Council reviews ordinance amendment to allow cremated remains in burial plots; staff to refine policy on placement and fees

Parks staff asked council to amend a cemetery ordinance to allow cremated remains to be interred in traditional burial plots subject to clarified limits. The proposed language would allow multiple cremations in a single full burial plot (staff proposed up to six urns, with operational limits depending on urn/vault size) and clarifies how a columbarium and grave spaces can be used for cremated remains.

Anthony Pearson said the new sexton and staff have fielded several inquiries from plot owners who bought full burial lots but later decided on cremation; existing ordinance language created uncertainty because some older rules required there be a prior non‑cremated interment before ashes can be placed in a plot.

Council members discussed tradeoffs between preserving limited cemetery real estate and offering flexibility to residents. Staff noted plot pricing and vault costs mean the city may receive equivalent or greater revenue per plot from multiple cremations, but council members asked staff to draft an administrative policy to steer where cremations should be placed (for instance, prioritize infill in older sections for cremations and reserve newer sections for full burials). Suggestions included offering discounts or premiums to influence customer choice or establishing specific zones for urn interments. No ordinance vote was taken at the work session; staff will prepare implementing policy guidance and return with clarified language and operational procedures.