ORD 2472 f
ORDINANCE NO . 42
AN ORDINANCE adopting regulations and procedures for the
operation and maintenance of the Camas Cemetery .
WHEREAS , the City has entered into an Agreement with the Camas Cemetery
Association whereby the City is going to assume ownership , operation , and maintenance of the
Camas Cemetery, and
WHEREAS , the Council desires to adopt regulations and procedures for the operation of
the Cemetery,
NOW , THEREFORE , BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CAMAS AS FOLLOWS .
Section I
There is hereby added to the Camas Municipal Code a new Chapter 12 . 40 as set forth in
Exhibit " A " , attached hereto and by this reference incorporated herein .
Section II
This ordinance shall take force and be in effect five ( 5 ) days from and after its publication
according to law .
PASSED b the Council and APPROVED b the Mayor this da of December ,
y y y y
2006 .
. SIGNED *
Mayor
ATTEST : 4 �--1--
�Clerk
APP VED "as to rm :
ity ttorney
Ordinance No . Page - 2
EXHIBIT " A "
Chapter 12 . 40 Cemetery
12 . 40 . 010 Definitions .
" Cemetery" means the burial ground commonly known as the Camas Cemetery,
including , without limitations :
1 . All land dedicated , reserved or used for interment of the remains of human
dead ;
2 . All vegetation therein ;
3 . All graves , mausoleums , crypts , columbaria, niches or other interment
spaces therein ;
4 . All works of art therein ;
5 . All roads , walkways and other structures of every kind therein ;
incidental to the operation of Camas
6 . All equipment and facilities
Cemetery .
" City" means the city of Camas .
" Columbarium" means a structure or other space containing niches for permanent
inurnment of cremated remains .
" Committal " means the part of a funeral service which commits the remains of the
deceased to their final resting place .
' Companion or double graves " means two single graves side by side .
" Cremated remains " means a human body after cremation in a crematory .
" Funeral " means a memorial service for a deceased person .
" Grave " means a space of land in a cemetery used or intended to be used for the burial of
human remains .
" Grave owner" or " owner" means any person in whose name an interment plot stands of
record as owner , in the records of the cemetery at Camas City Hall .
"Human remains " or "remains " means the body of a deceased person, and includes the
body in any stage of decomposition except cremated remains .
"Interment" means the ( a) burial , (b ) entombment or ( c) inurnment of human remains .
1 . " Burial " means the disposition of human remains by earthen burial in a grave .
2 . "Entombment" means the placement of human remains in a crypt either above
or below ground .
3 . " Inurement" means placing of cremated remains in an urn in a grave , crypt , or
.
niche .
" Maintenance " means cutting of the lawns on the graves and other lawn areas within the
cemetery at reasonable intervals , and the general maintenance of the cemetery including
building roads , fences , etc . , in so far as the City budget will permit .
" Memorial " means ( a) a monument , tombstone , grave marker , tablet or headstone
identifying a grave or graves or (b) a name plate or inscription identifying a crypt or niche
to preserve remembrance or ( c ) a name inscribed on the a remembrance wall .
"Niche " means a space in a columbarium used or intended to be used for the inurnment of
cremated human , remains .
" Plot" means a grave site or lot .
12 . 40 . 020 Operation and Maintenance .
The city cemetery shall be operated and maintained by the city Department of Public
Works . The Finance Director and the Public Works Director , subject to regulation by the
Mayor , shall appoint suitable personnel to be responsible for administration of this
chapter and for the operation and maintenance of the cemetery .
Ordinance No . Page - 3
12 . 40 . 030 Admission to Cemetery .
Visitors and the public are invited to utilize this cemetery in a manner consistent with its
purpose as a place of interment and as a memorial , subject to the following .
A . Children are not permitted on the premises unless in the company of a
responsible adult and they shall be supervised at all times .
B . The headstones and monuments on the premises shall not be handled ,
climbed upon or otherwise mistreated .
C . No one shall move , repair , or otherwise alter any monument or headstone
without written consent of the city .
D . No one shall deface or otherwise damage any monument or headstone .
E . It is unlawful for anyone to enter or be in the cemetery after dusk or before
six a . m . of any day, except when the cemetery is open between such hours
by order of the Director of Public Works for a special occasion or service ,
provided , this section shall not apply to employees of the City who enter
the cemetery in the course of their employment .
12 . 40 . 040 Liability .
The following warning shall be posted near the cemetery entrance :
WARNING : THE MONUMENTS AND HEADSTONES ON THESE
PREMISES MAY FALL RESULTING IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY
IF MOVED OR CLIMBED UPON . ALL ENTRANTS ON THESE
PREMISES DO SO SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING RULES AND AT
THEIR OWN RISK. THE CITY OF CAMAS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE
TO ANY PERSON FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED WHILE WITHIN ANY
PORTION OF THE CEMETERY .
12 . 40 . 050 Vehicles .
All vehicles must be kept under control at all times . No vehicle shall be driven in any part
of the cemetery except on the driveways laid out for that purpose . Vehicles shall not be
driven in the cemetery at a speed exceeding 10 miles per hour . No vehicle in excess of
10 , 000 pounds gross vehicle weight shall be permitted on the city cemetery grounds
except with permission of the city .
12 . 40 . 060 Conduct.
It is of utmost importance that there be strict observance of all rules at all times and the
city employees are authorized and directed to prevent improper assemblies or activities .
A . Loud talking and distracting activities will be avoided within hearing
distance of a funeral service .
B . Littering including wilted or dead flowers and any other refuse on drives ,
paths , or any grounds or in any building is prohibited .
C . Picking any flower , breaking any branch or removing any tree or plant is
prohibited . Nor shall anyone write upon, deface , or damage any memorial ,
fence or other structures within the cemetery .
12 . 40 . 070 Peddling or Soliciting.
No person will be permitted to peddle flowers or plants or to solicit the sale of any
commodity within the cemetery .
Ordinance No . Page - 4
12 . 40 . 080 Signs .
No signs , notices or advertisements of any kind shall be allowed in the cemetery, unless
placed by the city .
12 . 40 . 090 Authority of Cemetery Staff.
The cemetery staff is/are empowered to enforce all rules and regulations and to exclude
from the cemetery any person violating the same . He or she is responsible for the grounds
and buildings . All persons in the cemetery , including the conduct of funerals , traffic ,
employees , plot owners and visitors shall comply with this code .
12 . 40 . 100 Errors may be Corrected .
The city reserves , and shall correct any errors that maybe made by it either in making
interments , disinterments or removals , or in the description, transfer or conveyance of any
interment property, either by canceling such conveyance and substituting and conveying
in lieu thereof other interment property of equal value and similar location as far as
possible , or as may be selected by the cemetery staff, by refunding the amount of money
paid on account of said purchase . In the event the error involves the interment of the
remains of any person in such property, the staff reserves , and shall have , the right to
remove and reinter the remains to such other property of equal value and similar location
as may be substituted and conveyed in lieu thereof. The city shall correct any errors made
by placing an improper description , including an incorrect name or date on the memorial .
12 . 40 . 110 Delays .
The city shall not be liable for any delay in the fulfillment of any of its contracts or legal
obligations , including , but not limited to , maintenance , care , memorial work or
construction which may arise from causes beyond its reasonable control and , especially,
from delays caused by the elements , thieves , vandals , strikes , malicious mischief matters ,
unavoidable accidents , or other circumstances beyond the control of the city .
12 . 40 . 120 Nonlimitation .
In all matters not specifically covered by these general rules and restrictions , the city
reserves the right to do anything which in its judgment is deemed reasonable in the
cemetery, and such determination shall be binding upon lot holders and all parties
concerned .
12 . 40 . 13 0 Amendments .
The city may , and hereby expressly reserves the right , at any time or times , to adopt new
rules and regulations , or to amend , alter , or repeal any rule , regulation or article , section,
paragraph or sentence in these rules and regulations . Any such change in the rules and
regulations shall be binding upon all parties without notice .
12 . 40 . 140 Lot Purchase .
A . Any person desiring to purchase a lot in the city cemetery shall make application to
the Finance Department . Application shall be upon forms to be prepared by the Finance
Department . At the time of purchase , the purchaser shall pay the sum set by resolution as
the purchase price of the lot and shall be issued. a receipt therefor . Payments shall be
forthwith remitted to the Finance Department . Upon full payment of such purchase price ,
the Finance Department shall issue the purchaser a deed under the corporate seal of the
city conveying to him or her the sole right to use the lot for burial purposes , but no such
deed shall be issued by the Finance Department until the full sum for the lot has been
Ordinance No . Page - 5
received . All deeds delivered by the city for cemetery lots or graves shall be signed by
the Director of Finance or their designate and thereon the seal of the city . All such deeds
shall be issued subject to rules or regulations then in force or which may thereafter be
made by the city for the regulation of the cemeteries .
B . The Finance Department shall keep a complete record of each lot or single grave
sold , showing the date of sale , name and address of the purchaser , number of section of 1
of sold and price paid therefore .
C . In the event the purchaser of a city cemetery lot desires to resell his/her lot , the
Director of Finance is authorized on behalf of the city to purchase it at not more than the
amount for which it was originally purchased out of moneys appropriated or budgeted for
such purpose .
D . Graves shall not be reserved for future purchase .
E . Discrimination in the sale of lots and burial rights based on race , creed , color , or
religion is prohibited .
12 . 40 . 150 Arrangements for Funerals and Interments .
A . Family of the deceased , friends , or licensed funeral director in the absence of family,
taking responsibility for the funeral arrangements , shall come to the Camas City Hall in
order to authorize the interment, make necessary arrangement and payment thereof.
B . The city shall not be responsible for any order given by telephone or for any error
arising from the want of precise and proper instructions as to the particular grave , crypt or
niche location where interment is desired .
C . Any person signing the authorization for interment of remains warrants any fact set
forth in the authorization , the identity of the person whose remains are sought to be
interred and his/her authority to order the interment . He or she is personally liable for all
damage occasioned by or resulting from breach of such warranty .
D . No interment shall be made until the permit shall be issued upon written application
made by the owner of said lot . The application must state the full name of the deceased ,
place and date of birth, age , place and date of death, name of parent or kindred , number of
lot , number of block, date of interment , the name of the funeral home , outside size of
casket or box to be used , type liner or vault , and the responsible party name , phone
number , and address . In case of the internment of the owner of the lot , the application
shall be signed by some person known to the Director of Finance to be of the family or
household or by his physician or by a licensed funeral director .
E . The city has the right to insist upon 48 hours ' notice prior to any interment .
F . All funerals will take place during the regular business hours of the cemetery, Monday
through Friday ( 8 AM4 : 3 0 PM) , except by special permission and will be subject to
overtime rates .
12 . 40 . 160 Cremain Lots .
Cremain lots are four feet by four feet . Markers shall be grey granite only and the
inscription shall include the name and dates only . Three inches of concrete shall surround
the 12 inch by 24 inch marker . Two cremains may be interred in a cremain lot .
12 . 40 . 170 Interment Procedure .
A . Payment for graves , crypts , niches shall be made at Camas City Hall , Finance
ir
Ordinance No . Page - 6
Department . Interments will not be permitted in grave , crypts or niches without being
paid for in full .
B . Graves , crypts or niches are sold for the purpose of human remains only .
C . No interments , disinterments or removals shall be permitted on Sunday or any holiday
observed by the city except in case of contagious disease as required by law or by special
approval from the Public Works Director .
D . No burial will be permitted in the cemetery without a properly completed burial permit
or transit permit .
E . No person shall bury one body on top of another .
F . Two cremains may be interred on an occupied grave ; however , only one marker may
be used per lot .
G . A maximum of three cremains may be placed on an unoccupied grave with only one
marker per lot .
H . Interments including opening and closing shall be done by cemetery staff or an
approved contractor with suitable equipment and ability to perform . All contractor
interments shall be under the direction of City staff.
12 . 40 . 180 Outer Burial Container.
A . Every earth interment shall be enclosed in a concrete two -piece grave box , concrete
vault or other unit of suitable material approved by the City staff.
B . The installation of these outer containers shall be performed by cemetery staff or an
approved supplier with suitable equipment and ability to perform . All contractor/supplier
installations shall be under the direction of cemetery staff.
C . Ashes shall be enclosed in a suitable urn or other receptacle and shall be enclosed in
an approved container at the time of burial .
12 . 40 . 190 Lot Enclosures .
No person shall place improvements or cornerstones indicating the boundaries of lots , nor
shall anyone place fences of wood or iron , or walls , coping or curbs of brick, stone or
marble on any lot as an enclosure therof.
12 . 40 . 200 Record of Internments .
In addition to the record heretofore provided for , the Finance Department shall keep a
record of interment showing full name of the deceased , place and date of birth, age , place
and date of death, name of parent or kindred , number of lot, number of block, date of
interment, the name of the funeral home , outside size of casket or box used , type liner or
vault , the responsible party name , phone number, address , and the charges .
12 . 40 . 210 Permit and Identity .
The city will not be liable for the interment permit nor the identity of the person sought to
be interred .
12 . 40 . 220 Opening the Casket .
Once a casket containing remains is within the boundaries of the cemetery, the city
Ordinance No . _ Page - 7
reserves the right to refuse permission to all persons to open the casket or to touch the
remains without the consent of the legal representative of the deceased or a court order .
12 . 40 . 23 0 Delay of Interment .
The city will in no way be liable for any delay in the interment of the remains when :
A . A written protest to the interment has been filed in Camas City Hall with the Finance
Department .
B . Rules and regulations have not been complied with .
C . Instructions regarding the location, of a lot or plot cannot be obtained or are indefinite ,
or when for any reason the interment space cannot be opened where specified .
12 . 40 . 240 Removals and Disinterments .
A . Remains once interred in Camas Cemetery are considered permanently disposed of
and removal from one grave to another within the cemetery, or removal from Camas
Cemetery to any other cemetery is strongly discouraged .
B . Procedure for Disinterments .
1 . Signed affidavit ( s ) of the nearest of kin approving the disinterment or removal .
2 . Signed approval of the lot holder or their lawful representative .
3 . Disinterment permit from civil authorities for removal from Camas Cemetery .
4 . The desired lot must be selected ; all charges for disinterment and reinterment ,
together with all other charges due , must be paid .
C . Remains removed from other cemeteries and brought to Camas Cemetery for
reinterment must be accompanied by the proper papers as prescribed by law .
D . Disinterments including opening and closing shall be done by an approved contractor
with suitable equipment and ability to perform . All contractor disinterments shall be
under the direction of cemetery staff. City staff shall not perform disinterments .
E . When , in the opinion of the city , a new outside box is needed , at the time of
reinterment following a disinterment , it must be provided by the person arranging for the
removal , through the cemetery .
F . At least one week ' s prior notice is required for any disinterment or removal , after the
rules and regulations have been complied with .
G . Removal , by the heirs , of any remains so that the lot may be sold for profit , is not
permitted .
12 . 40 . 250 Ownership Rights .
A . The purchaser of a lot or lots is granted or conveyed only the right of interment of
human remains and the right of installation of a memorial on each lot . The owner of the
right of interment does not possess a feel interest or any other interest in the land itself.
B . Title and rights to cemetery plots shall be governed by chapter 68 . 32 RCw , now and
hereafter amended ,
C . Lots can be purchased at City Hall . In the event that any lot is purchased immediately
prior to the time of interment , arrangement must be made for full payment of such lot
before the interment wily be made . A purchaser has no right , interest , estate , or title
Y c r t
v T
au
Ordinance No . Page - 8
whatsoever to any lot until the purchase . price is paid in full .
D . Upon receipt of full payment for a lot , the city will issue a deed evidencing the
ownership thereof.
12 . 40 . 260 Disposition of Unused or Abandoned Lots .
Should a lot holder of unused interment space no longer need the lot in the cemetery they
may sell the lot back to the City at the original purchase price .
12 . 40 . 270 Death Certificate .
No interment will be permitted without the proper death certificate or burial permit as
required by the health authorities . Cremated remains must be accompanied by a copy of
the burial or transit permit or other document acceptable to the cemetery to certify
identity of the cremated remains .
12 . 40 . 280 Individual Decorations .
A . No planting is permitted on any plot . No flower receptacles or planter boxes may be
placed on any plot or in any mausoleum or columbarium unless material , size and design
are approved by the cemetery board (Park Commission) . - The city shall have authority to
remove all floral designs , flowers , trees , shrubs , plants or herbage of any kind , from the
cemetery when the i udgment of the cemetery staff they become unsightly, dangerous ,
detrimental , diseased or when they do not conform to the standards maintained by the
city . The city shall not be liable for lost , misplaced or broken flower vases . The city
reserves the right to regulate the method of decorating plots so that a uniform beauty may
be maintained . Artificial flowers are not allowed on graves during the mowing season of
March 1 st to November 3 0th with the exception of the following . For a period beginning
on the Friday before and extending through the weekend following Easter , Mother ' s Day ,
Memorial Day, and Father ' s Day .
B . No person shall remove any part of any tree or shrub in the cemetery, whether on his
lot or not .
C . Only the City staff or employees of approved contractors/ suppliers may plant any
plants , trim vegetation, install monuments , build any structures or dig graves in the
cemetery , and no one shall place any articles upon graves except as permitted in this
chapter .
D . The placing upon plots of boxes , tubs , shells , toys , metal designs , ornaments , chairs ,
settees , vases , glass i ars , alcoholic beverages , rocks , gravel , tin or iron or earthenware jars
or jugs and similar articles , is not permitted and if so placed , the city may remove the
same .
E . Artificial , dyed or preserved flowers , photographs , souvenirs , wreaths , or flags or
other emblems , are prohibited on columbariums . If so placed therein, they may be
removed by the city .
F . Natural plants left on graves will be left , when possible , for a period of one week plus
one weekend .
G . Christmas decorations shall be removed within two weeks after Christmas Day .
12 . 40 . 290 Monuments , Headstones , Markers .
A . All monuments , headstones , markers shall be delivered to the cemetery and they will
be installed by the city staff or shall be installed by an approved contractor/ supplier with
w
Ordinance No . Page - 9
suitable equipment and ability to perform . All contractor/ supplier installed monuments ,
headstones ; markers shall be installed under the direction of cemetery staff. All
installation charges shall be made in accordance with the size of the monument ,
headstone , or marker installed .
B . All markers , monuments , and headstones must be of a uniform size and be set flush
with the contour of the ground except in approved areas of the cemetery . No monument
shall be erected on any two grave lots the dimensions of which are greater than 48 inches
by 12 inches with vase and not less than three inches thick , the same to be set flush with
the sod . No monument shall be erected on any two grave lots the dimensions of which
are greater than 48 inches by 16 inches without vase and not less than three inches thick ,
the same to be set flush with the sod . No monument shall be erected on any single grave
lot the dimensions of which are greater than 36 inches by 12 inches with vase and not less
the same to be set flush with the sod . No monument shall be
than three inches thick,
erected on any single grave lot the dimensions of which are greater than 36 inches by 16
inches without vase and not less than three inches thick , the same to be set flush with the
sod . No foot stones for graves shall be allowed .
C . Grave owners are responsible to install markers on all graves within one year of
interment . Grave owners must keep in good repair all stones or monumental work upon
ity does not bind itself to furnish, install , maintain , repair or replace , or
the grave . The c
trim around any grave marker or monumental structures erected upon the grave .
D . The city allows the maximum of one marker per grave or companion ( double) grave .
E . The city reserves the right to exclude or remove from any grave and headstone ,
monument , marker or other structure which may conflict with these regulations or which
the city may consider injurious to the general appearance of the grounds .
F . No person shall place within the cemetery any monument made of any material other
than marble , bronze , marble , slate stone , or other approved material . All monuments
shall be properly supported with a concrete casing .
G . No lots shall contain any slab stone nor any head stone in any erect or vertical position
except in designated areas . Aforementioned markers , monuments shall be on a concrete
foundation ; the space between the stones filled in with concrete , with a six inch border of
concrete around stones . Old stones may be maintained , repaired and reset in the same
manner .
12 . 40 . 3 00 Cemetery Fees and Charges .
The schedule of prices of all lots , blocks , crypts , niches or parcels of land in the platted
portion of said cemetery property and, also prices for opening and closing graves , grave
liners , perpetual care , setting of markers and all other services , shall be fixed and adopted
il and filed in the Finance Department at City Hall . Said
by resolution of the city counc
schedule of prices may be changed or altered by like resolution of the city council from
time to time as in its judgment may be necessary or proper .
12 . 40 . 3 10 Indigent Burials .
In accordance with RCW 3 6 . 3 9 . 03 0 , it is the county ' s responsibility to provide for the
disposition of the remains of any indigent person who dies within that county and whose
body is unclaimed by relatives or a church organization .
12 . 40 . 320 Cemetery Board .
The cemetery board shall be comprised of the same city council members and private
citizens that serve on the Parks and Recreation Commission as appointed by the mayor of
Ordinance No . Page - 10
the city . The board shall advise the mayor and city council on policy matters relating to
the long -range planning , capital improvements , fee structure , cemetery expansion , rules
and regulation , and budget of all cemeteries belonging to the city . The board shall not
have authority to enter into any contract , incur any indebtedness , or take any personal
action unless specifically authorized by the mayor and city council . The board may also
solicit or receive , on behalf of the city council , any gifts or bequest of money for cemetery
purposes ; however , gifts of real or personal property will not be accepted without prior
approval of the city council . A meeting of the board shall be held at least three times a
year , at a regularly scheduled Parks and Recreation Commission meeting : The City Parks
and Recreation Manager shall be responsible for providing adequate and appropriate staff
support to the board .
1240 . 3 3 0 Miscellaneous Provisions .
The city and its assigns shall have full power and authority to adopt such additional rules
and regulations as it may deem advisable for the management, preservation, care and use
of the city cemetery, including , the interment and exhuming of the dead , and shall have
full power and authority from time to time to enlarge , restrict , amend , abrogate or change
any rules and regulations , and all such rules and regulations shall be binding upon grave
owners and upon all other persons , firms and corporations concerned .
12 . 40 . 340 Miscellaneous Regulations ,
A . Picking flowers , breaking or injuring trees or shrubs or in any way injuring any
monument or headstone is prohibited and subject to penalty according to state law . If
anything is placed on a grave which is deemed improper, it will be removed .
B . Bills due the city for labor and materials and supplies are a lien on the grave until paid .
C . Dogs are not allowed in the cemetery, except service dogs .
D . Firearms permitted in the cemetery only at military funerals .
E . No utensils or devices used in the upkeep of lots , or refuse material resulting from such
items found on lots will be removed and disposed
upkeep shall be left on lots . Any such
of.
F . The city council shall have the right to make exceptions from the foregoing rules when
deemed advisable . Such exceptions shall not be considered as rescinding or waiving any
of these rules . Any waiver that may be made by the city council shall not be or considered
to be continuing waiver and shall not bar the city or city council from enforcing the usual
rules and regulations at any later time if it may be desired so to do .
12 . 40 . 350 Violation - - Penalty .
Anyone convicted of violating any section of this chapter shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor , and upon conviction therefore shall be punished by a fine not to exceed
$ 1 , 000 . 00 or by imprisonment not to exceed ninety ( 90 ) days , or by both such fine and
imprisonment .
ORDINANCE NO . 2472
On. December 18 , 2006 , the City Council of Camas enacted Ordinance No . 2472 , which
adopted regulations and procedures for the operation and maintenance of the Camas Cemetery .
A copy of the full text of t e ordinance will be mailed to any person upon request .
DATED this day of December , 2006 .
(! JDurgin , City Clerk