§ 25.60.058. Columbarium.
A.
Inurnment. Only human cremated remains in an urn may be placed in the niche. A separate burial application shall be required for each urn to be inurned. The niche owner requesting the inurnment must sign a statement acknowledging receipt of the columbarium rules and a signed copy will be retained in the cemetery records.
B.
Opening/closing. Except as provided in paragraph I, a niche may be opened only by request of the niche owner as listed in the cemetery burial records (per stirpes) or as determined by the cemetery director. All such openings shall be documented in the records maintained by the Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery. All opening and closings and work relating to niches or the columbarium in general will be completed by cemetery personnel under the direction of management. The initial opening and closing of the niche is included in the cost of the niche. If it is necessary to reopen a niche at a later date, for interment of a second or subsequent urn or other reasons, an additional fee will be incurred unless the niche is being upgraded or refunded.
C.
Inscriptions:
1.
The inscription on the bronze niche plaque will include only the first name, middle initial (if desired), and last name together with the year of birth and the year of death.
2.
The inscription on the granite niche plaque will include the name(s) of the deceased and/or family name and year of birth and of death. The cost of the niche includes an initial engraving of up to 40 letters. Subsequent engravings and engraving in excess of 40 letters will incur additional charges as specified in section 25.60.065.
3.
All inscriptions will be of a standardized font and size dictated by the cemetery. No additional carvings or lettering will be added to any niche plaque or front.
D.
Emblems. One two-inch by two-inch or less flat bronze emblem is permitted on the single or companion niche and shall be centered below the niche plaque. Two seven-inch (vertical measurement) by four-inch (horizontal measurement) or less flat bronze emblems are permitted on the family niche and shall be centered, one on each side, on the left and/or right of the niche plaque. Photographic images are permitted but must conform to the emblem sizes as specified above. QR Codes are permitted but must conform to uniform size standards as determined by the cemetery director. All emblem design, QR codes or photographic images shall be approved and installed by cemetery personnel.
E.
Decorations.
1.
Fresh flowers are permitted in niche vases anytime. Plastic or silk flowers shall be permitted only in the winter months.
2.
Arrangements too high or too bulky for the niche vases are not permitted.
3.
Sand, gravel, etc. in a niche vase to hold flowers in place is not permitted.
4.
Wire to fasten arrangement to a vase or niche plaque is not permitted.
5.
Glass or ceramic containers are not allowed in the Columbarium area.
6.
No arrangements, flags, or decals, etc. shall be taped, wired, glued or pasted to a niche plaque or front.
7.
All unsightly arrangements shall be removed at the discretion of cemetery personnel.
8.
Potted plants, fresh flowers or artificial decorations may be placed on the sidewalk (none are to be placed on the top of the Columbarium) in front of the niche space of a friend or loved one on the following holidays:
New Year's Day
Easter Sunday
Mother's Day
Memorial Day
Father's Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veteran's Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day9.
Birthdays and anniversaries may be observed with prior notification to the cemetery office. Decorations may be placed at the time of inurnment and remain for two days. Floral arrangements may be placed three days before and ending two days after the holiday, six consecutive days.
10.
If not otherwise removed from the columbarium, all floral arrangements shall be removed on the third day after the holiday or burial by cemetery personnel. Cemetery personnel are not responsible for plants, vases or decorations and assume no responsibility for their return.
12.
At no other time shall plants, vases or artificial decorations be placed at the columbarium.
13.
No memorials, including but not limited to, candles, flags, stuffed animals, balloons, mobiles or other moving decorations, clothing, toys, food, etc. shall be placed at the columbarium. These shall be immediately removed and discarded by cemetery personnel without prior notice.
F.
Purchase. The cost of the niche shall include the niche itself, one opening and closing, and perpetual care. A single niche shall also include a cast bronze niche plaque with appropriate lettering. Companion and family niches shall also include a granite niche plaque, vase, and appropriate engraving.
G.
Upgrade. Any niche may be upgraded to a larger niche by the niche owner as listed in the cemetery burial records (per stirpes) or as determined by the cemetery director. A credit equal to 75 percent of the original cost of the initial smaller niche shall be applied to the cost of the new larger niche.
H.
Refund. The niche is personal and may not be transferred to any other person. If the niche is surrendered, 75 percent of the cost of the niche shall be refunded to the niche owner listed in the cemetery burial records (per stirpes) or as determined by the cemetery director.
I.
Right to remove urns, niche plaques, and cremains. The Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery retains the absolute right, in its sole discretion, to remove urn(s) and niche plaques, or to relocate all or any part of the cremains, as it deems necessary or advisable.
J.
Forfeiture of ownership. In the event a niche owner violates or refuses to adhere to these rules and regulations, after being informed three times by the cemetery director that such violations exist, ownership of the niche by the offending niche owner, after a refund as specified in paragraph H, shall be forfeited.
(AO No. 2002-78, § 2, 6-25-02; AO No. 2009-81, § 3, 7-7-09; AO No. 2014-94, § 2, 8-5-14)