Council directed staff to contact the owner of a parcel adjacent to Woodlawn Cemetery to inquire whether the owner would allow ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) or other investigation to determine whether unmarked burials exist on the site, and authorized staff to explore options should graves be identified.

Councilmember Maniscalco initiated the request, noting public reports and historical maps suggesting the possible presence of unrecorded burial sites near Woodlawn and in other parts of the city. City legal staff described limitations on city authority: private property owners cannot be compelled to allow site access absent state statutory authority (a bill with that aim had been proposed previously but did not pass). Legal staff noted a separate statutory avenue that allows next-of-kin to seek access in cases of known cemetery locations but explained that lost or unconfirmed sites pose a different legal challenge.

After discussion, the council voted to ask the administration — through real estate staff — to reach out to the property owner to open a dialogue about site access for GPR scanning and other next steps. Separately, Councilman Carlson asked staff to prepare a city budget line so the city can offer GPR scans to property owners who suspect burials; the council approved that request as a budget-direction motion. No purchase or appropriation was adopted on the spot; the motions were instructions for staff to begin outreach and to return with funding options.

Speakers from the public, and representatives of community groups, described historical cemeteries and urged swift city action to prevent loss or disturbance of burial sites. Legal staff reiterated that if graves are identified on private property, the next actions — relocation, acquisition, or protection in place — present different policy and legal options that would require further council direction and likely budget decisions.