Citizenship in the Community

Transcription

1 Citizenship in the Community Discussions and Tasks 1. Discuss with your counselor what citizenship in the community means and what it takes to be a good citizen in your community. Discuss the rights, duties, and obligations of citizenship, and explain how you can demonstrate good citizenship in your community, Scouting unit, place of worship, or school. 2. Do the following: On a map of your community, locate and point out the following: Chief government buildings such as your city hall, county courthouse, and public works/services facility. Fire station, police station, and hospital nearest your home. Historical and other interesting points. Chart the organization of your local or state government. Show the top offices and tell which are elected or appointed. 3. Do the following: Attend a city or town council meeting, a school board meeting, or a municipal, county or state court session. Choose one of the issues discussed at the meeting where a difference of opinions was expressed and explain to your counselor why you agree with one opinion than you do with another. 4. Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community and do the following: Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue. With your counselor s and a parent s approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified. Ask what is being done about this issue and how young people can help. Share what you have learned with your counselor. Page 1

2 5. With the approval of your counselor and a parent, watch a movie that shows how the actions of one individual or group of individuals can have a positive effect on a community. Discuss with your counselor what you learned from the movie about what it means to be a valuable and concerned member of the community. 6. List some of the services (such as the library, recreation center, public transportation, police, and fire) that your community provides that are funded by taxpayers. Tell your counselor why these services are important to your community. 7. Do the following: Choose a charitable organization outside of Scouting that interests you and brings people in your community together to work for the good of the community. Using a variety of resources (including newspapers, fliers, and other literature, the Internet, volunteers, and employees of the organization), find out more about this organization. With your counselor s and your parent s approval, contact the organization and find out what young people can do to help. While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the organization. After your volunteer experience is over, discuss what you have learned with your counselor. 8. Develop a public presentation (such as a video, slide show, speech, digital presentation, or photo exhibit) about important and unique aspects of your community. Include information about the history, cultures, and ethnic groups of your community; its best features and popular places where people gather; and the challenges it faces. Stage your presentation in front of your merit badge counselor or a group, such as your patrol or a class at school. Page 2

3 History of the City of Orem Orem, Utah is located in the center of the Wasatch Front metropolitan area, just 40 miles south of Salt Lake City in Utah County. Following the pattern of Mormon colonization in Utah, pioneers established various towns in Utah Valley during the 1850s. It was customary to locate settlements near streams in order to have an adequate supply of water. Because the Orem area is located on a bench overlooking much of the valley, it was passed over for other areas that were closer in proximity to the natural streams and rivers that flow into Utah Lake. The first activity of record in the Orem area was the movement of pioneers along the road from Salt Lake to Provo, which ran diagonally across the Orem bench from northwest to southeast. The steep grade of the Orem bench was a challenge for wagons traveling the road, particularly during muddy conditions. This road was opened for travel in 1848 by explorers sent by Brigham Young and later became State Street and a state highway. In 1861, the first settlers came to the bench from nearby settlements. Because of the lack of natural streams and rivers in the Orem area, early settlers were initially summer farmers, living elsewhere and farming the fertile soil of the bench on a seasonal basis. Increasing population in the valley and the need for more land brought about attempts to farm higher land by building new canals. In 1893, a canal was built which carried water from the Provo River to over 2,000 acres of land on the bench. With available water and subsequent canal improvements, settling the area on a larger scale was possible. Alfalfa was the first crop grown on the bench. Strawberry and raspberry plants were also introduced. In 1885, the first peach trees were planted. The successful peach trees were soon followed by cherry, pear, apple, and apricot trees. With the rise of fruit orchards, permanent residences were established on the bench. In Orem s early days, signs of growth came slowly. The first log cabin schoolhouse, which was located at 800 South and State Street, was not built until The first permanent church was the Timpanogos Chapel, which was also built on 800 South. The initial business establishment was a country store that opened at Page 3

4 560 North State Street in In 1900, the first blacksmith s shop was established on the southeast corner of 400 South and State Street. The first fruit stand was built in 1914 at 1301 North State Street, and the first café was built at 597 North State Street in Because of the need for services, particularly more water, a movement for incorporation was started. In 1919, a committee distributed a petition calling for the incorporation of the area known as Provo Bench. This was accomplished in 1919 when the town was organized and called Orem after Walter C. Orem, President of the Salt Lake and Utah Railroad. It was hoped that naming the city after Orem would aid in getting the railroad to pass through the city to facilitate the movement of fruit, which it did in part. Recently, however, the track was abandoned and has since been removed. The growth of Orem continued to be limited by a lack of dependable water supply. In 1935, the Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir was constructed in Provo Canyon. This reservoir provided an adequate water supply for agriculture and industry, and as a result, most of the remaining uncultivated land was soon converted into orchards and farms. Concurrently, a community recreational facility known as SCERA (Sharon Cooperative Educational and Recreational Association) was organized and constructed. This was a cooperative venture in which businessmen and farmers in Orem pledged their resources to finance the development of a theater that would provide entertainment to suit the religious and social desires of the people. The decade of World War II brought many changes in Orem. Because of the need for steel in the war effort, the steel industry expanded. An area along Utah Lake was chosen as the site of Geneva Steel Works because of its location with respect to needed raw materials and transportation. The influx of workers at the nearby plant greatly increased the need for more housing. Several subdivisions at approximately 400 North and 800 West were platted in an effort to build homes adjacent to the steel plant. This began a trend from rural to urban land use. That trend still continues today. After the war, the growth continued, as evidenced by population statistics. While Orem City had less than 2,000 people at the time of incorporation, by Page 4

5 1950, the figure was well over 8,000, with most of the growth coming in the 1940s. Since 1950, Orem has seen considerable growth and development. Some of the significant events for Orem included the completion of Orem High School (1956), the construction of Interstate 15 (1958), the construction of a sewage treatment plant (1959), and other major public facilities, the construction of the BYU diagonal (1969), the opening of a new City Center (1970), the development of the University Mall (1971), the construction of the Utah Technical College (1975) (which became the four-year Utah Valley State College in 1993), the construction of a water purification plant (1979), the completion of a second senior high school Mountain View (1982), the construction of the world headquarters of WordPerfect Corporation (1982), establishment of the University Parkway regional retail corridor (1990s), and construction of Orem s third high school, Timpanogos High School (1995). In recent years, the City of Orem has seen tremendous commercial and residential growth. At the end of 2000, the City estimated its population at almost 91,000. Orem Today and Tomorrow Orem is the sister city to Provo. Together, the population of Orem and Provo is estimated to be over 200,000 people. While the area offers easy accessibility to all the cultural amenities offered by a major urban center, Orem s location just south of the Salt Lake Valley affords less congestion than the larger urban area. According to the 2015 census estimate, Orem is home to 94,457 residents 77.5% are White (not Hispanic), 16.1% are Hispanic, and 1.9% are Asian, with the remainder being of other ethnicities. The percentage of persons under the age of 18 in 2010 was 24%. Orem s culture is a reflection of its ideals. With strong religious roots, Orem s people are very family-oriented. As a result, there is a definite sense of community, evidenced by the annual SummerFest celebration and Timpanogos Storytelling Festival. Orem, with its peaceful atmosphere, really is Family City, U.S.A. Residents of Orem are hardworking and industrious people. Two of the largest Orem-based employers are Utah Valley University and US Synthetic. Moreover, thousands of Orem citizens also work in the major commercial corridors along Page 5

6 State Street and University Parkway. Brigham Young University, Novell, and Geneva Steel though not located in Orem also employ many Orem residents. The future of Orem is captured in its mission statement,... to partner with citizens and businesses to help create and preserve a community where people want to live, work, and play. In 2001, Orem adopted an updated General Plan outlining several goals that aim at achieving that mission. Residents can count on responsible land use planning and ever-improving public services to make Orem an even better place to live. Page 6

7 City of Orem: Organizational Chart Page 7

8 Department Overviews Mayor and City Council The Mayor and City Council, which consists of seven members, are elected at large and are non-partisan. They each serve staggered four-year terms on a part-time basis. They are elected to set policy for the City and to provide direction and leadership. The Mayor and City Council department includes the following divisions: Mayor and City Council Community Promotion Advisory Boards and Commissions City Manager The City Manager s department, through the City Manager s Office, organizes and directs the management of the executive affairs of the City, provides oversight to the operating departments of the City, and ensures the policies, plans, and programs of the Mayor and City Council are implemented. The City Manager s Office also provides annual and special reports concerning the financial, administrative, and operational activities of the various offices, departments, boards, etc. of the City. The City Manager s department includes the following divisions: City Manager s Office Neighborhoods in Action (NIA) Economic Development City Recorder Information Technology Solid Waste Contract Management (Solid Waste Fund) Community & Neighborhood Services (Community & Neighborhood Services Fund) Legal Services The Legal Services department provides legal counsel and support to the Mayor and City Council, City Boards, Commissions, and Agencies, the City Manager, and all City departments. They attend all meetings of the City Council, Planning Commission, and Board of Adjustment. The department reviews and/or drafts Page 8

9 all ordinances, resolutions, policies, contracts, legal opinions, and litigation documents. They provide legal training and attempt to minimize the City s exposure to adverse legal actions. They perform legal research and give legal advice to City departments. They frequently handle constitutional questions, planning and zoning issues, GRAMA requests, employment law issues, statutory compliance questions, and legal issues related to the City s various operations. The department also represents the City in lawsuits and claims brought against the City and serves as liaison between the City and its insurance defense counsel. The department prosecutes all misdemeanor crimes committed in Orem. These crimes include domestic violence, DUI, assaults, disorderly conduct, drug and alcohol violations, lewdness, shoplifting and other thefts, nuisances, and animal violations. They also prosecute all traffic violations such as driving without insurance or on a suspended license, reckless driving, and moving violations such as speeding. The Legal Services department consists of the following divisions: Administration Prosecution Civil Administrative Services The Administrative Services department provides treasury, accounting, human resources, utility billing, procurement, warehousing, and risk management services to all departments of the City along with the administration of the Justice Court. The Administrative Services department includes the following divisions: Administrative Services Administration City Treasurer Debt Service (Debt Service Fund) Utility Billing Accounting & Budget Purchasing (Purchasing & Warehousing Fund) Human Resources Risk Management (Self-insurance Fund) Liaison to the Justice Court Page 9

10 Development Services The Development Services department guides Orem s growth in a planned and coordinated manner. The department provides support staff for the Planning Commission, Historical Preservation Commission, Board of Adjustment, Transportation Advisory Commission, and Board of Appeals. The department is responsible for enforcing adopted building codes and standards in order to protect life and property of those who work, live, and visit the city. They review and approve residential and commercial plans for structural integrity and code compliance, issue permits, and perform progress inspections for all new construction. The department also designs, inspects, and/or manages all new public or private development of water, sewer, storm drain, fiber optic, concrete, and asphalt construction in the city. They also plan, coordinate, and improve intersections and roads which often includes transportation studies involving a multitude of government agencies and the general public. The Development Review Committee (DRC) consists of key personnel from Development Services and other city departments to ensure compliance with all applicable city codes. The DRC reviews all requests and makes recommendations to the Planning Commission on items such as preliminary and final plats, site plans, conditional use permits, rezones, general plan amendments, annexations, and city boundary adjustments. The Development Services department includes the following divisions: Development Services Administration Planning and Zoning Business licensing Engineering Building Safety Facilities Maintenance Capital Projects (Capital Improvement Project Fund) Public Works The Public Works department is responsible for the maintenance of streets, sidewalks, parks, cemetery, street signs, street striping, fiber optics, fleet services, and the operation of water, sewer, storm sewer, and street lighting utilities. Page 10

11 The Public Works department includes the following divisions (some are not operated within the General Fund): Public Works Administration Intelligent Transportation Systems, Traffic & Street Signs, Signals, & Markings Street Lighting (Street Lighting Special Service District) Fleet Maintenance Services (Fleet Maintenance Fund) Streets and State Road Fund (Road Fund) Parks, Cemetery, and Urban Forestry and Horticulture Storm Sewer (Storm Sewer Fund) Water Administration, Supply, Distribution, & Meter Reading (Water Fund) Wastewater Administration, Collection, and Reclamation Police The Police department provides police, investigation, and support services in partnership with the community to produce a safe environment and a high quality of life for the citizens of Orem. The 88 sworn officers deal with a variety of issues including traffic accidents, missing children, burglaries, medical emergencies, assaults, homicides, drug investigations, computer crimes, white collar crime, crimes against children, gang enforcement, and nuisance ordinance violations. The Police department includes the following divisions: Police Administration Patrol Services Alcohol Enforcement Traffic Enforcement Investigation Services Major Crimes Task Force (Multi-jurisdictional) Metro SWAT Team Victims and Children Assistance Neighborhood Preservation Support Services Communications Animal Control Bailiffs Community Education Page 11

12 Fire The Fire department provides fire suppression, emergency medical, fire prevention, and emergency management services. The department has three fire stations located within Orem City and operates a fourth station through a contract with Lindon City. The department also provides contracted fire and medical services to the Town of Vineyard. The department responds to over 5,000 calls for service annually. It also conducts approximately 1,900 business and construction fire inspections with approximately 700 plan reviews annually. The Fire department also hosts an annual fire prevention open house to educate the community about various safety topics. The department also participates regularly in fire and EMS education events when requested by community, religious, and special interest groups. The Fire department includes the following divisions: Fire Administration Fire and Medical Services Fire Prevention Special Response Team (Multi-jurisdictional) Emergency Management Library The Orem Public Library supports the entire community in lifelong learning by providing a collection of nearly 375,000 print and non-print media items, reference and advisory services, cultural programs for patrons of all ages, and fine art touring exhibits. The library has three distinct collections: Adults/Teen, Children, and Media. The Adults/Teen collection has over 143,000 books including a large reference section, current and classical fiction, large print books, Boy Scout merit badge books, and pamphlets and periodicals on topics of current interest. Internet services are available in this area as well as many databases for Utah history, science, and literature. The Children s collection is the largest in the State of Utah with over 107,000 books, pamphlets, magazines, and read-alongs. Librarian assisted internet access is available in the reference area. The Media collection includes contemporary films, old-time favorites, PBS series, silent and foreign films, and instructional videos. A wide array of music, Page 12

13 sound effects, children s literature, speeches, old-time radio programs, and a particularly exceptional collection of jazz is offered as well. Books on CD are also available. Additionally, the library offers e-books, e-audiobooks, and e- magazines. The Library department includes the following divisions: Library Administration Access Services Patron Services Recreation The Recreation department operates out of both the General Fund and the Recreation Fund. The General Fund is responsible for the overall administration of the department and provides funding for the Senior Citizens and Programs divisions. The Senior Citizens division plans, administers, and supervises comprehensive senior programs and activities primarily located in the City of Orem Senior Friendship Center. The Programs division plans, administers, and supervises comprehensive youth and adult sports programs, special events, and park youth activities. The Recreation Fund is responsible for all Fitness Center and Scera Park Pools operations and maintenance. The Recreation Fund plans, administers, and supervises a full range of programs and services associated with a full scale fitness center and swimming pools. The Recreation department includes the following divisions: Recreation Administration Senior Citizens Activities and Programs Programs Division Fitness Center & Scera Park Pools Administration (Recreation Fund) Fitness Center Operations (Recreation Fund) Fitness Center Facilities (Recreation Fund) Scera Park Pools Facilities & Operations (Recreation Fund) Page 13