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 ...
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