Recommending Establishment 5-year Action Plan Historic City Cemetery

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Resolution Establishing a 5 -Year Action Plan for Historic City Cemetery Page 4 1. Proposing that such Action Plan reflect and identify goals and objectives, specific action items, timelines, measureable outcomes and potential funding sources which the Common Council in conjunction with the City Administration and interested stakeholders including but not limited to representatives from the Colfax Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Historic Preservation Commission, and all other persons and organizations interested in preserving and restoring the City Cemetery have had the opportunity to develop which has realistic and sustainable goals for the betterment of the City Cemetery; and 2. Proposing that the City Administration earmark a specific dollar amount from the City Cemetery Trust Fund # 730 for the 2014 calendar year which would be used to leverage donations, contributions and grant opportunities to begin the restoration and preservation of the headstones and markers of Schuyler Colfax and his family so that visible and sustaining improvements may begin by the 2nd Annual Schuyler Colfax Day in March 2013; and Proposing that the Common Council and the City Administration work together to develop, fund and maintain adequate personnel in the Parks and Recreation Department beginning with the 2014 budget; and 4. Proposing that an immediate reassessment of equipment used to cut grass in City Cemetery be conducted in light of damage to headstones caused reportedly by using large deck lawnmowers and /or large equipment which has not been properly or carefully used and /or supervised; as well as damage caused to headstones reportedly by using the improper nylon trimmer line, with new maintenance standard operating procedures being implemented addressing all of these concerns which would take effect as soon as possible. [See: Page 72, Table Prioritization of Recommendations # 1.14 - # 1. 16, et seq. of Preservation Assessment of City Cemetery, South Bend, Indiana] 5. Proposing that priority. be given to regularly removing trash from containers; that the use of 55 gallon drums detract from City Cemetery and that more appropriate containers should be considered; that trash should be removed from along the fence surrounding City Cemetery on a more regular basis [See: Page 72, Table Prioritization of Recommendations # 1.23 and Page 75, # 2.15 of Preservation Assessment of City Cemetery, South Bend, Indiana] 6. Proposing a 5 -year capital improvement plan for the City Cemetery; and 7. Proposing that all city ordinances regulating conduct and activities in city cemeteries be updated as soon as practicable, in light of the fact that the City Sexton was eliminated; that the Bureau of Cemeteries was consolidated into the Park Department several years ago; and that vandalism is a growing concern at City Cemetery. [See: Page 72, Table Prioritization of Recommendations # 1.23 of Preservation Assessment of City Cemetery, South Bend, Indiana]