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<br /> 3. Under the City Charter, even if at least 20% of the project co st is <br />specially assessed, but some portion is paid from a tax levy or <br />other city general funds, the project itself must first be approved at <br />an election —only then may bonds be issued. <br /> <br /> 4. In most cases, the City of Lino Lakes may issue improvement <br />bonds without election only in cases where the entire cost is <br />specially assessed). <br /> <br /> D. Street Reconstruction Bonds <br /> <br /> 1. Street Reconstruction bonds are paid from a general tax levy, <br />though a city may use special assessments or some other revenue <br />source to redu ce the levy each year. <br /> <br /> 2. The bonds must be used only to finance “street reconstruction,” <br />which is defined to include: <br /> <br /> utility replacement and relocation and other work incidental <br />to street reconstruction <br /> turn lanes and other improvements having a s ubstantial <br />public safety function <br /> realignments <br /> other modifications to intersect with state and county roads <br /> local share of state and county road projects. <br /> <br /> However, the term excludes costs allocable to widening a street or <br />adding curbs and gutters where none previously existed (unless <br />those activities fall within one of the bullet points listed above). <br /> <br /> 3. Before issuing street reconstruction bonds, a city must hold a <br />public hearing (with 10 days’ published notice) regarding a five - <br />year street reconstr uction plan and issuance of the bonds. After the <br />hearing, the City Council must approve issuance of the bonds by <br />unanimous vote of all council members present at the meeting. <br /> <br /> 4. Citizens have 30 days after the hearing to file a petition with the <br />City Clerk requiring an election on issuance of the bonds. (This <br />process is referred to a “reverse referendum”). The petition must <br />be signed by voters equal to 5% of the votes cast in the last City <br />general election. If no such petition is filed within 30 d ays after <br />the hearing, the City may issue the bonds without election. If a <br />petition is timely filed, the City is not required to hold an election, <br />but it may not issue the bonds unless it does so and the question is <br />approved by a majority of those voting on the question. <br /> <br /> 5. Street reconstruction bonds are subject to the statutory debt limit. <br />(However, that limit is very high, and most bonds are exempt from