Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

The need for expansion at Penticton's Lakeview Cemetery was brought to the attention of the new council at Monday's committee of the whole meeting.

Public works manager Len Robson discussed key findings in the 2013 master plan, as well as recommendations to promote the cemetery and its services.

"The main gist was to bring the new council up to speed with the master plan," he said. "We are also asking for a capital budget of $400,000 for 2015 and council had some questions."

Among the findings were demographics and trends for 25 years, including a predicted annual death rate of 15.4/1,000 and 256 interments per year.

Others were no burial capacity at Fairview Cemetery; Lakeview Cemetery in-ground cremation capacity exhausted in 2017; Lakeview Cemetery in-ground traditional full burial capacity exhausted in 2019 and additional in ground capacity could be developed on the southwest corner of the cemetery.

Among the recommendations were beginning phased expansion of the cemetery in 2017, updating the maintenance standards for cemeteries, increasing hours administrative staff is available and providing a quiet flexible space to meet with cemetery clients.

Under products and marketing, Robson suggested promoting Lakeview through hard copy literature and the Internet, increasing the range of interment and memorialization options and developing and implementing a marketing plan.

"It's recommending the various products we have available for different interments and just letting people know the package we have available," said Robson.

The last council endorsed the  master plan in August, 2013. In December of that year, the city did the adjustment to cemetery fees and charges.

In 2014, through the budget process, staff was given the OK by council to design phase one and two of the expansion.

Robson said the expansion was primarily focused on Lakeview, because the historic Fairview Cemetery is basically closed for interments.

There will be ongoing upkeep and maintenance there, he said.

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer