VI (B) Discussion re: Cemetery AGENDA 2-7-95
"CENTER OF GOOD LIVING -PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE" Item VI B
Ocoee . .. ....
, ,.. .(...,.. .,.....
Oi •4E1, COMMISSIONERS
4 • CITY OF OCOEE RUSTY JOHNSON
+_� PAUL W.FOSTER
v150 N.LAKESHORE DRIVE SCOTT A.GLASS
f`. 1`� OCOEE,FLORIDA 34761-2258 JIM GLEASON
` �� (407)656-2322
CITY MANAGER
OF GOOD ELLIS SHAPIRO
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners
FROM: Ellis Shapiro, City Manager
DATE: January 31, 1995
RE: CEMETERY
Several weeks ago, Mayor Vandergrift spoke about the cemetery and his wish to discuss the
future of the cemetery and the re-implementation of the Cemetery Committee.
As a result of his discussion, Commissioner Gleason asked staff for a report of the current
status of the cemetery and recommendations regarding our cemetery program.
Finally, Mayor Vandergrift advised me that he wished the cemetery issue be on this Agenda
with the following topics to be discussed:
(a) Re-implementation of the Cemetery Committee;
(b) Care of cemetery; and
(c) Possible expansion of cemetery
Attached to this memo is a report from Marian Green. In her report it appears that at
worst, we have approximately 3 years worth of lots to sell at our cemetery, and that
generally the number of funerals per year equals the number of lots sold each year.
On the next report from Wanda Horton, we can see that in our best year, we made
$11,300.00 and the typical year revenue is almost half that amount, or approximately
$6,000.00/year.
Also attached to this memo is a report from Buddy Elmore dated 1991 suggesting that it
costs approximately $14,508.00 per year to run the cemetery. Add to that a 10% salary
increase and a 10% inflation rate of 3 years and you have a yearly expense of$15,000.00.
Therefore, it is obvious that we are losing approximately $9,000/year on this service.
In 1991 the City Commission, as a result of a recommendation from the last sitting
Cemetery Committee, urged that we establish a perpetual care fund to guarantee the care
of the cemetery in the future. Unfortunately, the committee did not have the current data,
which clearly shows that at the current rate of plots, and the limited number of plots left,
there is no way that enough money will ever be available to guarantee perpetual care. Since
the General Fund is subsidizing the care for the cemetery for the last several years, it may be
appropriate to return the accrued revenue to the General Fund accounts and continue
maintaining the cemetery as a General Fund responsibility.
Incidentally, the Cemetery Committee was called into being in 1990, to look at the
cemetery rules as a result of a few citizen complaints regarding care and head stones and
artificial flowers. As a result of their meetings, the attached rules were formulated and
adopted by the City Commission.
Finally, the Cemetery Committee discussed looking into the possible extension of our City
Cemetery to vacant lands abutting the current cemetery. It was determined that if a private
company was willing to take over the operation and maintenance of the current cemetery and
to purchase and develop abutting lands, then they should be able to do so. Contact by
committee members to a group who had expressed interest at an earlier date was not fruitful.
The cost of land in Ocoee has mushroomed in expense and the ability for anyone to make
a profit in developing a new cemetery with land cost and development costs today is not
possible. Currently, with no land costs or development costs, the City is losing approximately
$10,000/year. I contacted Winter Garden, who operate a larger cemetery and was told by
their City Manager that they are losing in excess of $40,000/year.
In conclusion, I believe that the expansion of our cemetery is not financially feasible. I also
do not see what possible benefit the revival of the Cemetery Committee would do to
materially change the factors as currently discussed herein.
Respectfully Su► ' itted,
ES3:fdg:27
Attachments
tit _
o _
7„41P-
JIM GLEASON
.s cea� COMMISSIONER
150 N.LAtiESI-K gE DRIVE
OCOEE,FLORIDA 34761
(447)656-2322
356 HAMMOCKS DRIVE
OCOEE,FLORIDA 347161
(4W)299-9130
To: Ellis Shapiro
Dete:01/10195
From.Jim Cf eason Commissioner District 4 City of Ocoee
Subject Cemetery Advisory Board
Ellis, •
Per yor memo dated January 6th, 1995,Re Cemetery Advisory Board Review_
Before we ok a NEW board, I would like a report from staff informing the commission of the
present status,concerns and recommendations for our cemetery program. I feel it would be pre
s -
mature to form a review board without this information. Please let me know your thoughts.
(3:
Jim Gleason
•
THE PRIDE OF
WEST ORANGE
Toolj *U AdVI3EL d1103 0£T6 66Z LOta Bi;:60 SUIT/TO
City of Ocoee
x'410
150 N. Lakeshore Drive Jean Grafton
o. 6000 Ocoee, Florida 34761-2258 City Clerk
(407)656-2322
FAX (407) 656-5725
MEMORANDUM
TO: Ellis Shapiro, City Manager
THRU: Jean Grafton, City Clerk
FROM: Marian Green, Deputy City Clerk },n.$.)
DATE: January 30, 1995
RE: CEMETERY DATA
Lots Usable and Available for Sale: 147
Lots Unusable: 139 (due to low elevation or location in roadway)
Lots Sold in Last Three Years:
1992 40 (3 non-resident)
1993 43 (4 non-resident)
1994 23 (2 non-resident)
Funerals Held in Last Three Years:
1992 29 (19 residents/3 non-residents/5 unknown)
1993 43 (30 residents/3 non-residents/10 unknown)
1994 24 (17 residents/1 non-resident/6 unknown)
"PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE"
OCOEE CEMETERY
RULES AND REGULATIONS
GENERAL RULES
1. The cemetery will be open to visitors at all times between the hours of sunrise and
sunset. Permission to enter the cemetery at any other time must be obtained from the
superintendent and/or the city manager.
2. No person shall break or injure any tree or other plant, pick any flowers or mar any
landmark, marker, or memorial, or in any way deface the grounds of the cemetery.
3. No boxes, shells, toys, discarded glassware, sprinkling cans, receptacles or similar
articles will be permitted on any grave, lot or tree.
4. Persons within the cemetery grounds shall use only the established avenues, walkways
and roads, and are forbidden to trespass on cemetery lots.
5. Children under sixteen (16) years of age shall not be permitted within the cemetery or
its buildings, unless accompanied by an adult.
6. No person may discharge a firearm in or adjacent to the cemetery. This prohibition shall
not apply to authorized volleys at military or para-military burial services.
7. No person may use any form of advertisement on cemetery grounds.
8. No person may consume refreshments or liquors within the cemetery or carry same into
the premises.
9. No person shall throw rubbish or debris on walks, drives or any part of cemetery
grounds.
10. Unauthorized persons shall not loaf, lounge, or otherwise use any of the grounds, graves
or memorials in the cemetery, or in any of the buildings thereon.
11. No loud talking shall be permitted on the cemetery grounds within hearing distance of
funeral services.
12. Any person found on the grounds after dark will be considered a trespasser.
13. All orders, inquiries and complaints by visitors or owners should be reported to the
superintendent or the city manager.
14. Flowers and other symbols of tribute may be placed upon graves. Symbols of tribute
may include fresh or artificial flowers, wreaths, potted plants, or baskets. Except for the
Ocoee Cemetery Rules and Regulations
Page 2
funeral period, arrangements should be placed on the memorial/grave area only. The
area surrounding graves should remain clear for maintenance. Arrangements that become
wilted, faded, or unsightly will be removed by city employees.
MEMORIALS
1. Any violation of these rules shall result in the city manager notifying the owner of the
property, by certified mail or hand-carried notice with proof of service, requesting the
necessary adjustments to comply with these regulations. After thirty (30)days to correct
the violation with no response, the city manager shall cause the correction to be made
and brought into compliance.
2. Memorials in all sections of the cemetery may be markers, stones or monuments.
3. The superintendent shall only prohibit individualistic designs in memorials when it would
be offensive to other owners or tend to degrade the appearance of the cemetery.
PERMITS
A permit must be obtained and a fee paid before placing a memorial in the cemetery. Placement
of the memorial shall be done under the supervision of a city employee.
(From Chapter 61 of the Ocoee Code of Ordinances)
I have received a copy of the foregoing rules and
regulations and do hereby agree to abide by them.
Signed:
For the Family of:
Date:
"CENTER OF GOOD LIVING-PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE" MAYOR• COMMISSIONER
OCOee S. SCOTT VANDERGRIFT
e�
may, cemi <=3
COMMISSIONERS
y CITY OF OCOEE RUSTY J W.
FO SSTEERR
"' fir a PAUL W.FO
vo 150 N.LAKESHORE DRIVE SCOTT A.GLASS
OCOEE,FLORIDA 34761-2258 JIM GLEASON
��f�,e1111 (407)656-2322 CITY MANAGER
Of GOOV ELLIS SHAPIRO
Date : January 31, 1995
To : Ellis Shapiro, City Manager /�
From : Wanda B. Horton, Finance Managea744-
Re : Cemetery Fund
Ordinance 89-22 was adopted 9/5/89 establishing the groundwork
for monies collected for cemetery lot sales to be deposited into
a fund whereby the interest earned would support the operations
of the cemetery. The actual fund was established in fiscal year
1992 with $17, 311.00 (cemetery lot sales from October 1989) plus
$636. 00 (interest) transferred from general fund.
Detailed below is activity for the fund since inception.
Revenues Interest
FY 1992 $ 6, 475. 00 $ 736. 00
FY 1993 $11, 300. 00 $1,882 .00
FY 1994 $ 6,200. 00 $1, 324 . 00
$23 ,975. 00 $3,943 . 00
The balance in the fund at 1/30/95 is $48,744 .86 with $40,000. 00
of it in investments.
In 1991 an estimate of $14,508.00 for yearly maintenance and
operation of the cemetery was prepared by the PPTD department.
(see attached) Assuming a 3% yearly increase in operations, it
would cost approximately $15,814.00 for yearly operations in
1995.
The cemetery funds are currently invested with Merrill Lynch with
a current interest rate of 7.48%. Assuming rates don't change
drastically in the next year, the fund would need an investment
of $210, 000.00 to yield interest income of at least $15, 000.00.
cc: Montye Beamer, Director of Administrative Services
ocOee "CENTER OF GOOD LIVING-PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE"
MAYOR•COMMISSIONER
.4, LESTER DABBS,JR.
��' ty 'ai ° CITY OF OCOEE
•� a COMMISSIONERS
•
v 150 N.LAKESHORE DRIVE RUSTY JOHNSON
OCOEE FLORIDA 34761 PAUL W.FOSTER
r• (407)656-2322 VERN COMBS
F�'�� ��`�� SAM WOODSON
OF coon
CITY MANAGER
MEMORANDUM
ELLIS SHAPIRO
TO Ivan Poston, Finance Director
FROM Buddy Elmore, PPTD SupervisoG
DATE July 9 , 1991
RE ANNUAL EXPENSES FOR OCOEE CEMETERY
f
Approximate annual costs sustained for the Cemetery: f`
5
PERSONAL SERVICES (Includes salaries only) F
Showing Lots for Sale/Marking Lots S 1, 248 E''
Grounds Maintenance:
Laborers/Eqp Operators
$6720 -..
Supervision 1560
Horticulturist 2288 ~x
Tree-trimming 1008 11 , 576
TOTAL PERSONAL SERVICES $12, 548
OPERATING EXPENSES
Gas $400
Mixing Oil 80 `
Motor Oil 50
Round-up 654
Paint 100
Fertilizer 100 '
Water 300
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES $ 1 , 684
ANNUAL TOTAL EXPENSES $14 , 508
/mg