Minutes 11/22/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 22. 2005 - Other Unfinished Business 05 - 412 - Adoption of an ordinance to amend Chapters 9 and 11.5 of the City Code, by amending Sections 9-26, 9-29, and 9-41; by enacting new Sections 9-29.1 and 11.1-5, and by repealing divisions 2, 3 and 4 of Article II pertaining to cemetery perpetual care and burial fees and charges. Vision Principles: Bold New Directions and Pride of Past Promise of Future. Background: . Currently, no charges are assessed for perpetual care of graves. The City has a maintenance fund for cemeteries that is required to maintain a balance of at least $1,000,000. Interest from that fund may be used for cemetery maintenance. . The City contracts grave openings and closings at city cemeteries. Charges for these services are paid directly to the contractor but are regulated by City Code. Discussion: . Because Portsmouth's grave opening and closing fees are less than neighboring cities, many non-City residents are purchasing graves. There is a concern that there will be a grave shortage for Portsmouth residents if this continues. Increasing fees for grave opening and closings will give the City of Portsmouth a fee structure consistent with that charged by neighboring cities and hopefully reduce the number of grave sales for non Portsmouth residents. . Wimbrough and Sons own all unsold graves in City cemeteries. Because the City does not own the individual graves the current perpetual care sections in the City Code are not practical. . Olive Branch Annex is not a city owned cemetery. . The City proposes to eliminate the perpetual care sections of the City Code and replace them with a burial permit fee section. Burial permit fees of $200 will be paid for every grave opening and closing, and will be paid to the City. Child grave opening and cremations will be charged a $100 burial fee. These fees will be collected by the contractor responsible for grave openings/closings and paid monthly to the City. This fee will apply only to city owned cemeteries. . Financial Impact: The increased fees for grave opening and closing will have no direct impact on the City because these fees are paid directly to the contractor. The burial permit fee is estimated to generate approximately $35,000 per year which will be used for cemetery capital improvements. Staff Recommends: Adoption of an ordinance to amend Chapters 9 and 11.5 of the City Code, by amending Sections 9-26, 9-29, and 9-41; by enacting new Sections 9-29.1 and 11.1-5, and by repealing divisions 2, 3 and 4 of Article II pertaining to cemetery perpetual care and burial fees and charges. Vision Principles: Bold New Directions and Pride of Past Promise of Future. Next Steps Following Council Action: . If approved, sign contract with contractor for city grave openings and closings. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Ms. Psi mas, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: "ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTERS 9 AND 11.5 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (1988) BY AMENDING SECTIONS 9-26, 9-29, AND 9-41, BY ENACTING NEW SECTIONS 9-29.1 AND 11.1-9, AND BY REPEALING DIVISIONS 2, 3 AND 4 OF ARTICLE II THEREOF PERTAINING TO CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE AND BURIAL FEES AND CHARGES." Ayes: Heretick, Moody, Psi mas, Randall, Smith, Whitehurst, Holley Nays: None