Page 486 - FY 2025 Adopted Operating Budget and Business Plan

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Infrastructure

Goal 1: Plan, Manage, and Maintain Public Assets
Objective 2: Maintain City Standards for all Municipal Buildings
Project Performance Measure(s) Department(s)
Core Arlington Cemetery Ordinance Office of Strategic Initiatives and
INF Parks & Recreation
1.2.6
Summary:
Estimated Actual
Milestone
The City has owned the Arlington Cemetery since 1995, Completion Completion
when the cemetery was declared abandoned. Since then, Conduct GPR Feb. 2024 Mar./Apr.
regular maintenance and upkeep has been conducted by 2024
the Parks and Recreation Department; however, the State Replat Cemetery June 2024
Health and Safety Code Section 713 has prohibited the Approve Ordinance July 2024
sale of new plots. In the 2023 Texas Legislature, HB2371
Ownership Validation Aug. 2024
was enacted, which allows the sale of plots in the Plot Abandonment/Appeal Sept. 2024
Arlington Cemetery, with certain provisions. The Arlington Period
Cemetery Ordinance project will develop a formal plan to Procure Cemetery Operator Sept. 2024
maintain, operate, and manage the sale of plots in the
Arlington Cemetery. This project has six milestones: Update:
1. Identify locations of existing graves, empty A quote was secured for the plot plat and recording services.
graves, and space available for new plots. A Ordinance development is still underway. This project will
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) investigation to continue into FY 2025.
identify occupied gravesites and areas where new
plots can be established.
2. File a replat of the property. A new plat will
legally identify plots that can be deeded to new
owners upon sale of the plots.
3. Develop and approve a Cemetery Ordinance and
Fee Schedule. An ordinance establishes policy
related to maintenance, operations,
improvements, interments, abandonments,
abandonment appeals, record keeping, third-
party and non-profit partner roles, and fees for
services.
4. Conduct an ownership validation process. Staff
will make attempts to identify owners to account
for their plots prior to beginning the
abandonment and appeals process using all
available records and contact information.
5. Conduct Cemetery plot abandonment and
appeals period. State law requires a public
hearing of plot abandonment and a 10-day
appeals period for anyone who believes they
have rightful ownership of a plot.
6. Procure a Cemetery Operator: If the City pursues
a model that involves a third-party operator for
portions of the operations of the cemetery, a
procurement process must be conducted
according to the City’s procurement policy and
the adopted cemetery ordinance.

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