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Hallandale Beach staff outlines cemetery process after resident raises access and priority concerns
Summary
A resident told the commission that cemetery access and delays added stress during a recent burial. City staff described the cemetery scheduling and payment process and said a resident discount rate exists; staff offered to meet individually to discuss options.
A Hallandale Beach resident told the City Commission on March 5 that delays and access rules at the municipal cemetery made arranging a recent burial “a nightmare.” City officials described how burial scheduling works, confirmed there is a discounted resident rate, and offered one-on-one follow-up to review options.
Reginald Smith, who gave his address as 909 Northwest Second Avenue in Hallandale Beach, said heavy traffic and what he described as difficulty arranging cemetery services compounded stress after his mother’s death. “It was more stressful finding the time to have the burial than actually seeing my mother dead,” Smith said during public comment.
Why it matters: Cemetery operations affect grieving families and can raise questions about eligibility, pricing and scheduling. City officials said the cemetery maintains an operational process and discounted resident rates but that some procedural details — for example, how funeral homes coordinate with cemetery staff — can create confusion for families under time pressure.
Public works director Jeff Odom summarized the city’s procedure. “The process for the cemetery generally initiates when the funeral home makes contact with the cemetery manager,” he said. Odom said if a family already has a plot and payment is received, the burial is scheduled; if a plot is needed, staff check inventory and proceed with a sale and scheduling once payment is made.
Mayor Joy Cooper and city staff said there is a lower rate for residents, and they offered to connect Smith with staff to discuss his experience. Cooper said the city can check whether any additional residency priority rules apply and invited Smith to speak with staff after the meeting. Acting City Manager Sandoval asked cemetery staff and Director Odom to meet with Smith to explain options and the payment/scheduling process.
The commission did not take formal action during the public comment segment. Staff said they would follow up directly with the resident and review whether additional outreach or procedural clarifications are warranted.
Ending: City staff identified the operational steps families and funeral homes should follow and offered individualized follow-up; residents seeking clarity were directed to speak with cemetery management or public works staff to review rates and scheduling.
