SR 06:293 - Laserfiche WebLink

property, members of the community encouraged the City to explore acquiring the site. City Council directed staff to develop information as to ownership options. On September 5, 2006, City Council considered a comprehensive report from staff concerning ownership options. After considering these options and hearing from the public, Council directed staff to proceed with the acquisition of the cemetery site, with the understanding that if the City did purchase the property, it would be maintained at what is called a Pioneer standard. Following that action, City staff has undertaken a number of steps to accomplish the site's purchase. It has ordered a Phase I environmental analysis (to make certain there are no hazardous materials on site for which the City, if it bought the property, would assume the cost to clean); it has ordered a title report (to ensure good title if the property is acquired); it has ordered an appraisal (for title insurance purposes); and it has been negotiating with the Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services to provide funeral services and records management for the plots that have been sold. Part of the service agreement will be the development of a detailed map and complete database for the site. The Parks and Recreation Commission will be kept apprised of the services provided. In anticipation that the Phase I analysis will reveal no surprises and that title to the property is good, staff has also prepared a Purchase Agreement that will obligate the Odd Fellows to sell, and the City to purchase, the property for one dollar. Staff believes the Trustees of the Odd Fellows will have signed the Agreement by December 19. DISCUSSION The Agreement is a straight forward Agreement, calling for escrow to close by the end of January 2007, assuming that there is nothing in the Phase I report or the title report to cause Council to reconsider its decision. OTHER ISSUES Other related issues are continuing in concert with the acquisition of the property and proposed Agreement. This provides a status update of those activities. Site Maintenance. Staff has contracted with a company which will provide complete tree pruning and related services. A contract for landscape maintenance has been executed and in process. All trash removal and related clean up activities service for the site has been added to the existing contract services. In short, site maintenance is prepared to begin work upon the acquisition of the property. Burial Services. Staff has received the proposal by Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services. The proposal includes a list of basic burial services and prices for consideration, as well as two one-time projects. One will be development of an Access database with all pertinent information on the existing burials as well as ownership of the unused spaces. The second SR 06:293 Page 2