Resolved Updated

cemetery perpetual care flowers

Funding and community fundraising for planting and maintaining cemetery flowers.

Confirm what the adopted 2026 budget line actually set aside for cemetery flowers and whether a donation drive was launched and tracked separately.

Typically discussed at Personnel and Finance Committee. Check back when the next agenda is published.

Council ended up voting 9-0 to fund the cemetery perpetual-care flowers program for 2026. The written plan described $2,700 in city taxes plus $3,300 raised from residents, but the meeting record also points to a $6,000 budget approval—two different versions of the same commitment.

  1. passed Advisory Recreation Board · Feb 11, 2026

    BUSINESS

    Motion made in support of the Mariners Trail fence replacement project and securing grant funding without taxpayer contribution.

  2. passed Advisory Recreation Board · Feb 11, 2026

    BUSINESS

    Motion made in support of City Council adopting the ordinance allowing P&R to sell fermented malt beverages within city facilities and parks.

  3. 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)

    Mark Bittner Yes
    Doug Brandt Yes
    Shannon Derby Yes
    Bill LeClair Yes
    Darla LeClair Yes
    Tim Petri Yes
    Bonnie Shimulunas Yes
    Scott Stechmesser Yes
    Adam Wachowski Yes
  4. 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.

  1. Residents raised concerns during public input about a proposed reduction and possible discontinuation of cemetery perpetual-care flowers.

    Personnel and Finance Committee
  2. Finance staff reviewed the 2026 budget and how it changed from earlier versions.

    Personnel and Finance Committee
  3. The committee voted 2-0 to recommend the 2026 budget package to council, including shifting $2,000 to restore cemetery flower funding (along with other budget changes).

    Personnel and Finance Committee
  4. Staff presented and discussed the proposed 2026 budget (about $42 million) with a proposed 3.8% levy increase and several one-time balancing items (land sales, debt premium, and a cell-tower payment).

    City Council Work Session
  5. Council members debated whether to restore cemetery flower funding as part of the draft 2026 budget; no final decision was made at the work session.

    City Council Work Session
  6. City Council approved funding for the cemetery perpetual care flowers program for 2026.

    City Council
  7. The agenda write-up described a 2026 plan of $2,700 in city tax support for one final year plus $3,300 to be raised through a community crowdfunding campaign.

    City Council
  8. The recommended motion text called for including $2,700 in city taxes for one final year and directing staff to launch a crowdfunding campaign for cemetery flower donations.

    City Council
  9. The meeting record summary indicates a mismatch between the written $2,700-plus-crowdfunding plan and the motion that passed, described as approving $6,000 in the 2026 budget.

    City Council