The District of Squamish is considering hiking burial fees by 75% at Mount Garibaldi Cemetery to eliminate municipal subsidies and to fund improvements.
During their Jan. 14 meeting, council voted in a split 6-1 decision in favour of asking staff to pursue this choice, dubbed Option 3. Coun. Chris Pettingill was the sole elected official who voted against the motion.
When it comes to fees, this is the priciest option, as the two other choices led to substantially lower fee increases. However, the other options require tax dollars to subsidize the cemetery's operations for longer, as well as foot the bill for capital expansion.
Final approval has not yet been given. This motion allows staff to start writing council's wishes into the upcoming Cemetery Master Plan and the Squamish Fees and Charges Bylaw.
Staff expected a draft of the plan to be presented to council for endorsement early this year, along with an amendment to the bylaw.
The idea behind Option 3 is that increasing fees will remove the need for the municipality to continually subsidize the cemetery's operations.
According to a District staff report, the municipality had to kick in $37,000 to help pay for the $63,120 in total operating costs for the site in 2018. That amount represented a subsidy of 59%. Tax dollars have been helping the cemetery function for some time now.
Under Option 3, the District won't have to pay an operating subsidy after 2028.
The fees would generate an annual surplus and fund capital upgrades, among other things. Those upgrades are estimated to cost $300,000 in 2021; $700,000 in 2029 and $475,000 in 2039.
This represents three phases of expansion. The first in 2021 would include paved parking, landscaping, refurbishing the historic gate, adding an entry sign and kiosk and adding benches, among other things.
The second phase, in 2029, would include expansion by clearing the forest east of the developed portion of the cemetery, prepare a scattering site and add roads, pathways and seating.
The third, in 2039, would clear additional forest, complete the scattering garden, create new burial spaces, and include plating and landscaping, among other things.
Adding a green burial area and a scattering garden are two ideas that are being considered.
In green burials, which are considered environmentally friendly, the body is not embalmed
and is placed in a biodegradable shroud or casket without a liner or vault. Vegetation is planted above, and a communal marker can be used for commemoration.
A scattering garden is an area in a cemetery where cremated remains are placed on the ground, with the name inscribed on a communal plaque. This could involve digging in small holes in which to put the remains, which are then re-filled by cemetery staff. Markers could be placed to avoid overlap.
The District is expected to survey the public to see what options interest them.
**Please note, the subhead of this story has been corrected since it was first published to clarify that the fee increases would help pay for improvements and allow the District to stop subsidies.
