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Sonoma council approves cemetery fee changes and two new columbarium units amid wait lists
Summary
Council adopted a resolution approving new pricing and adding two columbarium units — a 32-unit at the Veterans Cemetery and an 82-unit (including 25 doubles) at the Mountain Cemetery — citing strong demand and active wait lists for burial options.
The Sonoma City Council unanimously adopted a resolution on May 7 approving cemetery fee adjustments and adding two above-ground columbarium units to expand available interment options.
Cemeteries manager Carolyn Fulton presented the update, saying the city faces growing demand across its three cemeteries and is moving to create sustainable inventory and operations. Fulton said the city will install a 32-single-unit columbarium at the Veterans Cemetery and an 82-unit columbarium at the Mountain Cemetery (25 of those units are double-depth niches). Public Works is scheduled to install the first units the week of May 15.
Fulton described several operational improvements made since her July hire: creating an administrator position for records and family inquiries, pursuing a senior maintenance-worker hire, launching a GIS-based mapping project for Mountain Cemetery with the Sonoma Valley Historical Society, updating cemetery brochures and website information, and coordinating volunteer cleanup and fuel-reduction work with Conservation Corps North Bay.
She told the council the city currently has about 30 people on a wait list for cremation interment at the Veterans Cemetery, roughly 30 people waiting for casket interment options citywide, and about 40 and growing on the wait list for niches. Fulton said staff will likely need to proceed to phase two of columbarium construction quickly to meet demand.
Fulton also proposed pricing adjustments to better reflect direct, indirect and capital costs, endowment care and administrative fees to move the cemetery program toward financial sustainability and away from General Fund dependence. She said the Veterans pricing carries a lower rate for resident families, a common practice among cemetery operators. Specific dollar amounts were presented in the staff packet and summarized in Fulton’s slides.
Public commenters praised the operational work and raised points for staff to consider. Tom Conlin and Patty Deferne — long-time valley residents — urged the city to coordinate with valley-wide studies and to ensure cemetery rules are culturally sensitive. Deferne specifically asked staff to reconsider policies that limited how long families could decorate graves; Fulton responded the city is revising rules and will be thoughtful and considerate in enforcement. Council members complimented staff and the historical-society partnership; Vice Mayor Wallander highlighted the cultural and historical value of the cemeteries and supported the GIS mapping.
Council adopted the resolution by roll call. Council member Gurney, Vice Mayor Wallander, Council member Ding, Council member Low and Mayor Patricia Farrar Rivas all voted in the affirmative.
The resolution funds near-term capital steps (consulting, geotechnical work and installation logistics are noted as part of project costs) and tasks staff with continued outreach and inventory management to address the wait lists and provide additional in-ground and memorial options.
