Executive Summary
Your Vision. Our Future. Proudly facilitating Our Greater San Diego Vision on behalf of the region’s residents.
Our Greater San Diego Vision July 2012 If there is a single word that describes the San Diego region, it is “paradise.” And this paradise is our home. We love this place and want to protect it for future generations. Welcome to Your Vision, presented here as Our Greater San Diego Vision, which is both a unique process and a priceless outcome. The process was designed to be big - to span the entire region, to engage more people than had ever been engaged, and to weave together all the issues that impact our quality of life. The product is a framework for further conversations to inform future planning. It is not a plan. Our Greater San Diego Vision was created out of a desire to capture the community’s vision for the future of the region - through unprecedented engagement that involved more than 30,000 people. San Diegans’ input from the very beginning ensured that this would be the people’s vision and that it would speak to what all of us care about most. This vision is about preserving the best of the past and protecting all that’s good today, while creating an even better tomorrow for our children and grandchildren. A massive effort spanning three years began with an in-depth study to determine our collective hopes and dreams, our worries and fears - our values. Those values pointed to four areas that are critical for a bright future - jobs and wages, community and cultural amenities, housing/transportation and cost of living, and life-long learning - Work, Enjoy, Live and Learn. The four areas provided a framework for subject-matter experts to flesh out issues, and then for the public to choose among reasonable alternatives. Thirty thousand people voiced their choices and we heard them. We learned that our collective vision for the future is a San Diego region where: •
A prosperous economy provides a broad range of job opportunities.
•
Housing options match what people want and can afford.
•
A quality learning environment effectively prepares people for life.
•
Neighborhoods are safe, vibrant and convenient centers of community life, arts and culture.
•
Nature is accessible, connected, and protected for people to enjoy.
•
Convenient transportation choices are available for people to go where they want.
•
Trusted regional leadership, collaboration and participation create a future that fulfills people’s hopes and dreams.
Our Greater San Diego Vision is a blueprint, a map, and so much more. It weaves together aspiration seeing what tomorrow could and should be - and inspiration - the excitement and energy to make that tomorrow real. This is just the start. From here, together, we must act. The San Diego Foundation Malin Burnham Center for Civic Engagement will steward the Vision and help move the region forward by convening stakeholders, informing decisions, engaging people, and impacting the evolution of this paradise we call our home. Start here, and look to the future with hope and with commitment. Start with this shared vision Our Greater San Diego Vision - a process and a product, and the first step in a journey.
Bill Geppert Chair, Our Greater San Diego Vision
Jennifer Adams-Brooks Chair, The San Diego Foundation Board of Governors
Bob Kelly President and CEO, The San Diego Foundation
Your Vision. Our Future. The region’s many local and tribal governments, special districts, and local and state agencies have different geographic and issues-based scopes. None span the entirety of the region’s geography and its intertwined issues. Our Greater San Diego Vision is intended to support and inform the work of these and other organizations, and to provide a voice for our residents. Our Greater San Diego Vision is a shared vision of the future for the region in its entirety.
Our Greater San Diego Vision - Executive Summary
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why a VISION?
As San Diegans, we rate satisfaction with our overall quality of life uncommonly high relative
San Diego’s History
to other regions in the nation. But we worry
San Diego is the product of multi-culturalism
about the future and the potential downsides of
partly due to its border with Mexico. Today,
population growth. Yet that growth, managed
almost one-third of San Diegans are Hispanic or
well, could provide many opportunities. How do
Latino, with substantial representation from Asian,
we do it right? We do it by having a long-term,
African-American, and other ethnic groups.
well-informed vision that helps us plan for the best possible future.
The region has benefited from a strong, vibrant and diverse economic base. Since World War II, the military has been a significant source of
The San Diego Region
economic development. San Diego’s weather
The region includes all of San Diego County,
destination. And more recently, investments
a vast area of more than 4,500 square miles
in universities and research institutions have
and home to more than 3,000,000 people
created an economic engine in research
concentrated in the western, coastal areas. We
and technology.
enjoy a mild, Mediterranean-like climate and extraordinary natural beauty including beaches and bays, a naturally protected port, rivers, canyons, mountains, and deserts. Arguably, the one word that describes the region is “paradise.”
and natural assets make it a major tourist
San Diego is what it is today thanks to past visionaries. From the 1908 Nolan Plan to Envision Carlsbad, and from Chula Vista’s nation-leading recycling programs to Revitalize Alpine, the region has a history of forward thinking. Our Greater San Diego Vision builds on and continues that heritage.
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Our Greater San Diego Vision - Executive Summary
Panama–California Exposition in Balboa Park in 1915.
Today, Balboa Park is one of the world’s largest urban parks.
The Future of Our Region Change. Our world and our region are changing
Economy. Housing affordability may be the
from many perspectives. Proactive adaptation
single greatest challenge the region faces. Many
will be necessary to preserve what we love about
San Diegans worry that they or their children will
this place.
not be able to stay here.
Growth. San Diego’s population is projected
Whether regional issues are environmental,
to grow by another 1.3 million people by
economic or infrastructure-related, they cut
2050 – mostly (63%) our own children and
across geographic boundaries, making region-
grandchildren. Growth is inevitable as long as
wide thinking and cooperation imperative.
San Diego is a great place to live.
The Importance of a Long-Range Plan for Our Region
Extremely important
38% Very important
79%
41% Somewhat important
According to the values research for Our Greater
18%
San Diego Vision conducted in mid-2010, almost 80% of San Diegans feel that a vision or long-range plan for the region is extremely or very important, but only 37% believe that the region was doing a good
Not very important
2% Not at all important
or excellent job in planning for the future when this
1%
visioning effort began.
Our Greater San Diego Vision - Executive Summary
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the PATH
to the VISION
Values “Values” embody our most important priorities, desires and issues. At the start of Our Greater San Diego Vision, an in-depth values study was conducted region-wide. Four core values emerged. San Diegans want: • Quality jobs and a reasonable cost of living.
• Quality education and learning opportunities.
• Family-friendly neighborhoods and communities. • Outdoor opportunities for enjoyment with family and friends.
Factors That Have the Most Significant Impact on Quality of Life High cost of living/expensive to live here
27%
Lack of job opportunities and low wages
10%
Too much traffic and congestion/ not enough transportation options Lack of affordable housing
6%
Lack of leadership on important regional issues
6%
Everything so close and convenient
5%
Family friendly: great place to raise a family
5%
Low crime and safe neighborhoods
5%
Outdoor recreation opportunities/ enjoying the outdoors High-quality schools (K-12)
Negative Impacts
7%
Postitive Impacts
4% 4%
Percentages represent the proportion of people who consider that factor to have the most significant impact on their personal quality of life. This is only a partial listing.
WELL From the values research, four primary focus areas were identified that cut across multiple values and represented discrete topics for concentrated study. These are areas where we: WORK, ENJOY, LIVE and LEARN (WELL). Jobs and the Economy
Housing, Environment, Mobility and Cost of Living
Cultural and Community Amenities
Education and Learning
Task forces delved into the four focus areas and region-wide workshops garnered public input, all of which drove the structure and content of the online choosing tool.
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Our Greater San Diego Vision - Executive Summary
One of six public workshops involving regional planning.
Show Your Love From November 2011 to February 2012, San Diegans were asked to “Show Your Love” by choosing their preferences in four online modules consistent with the four WELL focus
MORE THAN 30,000 PARTICIPANTS! 27,991 completed at least one online choosing module 2,100 completed the baseline and scientific survey 71,147 individual modules were completed 600+ public workshops
areas. This resulted in the greatest public participation in a regional visioning effort
Demographic Data
anywhere in the country, with more than 30,000 respondents completing more than 71,000
Data from online choosing (left) and scientific survey (right).
modules. Significant outreach ensured broad-
17 and under:
based participation in the campaign by people
18-34:
33% | 39%
35-54:
33% | 34%
55+:
21% | 27%
representing a broad range of age groups and backgrounds throughout the region.
Scientific Survey In addition to the online choosing, a scientific
Mean age:
12% | –
39 | 43
White/ Caucasian:
49% | 65%*
Hispanic/ Latino:
22% | 32%
African-American: 9% | 4%
survey was conducted to validate the results
Asian:
9% | 11%
of the Show Your Love campaign. This survey,
Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander:
1% | 1%
statistically adjusted based on the region’s demographics, showed that the choosing results
American Indian or Alaskan Native:
1% | 1%
represented the entire population. The survey
Other:
3% | 9%
also showed that roughly one-third of
Multi-race:
San Diegans were aware of the campaign!
– | 9%
Decline to answer: 6% | – * Does not add to 100% due to multiple categories which could be chosen.
Our Greater San Diego Vision - Executive Summary
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SHOW YOUR LOVE
RESULTS
We began the process for Our Greater San Diego Vision by uncovering deeply personal values held by our region-wide community. These led to an approach centered around the four focus areas, to which both experts and residents from around the region contributed their best thinking. These foundational elements informed development of an online choosing tool that facilitated an unprecedented level of public engagement. What followed was a vision that began to coalesce around the Show Your Love results. Summarized here are those results, presented as top priorities for the four focus areas, as well as some specific growth strategies that emerged from the task forces and workshops. These priorities provide the building blocks for our common vision for the future of the region.
Top Priorities for How We WORK: • Support our local economy and its relationship to the region’s industries. • Promote the economic engines of innovation, the military and tourism. • Harness the power of innovation.
Top Priorities for How We ENJOY: • Protect and connect natural lands. • Provide education in physical activity, arts, civics, and culture. • Ensure access to major community amenities.
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Our Greater San Diego Vision - Executive Summary
Top Priorities for How We LIVE: • Make housing more affordable and ensure a range of choices that matches what people want. • Conserve water. • Increase accessible transportation options. • Reduce daily travel time. • Locate destinations close to where people live. • Protect key lands.
Top Priorities for How We LEARN: • Enable individuals to participate effectively in a dynamic, global economy. • Prepare individuals to be well-informed and actively engaged in civic and political matters. • Maximize individual potential and well-being. • Personalize education and learning. • Prepare children to learn in their early childhood.
Specific Growth Strategies Several “big idea” growth strategies were presented and participants were asked to indicate their agreement or disagreement. More than two-thirds supported high-speed, inter-city rail transportation connecting San Diego to other places in California; nearly two-thirds supported a new South Bay university; nearly two-thirds also supported redevelopment of the Qualcomm Stadium area; and an overwhelming majority (close to three-quarters) supported greater regional collaboration. Fewer participants supported an additional international airport and a new sports/entertainment complex. Support for new development in areas like Rancho Guejito was marginal and San Diegans opposed allowing some building along the coast to be taller than 30 feet.
Our Greater San Diego Vision - Executive Summary
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the VISION Our Collective Vision is a Region Where… • A prosperous economy provides a broad range of good job opportunities. • Housing options match what people want and can afford. • A quality learning environment effectively prepares people for life. • Neighborhoods are safe, vibrant and convenient centers of community life, arts and culture. • Nature is accessible, connected and protected for people to enjoy. • Convenient transportation choices are available for people to go where they want. • Trusted regional leadership, collaboration and participation create a future that fulfills people’s hopes and dreams. Pursuing all of these seven core goals in order to fulfill our aspirations for the four focus areas will ultimately make Our Greater San Diego Vision a reality.
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Our Greater San Diego Vision - Executive Summary
Vision Forward We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to capitalize on the momentum and energy of Our Greater San Diego Vision. San Diegans care deeply about this place we call home and want to be engaged in protecting and providing for its future.
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issues. It will generate information and ideas, spur vigorous conversations about the future, help launch ambitious initiatives, and contribute to the development and implementation of regional and sub-regional plans. The Center will play a catalytic role in civic education, leadership training, and policy analysis to protect and enhance the quality of life in our region. The Center’s activities will include convenings, cutting-edge research, major forums, strategic and proactive grantmaking, informing and advancing regional public policy, and region-wide communications.
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This report has been printed using soy-based inks on “green” paper which has been certificated by Smart Wood to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards. The FSC, along with the Rainforest Alliance, promotes environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.
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The San Diego Foundation Board of Governors Jennifer Adams-Brooks, Chair Robert Dynes, PhD, Vice Chair, Center for Civic Engagement Garry Ridge, Vice Chair, Charitable Giving and External Relations Steven R. Smith, Vice Chair, Secretary John D. Wylie, Vice Chair, Finance
Gerald (Jerry) E. Hoffmeister, Immediate Past Chair
Richard A. Collato
Paul Meyer
Roger C. Cornell, MD
Hollyce J. Phillips
Yamila M. Ayad
Sandra Daley, MD
Derek J. Quackenbush
Darcy C. Bingham
Jim Farley
Barbara A. Sawrey, PhD
James Cahill
Bill Geppert
Nancy A. Spector
John Cambon, PhD
Benjamin Haddad
Horacio Valeiras
Constance M. Carroll, PhD
Kevin Harris
Carisa Wisniewski
Ted Chan, MD
Jennifer LeSar
James Ziegler
Kay Chandler
Connie Matsui
Regional Vision Group Bill Geppert, Chair
Jennifer Adams-Brooks
Kevin Harris
Kris Michell
Bob Kelly, President & CEO
Mary Ball
Gerald (Jerry) E. Hoffmeister
Ed Quinn
Robert Dynes, PhD
Peter James MacCracken, APR
Steven R. Smith
Connie Matsui
Charles “Muggs” Stoll
Paul Albert
Jackie Lackenbacher
Robert Clark
Arzo Nasiri
Wyn Furman
Marisa Aurora Quiroz
Amanda Greechan
Robyn Sharp
Emily Welborn Guevara
Felicia Shaw
The San Diego Foundation Vision Staff Daniel Beintema Vice President, Operations & Community Partnerships
Heather Back Associate Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Anna-Marie Rooney Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Lori Holt Pfeiler Associate Vice President, Our Greater San Diego Vision Emily Young, PhD Senior Director, Environment
Nicola Hedge
Community Partners Malin Burnham
Ron Fowler
Bill Geppert
Irwin Jacobs
Connie Matsui
Buzz Woolley
Corporate Partners
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2508 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92106 Phone: (619) 235-2300 • Email: info@sdfoundation.org www.sdfoundation.org www.ourgreatersandiegovision.org Join us: ©2012 The San Diego Foundation. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of The San Diego Foundation.