Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks and Recreation Department

DATE:           August 20, 2008

TO:              Dave Corliss, City Manager

                   Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager

                   Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

FROM:          Ernie Shaw, Interim Director Parks and Recreation

RE:               Natural Burials – Oak Hill Cemetery

At the request of Commissioner Highberger, city staff has been looking into the possibility of adding a Natural Burial area in the City of Lawrence cemetery system. Green burial, or natural burial, ensure the burial site remains as natural as possible in all respects. Interment of the bodies is done in a biodegradable casket or shroud. The process uses no embalming fluid and no concrete vaults.

This is a fairly new concept especially for around the midwest.  There seems to be only a few approved provider sites around the country: DeFuniak Springs and Dunedin, Florida; San Jacinto County, Texas; Conyers, Georgia; Westminster, South Carolina; Newfield, New York; Limington, Maine; Santa Fe, New Mexico and San Francisco, California.

We are told that if Lawrence is successful in establishing a Natural Burial area at Oak Hill Cemetery that this will be the first public owned facility in the United States that offers this option.

We contacted Joe Sehee, President of the Green Burial Council to discuss approved standards and practices for a natural burial ground. In order for us to be an “approved provider”, we would have to meet 1 of 3 different levels. After much discussion, it was determined that we could meet all 3.  Level 3 would be vault less burials, no toxic chemicals (embalming) and burial containers must be biodegradable materials.  Level 2 would be deed restriction/assurance to prevent the cemetery from accommodating conventional burial in the same area of the cemetery.  Level 1 would be having a restoration specialist on staff.  It was determined that our horticulture staff would be classified as such.  Our cemetery will be considered a hybrid cemetery because we have conventional burials and a separate section for natural burials.

Over the past few months we have met numerous times with local funeral home directors and other interested members of the public to come up with the (attached) amendment the cemetery rules and regulations. It is important that we work very closely with local funeral providers to assure they are able to accommodate the changes in the handling and transportation of the deceased body that is required for a natural burial service.   All involved felt that this is a service that we can provide in Lawrence.

With Commission approval we will move forward with the surveying and development of the area shown (attachment) at Oak Hill Cemetery. We anticipate this area will be ready for lot sales January 1, 2009. Lot will be priced the same as other sections of the cemetery.