Title
Evergreen Cemetery - Request for Funding for an Entry Gate (B)
This item involves a request by the Evergreen Cemetery Association of Gainesville, Inc. for funding for an entry gate for Evergreen Cemetery.
Explanation
At the July 16, 2009 City Commission meeting, the Evergreen Cemetery Association of Gainesville, Inc. (ECAGI) asked the City to fund an entry gate at the entrance to the City-owned Evergreen Cemetery. In addition, ECAGI requests that the gate be locked overnight from sunset to sunrise seven days a week. EACGI cited concerns about safety, theft, and illegal activities that occur at night at the cemetery as the reason for needing a gate. This matter was referred to the Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Public Works Committee for further review and discussion.
Given current budgetary constraints, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department is unable to fund this request from the 2009 or 2010 departmental budget.
In researching other possible funding sources, the City Legal Department was asked for an opinion as to whether or not the Evergreen Cemetery Trust Fund could be used for this purpose. Section 7-11 (b) of the Gainesville Code states “Income from the trust fund shall be used exclusively for the care and maintenance of the lots and spaces covered thereby and for the care and maintenance of the cemetery grounds”. It is the opinion of the Assistant City Attorney, that the term 'care' is broad enough to encompass the prevention of vandalism and other unwanted activity at the cemetery and the cost of personnel to open the gate and check the grounds before closing the gate.
There were 14 instances of vandalism reported during the past decade. They were mostly minor instances and ranged from reports of suspicious persons, stolen flags, vases and plants, to an unsuccessful attempt to break into the office. The only major theft was of the exquisite white marble statue from Maud Duke's grave. The installation of a gate would not secure the boundaries of the cemetery. Some of the cemetery borders are secured only by cattle fencing and there are other segments that have no fencing at all.
Staff surveyed other cemeteries to ask if they were gated. Forest Meadows' three cemeteries are not gated as the owners want to provide unrestricted access to their clientele. Countryside Church Cemetery installed a decorative gate for security reasons, which is locked at all times; however; the combination is available to local funeral directors needing access for services.
Fiscal Note
The estimated cost of a 26' wide x 4' high gate that matches the existing industrial aluminum fence along the cemetery's north border is $3,242 (Attachment 1). An ornamental like the one at Countryside Cemetery (Attachment 2) is more elaborate and would cost $10,000.
In addition to the cost of a gate, there is the recurring cost of opening and closing the gates seven days a week. SuperGlo Cleaning Services, Inc., the vendor currently under contract to provide similar services at other city facilities, provided a cost estimate of $400.00/month.
To properly secure the cemetery, the entire border should be enclosed, as detailed on Attachment 3. Currently existing fencing consists of a combination of cattle and vegetation fencing, and estimated cost to replace it with new fencing totals $54,788.
The Evergreen Cemetery Trust Fund has a balance of approximately $1.2 million. When a space is sold for $1,152.50, 20% ($230.50) is deposited into the Evergreen Cemetery Trust Fund, 20% ($230.50) is deposited into the General Fund to help offset operating expenses, and the remaining 60% ($691.50) is applied toward the land acquisition loan payment. During FY09, cemetery lot sales have dropped by more than 50% from the previous year (13 vs. 30). There is also an annual transfer from the trust fund to the general fund for annual maintenance costs. The budgeted amount for the FY 09 transfer was $42,630.
Recommendation
The RCAPW Committee recommend that the City Commission deny ECAGI's request for an ornamental gate at Evergreen Cemetery.
Alternative Recommendation A:
The RCAPW Committee recommend that the City Commission: 1) entirely secure the grounds of Evergreen Cemetery; 2) that a gate be installed at the entrance; 3) that this gate be locked from sunset to sunrise, and (4) that the Evergreen Cemetery Trust Fund be used to cover the cost of installing the gate and fencing, and cover the recurring costs of the opening and closing services, with the approval of ECAGI.
Alternative Recommendation B:
The RCAPW Committee provide other recommendation(s) as appropriate.