City Council - 06/05/2007 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN FORUM/OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,JUNE 5, 2007 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Phil Young, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Jon
Duckstad, and Kathy Nelson
CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George
Esbensen, Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development Director Janet
Jeremiah, Parks and Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce
Lorenz, Assistant to the City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder
Lorene McWaters
CEMETERY TASK FORCE: Lee Wenzel, Chair; Task Force Members Robert Amell; Gerry
Beckmann, Pat Bell, Wall Gelecinskyi, and Mike Rogers; Stu Fox, Staff Liaison
Heritage Room H
Mayor Young and Council Member Nelson joined the meeting at approximately 6:15 p.m.
Sherry Butcher opened the meeting in Mayor Young's absence. Task Force Member Robert
Amell was also absent.
I. CEMETERY TASK FORCE REPORT
Parks Manager Stu Fox said the Cemetery Task Force was formed at the request of
Council after several residents made emotional pleas to the City Council for exceptions to
the Pleasant Hill Cemetery regulations. Task force membership includes a lot owner, a
neighbor, a local funeral home representative, a Heritage Preservation Commission
member, a representative from the Eden Prairie Cemetery Board, and a member at-large.
The Cemetery Task Force's charter was to review and make recommendations on:
• Rules and operations
• Supply of and demand for lots
• Aesthetics
Cemetery Task Force Chair Lee Wenzel made a PowerPoint presentation on the task
force's report.
Operations and Rules Recommendations
The task force made recommendations on marker sizes and rules for placement of
flowers, plants and paraphernalia. The task force recommends that every grave have a
permanent marker and that damaged markers and skirts be repaired. They also
recommended that monuments be allowed in the front, unused portion of Section 3.
Demand and Pricing
The Task Force recommends charging $500 per lot for residents and $650 for non-
residents.
Aesthetics and Capital Improvements
The task force recommends that ornamental fencing encompass the entire cemetery;
acquisition of additional land; and design of a focal area of reflection and contemplation.
The task force also recommends that cemetery information by distributed on the internet
and with a print brochure. They also asked the City to consider developing a database of
cemetery records that would be available on the internet.
Other items discussed by the task force included:
• Means of contacting rules violators
• Maintenance standards
• Scattering of ashes
• Enforcement of rules
• Hours
• Lighting
• Replacement of the cemetery sign
• Installation of benches
• Irrigation
• Upgrade of the area in front of the fence
Wenzel asked for Council input on rules for flowers and paraphernalia. Council Member
Aho said people place flowers and other items as part of the grieving process,but that
perhaps it makes sense to adopt time limits for those types of items. Beckmann said the
Task Force recommendations accommodate placement of items for anniversaries and
birthdays. Butcher asked if people are aware of the rules and regulations. Mike Rogers,
Eden Prairie Cemetery Board Member, said he usually only moves items if they are in the
way of the mowers. He said it is hard to make a cut and dried rule about placement of
flowers and paraphernalia. Funeral Home Director Wally Gelecinskyi said when people
are planning a funeral, they are grieving and do not pay attention to rules and regulations.
Council Member Butcher said she would like to discuss the option of allowing
monuments in Section 3 of the cemetery. Fox said flush markers have always been
required because they allow for mowing and maintenance around the graves; however,
this is no longer an issue. He said people who were not allowed to place monument
markers may be annoyed if the rules are changed; however, he thinks Council should
consider allowing 36" slanted monument markers in Section 3. Butcher said the ability
to mow around the monument markers is a valid reason to change rules to allow them.
Gelecinskyi said he thinks permitting upright monument markers will reduce placement
of other paraphernalia on and around graves.
Aho said he likes the idea of appointing a Cemetery Board and using volunteers to help
maintain the grounds. Butcher said she also likes those ideas.
Council Chamber
II. OPEN FORUM
No one was scheduled to speak at Open Forum.
III. OPEN PODIUM
No one requested to speak at Open Podium.
IV. ADJOURNMENT