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in addition to the expected 200 sites within the existing historic section. Construction costs would likely <br /> fall in the range of$525,000, but the potential revenue is quite significant at almost $6 million. <br /> Councilmember Cook-Kallio asked if the casket plots would be stacked. <br /> Ms. Pattillo confirmed, and added that they would be stacked two high. <br /> She described the proposed new development area known as South Hill Dry Creek. Construction of <br /> this steeply sloped portion of the site will require a series of retaining walls which can be used to house <br /> additional cremains niches, increasing both revenue and visual interest. The plan proposes a series of <br /> small plots like those previously described as well as a second committal area allowing for two services <br /> to occur simultaneously in different parts of the cemetery. The burial garden would also include a <br /> number of new tree plantings, accessibility improvements and a new looped road. It is estimated that <br /> the area can accommodate a total of 3,677 new plots with a construction cost of roughly $1.8 million <br /> and potential revenue of$14.5 million. <br /> She noted that the revenue assumptions within the business plan framework are based on a simple <br /> pricing structure (high, low and medium), with the bulk of the plots being in the mid range and burial <br /> costs comparable to those at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland as well as several online sources. <br /> The city may ultimately elect to offer a broader set of pricing options but, using these assumptions, <br /> revenue generation at build out is estimated to be $29 million for cremains plots and $36 million for <br /> casket plots. The framework assumes an endowment of $300 for each cremain and $620 for each <br /> burial site would be set aside for ongoing operations, generating an endowment of $2.5 million at <br /> buildout. The estimated annual ongoing return, which would vary some based on the investment <br /> mechanism, would be in the range of$125,000 to $200,000. Maintenance costs for expanded cemetery <br /> are projected to increase from the current $30,000 per year to something in the range of $50,000 to <br /> $75,000 per year, which does demonstrate that the site can be self-sustaining. <br /> Ms. Yurchak briefly reviewed the construction cost estimates detailed in Exhibit D to the Master Plan. <br /> She explained that staff is recommending allocation a portion of the funds identified for administrative <br /> and professional services tasks this evening to start the process of more thoroughly evaluating the site <br /> and the feasibility of some of these expansion and improvement opportunities. Exhibit D breaks the <br /> development process into six sections, the first two of which are considered immediate and secondary <br /> site related needs. The oversight committee also held a rather lengthy discussion regarding moving this <br /> project forward and feel it is appropriate to consider appropriating those funds, which total <br /> approximately $500,000, during the Council's discussion of the 2015-2020 Capital Improvement <br /> Program (CIP). Sections 3 and 4 represent the bulk of the total $4.5 million project cost and address <br /> the expansion and infill plots. <br /> She presented the staff recommendation asking the Council to approve the Pleasanton Pioneer <br /> Cemetery Master Plan, authorize and allocate the transfer of $170,000 from the Cemetery Fund to <br /> initiate the administrative and professional services tasks detailed in the report, and direct staff to <br /> consider funding options for the immediate and secondary site related needs identified in the Plan as <br /> part of the 2015-2020 CIP that the Council will be reviewing as part of the upcoming budget process. <br /> Mayor Thorne said one of the questions repeatedly asked is at what point the improvements start <br /> adding to the water demand. <br /> Ms. Yurchak said the topic was thoroughly discussed and the committee very conservative about <br /> increasing the water demand, which ultimately led to the recommendations for soil improvements and <br /> drought tolerant materials. She noted there is also an expectation that recycled water would eventually <br /> be brought to the site. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 7 of 22 November 18,2014 <br />