SR 06:049 - Laserfiche WebLink

. .--- == -' pLEASANTON. MEMORANDUM Date: May 12,2004 , Mayor aDd Members of tbe City Council Debo.....h ACO$la MeK<<haD, City Manage Pleasanton Memorial Gardens Cemetery Exbibit A: Pleasanton Memorial Gardens Site Map DRAFT To: From: Subject: Art2ehment: I. INTRODUcnON A group of residents brought 10 your attention their concerns regarding the lack of cemetery space in PI_ton as well as the maintClllUlCC of the Pleasanton Memorial Gardens Cemetery, formerly known as the Odd Fellows Cemetery ("Memorial Gardcnsn or "Cemetery'"). The group believes that the condition of the Memorial GardeIlS should be improVl:<! out ofrespeet forthosc: buried there and because of the Cemetery's historical value. The group is currently circulating a petition to be ytu<Jllcd to the City Couw:i1 asking that the City acquire the Cemer.ery and take over its operations. When the citizen's group brought these issues to the City Council. the City Council directed staff to research the matter with a particular focus on the scope oflbe City's participation and corresponding obligations (financial or otherwise) should the City decide to acquire the Cemetery 01" othermse become mvolvcd tto whatever degn:e) in the Cemetery. This memo is intended to be a status report to the City Council to provide baclcsround to the issues and options to address the group's concerns and to seek the COWlciJ's direction on how to proceed. n. BACKGROUND The Memorial Gardens is one of two cemeteries located within the City. The Memorial Gardens Was first established in the mid-nineteenth century and was purchased by the Pleasanton Lodge No. 255 of the Independent Order of Odd Fc:1loWS, a fraternal associatio1\; in 1886. Title in the Memorial Gardens is still held. in the name of the Trustees of Plcasanton Lodge No. 2551, although Lodge No. 2S5 was disbanded due to a decline in membership. The Livermore Lodge (No. 219) currently oversees both Livt:IIDore and Pleasanton cemeteries. The Odd Fellows' operation of the Memorial Gardens reflects the Odd Fellows' mandate to "visit the sick, r<:lieve the distressed, bury the dead, and educate the orphan.n '"!be tille report p<ovides that the property has been d""l.....d tax defaulled for 1M fis<:aJ}....... of ]999-2000 lIDII20Q0.2001 in the omaum of $7 12.6S. ifpaid on or before May 3].2004. When a tax is delinqllCllt.... iDitiallO% pona1ty is assessed-. Beginnil1& July l~ of1M rear of d<olinquency, an additional 1.5". monthly redemption peoalty i. assessed IUIliI the delinqUCllC)' is satisfied. If W<<S remain unpaid for 5 }-.:ars or more. the COIlllty has the option to proceed with a tax collCClOlS public aucODII- The iDioimum bid at the public: auction i. !)'pically tbc lotal ameum of tbc delinquent laXes and penalties. The City r""ei.." an annual advance notic<: of the parcels that are listM for the clllT"Dl years public ouction. The City received notification lD Janlllll'Y 2004 of 1M parcels that were auctioned in March 2004: the Cemetety parcel W8$ not b><:Juded on the list. If the ClMIDlY oplS 10 :;en the pM'Oc] at a public :u>c:tioo, lhe City ~.as the option to objo:ct to the sale and apply 10 the Board ofS1Ii"'rvisors to pureboselhe propertY. Pleasanloo Me"",rial Gm\c:ns Celllrtcry R_rl Page: I ofl6