomplished. This is a long term view of 10 to 20 years. The Aspirations Statement serves as a foundation for developing Community Focus Statements and Action Statements.
-
We continue to reshape our community and improve the economic opportunities for our youth. A tourism advertisement campaign draws Vegas-bound visitors to the community and supports our retail. There is a resurgence of restaurants and retail along Baker Boulevard. A new transportation system provides shuttle service between Baker and Barstow so youth can attend Barstow Community College and pursue necessary post-secondary education. Our internship program helps our youth gain valuable on-the-job experience, provides exposure to new career opportunities, and develops the strong work ethic that attracts new businesses to our industrial park.
-
As a community, we addressed issues of housing availability and condition. A new mobile home repair program provides financing to our residents to make necessary repairs and ensure a livable home. New housing developers offer affordable housing that provides more housing options for our residents as we grow. Through a community volunteer recruitment program, Baker Community Services District offers expanded programs for our seniors and our youth. These programs have improved the quality of life of our residents and has made Baker a great place to live and work.
The Action Plans consists of:
Focus Statements, which provide general direction towards realizing the Community’s aspirations and help organize the plan. (Identified in Workshop #2 and reviewed and finalized in Workshop #3)
Action Statements, which are measurable statements providing critical information on the program, initiative or project to complete. (Identified in Workshop #2 and reviewed and finalized in Workshop #3)
Action Plan Matrices, which provide general sets of action steps necessary to implement each action statement, identify those that would initiate and champion the action statement, provide a general timeline for implementation and identify resources for additional assistance. (Created to support and guide the Community’s identified Focus and Action Statements)
FOCUS STATEMENTS
Expand each Focus Statement to see related Action Statements and download the Action Plan Matrices.
-
Action Statements -
Coordinate with San Bernardino County Land Use Services on a community proposal to study subdivision and zoning requirements in Baker to better allow for a diverse and affordable housing stock.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Advertise and promote U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Residential Development Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants program to eligible residents as a source of financing for home repair.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Promote housing assistance programs available through San Bernardino County including the California Homebuyer Fund and the California Homebuyer’s Down-payment Assistance Program.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Work with San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency, San Bernardino County Department of Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)/Rural Development to better understand grant and loan programs available to provide for and improve housing in Baker.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix
-
-
Action Statements -
Develop a marketing and branding strategy to attract visitors to Baker, especially targeted at travelers along I-15.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Collaborate with San Bernardino County Land Use Services to expand the industrial zones in Baker.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Establish a program to connect Baker residents who are looking to start and grow a home business to training and financing.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Establish workforce training and internship/mentorship programs for area youth.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Support Barstow Community College’s College Promise program and encourage Baker youth to take advantage of the educational opportunity it presents.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Identify and advertise commercial sites to local developers to encourage development of hotel(s) in Baker.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix
-
-
Action Statements -
Continue efforts to establish a medical clinic in Baker.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Work with local volunteers and the Baker CSD to provide a diversity of recreational programs and activities in Baker for persons of all ages.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix -
Work with transit providers such as Barstow Area Transit/Victor Valley Transit Authority to develop a fixed-route or dial-a-ride transit services between Baker and Barstow, including service between Baker and Barstow Community College to provide access to school and jobs.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix
-
-
Action Statements -
Repave existing damaged streets and repaint street markings to improve traffic circulation.
>>Download PDF Action Matrix
-
Download the Community Action Guide
Download the Community Action Guide in PDF format.