07-08-1996 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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To the City Council and Citizens of the City of Orono May 29, 1996 Park Planning I I The City continued efforts toward developing a parks and open space master plan. The Parks and Planning Commissions panicipated in a process to identify priority open space preservation objectives to guide the development of the plan. Highway 12 C orridor The major east/west transportation route in Orono is State Highway 12. Orono's community management plan anticipates this corridor as Orono's commercial/industrial corridor, with the remainder of the City (with the exception of a small historical commercial area near Lake Minnetonka) maintaining a rural residential character. The MN/DOT is currently in the process of planning for the future upgrade of Highway 12. As part of this process, several new potential corridors for an upgrade of Hignway 12 were identified These new corridors would have substantial negative impacts on the rural areas of Orono. Through a mediation process, the cities of Orono and Long Lake agreed to consider the concept of a corridor alternative that could potentially eliminate consideration of new corridors while addressing the major concerns of both cities. Land U se Plantsing In 1995, the City placed a moratorium on development on both sides of Highway 12 in central Orono. During the moratorium period, a committee is conducting a land use study of the area. The purpose of the snidy is to develop guidelines for the t>pes and character of development envisioned for the area. The need for the moratorium and land use study was caused by an upsurge in development proposals for the area. MANAGE.MENT INF0R.\UTI0N SYSTEMS During 1995, the fmance staff completed a study of the City ’s information systems, which had been provided by LCX jIS (Local Government Information System) since 1979. As a result, the City decided to phase-out its association with LOGIS in favor of an on-site system. The payroll, utility billing, and financial systems were converted during 1995. The City is currently seeking alternatives to the permit tracking system and the police records management system, and anticipates conversion by January 1, 1997. The cost projection comparison between the two systems for the period 1995-20(X) indicates that the City should experience an average savings of $11,000 per year, plus additional savings related to the conversion of the police records systems. Refunding Bonds In December 1995, the City issued $1,910,(X)0 of General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 1995 to provide funds for the purpose of refunding $360,000 of principal outstanding on the $900,000 G.O. Improvement Bonds of 1985 and $1,550,000 of principal outstanding on the $2,300,000 G.O. Water and Sewer Revenue Bonds, Series 1989. The refunding bonds, sold at a net interest rate of 4.086%, replaced net interest rates of 6.503% on the 1989 bonds, and 8.206% on the 1985 bonds. The present value savings on the combined issues is $168,262. -6- I I I I I I I I I I