HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-12-2025 Agenda * Cemetery Board
CITY OF Regular Meeting
j\UBIjRN August 12, 2025 - 2:00 PM
Cemetery Office, Arrangement Room
WASHINGTON
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A. The Mountain View Cemetery Board Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. will
be held in person and virtually.
Virtual Participation Link:
To listen to the meeting by phone or Zoom, please call the number below or click the link:
Telephone: 253 215 8782
Toll Free: 877 853 5257
Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88996884253
ROLL CALL
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
This is the place on the agenda where the public is invited to speak to the Board on any issue.
A. The public can participate in-person or submit written comments in advance.
Participants can submit written comments via mail, fax, or email. All written comments
must be received prior to 2:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled meeting and must be
350 words or less.
Please mail written comments to:
City of Auburn
Attn: Immer Chevalier, Cemetery Manager
25 W Main St
Auburn, WA 98001
Please fax written comments to:
Attn: City Clerk's Office
Fax number: 253-804-3116
Email written comments to: ichevalier@auburnwa.gov
If an individual requires accommodation to allow for remote oral comment because of a
difficulty attending a meeting of the governing body, the City requests notice of the need for
accommodation by 2:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled meeting. Participants can
request accommodation to be able to provide a remote oral comment by contacting Immer
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Chevalier in person, by phone 253-931-3009, or by email (ichevalier@auburnwa.gov).
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Review of Minutes - Minutes from Meeting on June 10, 2025
ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
A. Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and Public Records Act (PRA) Training City Clerk
Shawn Campbell
B. Budget update - June and July 2025
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Burglary Incident Update
B. Pioneer Fence / Parking Update
C. Lakehaven Leak Adjustment Request
NEW BUSINESS
A. 10th Addition Project - Contract Awarded
B. New Upright Monument Sections
C. Equipment Need - JD Gator
D. Seasonal & Temporary Employees
E. Graffiti at Centennial Viewpoint Park
F. Outside Marker Sales
G. 2026 Fee Schedule
SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS
A. Next Meeting - Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 at 2:00 PM
ADJOURNMENT
Agendas and minutes are available to the public at the City Clerk's Office and on the City website
(http://www.auburnwa.clov).
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CITY OF
J\iJBIJIIF4 AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
WASHINGTON
Agenda Subject: Meeting Date:
Review of Minutes - Minutes from Meeting on June 10, 2025 August 12, 2025
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact:
Parks, Arts & Recreation Minutes 6.10.2025
Administrative Recommendation:
Background for Motion:
Background Summary:
Councilmember: Staff:
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Cemetery Board
CITY OF * Regular Meeting
A1jI1jIi..PJ
June 10, 2025 - 2:00 PM
Cemetery Office, Arrangement Room
WASHINGTON
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
• The Cemetery Board meeting of Tuesday. June 10th, 2025 was called to order
by Judi Roland at 2:02pm.
ROLL CALL
• Members present: Judi Roland, Jeanne Hicks and Robert Rakos. Bridget Jones
arrived at 2:07pm.
• Member excused: Tim Pierce
• Staff present: Immer Chevalier and April Shank Cerio
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
• Pioneer Fence Parking was added to the agenda under New Business
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Review of Minutes - Minutes from Meeting on April 8th, 2025
• Minutes from meeting on April 8th, 2025 were reviewed, no corrections or
additions were made and a motion was made and unanimously passed to
approve as printed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Water Leak
• A leak detected last year in the new Forest Walk Ill water feature found a break
in the liner seam. That was fixed. Lakehaven gave an adjustment to the
Cemetery's water bill for the repair. However, during the Cemetery's annual
backflow testing in March, a new leak was noticed by a spinning meter. Water
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was then turned off. American Leak Detection company was hired to help find
the leak and, after a couple of visits, a large break in 9A was detected. The fix
was made by cemetery staff. The Cemetery will apply for another adjustment on
the billing. There is still a minor leak somewhere as the meter is fluctuating
between 0-1 gallon per minute. The company said this kind of leak would be next
to impossible to try and locate.
B. Camera Installation Completion
• Last year, the Cemetery decided cameras were needed for security. Facilities
contracted a company and the camera installation was completed recently. They
were installed in the back of the cemetery office to view the shop and fuel tanks
and also inside the Chapel of Memories Columbarium. The City IT Department
hooked them up to the City's network so they can also be viewed by other City
Departments if needed. One week of surveillance is recorded at a time for
viewing.
C. Temporary Maintenance Workers
• The cemetery hired two Seasonal employees, and they started on April 24th.
This timing was perfect as one of the full-time employees was out a few weeks
sick. They have been a huge help and are very responsible, reliable and are
hard workers. We enjoy having them at the cemetery.
• Question from the board - What timeframe are the temporary workers hired for?
One was hired as a seasonal employee and the other as a temporary employee.
Temporary can be here for 1500 hours total and seasonal for 5.5 months.
Normally the timeline is at least spring-fall.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Easter Sunrise & Clean Sweep Events
• Easter Sunrise service was beautiful, well attended and the weather cooperated.
Board member Jones officiated and appreciated the set-up and there were
around 100 people in attendance. The coffee and donuts supplied by the
cemetery were appreciated by attendees.
• Clean Sweep this year focused on weeding in ForestWalk. The Parks
Department assigned two groups to the Cemetery. The Sons of Italy had a fun
time helping with the weeding from 9-12 noon and didn't want to stop. Cemetery
Manager Immer Chevalier along with Maintenance workers David Partridge and
Richard Nakama were also in attendance, helping with the project.
B. Understaffing
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• Full-time maintenance worker Dylan Spader decided he wanted a career change
and gave his resignation at the beginning of April. At the same time, another
employee that has issues with gout had a bad flare-up and was out for 3.5
weeks. Upon returning, he did have to provide HR with a letter stating he was fit
to come back. Down two full-time employees, the staff were getting tired but still
managed to handle all the services and get everything done that was needed.
• Question from the board - With the understaffing, is this just people working
outside or inside the office as well? Just outside. Inside, the office is staffed and
is good with Immer and April.
• Question from the board - How many employees does the Parks Department
have? Probably 20 full-time and maybe 30 part-time during the summers due to
activities. They are understaffed currently.
C. New Maintenance Worker I - Tyler Decoteau
• Tyler worked for the City as a Temporary employee last year at the cemetery. He
showed he was a hard worker, reliable, was responsible and got along with the
crew. During this time, we didn't have a full-time position available. He had
applied for the Water & Parks department but didn't get hired. His time as a
Seasonal expired and he left. Then a position opened up and he was interested.
He applied, was interviewed and secured the position. The cemetery is happy to
have him back.
D. Memorial Day
• In preparation for the Memorial Day weekend, all markers were trimmed, mowing
was done twice, the Vegetation Department brought the street sweeper through,
and the Parks Department delivered the bleachers. That Saturday, scouts placed
all the flags on veterans' graves and, in appreciation, the cemetery staff BBQ'd
for them and had a raffle for three prizes. The rain stopped just in time for the
ceremony on Monday. City Council and Mayor were present along with the Fire
Department Honor Guard and Scouts. All went smoothly. Throughout the
weekend, hundreds of visitors came to the cemetery.
E. 10th Addition Project - Invitation to Submit Quote
• The City finished the proposal to invite contractors to submit a quote for the 10th
Addition project. This will stay open for 15 days. When it closes, the lowest bid
will be selected. Hopefully the project will get started in June.
• Question by the board - What is all in the project? Removing rocks, re-grading,
irrigation, turf and landscaping along the fence area in the back by the large
boulders. The whole area is around 30,000 square feet.
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F. START Award from Labor & Industries
• START = Safety Through Achieving Recognition Together. In 2024, a
consultation was started with the Department of Labor & Industries. HR wanted
to make sure everything was in compliance with safety trainings. The cemetery
had a few questions, so the timing was good. It was agreed that the cemetery
would be a good candidate for the START program with L & I. All cemetery
buildings were inspected. The cemetery worked on all SDS records, making sure
they were up-to-date online and in print form. L & I visited a 2nd time to assess
and all passed. L & I presented the cemetery with the START award with HR,
Mayor & the Parks Director in attendance. The Cemetery/City of Auburn is the
first employer in King County to achieve this recognition.
• From the board - The board would like an invitation to any future award
ceremonies for the cemetery.
G. Burglary Incident
• Just before the busy Memorial Day weekend, a vehicle broke in through the
Cemetery upper gate and rammed one of the garage doors twice to gain access.
This was a stolen vehicle. The occupant stole numerous tools and completely
damaged one of the roll-up doors. The Police Department responded in six
minutes which was just after the vehicle left. The next morning, the vehicle was
found and several of the tools stolen were in the vehicle. The city will work with
Insurance for the garage door fix and the replacement of the remaining tools.
H. Pioneer Fence Parking
• The gravel parking area at Pioneer Cemetery needs some attention. A
suggestion by the board was to move the cement barriers out a couple of feet.
The trucks hauling boats are parking there, and it appears when they back up,
they hit the fence. This style of fence is expensive to fix and takes time as a
portion was just replaced and took well over a year. This is critical, or the fence
will be damaged again.
• Question from the board - Who has the liability for the property/parking area?
There was a recent meeting with the Parks Director regarding maintaining the
parking lot and who actually owns it as it is labeled right of way. These details
are being looked into as to who is responsible for maintaining the area.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
A. Budget Update - April - May 2025
• Cemetery sales in April surpassed any previous month recorded, going back
numerous years. Property sales were up, marker sales were good and
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placements were average. May was also a very good revenue month with
similar sales and placements.
Cemetery Sales April May
Month-To-Date
Receipts $284,336.39 $232,502.96
Ground Plots 24 20
Cremation Plots 8 3
Niches 3 8
ForestWalk Ossuary 1
Extended Land Use 2 1
Markers 15 15
Graves 32 23
Markers 15 15
Niches 4 8
Total Placements 22 18
Cremation 9 6
Ground Burial 13 12
SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS
A. Next Meeting - Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 at 2pm
• At this next meeting there will be OPMA (Open Public Meetings Act) and PRA
(Public Records Act) training for board members.
ADJOURNMENT
• The meeting was adjourned by Judi Roland at 2:57pm.
Page 8 of 10
CITY OF
J\iJBIJIIF4 AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
WASHINGTON
Agenda Subject: Meeting Date:
Budget update - June and July 2025 August 12, 2025
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact:
Parks, Arts & Recreation June-July 2025 Cemetery Sales
Administrative Recommendation:
Background for Motion:
Background Summary:
Councilmember: Staff:
Page 9 of 10
MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY
CEMETERY SALES
JUNE-JULY 2025
Cemetery Sales June July
Month-To-Date Receipts $154,651.78 $195,372.16
Ground Plots 9 19
Cremation Plots 6 6
Niches 5 5
ForestWalk Ossuary
Extended Land Use 1 1
Markers 7 9
Graves 15 25
Markers 7 9
Niches 5 5
Total Placements 34 22
Cremation 22 12
Ground Burial 12 10
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