Laserfiche WebLink
Mayor Hosterman said the Council is contemplating irrigation for the first time, but would most <br />likely not discuss this again for the next few years. Mr. Wolfe said the level of current <br />maintenance will continue and should be adequate at the pioneer fashion until such time that <br />the Council should decide that it desires to install irrigation. Staff could then discuss on-going <br />costs of water and maintenance such as mowing, but this depends on the level of irrigation <br />Council wants to provide. <br />He said one of the major issues is establishing an initial purchase period for residents. The <br />recommendation provides a 3-6 month period for residents to purchase plots. There are <br />currently 54 people on a waiting list of which 42 are residents. The other operating procedure is <br />to limit 2 plots per family and 4 individuals per plot. He described how the plots and niches <br />would be layered. <br />Currently the City contracts with Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services (CFCs) to handle the <br />burials and staff is proposing they continue providing this service for the new plots. Staff is also <br />requesting $180,000 to install 200 double vaults so there is no disruption during the sale or <br />utilization of the plot and $10,000 to conduct a survey of the area. <br />Any of the improvements in terms of irrigation would not be initiated until all 400 plots are sold <br />due to costs, and staff believes sufficient funding will be present if the Council wants to move <br />beyond the pioneer status currently in place. Staff estimates that within the first year, 50 burial <br />and 50 niches will be sold within the first year, and the pro forma is based on 25 plots and <br />niches being sold each of the following years. At year 7 or in FY 2015, all sales will be <br />completed. It is likely this could occur sooner based upon interest, or based upon whether the <br />Council wants to proceed with the additional plots. <br />The 200 proposed plots would be flat grade markers only and not raised headstones, and flower <br />cups would be available. The City Manager or Parks and Community Services Director would <br />then be able to establish additional policies and procedures as necessary to operate the site. <br />He displayed a map indicating where the new plots are proposed on the south side of the <br />property, said staff believes they have found an area where the expansion can be done, but <br />noted that the nearby creek could raise issues with the permitting agencies that may require <br />installation of a retaining wall, which would be very expensive. However, staff believes it can do <br />the 200 plots and niches in an area that will not impact the creek area. The proposed fees are <br />$6,950 for a double depth vault plot including burial services. Items such as gravestones or <br />markers would be extra. Niches would cost $2,800. Because staff wants to keep pace with the <br />market and if the Council wants to install irrigation, staff recommends that fees be annually <br />reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission and a recommendation provided. <br />Councilmember Cook-Kallio questioned vegetation and confirmed with Mr. Wolfe that there is a <br />growth of eucalyptus trees and staff could present more screening when survey work is done. <br />She also questioned whether or not there was a fence that went down to the creek area. Mr. <br />Wolfe said he was not sure but said some surrounding properties did have fences. <br />Councilmember Cook-Kallio questioned when the first burial would take place, and Mr. Wolfe <br />said if the vaults are completed by March, burials could occur at that time. She suggested giving <br />preferences to spouses and extending it into immediate family members. If the Council chooses <br />irrigation, she questioned if this would be contracted out. Mr. Wolfe believed it would be as it <br />will be a designed, complicated capital project. <br />City Council Minutes Page 10 of 15 December 16, 2008 <br />