cemetery perpetual care flowers
Funding and community fundraising for planting and maintaining cemetery flowers.
Whether the city formalizes an agreement with Lakeshore Community Foundation that spells out oversight, reporting, and how money can be used.
Typically discussed at Advisory Recreation Board. Check back when the next agenda is published.
Council approved 2026 funding for the cemetery perpetual-care flowers program on a 9-0 vote. The written plan described $2,700 in tax support plus $3,300 raised from residents, but the meeting record also points to a $6,000 budget approval—so the city’s actual commitment for 2026 is easy to misunderstand. Separately, staff floated moving future donations into an investment account at Lakeshore Community Foundation, and council asked to bring the foundation in for a work session.
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passed 9-0 City Council · Dec 1, 2025 25-237 Cemetery Perpetual Care Flowers
A motion to include $2,700 in General Fund property taxes for one final year of support for cemetery perpetual care flowers and to direct City Staff to launch a crowdfunding campaign for cemetery flower donations (motion made to approve $6,000 in the 2026 budget to support the flowers for 2026)
Scott Stechmesser YesAdam Wachowski YesMark Bittner YesDoug Brandt YesShannon Derby YesBill LeClair YesDarla LeClair YesTim Petri YesBonnie Shimulunas Yes -
passed Personnel and Finance Committee · Nov 19, 2025 Review 2026 Budget
Wachowski moved, seconded by Bittner, to recommend the proposed budgets and property tax levy to the Council with the following changes: Adjust $2,000 of wages from the General Fund to the Special Events Fund, and use the resulting $2,000 in General Fund savings for perpetual care flowers; Remove the 2% increase in the Library tax levy; Request an additional $5,000 of support from the Room Tax Committee.
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During draft 2026 budget discussion, council members debated whether to restore funding for cemetery flowers; no final decision was made at that agenda item.
City Council Work Session -
Residents raised concerns during public input about a proposed reduction and possible discontinuation of cemetery perpetual-care flowers.
Personnel and Finance Committee -
Finance Director Kassie Paider reviewed how the city’s general budget proposal evolved and what changed from earlier versions.
Personnel and Finance Committee -
The committee voted 2-0 to recommend the 2026 budget package to council, including shifting $2,000 to restore cemetery flower funding, removing a proposed 2% library levy increase, and seeking $5,000 more from the Room Tax Committee.
Personnel and Finance Committee -
Council approved funding for the cemetery perpetual-care flowers program for 2026 on a 9-0 vote.
City Council -
The written agenda description said the 2026 budget included $2,700 in property tax support for one final year and anticipated raising $3,300 through a community crowdfunding campaign to cover 2026 planting costs.
City Council -
The recommended action text proposed including $2,700 in general city taxes for one final year and directing staff to launch a crowdfunding campaign for cemetery flower donations.
City Council -
Staff presented a plan to create dedicated investment accounts with the Lakeshore Community Foundation to support perpetual care flowers and the community band.
City Council -
Staff said the goal is to reduce reliance on property taxes by raising donations and transferring the raised money to the Lakeshore Community Foundation for long-term investment support.
City Council -
No formal council action was requested on the Lakeshore Community Foundation partnership item; it was presented for information and discussion.
City Council -
Council asked that foundation representatives be brought to a future work session.
City Council