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Los Alamos council unanimously adopts Guaje Pines Cemetery master plan
Summary
After a presentation and public outreach review, the council adopted a master plan for Guaje Pines Cemetery that staff says will extend burial and memorial capacity and prioritize construction of two new columbariums; council approved the plan 7-0.
Los Alamos County Council unanimously adopted the Guaje Pines Cemetery master plan on Nov. 4, approving a multi-decade strategy for burial capacity, memorial spaces and phased capital work.
Wendy Parker, cemetery operations staff, summarized the plan and told the council it combines in-ground and vertical/cremation options that “will take us into about another 70 years of being able to serve our residents in their final resting places.” The plan includes operational improvements and proposed capital investments; Parker said two new columbariums would be the first construction step and that staff expects to resume sales of columbarium niches in about six months.
Stephanie Sloan of Sloan Consulting, who helped prepare the master plan, said the wide low–high cost range reflects the elevated construction costs and remaining design decisions in Los Alamos: “I certainly think the low end is realistic,” she told the council, while noting that final material choices will affect the ultimate price.
Councilors pressed staff on funding and timing. Parker said the cemetery’s perpetual fund—structured so 60% of certain sales go to a perpetual fund and 40% to operations—holds roughly $1,200,000 and that a budget adjustment would be required to move forward with the initial work; she said staff would return with funding requests before next spring. Councilor Reiting asked whether existing operating or capital budgets could cover initial phases; Parker confirmed the need for a formal budget adjustment.
Councilor Veil Clinton moved to adopt the master plan; Councilor Reebor seconded. The council voted 7-0 in favor. Staff said it would bring back specific budget adjustments and implementation steps for council approval.
What happens next: staff will prepare the budget adjustment and procurement steps needed to build the first columbarium units and report back to the council before spring.
