This article is promulgated to effectively maintain all sections of the city cemetery and to provide maximum service in a graceful environment.
(Ordinance 804, ex. A, adopted 3/28/16)
For the purpose of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
All areas within the city that are maintained and operated by the city for use by the public for human burial.
That person or business entity designated by resolution of the city council to be the city’s agent under this article. Nothing herein prohibits the city from naming more than one designated agent for purposes of this article.
That area of the city cemetery designated on the plat attached to Ordinance 395 as exhibit A, available for inspection in the offices of the city, and formerly known as Memorial Park Division.
(Ordinance 804, ex. A, adopted 3/28/16)
(a)
Gravesites.
A permit and an on-site location identification from the city, or its designated agent, shall be obtained prior to the excavation of any gravesite in the city cemetery.
(b)
Mausoleum crypts.
A permit and an on-site location identification from the city, or its designated agent, shall be obtained prior to any entombment in a city cemetery mausoleum crypt.
(d)
Permit application and approval.
Application for a gravesite or mausoleum crypt permit shall be received by the city or its designated agent no less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the desired time of gravesite excavation or mausoleum crypt entombment. No gravesite excavation or mausoleum crypt entombment shall occur until the permit application has been approved by the city or its designated agent.
(e)
Excess soil.
Excess excavated soil shall be removed from the city cemetery within twenty-four (24) hours after burial.
(f)
Late fee.
A late fee as provided in section B1.08.003(f) of the code compliance fee schedule found in appendix B of this code shall be assessed against anyone or any entity doing any excavations, entombments, or burials at the city cemetery without timely obtaining a permit as set forth herein. This late fee is not intended as a penalty and a violation of this section shall be treated as any other violation of this code.
(g)
Curbing.
Curbing in approved areas of the cemetery shall be in accordance with the following rules:
(1)
Curbing shall be designed, constructed, and maintained so as not to increase or hinder cemetery maintenance requirements.
(2)
Individuals desiring to construct permanent curbing on a cemetery lot shall make application to the city. Applications for a curbing permit shall be received by the city or its designated agent no less than five business days before construction begins.
(3)
Curbing shall be constructed out of concrete or granite and shall be steel reinforced. The interior area of the curbing shall contain a permanent and impervious steel reinforced concrete slab covered with granite, gravel, or other material approved by the city manager that does not support the growth of vegetation therein. The actual thickness of the concrete slab shall be based on the size and weight of the proposed cover. The improvements shall be constructed according to plans submitted to and approved by the city’s code compliance official and subject to that official’s final inspection.
(h)
Plants and shrubs.
Plants and shrubs, measuring less than three feet (3') in height and located at least three feet (3') from the outer border of the plot, may be planted in contiguous plots of six (6) or more gravesites provided the party responsible for planting and maintaining the plants or shrubs enters into a license agreement with the city, which shall be revocable by the city. The owner of each plot shall enter into a license agreement with the city. Plot owner shall provide proof of ownership. The license agreement shall control the size, location, maintenance, and removal of the plants and shrubs. The city reserves the right to remove all plants or shrubs when the city, in its sole discretion, determines that such item(s) are unsightly, desiccated, or hinder the maintenance of the lot. The licensee shall be liable for any costs incurred by the city related to removing materials not in compliance with this section or the license agreement.
(i)
Alcohol.
There shall be no alcohol of any kind placed on gravesites.
(Ordinance 804, ex. A, adopted 3/28/16; Ordinance 671 adopted 6/24/19)
(a)
All crypts shall be permanently sealed within one week of entombment. The mausoleum cover shall be permanently inscribed within six months of entombment.
(b)
Artificial flowers, cut flowers, floral arrangements, and small potted flowers/plants shall be permitted in the mausoleum at all times. The city reserves the right to remove all flowers, plants or other items of decoration, whether natural or artificial, when the city, in its sole discretion, determines that such item(s) are unsightly, desiccated, hinder the maintenance of the mausoleum, or constitute a safety hazard to any visitor to the mausoleum.
(Ordinance 804, ex. A, adopted 3/28/16)
(a)
No curbing of cemetery lots is permitted in this section.
(b)
An outside container is required for each burial. The outside container shall be a concrete grave liner, a concrete burial vault, or a steel burial vault.
(c)
Grave markers shall be set at ground level on a concrete slab, rebar reinforced, on piers, with the length and width of the slab being six inches (6") larger than the dimensions of the base of the grave marker. The actual thickness of the slab and size of piers shall be based on the size and weight of the marker and determined by the city’s code enforcement officer. The grave marker and any special markers indicating associations, carets, awards etc., of the deceased, shall be set so as not to extend above ground level.
(d)
No shrubs or trees shall be planted on or around any gravesite.
(e)
Floral arrangements, cut flowers, artificial flowers, or small potted flowers/plants are allowed at gravesites in this section when a grave marker is present and shall be either placed in the vase of the grave marker or set on the surface of the grave marker. Vases are allowed in this section if attached to the monument and if the vase can be placed below ground level when not in use. The city reserves the right to remove all flowers, plants, or other items of decoration, whether natural or artificial, when the city, in its sole discretion, determines that such item(s) are unsightly, desiccated, or hinder the maintenance of the lot.
(f)
Installation of benches, chairs, or other permanent seating is prohibited.
(Ordinance 804, ex. A, adopted 3/28/16)
(a)
Curbing of cemetery lots is permitted in the Woodland Park Section.
(b)
Outer burial containers are permitted but not required in this section.
(c)
Grave markers may be above ground or ground level. Above ground grave markers shall be set on an underground concrete slab, rebar reinforced, on piers, with the length and width of the slab being six inches (6") larger than the dimensions of the grave marker base. Ground level markers shall be set on a concrete slab, rebar reinforced, on piers, with the length and width of the slab being six inches (6") larger than the dimensions of the base of the grave marker. The actual thickness of the slab and size and number of piers for either above ground or ground level markers shall be based on the size and weight of the proposed marker and determined by the city’s code enforcement officer. Construction of the slab shall be approved and inspected by the city’s code enforcement officer.
(d)
Floral arrangements, cut flowers, or small potted flowers/plants are allowed at gravesites in this section when a grave marker is present, provided, however, that floral arrangements, cut flowers, and small potted flower/plants shall be placed in the vase of ground level grave markers. Vases are allowed in this section, provided, however, that for ground level markers, vases shall be attached to the marker and shall be placed below ground level when not in use. The city reserves the right to remove all flowers, plants, or other items of decoration, whether natural or artificial, when the city, in its sole discretion, determines that such item(s) are unsightly, desiccated, or hinder the maintenance of the lot.
(e)
No trees shall be planted on or around gravesites. Shrubs or plants shall be permitted only in accordance with section 1.08.003(h) of this code.
(f)
Installation of benches, chairs, or other permanent seating is allowed pursuant to the following guidelines:
(1)
There shall be no more than one permanent seating structure per cemetery lot.
(2)
The permanent seating structure shall only be allowed on lots that have appropriate curbing and the area inside the curbing is completed with an appropriate concrete cap with gravel on top.
(3)
The permanent seating shall be located inside the curbing.
(4)
The permanent seating structure must be weatherproof.
(5)
The permanent seating structure must be at least 6" from the border of the cemetery lot.
(Ordinance 804, ex. A, adopted 3/28/16)
Rates for lots in all sections of the city cemetery shall be as provided in section A1.08.007 of the fee schedule found in appendix A of this code. Rates for nonresidents/non-taxpayers shall be higher than the rates for residents/taxpayers as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A.
(Ordinance 845 adopted 5/11/20)