Development Services reported to the committee on March 21 that staff has identified roughly 145 cemeteries within the city limits and is monitoring a state legislative proposal that would prohibit new cemeteries inside the city and within five miles of the city limits.

Melissa Ramírez, Assistant Director in Development Services, told the committee staff is not recommending changes to local regulations at this time but will continue to monitor developments at the state level. Ramírez described an ongoing zon­ing application (referenced as a pending case) whose applicant has deferred action pending the outcome of the state legislation. She said city staff will coordinate with the City Attorney’s Office if the state law passes to determine effects on active applications.

Staff stressed that existing city rules require zoning and site approvals for cemetery uses, that cemeteries may be permitted in some districts and prohibited in others, and that plan review and subdivision procedures apply before construction can begin. Ramírez said staff had shared findings by council district: District 2 had the largest count of identified sites (41), and other districts showed varying numbers.

Committee members asked for more detail about ownership, stewardship and maintenance of identified private and institutional cemetery sites and requested a clearer inventory showing which sites are on city-owned land, which are privately owned, and which are under active management by parks and recreation or nonprofit groups. Staff agreed to coordinate with parks and return with more information and to convene an interdepartmental meeting depending on the trajectory of state legislation.

There was no formal committee action to change city code. The committee agreed to monitor the state legislative proposal and to return to the committee with additional information if the bill advances during the legislative session.