12.12.010   Cemetery established.

There is established the Black Diamond cemetery, the site thereof to be the present site of the cemetery, located at 24431 Morgan Street, identified in the records of King County as Parcel No. 142106-9059, with full power of acquisition of additional land for burial purposes when the same is deemed necessary. It is the purpose of the cemetery to honor those interred.

(Ord. No. 999, § 1, 3-7-2013; Ord. No. 1123, § 1, 8-1-2019)

12.12.020   Intent.

It is the intent of the ordinances codified in this chapter to comply with the provisions of Chapter 68.52 RCW regarding the creation, administration, and maintenance of a municipal cemetery and the provisions of Chapter 68.32 regarding the right and title to cemetery lots and rights of interment.

(Ord. No. 999, § 1, 3-7-2013)

12.12.030   Maintenance and improvement.

It is the purpose and policy of the city council to maintain the cemetery as a public burial ground with care thereof, and the grave lots therein, and to keep the same as a burial tract with grass, shrubs and trees as shall be provided by the city council in the budget.

(Ord. No. 999, § 1, 3-7-2013)

12.12.040   Advisory board—Membership.

There is created a cemetery advisory board consisting of five members, all of whom shall be appointed by the mayor, and who shall hold office at his/her pleasure, with the provision that two members shall serve for an initial term of one year, one member for an initial term of two years, one member for an initial term of three years and one member for an initial term of four years, and that thereafter each term shall be for four years, and that the members may be appointed by the mayor from the members of the city council, the qualified voters of the city or residents of adjacent territory who have a historical linkage to the cemetery.

(Ord. No. 999, § 1, 3-7-2013)

12.12.050   Board—Duties.

A.

It shall be the duty of the cemetery advisory board:

1.

To organize and plan for open public meetings as necessary, to develop a public notification process for such meetings in consultation with the city clerk, and to provide a report on such meetings at the next regular meeting of the city council parks and cemetery committee or its successor.

2.

To study, consider and recommend changes to the mayor and city council on cemetery policies, beautification, maintenance and/or upkeep.

3.

To advocate for and encourage continuing volunteer efforts to maintain and repair cemetery grounds and works, including but not limited to landscaping, headstone maintenance and historical documentation, all within any general guidelines set forth by the city.

B.

Nothing in this section gives the cemetery advisory board the power to direct staff, expend funds of the city or to obligate a particular course of action on behalf of the city. The cemetery advisory board shall have no authority or responsibility for the care or operation of Black Diamond Cemetery, the management or investment of sums received from the sale of lots, or for keeping books of account of such sums received.

(Ord. No. 999, § 1, 3-7-2013)

12.12.060   Reserved.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1123, § 2, adopted August 1, 2019, repealed § 12.12.060, which pertained to ownership, descent, and transfer and derived from Ord. No. 999, adopted March 7, 2013.

12.12.070   Reserved.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 1123, § 3, adopted August 1, 2019, repealed § 12.12.070, which pertained to abandoned lots and derived from Ord. No. 999, adopted March 7, 2013.

12.12.080   Violation—Penalty—Incorporation by reference.

The city hereby incorporates by this reference as though fully set forth herein, RCW 68.56.010 (Unlawful damage to graves, markers, shrubs, etc. — interfering with funeral), as now or may be hereafter amended.

(Ord. No. 999, § 1, 3-7-2013)