CCMIN090506 - Laserfiche WebLink

2. Set maintenance at the "Pioneer" standard (Maintenance Option 1) at an estimated annual cost of $25,000. 3. Renovation of the site be done in concert with the capital improvement program (CIP) process in 2007 except for needed safety improvements as shown on the list of maintenance activities which would be completed sooner; any funds transferred with the property would be used to offset these costs. 4. The cemetery would be treated like a City park facility with review by the Parks & Recreation Commission. Further, direct this commission to review existing fees and recommend new fees to the City Council. 5. Authorize staff to provide guidance to the Pleasanton Pioneer Cemetery Inc. to support the Cemetery in the same way that the Friends of the Library support the Library in terms of events and fundraising; however, they would not have a role in the governance of the cemetery. 6. Authorize staff to prepare a contract with Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services for funeral services and records management for plots already sold. In response to Council question, staff clarified an inventory of 200 grave plots and 200 cremation urn plots. Councilmember Brozosky noted the Pleasanton Pioneers put a petition out to the community asking that the City take over, refurbish, and maintain the Odd Fellow's Cemetery and asked that the City continue to sell burial plots to help cover the need in the Tri-Valley. She noted that staff has looked at that and it is not their recommendation. Staff noted that is correct. At this time they are delaying any decision on that point until they get more information. Staff needs to map out the site and get a better handle on what is actually up there. Council member McGovern asked if there is a way to possibly, if we were to acquire this, to set this up as an Enterprise Fund as the water, sewer and the golf course are, so that user fees actually cover the cost to the community. Ms. Tinfow indicated that staff could look at matching up the plot costs to take care of those costs, but they are not sure they could spread the total maintenance costs over those buying the new plots. This is part of the reason staff is asking for a little bit more time in accessing whether or not we want to get into the cemetery business. Councilmember McGovern was pleased to hear that the Grand Lodge of California in Saratoga indicated that they would take it over if Livermore opts out. She acknowledged the possibility that there would be long-term management of the cemetery whether the City acquires it or not. She noted that she bought a book on cemeteries in Sonoma County because she thought it had some good information and one of the things it says is that cemeteries, like buildings, may receive a historic designation and be protected. She asked that staff look at this as an option designating it as a historical site. Staff noted they were aware of that ability but had not explored it fully. Councilmember McGovern indicated we might want to look at doing that whether we acquire it or not, as a way of protecting the cemetery and making sure that it has its historical significance supported. City Council Minutes 5 September 5, 2006