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Show SAL T (Mr STL 4 006 UT 84101-1277 AN EDITION OF II YOUR TOWN, YOUR NEIGHBORS, YOUR NEWSPAPER THURSDAY. APRIL 15, 2004 50 CENTS 74TH YEAR NUM 15 Michael Larsen named "Police Chief of the Year" REVABOWEN Times Reporter Orem's Public Safety director, Michael Larsen, was recently named "Police Chief of the Year" by the Utah Chiefs of Police Association at an annual annu-al conference held in St. George. Larsen was nominated for the honor by Mayor Jerry Washburn, City Manager Jim Reams, and Karl Hirst, Public Safety Division commander. The award was announced in the April 6 meeting meet-ing of the Orem City Council, and a presentation made by Mayor Washburn, who said the recognition recogni-tion was one for Larsen and "all who work in his department." In an interview with the Times, Larsen discussed dis-cussed accomplishments and challenges of his department, as well as a new traffic enforcement emphasis that is being implemented. The police chief said he is very proud of a volunteer vol-unteer program that began in the city about two years ago. Under the program, citizens volunteer their time to "come in and help the department." The volunteers are motivated by a desire to give public service, and their work takes many forms. Larsen said the volunteers are able to do many tasks that do not require a sworn officer to perform helping direct traffic; doing vacation checks for people who are out of town; running VIN (Vehicle Inspection Number) checks; issuing parking citations in problem areas; and providing provid-ing traffic control at accidents. Some of the volunteers vol-unteers are out in cars, but others help with records, filing, or assisting detectives in making phone calls. The program has been "a huge advantage" for the department, according to Larsen, who estimates esti-mates the current 25 volunteers gave 4,000 hours of service last year the equivalent of two full-time employees. "It frees up our officers to do other things," Larsen explained. "The volunteers give the service serv-ice because they have an interest and feel they owe the community. Some don't want to go out in a car, but will help the clerks with filing. It is an opportunity for people to give back a little bit and have something in their life." New applications for the volunteer program are being accepted. Requirements are that Continued on page A12 fvl r f.i Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn presents the "Police Chief of the Year" award from the Utah Chiefs of Police Association to Mike Larsen and his wife, Lynnette. Challenges and accomplishments ' 1 A :Wy Sm Construction and completion of an extensive program of parks and recreation facilities, such as this children's play area In the Orem Center Park, has been made possible by the City's sales tax lease revenue bond Issue of $12,175,000, negotiated negotiat-ed In February of 2002. i - ; ji, Orem Financial Report reviewed CLYDE E. WEEKS, JR. f. ' 'Times Correspondent ' v Part 2 ' . 5 '' v , : ' The City of Orem's most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003 points out many challenges, chal-lenges, which the City , faces in the future. Among these is the maintenance mainte-nance of Orem's 238 miles of paved streets, which are valued at $582.6 million. , . The growing traffic congestion on some of Orem's streets points up the critical1' importance of keeping the City's streets in good repair and open for service. The City of Orem street crews operate several sweepers sweep-ers to clean City-owned streets on a monthly basis, when weather permits. per-mits. The benefits of street sweeping include cleaner streets, reduction of air pollution, less storm drain maintenance main-tenance and a better image for Orem. he Utah Department of Transportation maintains several state-owned streets in Orem, including includ-ing State Street, 800 North, Geneva Road and University Parkway (1300 South.) Construction of additional culinary culi-nary water storage tanks above the Orem City Cemetery is another significant sig-nificant challenge for the future, in order to augment the existing stor- Continued on page All Council eliminates controversial zone BY REVA BOWEN Times Reporter In its April 13 meeting, the Orem City Council approved two proclamations and three consent items, continued a public hearing, and, as a main item of business, busi-ness, eliminated the controversial contro-versial R5 infill zone in the city. Development Services Director Stan Sainsbury explained that the R5 zone was instigated in August of 1997. The purpose of the creation of the zone was to help with the development " of difficult infill parcels of land throughout the city, and to provide a zone in which Planned Residential Developments (PRDs) could be built. Since its inception, the R5 has been applied to 325 parcels, for a total of 53.17 acres. Properties that are currently zoned R5 or R5 Infill Overlay will be allowed to develop under the standards of the zones. Eliminating the zone will just prevent new rezones to the R5. Sainsbury showed an overhead chart that highlighted high-lighted the city's R5 parcels in red, and commented on how evenly dispersed the zone was throughout the city. In March of 2003, the council amended the city's subdivision ordinance to allow some flexibility for infill development without changing the density of the underlying zone. The changes included the following: follow-ing: lot averaging (90 required area for two lots); lot frontage (15 less for two lots if minimum size); more deep lots (from two to four deep lots); and allowing 10 of a lot to be part of the driveway. Additionally, in June of 2003, the council enacted a PRD zone in the city, and amended the PRD standards. stan-dards. Because of these amendments amend-ments to the city's laws, the Orem Planning Commission concluded that suitable ordinances are in place to provide landowners the needed flexibility in working work-ing with hard-to-develop parcels without having the R5 or R5 Infill Overlay options. The commission recommended to the council that the zones be eliminated. eliminat-ed. Continued on page All Orem mom spearheads drive for playground REVA BOWEN Times Reporter A mother of two young children is heading up a cooperative effort with the city to get playground equipment installed in a mini-park in her northeast Orem neighborhood. Diana Hoelscher hopes she and her neighbors can raise $7,500 over the next Tew weeks to match $7,500 supplied by the city. The funds would purchase swings, a slide, and a jungle gym for a city-owned and maintained mini-park at 690 East Heather Road that currently has just grass and a park bench. What motivated Diana to get involved in the venture? Noting that she and her husband, Glen, are owner-builders owner-builders of their new home in the area, she said with a smile, "Once you build a house, you think you can do anything." During the construction process, Diana said, the Hoelschers were frequently in touch with city staff members and became better bet-ter acquainted with them, eventually feeling comfortable comfort-able enough to raise the prospect of putting playground play-ground equipment on what was officially classified as a "nuisance parcel" for the city, although the lot had the bench and even a name Cherapple Park. When officials found that the Hoelschers were willing to help raise money for the project, the 50-50 plan was developed. Diana said that she and her husband's lives are focused on their two children chil-dren Ali, 2 fi , and Tanner, 11 months. The kids love to go on stroller rides, but after moving into their home, the Hoelschers found the hilly, steep terrain ter-rain made such rides a challenge, and they found themselves wishing that they "had someplace to go." Diana believes that having a definitive destination the small park with playground play-ground equipment will be a boon for the many families fam-ilies with young children in the area. Diana is also a youth leader in her church, and is aware of the need that teenagers have for a wholesome, whole-some, safe, nearby place to gather, walk, and talk in post-twilight hours. "This would be good for all ages," she said. The city has established a special account for the park project. Contributions can be made directly to the City of Orem, designated for the "Cherapple" or "Heather Ridge" Park. The mailing address is City of Orem, Treasurer's Office, 56 North State Street, Orem, Utah 84057-5597. Donations are 100 tax deductible. "The good thing is," Diana said, "we don't touch Continued on page All S 'urn fe 1 r A thermometer sign gauges progress on the neighborhood fund-raising goal. jk alpine An Onuimiico yo;QEeiD2yO c? Unn 0;: i:i,i:;:jh . .You can how' enjoy membership with ALPlfJE CREDIT Ml HC : I m mM OREM AMERICAN FORK LEHI 31 POOR COPY |