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Council accepts Public Services Committee recommendations to prioritize resident cemetery sales and allow more cremains per plot
Summary
Council accepted recommendations to limit plot and niche sales to Dublin residents and their families, to allow up to three cremation vault internments per plot (staff justification: vault size and operational constraints), and to study additional burial options such as memorial gardens and columbaria if adjacent land becomes available.
The Public Services Committee recommended three changes to Dublin Cemetery policy and Council accepted those recommendations in a motion that passed by roll call.
Deputy City Manager Mike Barker summarized staff analysis and PSC discussion: the cemetery currently has 7,913 plots, of which about 2,800 are sold but remain unoccupied; PSC recommended restricting future plot and niche sales to city residents and their families to prioritize local needs. Staff also proposed increasing the allowable cremains internments per plot to a maximum of three cremation vaults. Barker said the three-vault cap reflects typical commercial vault sizes and the need to maintain safe excavation and operational access to adjacent plots.
Council members questioned whether more remains could be placed by allowing multiple urns inside a vault rather than expanding vault counts, and asked staff to provide clearer definitions of cremation vaults and internment limits. Council asked staff to further explore options (including green burial, memorial gardens, scattering areas, and niche/bench options that can hold remains) and to return with implementation language that clarifies definitions and fees. Barker said staff intends to pursue outreach and document clarifications before making code amendments, and Council directed staff to proceed with updating guidelines.
