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Department of Parks and Recreation
Reference: An Ordinance approving a Loan Agreement between the Brighton Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund and the City of Brighton Cemetery Fund in the amount of $150,000 for the purpose of constructing Cremation Gardens at Elmwood and Fairview Cemeteries
To: Mayor Richard N. McLean and Members of City Council
Through: Manuel Esquibel, City Manager
Prepared By: Gary Wardle, Director Parks and Recreation
Date Prepared: February 6, 2015
PURPOSE
An Ordinance Approving a Loan Agreement between the City of Brighton Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund and the City of Brighton Cemetery Fund to allow the City to design and construct Cremation Spreading Gardens in Elmwood Cemetery and Fairview Cemetery.
BACKGROUND
The City of Brighton operates 2 Cemeteries for the residents of Brighton and surrounding neighbors, Elmwood and Fairview.
Currently the operation of the Cemeteries is subsidized by the City General Fund in the amount of $113,000 per year.
The goal of the proposal is to increase revenue from cemetery sales to reduce/eliminate the subsidy and have the Cemetery operate as an Enterprise Fund.
One way to increase business in the Cemeteries is to increase cremation sales.
? Over the last 3 years the City has averaged 130 burials a year, this includes all burials (casket and cremation).
? Over the last 3 years the City have averaged 49 cremation burials a year.
? The local funeral home has averaged 327 burials a year over the last 3 years (183 cremations and 144 full burials), 65% of City business comes from Tabor
? 60% of the funeral home business is cremations currently.
? The City is only burying on average 20% of the funeral home cremation business.
? 80% of the funeral home cremations are not being buried and going home.
? The City is missing out on a significant part of the funeral market. After talking with local funeral directors and owners, they tell me the City needs less expensive options for cremations....
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