HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-14-2025 Agenda
Cemetery Board
Regular Meeting
October 14, 2025 - 2:00 PM
Cemetery Office, Arrangement Room
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
A. The Mountain View Cemetery Board Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 14th, 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: 253 205 0468
Toll Free: 253 215 8782
Zoom: (https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82656322336)
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 5:00 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: Immer Chevalier, Cemetery Manager
Fax number: 253-802-0923
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 5:00 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 August 12th, 2025
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. 10th Addition Project Update
B. New Upright Monument Pond Area
C. New John Deere Gator Request
D. Seasonal Help
NEW BUSINESS
A. Lakehaven - High Water Charges
ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
A. Expenditure Status Report to September 2025
B. Budget Update - August to September 2025
DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Proposed Changes to the Cemetery Board Rules of Procedure
B. Review Update to Marker Policy and Proposed Outside Marker Sales Policy
SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS
A. Next Meeting - Tuesday, December 9th, 2025 at 2pm
ADJOURNMENT
Agendas and minutes are available to the public at the City Clerk's Office and on the City website
(http://www.auburnwa.gov).
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AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject: Meeting Date:
Review of Minutes - Minutes from Meeting on August 12th, 2025 October 14, 2025
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact:
Parks, Arts & Recreation Minutes 8.12.2025
Administrative Recommendation:
Background for Motion:
Background Summary:
Councilmember: Staff:
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Cemetery Board
Regular Meeting
August 12, 2025 - 2:00 PM
Cemetery Office, Arrangement Room
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
• The Cemetery Board meeting of Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 was called to
order by Judi Roland at 2:00pm.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
• There was no public participation.
ROLL CALL
• Members present: Judi Roland, Jeanne Hicks and Bridget Jones
• Members excused: Tim Pierce and Robert Rakos
• Staff present: Immer Chevalier and April Shank Cerio
AGENDA MODIFICATIONS
• There were no modifications to the agenda.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION
• There was no audience participation.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Review of Minutes - Minutes from Meeting on June 10, 2025
• Minutes from meeting on June 10th, 2025 were reviewed, no corrections or
additions were made and was unanimously passed to approve as printed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS
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A. Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) and Public Records Act (PRA) Training
City Clerk Shawn Campbell
• Deputy City Clerk, Hannah Scholl provided OPMA (Open Public Meeting Act)
and PRA (Public Records Act) training to the board. These trainings are
required every four years to ensure government transparency and
accountability during all public board-type meetings.
B. Budget update - June and July 2025
• June's revenue was closer to average and placements were a record number
for the year to date. Plot sales were average. July's revenue was higher with
property sales higher as well. Placements were average.
• Question from the board - Is the board able to see an expenditure sheet for the
month? Yes, the cemetery can provide this.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Burglary Incident Update
• The burglary case from May was closed. A few of the stolen tools were
recovered. The cemetery purchased a portable generator and drill to replace
the stolen ones. The new shop door was replaced July 14th.
B. Pioneer Fence / Parking Update
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• A meeting was held with the Parks Department regarding moving the large
bricks to help with potential damage to the ornate iron fence. This takes a lot of
equipment and hours, so the discussion continues about who is the correct
department to handle this. The city is reviewing an old contract which was
between the Auburn Sports & Marine Company and the City for who is
responsible for the parking lot maintenance. There is also a chain-link fence on
the south side of the cemetery that borders the apartments that keeps getting
cut time after time. A discussion has started to replace the chain link with an
iron fence, something that is harder to cut. The city may be able to apply for a
grant to help with this.
• Question from the board - Who is responsible for the care of Pioneer
Cemetery? The city is responsible for the maintenance, such as grounds
mowing and cleaning. Families are responsible for their respective family
marker/monument as these are considered private property.
• Question from the board - Who is responsible for the parking lot? This is being
reviewed in the above mentioned contract. The City's legal department is very
short-staffed so it may take a while to find a resolution.
C. Lakehaven Leak Adjustment Request
• After fixing the last irrigation leak, the cemetery applied for an adjustment on the
Lakehaven water bill. This request was denied due to getting an adjustment last
year after the first leak. Their policy is only one adjustment in a 24-month time
period. Since the water was off for a while, the last bill wasn't too bad, luckily.
• Question from the board - Is there a mandate that says the cemetery must
water the grass? No mandate is known for watering.
NEW BUSINESS
A. 10th Addition Project - Contract Awarded
• The 10th Addition project plans were sent out to 30 companies for the bidding
process. Only two bids came in. CornerStone Construction & Landscaping
Company was awarded the project as they were the lowest of the two. The city
paperwork is almost completed, and the plan is to start in September. This area
is about 30,000 square feet and will have full-size 4'X8' plots to include upright
monument options.
• Question from the board - Will this area have grass and is it shaded? The area
will be grass with irrigation. It is primarily an open area with some trees at the
back. No trees will be planted within the plotted areas, as when trees grow, the
roots impede in the graves, which makes the digging very difficult and roots can
also cause markers to tilt and become hazards.
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B. New Upright Monument Sections
• The cemetery was in need of more upright monument plot options. The last two
available in Memory Heights were recently sold and there are only four
separate options in Plaza Estates. Families usually like two together for
spouses. The cemetery was able to create 14 plots on the south end of 9B of
which two sold immediately, and one burial was already completed. A second
new area is also being constructed near Child's Place and the pond area. The
water table is a little higher in this area and during a test dig it was agreed that
no extended land use for this area can be done.
• Question from the board - Why are there not more upright options throughout
the cemetery? For mowing and maintenance reasons. The flat marker areas,
the mowers can go over.
• Question from the board - How would you know how far down a casket is buried
to see if an urn can be placed? The staff will probe to measure the depth to
determine if an urn of what size can fit.
C. Equipment Need - JD Gator
• The cemetery has three gators and these are used daily for transport of tools
and flower pick-ups. Three months ago, one of them broke down. One
employee is able to work on this gator and did a fix and then another problem
occurred. This gator is over 20 years old, and the cemetery is looking into
getting it replaced. This process is a request to the city and the replacement
would go through M & O, and then they would be responsible for any repairs.
• Question from the board - Could the old gator be sold? Yes, and this would be
done through M & O.
• Question from the board - Is M & O the City's Maintenance and Operations
Department? Yes.
D. Seasonal & Temporary Employees
• The cemetery currently has two seasonal employees. One will be leaving to
pursue nursing school and his last day is August 15th. The other will be able to
stay longer as he was hired as a temporary employee, and he enjoys being at
the cemetery.
E. Graffiti at Centennial Viewpoint Park
• The Parks Department hired a Graffiti Company to help with all the graffiti that
keeps happening within the City. When graffiti happens, it must be dealt
with/covered up within 3 days. The cemetery helps maintain Centennial
Viewpoint Park across the street, which is hit with graffiti often, so it was added
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to the same contract. Employees will report any new graffiti seen.
F. Outside Marker Sales
• Families can order markers from the cemetery directly or from an outside local
vendor if they choose. The issue has been when families order markers online,
this creates delivery and scheduling problems as they typically come in very
large trucks that cannot maneuver the roads. If appropriate, the cemetery would
like to notate on the marker policy that online order deliveries cannot be
accepted. This may mean that if a family orders online, they must accept
delivery at their home, then coordinate delivery to the cemetery.
• Question from the board - Are there many that order online? A few a year.
• Comment from the board - The board doesn't see anything wrong with adding
verbiage of some sort and perhaps the City's attorney can help with final
wording.
G. 2026 Fee Schedule
• The cemetery will only be increasing plot prices in the 9th addition by $50.00 for
2026. Most other fees were increased for 2025.
SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS
A. Next Meeting - Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 at 2:00 PM
ADJOURNMENT
• The meeting was adjourned by Judi Roland at 3:11pm.
Prepared By___________________________________________________
April Shank Cerio, Cemetery Administrative Specialist
Approved By___________________________________________________
Judi Roland, Cemetery Board Chairperson
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AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject: Meeting Date:
Budget Update - August to September 2025 October 14, 2025
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact:
Parks, Arts & Recreation Cemetery Sales August-
September 2025
Administrative Recommendation:
Background for Motion:
Background Summary:
Councilmember: Staff:
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MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY
CEMETERY SALES
AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2025
Cemetery Sales August September
Month-To-Date Receipts
$
187,490.08
$
152,342.51
Ground Plots 9 10
Cremation Plots 1 2
Niches 8 3
ForestWalk Ossuary
Extended Land Use 6
Markers 10 17
Graves 10 12
Markers 10 17
Niches 8 3
Total Placements 19 25
Cremation 10 17
Ground Burial 9 8
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AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject: Meeting Date:
Proposed Changes to the Cemetery Board Rules of Procedure October 14, 2025
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact:
Parks, Arts & Recreation Cemetery Board Rules of
Procedure
Administrative Recommendation:
Background for Motion:
Background Summary:
Councilmember: Staff:
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AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject: Meeting Date:
Review Update to Marker Policy and Proposed Outside Marker Sales Policy October 14, 2025
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact:
Parks, Arts & Recreation Marker Policy-Updated-Apr-2025
review proposed, Outside Marker
Sales Policy (003) - Propsed
Administrative Recommendation:
Background for Motion:
Background Summary:
Councilmember: Staff:
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AGENDA BILL APPROVAL FORM
Agenda Subject: Meeting Date:
Review Update to Marker Policy and Proposed Outside Marker Sales Policy October 14, 2025
Department: Attachments: Budget Impact:
Parks, Arts & Recreation Marker Policy-Updated-Apr-2025
review proposed, Outside Marker
Sales Policy (003) - Propsed
Administrative Recommendation:
Background for Motion:
Background Summary:
Councilmember: Staff:
Page 15 of 17
Marker Policy
The following policy was reviewed by the Cemetery Board on April 8, 2025, and reserves the right to review on a yearly
basis and amend as needed:
1) All markers must be made of Granite or Bronze.
2) All markers must be flat and flush with ground level.
3) All granite markers must be a minimum of 4 inches thick.
4) All portraits must be Ceramic Steel, Hand Diamond Etch or Laser Etch.
5) Maximum of 2 markers per single/companion grave site(s).
6) Only one marker per double depth space allowed. It shall be a 34” x 28” x 4” half ledger in granite.
7) Vases in concrete marker borders not allowed.
8) Separate vase must be in a granite 12” x 12” x 4” block or 10” x 10” x 4” concrete block. Any other size must be pre-approved
in writing by the Cemetery Manager.
9) Inspection fee on all outside marker sales. Refer to the Outside Marker Sales Policy. * Please see note at the bottom of this
page.
10) All markers, upright monuments and vases will be set by the cemetery.
11) Headstone and vases are private property owned by the respective family and their care is responsibility of the family. The
cemetery is not responsible for maintenance, repair, or replacement of any grave markers or monumental stru ctures erected
upon the grave.
Length x Width x Thickness
24” x 12” x 4” (Urn Garden or Child’s Place)
28” x 16” x 4” (Individual or Urn Garden Companion)
32” x 20” x 4” (Individual or Companion)
36” x 18” x 4” (Companion)
44” x 20” x 4” (Companion)
28” x 34” x 4” (Companion/Double Depth)
Upright Section
• Excludes pillow or slant style markers.
• All bases and foundations must be made of granite.
• All foundations must be a minimum of 4” thick and purchased directly from the cemetery.
• All monuments must be a minimum of 5” thick.
• Any monument or base must allow a 6” minimum set back from any property owned by others.
• Flat markers not allowed unless the grave or graves are marked by an upright marker first.
We encourage you to purchase your memorial through our office. The cemetery is self-supporting and does not
rely on tax revenues for operation and maintenance. Every dollar spent goes right back into the cemetery.
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Outside Marker Sales Policy
The following policy was reviewed by the Cemetery Board on , and reserves the right to review on a
yearly basis and amend as needed.
To ensure the safety of our visitors, maintain the integrity of our grounds, and accommodate the narrow roads within the
cemetery, all families or parties ordering grave markers, or headstones online or from an external vendor are responsible
for providing contact information about their vendor, proofs for approval and the coordination and physical delivery of the
marker to the cemetery.
Online Orders
• The family or vendor must arrange for the grave marker to be delivered to a private residence or external
location and not directly to the cemetery.
o Our cemetery roads are too narrow to safely accommodate large commercial vehicles, such as semi-
trucks or other common freight delivery vehicles.
• The family is responsible for arranging the final transport of the marker from the initial delivery location to
the cemetery using a vehicle that can safely navigate our internal roadways.
• Once the marker is in the family's possession and before bringing it to the cemetery, the family must contact the
cemetery office to:
o Pay Inspection and Setting Fees.
o Schedule the date and time for the marker's delivery
• The cemetery does not accept online orders for Upright Monuments.
Local Orders
• Once the marker is finalized and before delivery the family must contact the cemetery office to pay Inspection
and Setting Fess.
• The vendor must contact the cemetery office to arrange for the grave marker to be delivered to the cemetery.
The cemetery is responsible for:
• Providing guidance on the proper size, material, and design specifications for markers.
• The cemetery staff will handle the final placement and installation of the marker.
• Notify the family after the setting has been done.
Failure to adhere to this delivery policy may result in the refusal of delivery by cemetery staff.
We encourage you to purchase your memorial through our office. The cemetery is self-supporting and does not
rely on tax revenues for operation and maintenance. Every dollar spent goes right back into the cemetery.
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