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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2025-317 7/ 1, NO KENA�' CITY OF KENAI RESOLUTION NO. 2025-31 Sponsored by: City Clerk A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS AND FEE SCHEDULE POLICY NUMBERING IT PRK-70.001, REVISING MARKER AND HEADSTONE REGULATIONS AND MAKING OTHER HOUSEKEEPING AMENDMENTS. WHEREAS, the current Kenai Municipal Cemetery Regulations Policy was adopted via Ordinance 3293- 2022; and, WHEREAS, numbering this policy as Policy No. PRK-70.001 supports the City's ongoing effort to maintain an organized policy structure; and, WHEREAS, the ongoing Cemetery headstone audit has identified a need for clarification in the Marker and Headstone section of the policy to ensure the regulations reflect standard headstone placement practices; and, WHEREAS, the proposed amendments clarify the permitted number and placement of markers allowed on individual plots or across adjoining plots; and, WHEREAS, including a new requirement that names and dates either be deeply engraved or raised in high relief to ensure the long-term legibility of inscriptions; and, WHEREAS, other housekeeping amendments establish consistent terminology throughout the policy; and, WHEREAS, the Parks & Recreation Commission recommended approval at their May 1, 2025 Regular Meeting. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA: Section 1. That City Council Policy PRK-70.001 Kenai Municipal Cemetery as amended and attached is hereby adopted. Section 2. That this Resolution takes effect immediately upon passage, - PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, T�17TH DAY 2025_ , City Clerk New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Effective Date: Pending Page 1 of 6 CITY OF KENAI PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Approved by: City Council PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Purpose The City of Kenai has ordinances and regulations in place for the administration of the Kenai Municipal Cemetery. These regulations apply to all persons utilizing the Kenai Municipal Cemetery. This document has been prepared as an informational guide and is not inclusive of all ordinances and regulations. The Kenai City Clerk is charged with administration and maintains necessary records required by the State to ensure continuity in the operation of the cemetery. The Parks and Recreation Director enforces all cemetery regulations. Administration and General Provisions Hours of Operation: The Kenai Municipal Cemetery is open year-round for pedestrian traffic. No person shall enter the Kenai Municipal Cemetery except through the established access routes. Summer/Winter hours when vehicle access is permitted are as follows: 1. Summer Hours — 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. from May 1st to September 30th 2. Winter Hours — Closed from October 1 st to April 30th Fees: All fees shall be as set forth in the City's schedule of fees adopted by the City Council. The purchase of interment PACES] locations, interment services or required deposits shall be made through the City Clerk or a professional service provider licensed by the State of Alaska. and authorized by the City. At the time of purchase of an interment -.1AL;tj log , a designated interment SPACE] location will be assigned upon receipt payment. Re -sell or re -assign: It is prohibited for the purchaser of an interment PACE] location to re -sell or re -assign except to the City. Records: The City Clerk shall maintain all records of interment or disinterment within the Kenai Municipal Cemetery. The record shall include all files, maps and [BURIAL] records of interment and inurnment Interment and Disinterment All interment or disinterment's shall be made in compliance with the laws and regulations of the City of Kenai and State of Alaska. The City Clerk shall be provided with the appropriate State burial -transit permits before interment will be permitted; a burial -transit permit is not required when interring cremains. [THE BURIAL PLOTS] Inter,,iv.., L. can be used for no other purpose than interment of human remains and PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Effective Date: Pending Page 2 of 6 CITY OF KENAI PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Approved by: City Council cremains plots or columbarium niches can be used for no other purpose but inurnment of human remains. Interment iSPACE] L Specifications: One (1) casket and up to two (2) cremains may be interred in a standard or infant plot. Up to three (3) cremains may be buried in a standard or infant plot. Only one (1) cremains may be inurned in a cremains plot. Up to two cremains may be inurned in a standard columbarium niche. (Inner Niche dimensions 12" x 12".) All columbarium niche openings and closings shall be overseen by the City and under the supervision of the Parks and Recreation Director or designee. A niche may be opened only at the request of the niche owner as listed in the cemetery records or as determined by the City Clerk. The initial opening and closing (inurnment) of the niche is included in the original cost of the niche. Additional openings and closings thereafter, for a second fINTERMENTI +rnment or for other reasons are charged at a rate pursuant to the City's Schedule of Rates, Charges and Fees. All plot preparations for interments or disinterment's shall be overseen by the City and under the supervision of the Parks and Recreation Director or designee. Opening and closing of rGRAVES] shall be conducted by a professional licensed by the State of Alaska and authorized by the City to provide interment services within the Kenai Municipal Cemetery. Maintenance and Landscaping The City of Kenai shall take reasonable precaution to protect all interment markers within the Kenai Municipal Cemetery from loss or damage but expressly disclaims any responsibility for loss or damage from causes beyond such reasonable precautions. Damages incurred directly or collaterally and caused by or resulting from thieves, vandals, malicious mischief, natural disaster or unavoidable accidents shall be excluded from the City of Kenai's responsibilities. The City will, if able to, clear a path to the interment [SITE] location when an interment is scheduled during winter months; however, the City reserves the right to suspend interment services due to high snow levels, other severe weather conditions or natural disasters. Plants and Decorations Prohibited: • Enclosures such as picket fences or establishing a perimeter around an interment [SITE] location are prohibited. • Planting of trees, shrubbery, plants or turf within the Kenai Municipal Cemetery is prohibited. • Attaching decorations to trees, shrubs or fences is prohibited. PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Effective Date: Pending Page 3 of 6 CITY OF KENAI PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Approved by: City Council Permitted: Boxes, shelves, toys and other such articles upon an [GRAVE OR BURIAL LOT] interment location shall be permitted only if contained within the plot and maintained monthly (April 1 through September 30). Articles that are not maintained, impede maintenance efforts, or become unsightly will be removed and discarded without prior notice at the discretion of the Parks and Recreation Director or designee. Plastic or silk flowers and artificial decorations are permitted. All decorations (except those on [BURIALS] intermer. less than thirty (30) days) will be removed during a selected Saturday in the month of May each year during the annual cemetery clean up. A twenty (20) day notice will be posted at the cemetery. Family and friends may either remove their properly placed decorations before Saturday's clean up and replace them later, or request the cemetery not to remove their properly placed decorations by calling or writing the Parks and Recreation Director. A final cleanup of the cemetery will also occur in late September. A professional licensed by the State of Alaska and authorized by the City may provide, place and remove greens, decorations or seating used for an interment service and must provide necessary lowering devices. Plants, flowers, decorations, or articles not otherwise removed by the deadlines or regulations set forth herein, or that have become withered or discolored, will be removed by the Parks and Recreation Director or designee without prior notice. The cemetery is not responsible for damage or liable for the return of such items. No material shall be allowed to remain in the Kenai Municipal Cemetery longer than is reasonably necessary for any construction work. During periods of break-up, no heavy hauling will be permitted. Within one (1) year of interment, ..,RAVES] plr shall be restored to ground level and re -seeded. Marker and Headstones [NO MORE THAN ONE (1) MARKER OR HEADSTONE PER PLOT SHALL BE ALLOWED. ALL MARKER OR HEADSTONE PLACEMENT AND REMOVALS SHALL BE OVERSEEN BY THE CITY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR OR DESIGNEE. UPRIGHT MARKERS OR HEADSTONES SHALL ONLY BE ALLOWED IN SPECIFIC DESIGNATED AREAS, ALL OTHER AREAS SHALL BE MARKED WITH FLAT MARKERS OR HEADSTONES THAT ARE FLUSH WITH THE GROUND AND ARE MAINTAINED WITHIN THE FOOT PRINT OF THE PLOT. MARKERS SHALL BE CONSTRUCTED OF MATERIALS THAT WILL NOT DECAY, ROT OR DECOMPOSE. EXAMPLES ARE HARD STONE, CONCRETE OR HARD METALS. THE CITY WILL ATTEMPT TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE ANY RELIGIOUS PRACTICES THAT MAKE CONFORMANCE WITH THE BELOW REQUIREMENTS IMPOSSIBLE.] PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Effective Date: Pending Page 4 of 6 CITY OF KENAI PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Approved by: City Council All marker or headstone placement and removals shall be overseen by the City under the supervision of the Parks and Recreation Director or designee. Upright markers or headstones shall only be allowed in specific designated areas, all other areas shall be marked with flat markers or headstones that are flush with the ground. Markers and headstones shall comply with the following provisions: • Each interment location must have at least one (1) permanent marker or headstone. • Each standard or infant plot may have a maximum of three (3) markers. and each cremains plot may have a maximum of one (1) marker. If the plot is located in an area designated for upright headstones. one (1) upright marker is permitted: any additional markers must be flush with the ground. • Markers shall be constructed of materials that will not decay. rot or decompose. Examples are hard stone, concrete or hard metals. • Inscriptions of names and dates must be deeply engraved or raised in high relief to ensure long-term legibility. The City will attempt to reasonably accommodate any religious practices that make conformance with the above re uirements impossihle. Marker Deposit: If at the time of interment, a marker or headstone is not ordered, the City will collect a deposit. Deposit refunds will be issued after proper installation of a marker or headstone. If after eighteen (18) months for a plot and six (6) months for a columbarium niche a permanent marker or headstone has not been installed, the City shall install a marker or headstone utilizing the deposit as payment. Marker and Headstone Placement: Markers for cemetery interment plots may be set in a concrete base and installed at the head of the [GRAVE] plot(s), centered and within the assigned plot. The Parks and Recreation Director must be notified prior to any plot preparation, construction, or placement of headstone or marker. Columbarium Markers: These markers shall follow a standard format, font, and size as determined by the City and shall include the first and last name of the deceased, year of birth, and year of death. Columbarium Inscription : An inscription is required to be inscribed directly onto the granite faceplate. The Kenai City Cemetery requires a specific format for unification of inscriptions that shall be followed according to the purchaser's name designation. Emblems and/or photos will be allowed as space allows. When a suffix is needed (Jr., Sr., IV, etc.) they will be placed after the first name. PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Effective Date: Pending Page 5 of 6 CITY OF KENAI PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Approved by: City Council Two (2) Urns with Same Last Name SMITH (Emblem) (photo) JOHN ALAN APR 8, 1954 - FEB. 10, 2005 (Emblem) (photo) BATE ANN JAR 30, 1954 -AUG. 5, 2008 One (1)Urn-Single Inscription (Emblem) JOHN ALAN SMITH OCT_ 10, 1965-NOV. 26, 2006 (photo) Prohibited Two (2) Urns with Different Last Names JoHNJi- (Emblem) (photo) SMITH SEPT_ S. 1984-NOV- 8, 2004 BATE (Emblem) (photo) VVIIIIAMS DEC_ 5, 1960-MAR I0, 1999 Alcoholic beverages or controlled substances are strictly prohibited within the confines of the cemetery. Fire/Flames: Open flames or fires of any type are prohibited within the confines of the Cemetery. This includes candles, memorial lanterns, barbeques or any other type of flame or fire. Motorized Vehicle: Trucks over one ton, buses, tractors, trailers and over sized vehicles are strictly prohibited from the cemetery unless approved in writing by the Parks and Recreation Director or designee. Motorized -Off Road Vehicles: motor bikes, three and four wheelers are prohibited in the cemetery. It is unlawful for any person to operate any motorized off -road vehicles within the cemetery. Non -Motorized transportation: Bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates or other such riding devices are prohibited within the cemetery PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Effective Date: Pending Page 6 of 6 CITY OF KENAI PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS Approved by: City Council Effective Date Description of Chan es July 15, 2022 Initial policy approved via Ordinance No: 3293-2022 Revising Marker and Headstone Regulations and Making Housekeeping Pending Changes. PRK — 70.001 KENAI MUNICIPAL CEMETERY REGULATIONS KFNAI City of Kenai 1 210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-7794 1907.283.7535 1 www.kenaixity MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Gabriel and Council Members THROUGH: Shellie Saner, City Clerk FROM: Meghan Thibodeau, Deputy City Clerk DATE: April 21, 2025 SUBJECT: Resolution No. 2025-31 - Amending the Kenai Municipal Cemetery Regulations and Fee Schedule Policy Numbering It PRK-70.001, Revising Marker and Headstone Regulations and Making Other Housekeeping Amendments. The Resolution proposes several housekeeping changes to the Marker and Headstone section of the Kenai Municipal Cemetery Regulations & Fee Schedule. Since the Regulations were last updated in 2022, the Clerk's Office has been performing an audit on Cemetery records which includes collecting photo of headstones installed at the Cemetery. Through the audit, inconsistencies between cemetery regulations and current practices were identified. Proposed changes include: • Clarification on marker limits per slot: The current language limits each plot to a single marker or headstone. Because up to three burials may occur in a single standard plot, the revised policy will allow for one marker per standard or infant plot, limited to one upright per plot. • Headstones spanning multiple plots: The current language states that all markers must be "maintained within the foot print of the plot," and "within the assigned plot." This language inadvertently prohibits shared or dual markers that span two or more plots, which is common practice. The revised policy would remove this restriction. • New standard for marker inscriptions: A new provision would require that marker and headstone inscriptions be deeply engraved or raised in high relief. Through the Cemetery headstone on -site audit, it has been noted there are markers which had been painted or lightly scratched -out by hand in way that will likely deteriorate and become illegible over time. Consistent terminology: Terms such as "burial site," "burial space," and "grave" have been updated to interment location (referring to both plots and columbarium niches) or interment plot (referring specifically to in -ground spaces). The Parks & Recreation Commission recommended approval of these amendments at its regular meeting on May 1, 2025. Your consideration is appreciated.