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Anacortes council reviews proposed columbarium fees and green-burial policy
Summary
Council members reviewed proposed unified cemetery fees including tiered columbarium niche pricing (top rows ~$2,600; middle ~$2,400; bottom ~$2,200), a $425 fee for services and green burials priced equal to full burials; staff noted maintenance and tree-risk considerations and said proceeds go to the Grand View Cemetery fund (Fund 102).
City staff presented proposed updates to Grand View Cemetery’s unified fees and new columbarium offerings during the May 4 council meeting, outlining prices, maintenance considerations and how proceeds would be handled.
Darby Jordan (subject-matter expert) told council that green burials would be charged the same price as full (casket) burials and described columbaria and niches now available; staff proposed tiered pricing with top niches at $2,600, middle rows at $2,400 and lower rows at $2,200, and recommended a $425 fee for funeral services held at the columbarium plus third-party engraving and a city setting fee.
Council members asked how ongoing maintenance costs would be covered and whether the city has adequate arborist planning for large trees near structures. Staff said proceeds would go to Fund 102 (Grand View Cemetery fund) and that the city would likely need periodic certified-arborist assessments and potentially increased maintenance planning to protect the columbarium structures.
Council members—including Mr. Young and Miss Hunt—praised staff care and noted the proposed prices compare favorably with other municipal providers; staff said they had shared the prices with the local funeral home, which expressed comfort with the proposed point-of-sale figures. The item was presented for discussion and will be returned next week as part of the unified fee schedule.
