AGENDA INFORMATION SHEET
AGENDA DATE: May 2, 2017
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
DCM: Bryan Langley
SUBJECT
Title
Receive a report, hold a discussion, and give staff direction regarding maintenance and improvements to the IOOF and Oakwood Cemeteries.
Body
BACKGROUND
On March 22, 2016, Parks and Recreation staff received direction from City Council to identify funding in the 2016-17 budget for general enhancements to the City's two cemeteries (Oakwood Cemetery and IOOF Cemetery). After reviewing the scope of the project, staff submitted a supplemental budget package which was approved in FY 2016-17 for one-time funding in the amount of $152,596 for a contractor to perform a cemetery mapping and assessment study.
Staff released an RFP for the study with only one (1) responsive proposal received from Texas Cemetery Restoration, LLC, due to the highly specialized nature of this work. At the April 4, 2017, session of City Council, staff presented a contract for consideration with Texas Cemetery Restoration, LLC, to provide 1) GPS and GIS mapping of the IOOF and Oakwood Cemeteries ($79,872) and 2) an assessment of all monuments to evaluate condition and provide a priority-based repair schedule ($57,060). The total amount for the proposed contract is $136,932. Since the budget for the project is $152,596, the available amount of $15,664 could be used to begin work on restoring some cemetery monuments and install division markers.
During the April 4 presentation, Council asked staff to bring back additional information about numerous aspects of the cemeteries and the proposed contract. Please find below follow-up information that will be presented at May 2, 2017, Council meeting.
1) Does the City own the cemeteries? What commitment was made to maintain them?
Oakwood Cemetery- According to historical, local newspaper articles, the City purchased 3.81 acres of cemetery property for $385.00 on April 11, 1891. In 1915, determining ownership of Oakwood was ...
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