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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/20/2004 - e I��I � • I il MINUTES OF LEBANON CEMETERY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING , April 20,2004-2:00 p.m. �! Apple Valley Municipal Center ', I, i COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Wilt Anderson, Ranee Hadley,Bob Harvey,Dave Kemp, ' John Raiche, and Gary Wagner ��'i COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Gary Humphrey I, OTHERS PRESENT: Public Works Director Neal Heuer,Public Works Superintendent Rod Rippentrop, and Public Works Administrative Manager Pamela Gackstetter Chair Anderson called the meeting to arder at 2:02 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: of Raiche, seconded by Wagner, approving the agenda for today's meeting as written. Motion passed unanimously. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: of Kemp, seconded by Harvey, approving the minutes of the January 20, 2004, meeting, as written. Ayes—4,Nays—0, Abstain— 1 Harvey. Motion passed. NEW BUSINESS Cemetery Advisory Committee Member Update Chair Anderson said at its regular meeting on February 26, 2004, the City Council reappointed Ranee Hadley and appointed Robert Harvey to the Cemetery Advisory Committee. Both Committee Members have a three-year term expiring March l, 2007. Chair Anderson thanked Committee Member Hadley for her dedicated service and welcomed newly appointed Committee Member Harvey to the Committee. Committee Member Harvey introduced himself and provided a brief summary of his background. Committee Member Hadley arrived at 2:06 p.m. Updated Council,Commission, and Committee Member List Chair Anderson said the Council, Commission, and Committee Member list included in the packet is the most current copy and reflects the recent appoinhnents by the City Council as well as the new terms. . . I Activity Report I I Ms. Gackstetter reviewed the Lebanon Cemetery Activity Report for first quarter. There was a I total of 5 lot sales, of which 2 were to residents and 3 were to non-residents, and 3 were preneed I and 2 were at need. There was also a total of 5 burials during first quarter, of which 3 were traditional and 2 were cremation burials. Ms. Gackstetter stated sales continue to remain sluggish. Grounds Mr. Rippentrop said South Side Lawn Service was awarded the mowing contract for the cemetery grounds. They won the bid at $300.00 per mowing event (which includes weed whipping). This is a different contractor than the one hired last year. Mr. Rippentrop said he will be meeting with representatives of this company to discuss the City's expectations. Mr. Rippentrop stated the new and replacement trees have been picked up and will be installed within the next week. Three crab trees will be placed on the corner opposite the historic monument, and two Japanese lilac trees will be placed within the front wings of the island in the parking lot. The trees which have died will also be replaced. In addition, flowers will be planted in front of the flagpoles and in front of the sign on the corner of County Road 42 and Pilot Knob Road. Mr. Rippentrop further stated he now has seven individuals who have expressed interest in volunteering at the cemetery. He has not met with all of them yet, but he will schedule meetings in the near future. He may ask for their help in cleaning the cemetery prior to Memorial Day. Chair Anderson said he would be happy to head up the crew if Mr. Rippentrop would like him to do so. Mr. Rippentrop accepted the offer and said he would coordinate with Chair Anderson on the cleanup. Mr. Rippentrop said he wants the cemetery in tip top shape by Memorial Day. Feature Area/Memorial Policy and Guidelines Draft ' Mr. Heuer said the Cemetery Feature Area Policy and Guidelines were presented to and approved by the City Council at its regular meeting on February 12, 2004. The purpose of the policy is to provide a standard by which feature areas and/or memorials located within the cemetery will be evaluated and approved. Some of the suggestions made by Committee Member Kemp at the last Cemetery Advisory Committee meeting were incorporated into the final draft. Mr. Heuer further said the Fire Department has been given copies of the policy and guidelines and is aware of the fact they will need to adhere to the policy in the development of their proposed feature area and memorial. Non-Resident Rate Mr. Heuer said that in December of 2001 the City Council directed staff to continue to monitar lot sales to non-residents and, if necessary, create a greater price differential to ensure the majority of sales are to Apple Valley residents. Staff has monitored and reported the breakdown of lot and niche sales to residents and non-residents each of the last two years. Based on the fact sales to residents have not had as strong of a preference as the City Council would like, staff proposed an increase in the non-residential rate. The proposed rate increase for non-residents was 2 ' . � appro�mately fifty percent. The City Council approved the proposed rates at its regular meeting on March 1 l,2004, and they are reflected in the current General Price List included in the packet. 2004 Goals Mr. Heuer reviewed the 2004 Cemetery Goals staff submitted to City Administrator Tom Lawell. Goals for 2004 include continuing the marketing effort and promoting the volunteer program, replacing trees, planting additional ornamental trees and flowers, leveling monuments and markers, finalizing the Feature Area Policy and Guidelines, working with the Fire Department on developing the cemetery's first feature area, and further development of reporting features for the on-line GIS program. Chair Anderson asked if the maintenance building will be the next major project and when it is scheduled. Mr. Heuer confirmed the maintenance building was likely to be the next major project and that it is included in the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for 2005. However, he may end up pushing it back until the Pilot Knob Road upgrade is complete. Chair Anderson questioned whether the drainage issue would be addressed at that time as well. Mr. Heuer indicated it will be partially corrected at the time of the Pilot Knob Road upgrade, but the remainder will be addressed with the development of the Fischer pit south of the cemetery. Chair Anderson inquired if the City was still interested in purchasing additional property. Mr. Heuer said money has been line-itemed in the 2005 CIP; however, the timing of a potential purchase is contingent upon the evacuation and development of the Fischer pit. Committee Member Kemp asked who was responsible for straightening monuments and markers. Mr. Rippentrop said he has used Sentence to Serve crews and City staff. Committee Member Kemp stated he would be happy to volunteer his services to straighten monuments. Mr. Rippentrop said he would be glad to have Committee Member Kemp's help. Peace Lights Ms. Gackstetter said she received a request from a family inquiring as to whether or not Peace LightsTM would be permitted within Lebanon Cemetery. Peace LightsTM are a combination battery- and solar-powered, illuminated memorial incorporated into a monument. Ms. Gackstetter said she knew the Committee previously made a decision not to allow solar lights as a stand-alone decoration, but was unsure if a solar-light product which was incorporated into a monument/marker changed the opinion of the Committee. The Committee reviewed the materials presented and discussed the pros and cons of allowing such a product. Concerns identified included maintenance costs, the estimated lifetime of the product, the draw of having lights in the cemetery after hours, and concern by individua.ls with adjacent lots. MOTION: of Anderson, seconded by Harvey, approving Peace LightsTM ar similar products to be incorporated into monuments and/or markers. Ayes — 0, Nays — 6. Motion failed. 3 � � ' OTHER BUSINESS Donation by Southern Dakota County Labor Council Ms. Gackstetter said again this year the Southern Dakota County Labor Council has donated money to purchase an evergreen in honor of Workers Memorial Day. She further said the Southern Dakota County Labor Council invites the Lebanon Cemetery Advisory Committee Members to attend the ceremonial planting of the evergreen tree at the cemetery on April 28 at 7:00 p.m. Newsletter Article Ms. Gackstetter said the City reran the article seeking cemetery volunteers in the City News. A copy of the article is included in the packet. Based on requests Mr. Rippentrop received, the article obviously spurred some interest in the Volunteer Program. Newspaper Article on Fort Snelling Chair Anderson recapped an article regarding the expansion of Fort Snelling. Expansion of Fort Snelling is noteworthy in so far as its potential impact on other cemeteries. ADJOURN MOTION: of Hadley, seconded by Wagner, to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting was adjourned. Approved: 4