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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/18/2006 . • • � � ! � MINUT �LE$ANON CEMETERY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING 'I April 18,2006 2:00 p.m. Apple Valley Municipal Center I, COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Wilton Anderson,Bob Harvey,Dave Kemp, Alan Kohls,Paula Moore, Gary Wagner, Harry Wolter COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: Public Works Director Neal Heuer Public Works Superintendent Mike Glewwe Public Works Assistant Jean Bryant Secretary Harvey called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: of Wagner, seconded by Kohls, approving the agenda for today's meeting as written. Motion passed unanimously. AUDIENCE—For Items Not on This Agenda- There was no one present to speak. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: of Wolter, seconded by Anderson, approving the minutes of the January 17, 2006,meeting, as written. Motion passed unanimously. NEW/CONTINUED BUSINESS MeeNng with City Council Secretary Harvey reminded committee members of the informal meeting with the City Council on Thursday, April 27, 2006, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be in the Regent Room of the Municipal Center. Mr. Heuer explained this is not a regular City Council meeting but a time for committee members to bring forward any ideas to the Council. Members can let Ms. Bryant know if there are subj ects they would like addressed. Council,Commission and Committee Members Information Secretary Harvey announced that updated member information was received after the agenda packet was distributed. The updated list was handed out. • • . Activity Report Ms. Bryant reviewed the Lebanon Cemetery Activity Report for first quarter. There were nine lot/niche sales in the first quarter: seven to residents and two to non-residents; there were two double niche sales; two sales were preneed and seven were at need. There were ten burials: four traditional and six cremations. There were no transfers or returns. Ms. Bryant noted there were more cremation burials than traditional this quarter. The interest in cremation lots and niches appears to be growing. Maintenance and Grounds Mr. Glewwe reported cemetery maintenance included snow plowing and salting the roads and parking lot as well as the removal of dead flowers and unapproved decorations, in accordance with the cemetery policy. With the coming of spring, crews have begun the spring cleanup consisting of sweeping the roads and parking lot; sod repair due to snow plow damage; filling in settled graves, top dressing them and preparing them to be hydro- seeded; unwrapping the trees and trimming the bushes; and getting the flower beds ready to be planted. Mr. Wagner said it was good to start early rather than be close to Memorial Day. Mr. Glewwe stated the snow in March set back cemetery work. Ms. Moore asked when volunteers start and are there enough of them. Mr. Glewwe said they are starting now and there are more volunteer than there is work to do. Mr. Heuer asked if weed spraying would be done in a couple of weeks. Mr. Glewwe stated he wants to wait until seed on new burials has germinated as spraying can kill new grass. Review of City Cemetery Regulations Mr. Heuer stated he wants the committee to review some changes staff proposes to the cemetery regulations and the City Ordinances. As there are new members on the committee, it is a good time to go through the cemetery regulations so they can become more familiar with them. This is a draft document. The first proposed change is in Cemetery Hours: "sunrise to sunset" conflicts with Ordinance 92.20, which states 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Staff proposes a change to "dawn to dusk" as this changes with the seasons and length of day. This change will require an update to the City Ordinance. In the City Cemetery Regulations, some of the definitions have been changed or are additions, stated Mr. Heuer. He requested input on the Foot Marker definition. With multiple interments, markers are foot rather than head markers. Secretary Harvey asked if the markers would be all over the lots or in the same place on each. Mr. Kemp said if placement is not consistent, it can cause errors when locating for the marker placement. Markers are flush with the ground. Cemetery regulations already state they must be placed � • according to our direction so calling out a foot marker is not necessary unless staff wants to. It was decided to stay with the marker definition and not have a foot marker definition. The Memorial Bench definition was added. At the previous meeting, the committee directed staff to bring forward a bench policy which has been included in the regulations. Mr. Kemp suggested the definition of Columbarium Single Niche be moved to after Columbarium Niche. Mr. Heuer noted that as the City Council wants to maximize the life of the cemetery and it is not known if more property can be acquired, staff looked at the possibility of accommodating three burials on a traditional lot. Section II Interment, Paragraph E, includes the additional combinations possible: three urns, one child vault and two infant cherubs, one adult vault and two urns, and two urns and one infant cherub. Discussion ensued. Secretary Harvey said most people would say urns go to a certain area of the cemetery. Mr. Kemp said a family could be separated if one wanted traditional and two wanted cremation. Mr. Heuer said if only one lot was bought and later a spouse wants to be there, a burial can be done. Secretary Harvey said if the goal is extending the life of the cemetery, more cremations should be planned on, and how are we going to do it. We need to plan ahead. Mr. Wagner asked if these would be double depth burials. Mr. Heuer said no, but it could be urns over caskets. Members emphasized to stay away from double ' depth casket burials due to safety issues. Ms. Moore asked about end-to-end casket burials. Mr.Heuer answered there is not enough space to allow it. Mr. Wagner stated there should be enough space now for the cemetery to last 30 to 50 I� years. Mr. Heuer said the estimate is 80 years. Mr. Kemp stated the usual estimate is � 1,000 burials per acre. Mr. Heuer said future plans include more columbaria, a mausoleum, and possibly more vaults by the main feature area. At this time, it's not sure there will be a pond in the feature area because that is a high spot. Mr. Kemp said there could be a reflective pool with high walls. Referring back to multiple burials on a lot, staff needs to decide where memorialization will be placed. A standard is needed. Mr. Glewwe said we have that now: the first memorialization is at the top and the second is down. Mr. Kemp asked about the statement in paragraph K that the City is not responsible for unauthorized cremains deposited on the City Cemetery. What do you do with them? Mr. Heuer said none have been found. Mr. Kemp said the Catholic Cemeteries pick them up and call the family to dispose of them properly. A scattering garden would be a possibility. He and Secretary Harvey said it will happen and a plan is needed. Mr. Heuer likes the idea of a common area where they could be put. Secretary Harvey stated others pay to be there so you can't do that for free or more will be left. The question was raised as to the legality of disposing of the ashes. It was suggested staff contact Ron at Lakewood Cemetery for his input as he is knowledgeable in this area. Secretary Harvey asked if the City has a policy for if someone is buried in the wrong spot—wrongful burial— as it will happen at some point. Mr. Kemp said to include the phrase, "Cemetery management I ! � reserves the right to correct all errors." In the event a correction is needed, notification is given to the family. Ms. Moore asked what happens if a monument is vandalized or sinks. Mr. Heuer said the next of kin is responsible in the case of vandalism, and the City raises sunken ones. Discussion followed on homeowners insurance covering the damages. It was suggested staff notify people after a monument or marker is installed so they are aware of the responsibility and look into their insurance coverage. Mr. Heuer asked the committee, if they are comfortable with the updated cemetery regulations, to make a motion for staff to pull together the suggestions given and present the revised regulations to the City Council. Mr. Kemp had one more suggestion. In section VI. D. Animals are prohibited on Cemetery grounds: add "unless approved by the Cemetery Supervisor." MOTION: of Wagner, seconded by Kemp, to update the cemetery policies, rules, and regulations as discussed and forward to the City Council. Motion passed unanimously. MOTION: of Anderson, seconded by Wolter, to go to the City Council to amend the Ordinances by amending 92.20 Hours and adding memorials to 92.18. Motion passed unanimously. Other Business Secretary Harvey noted there are three items of interest in the agenda packet. Ms. Bryant explained one is the script from a television feature on the Firefighters Memorial statue, one is an interview with Chair Anderson by ThisWeek, and one is an article from the City News requesting volunteers for the cemetery. Mr. Wolter left the meeting at 2:50 p.m. Mr. Heuer informed the members there has been a request to place a memorial bench in the cemetery. There is a small area to the southwest of the turnaround area for a feature area. Staff is considering putting benches and a planter there. In the future, there would be an � eight-foot walkway adjacent to it. Mr. Heuer displayed a sketch of the 12.5' x 21' area. , The planter would be diamond or square shaped with appropriate plantings and made with � a keystone wall. There would be a stamped concrete platform. Four benches would be possible in the area which will be mirrored with future development to the east. Mr. Heuer asked for any thoughts or feedback. Mr. Kemp thought it will be a good start,especially as it will be mirrored. He asked if there is thought for anything by the columbarium. Mr. Heuer said yes, with the development of the other three columbaria. Mr. Glewwe asked if there were any ideas for flower placement by the columbarium. Mr. Kemp said his cemeteries offer a vase that attaches to the niche plate. An arrangement of silk flowers is provided with the sale of a vase. Customers may choose from three styles of arrangements. : i � MOTION: of Harvey, seconded by Kohls, directing staff to proceed with developing the feature area with a planter and benches. Motion passed unanimously. ADJOURN MOTION: of Kohls, seconded by Anderson, to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 3:12 p.m.