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Staff urges council to ban lightweight metal benches in city cemeteries, proposes six‑month removal window
Summary
City staff told the council metal benches pose maintenance and safety problems and relayed the cemetery advisory board’s recommendation to amend the city ordinance to allow only natural‑stone benches going forward and require removal of existing non‑stone benches within six months; staff proposed outreach and storage for reclaimed benches.
City staff presented photos and a recommendation at the Bryan City Council workshop to phase out lightweight metal benches in city cemeteries, citing mowing and maintenance challenges, rust and damaged bench tops, unstable or improvised foundations, wind hazard and encroachment onto adjacent plots.
The presenter said the cemetery advisory board recommends amending the city ordinance to prohibit new metal benches beginning in Block 27 and beyond and to establish a six‑month sunset requiring removal of existing non‑stone benches after council approval. The presenter explained staff can contact bench owners directly, mark benches for removal, and hold reclaimed benches at a secure location so families can retrieve them. “They can be made of natural stone or metal. We’re having some concerns with the metal benches,” the presenter said, and listed safety and maintenance problems shown in photos.
Council members raised concerns about sentimental value for families with older benches in long‑standing plots and asked whether the ordinance would affect cemeteries not under city control. Staff clarified Grandview Cemetery is owned by an association and would not be affected by the city ordinance; staff provided counts for recent occupied blocks and an estimate of total affected benches. Marcus, a staff member, gave block counts: "In Block 23, we have 68 metal, 7 stone benches. In Block 25, we have 17 metal, 5 stone benches. In Block 26, 120 metal, 8 stone." Council members asked that staff provide direct notice to families and assistance in removing or storing benches for elderly owners. No formal ordinance vote was taken at the workshop; staff sought council direction to proceed with drafting and outreach.
