HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/09/2000 - Regular Minutes - Cemetery Advisory Committee
MINUTES
for the Cemetery Committee
Regular Meeting
Thursday, March 9, 2000 - 10:00 a.m.
C.S. Parks & Recreation
Conference Room
Members Present: Katherine Edwards, Joe Wallace, Ed Burns, Helen Perry, Sarah Adams,
David Chester, Helen Pugh
Staff Present: Ross Albrecht, Forestry Superintendent; Emily Baker, Secretary;
Delmer Charanza, Cemetery Sexton
Visitors: Kristi DeCluitt, C.S. Legal Department
Jeff Kersten, C.S. Budget Department
Steve Beachy, C.S. Parks & Recreation Department
I. Approval of February Minutes
Joe Wallace suggested that we insert the final motion in the minutes under IV. Shiloh &
Salem Cemetery Use Guideline Development Update, to read “That the Shiloh and Salem
portions of the College Station City Cemetery be closed to future burials, except in those
spaces which are clearly identified as available by the cemetery sexton”. Ed Burns
moved that the minutes be approved with that addition; Helen Perry seconded; all in
favor.
II. Discussion & Possible Consideration of Recommendations to the City Council
Concerning Priority Issues, Policies & Needs for Fiscal Year 2001
Steve Beachy, Director of C.S. Parks & Recreation, discussed the City Council revised
mission and vision statement, strategic planning process and any issues that we want
brought before the council for the next budget year. The council felt that the wording
of the mission statement include “College Station is a unique community and home of
Texas A&M University.” One of the steps to be included in the next budget year is an
opportunity for our committee to provide some input of what our key issues are to the
council; whether it be a budget item or a policy item. This will help eliminate
frustration between the committees and the council. The other part is to develop an
overall strategic plan for the whole city for the next 5 years.
Jeff Kersten, C.S. Budget Department, stated that he was here for the committee to
provide some formal input into the budget process of our priorities to take back to the
council. Some specific input being sought by the committee is:
1)What are the important issues facing the board?
2)What are the top policy priorities of the board for the strategic planning period?
3)What additional programs are needed to begin addressing these priorities in the
2001 Budget?
Sarah asked what a policy priority was. Steve stated that one of the policy issues this
year was closing the two cemeteries for further burial. That type of thing would be a
“policy related” matter. Kathryn stated that another policy issue that led to a financial
issue was making the determination that the citizens of this community were best
served by a city cemetery, not a private one; and we pushed the council to approve the
acquisition of land for a new city cemetery site.
Cemetery Committee
Regular Meeting
Mar 9, 2000
Page (2)
Kathryn handed the cemetery’s ends statement and mission statement. The mission
statement reads, “On behalf of the citizens of College Station, the city cemetery(s) will
be well designed and maintained and aesthetically pleasing and professionally
administered under the guidance of the cemetery committee, according to the policies
and ordinances of the city and the state; that we will address the greater need of all
citizens and develop policies so that the integrity of the cemetery is not jeopardized”.
The ends statements are divided into:
1)safety, accessibility, and maintenance,
2)civic pride,
3)fiscal responsibility,
4)addressing the need for a new cemetery site,
5)operating guidelines,
6)public education about the cemetery policy and procedures.
Kathryn stated that one of the policy areas that we are concerned about is acquisition
of a new cemetery site and then, more long range plans would be the platting,
surveying and getting utilities for that site; to make sure that it will be ready by the
time our current cemetery fills up. To sum up, the issues for the council to look at are:
1)Providing an urn garden
2)Increasing Endowment Fund
3)Enhancing back entrance while Texas Ave. is under construction
4)Special section for A&M graduates in the new cemetery
5)Policies on how the new cemetery will be operated
6)Closing of the Shiloh and Salem cemeteries
7)Infrastructure and development of master plan of new cemetery
III. Consideration & Approval/Disapproval of Absentee Requests
No absentees for this meeting.
IV. Input from Legal Dept. on the Motion to Close Shiloh & Salem Sections to Further
Burial
Kristi DeCluitt, C.S. Legal Department, stated that the motions the committee passed
were sufficient but that we need to identify the method of identification. She stated
that before we take the motion to council, we need something on paper stating that it is
a clearly delineated family plot. We decided not to amend the motion, but to change
the policy to state that the spaces are “clearly identified” and add a section to the end
of the ordinance. Discussion followed how to clearly identify the spaces and
implement the closing of the two cemeteries due to health and safety reasons. Once we
finalize the wording on this, we can go to council with it. We have reasonably
attempted to delineate the boundaries with David Mayo, a surveyor with Joe Orr, Inc.
V. New Cemetery Site Selection Update
No new additions to the cemetery site selection at this time.
VI. Adjourn
Ross stated that the Madeley’s beneficiaries donated $18,000 for cemetery use, which
was deposited into the endowment fund. In the next meeting, we can discuss a proper
memorial for the Madeley’s for their donation. The next meeting will be held on
Thursday, April 6at the Parks & Recreation Conference Room at 10:00 am.
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