Residents of the Bay Area are a cohesive and caring community, while demonstrating much respect for diversity. A strong foundation has been built on this sense of community and emphasis on quality of life. Mental and physical wellness is achieved through a neighborhood approach to recreation, cultural and learning opportunities. Leaders promote equity and access to adequate housing and address social issues with care and concern. People visit and stay in the Bay Area because it is a great place to raise families.

After many hours of discussion, research and interviews with experts, it became increasingly evident that our orientation was to empower individuals within the various neighborhoods to solve problems by giving them the tools to effect change. We believe that by so doing, a nucleus for action will be created at the neighborhood level for individual involvement to address problems resulting from fragmentation of families, the feeling of alienation from the governmental process, the perceived inaccessibility to services, including educational, health, social, recreational and cultural, affordable housing.

A sampling of Community and Quality of Life Task Force recommended actions:

Promote Neighborhood Action Associations to address problems such as crime, trash, traffic, parks, neighborhood unity, youth needs. Neighborhood Action Associations would include residents of all ages, organized to implement strategies for solutions to problems specific to each neighborhood. These solutions can provide for recreational and safety initiatives, while developing "We Care" and Safe House programs. The Associations can also act as clearinghouses for available resources, while ideas and expertise would be shared through the Council of Neighborhood Associations. Additional strategies would revive the "Sparkling City" Campaign, support urban tree planting, xeriscape and Adopt-A-Park programs.

Designate two middle schools (Southside and Westside locations), as Vision Schools, open year-round to residents for recreational, educational and cultural use. The Vision Schools would be open during non-school hours for recreational and cultural use, and including continuing education (GED classes) and parenting classes.

Increase public awareness and responsibility for choices that affect personal and family health, and provide referral systems to afford greater access to community health, education and social services. Strategies include support of the United Way's Project Compass and expansion of Info-Line.

Endorse the Corpus Christi public libraries' long range plan for expansion; include expansion of computer network to area schools, colleges and outlying community libraries; build awareness of value of life-long use of libraries. Library expansion should be included in a Capital Improvement Bond Program as soon as possible. A business and industry advisory task force would identify possible grants and technology to provide Internet access within the entire system.

Support the implementation of the City of Corpus Christi's Community Cultural Plan, which encourages the development of a community identity to celebrate the area's unique geographic and demographic environment. Goals of this plan are to enhance and expand cultural activity in the following areas: arts in education, marketing economic development and tourism and public art, while assuring accessibility to the arts by the entire community.

Organize a coalition of entities who can make significant changes in the system of financing and construction of affordable homes, while promoting awareness of the feasibility of home ownership for the low income population. This coalition will include mortgage lenders, Realtors, engineers, urban planners, developers, builders, architects, the Housing Authority, City of Corpus Christi Department of Community Development, community non-profits and other stakeholders who will come together to overcome obstacles to affordable housing. Creative land use, materials, construction techniques and financing programs can bring housing to a more affordable level. The group will also offer counseling and education to assist in overcoming the intimidation of the home-buying process.

Establish and promote an officially-sanctioned City/County Consolidation Task Force to further identify common expenditures, services and goals, while expanding the scope to include other entities. This Task Force will focus on providing the most effective and efficient service for the greatest number of people, while saving tax dollars. When government officials and the tax-paying public come to agreement on the value of consolidation, a time-table for implementation should be made a priority. Other tax-funded entities to be included are the R.T.A., Del Mar College, area school districts, the hospital district, Nueces county M.H.M.R., the Port of Corpus Christi, Emergency Medical Service and Halo Flight Services. Other concerns of the Task Force will include the regional land-fill site, long-range water supply, maintenance of roads, parks and beaches and risk management.