(A) Intent.
(1) This section is not made to interfere with the lot owner's rights; it is imposed to protect the interest of all lot owners and to promote general harmony and uniformity to the benefit of all.
(2) Unsightly objects, erected or placed upon lots, out of harmony with the general landscape design as adopted by the city will not be permitted. Whenever objects of such nature are placed on lots or graves, the city reserves the right to remove them without notice.
(B) Decoration. All graves are limited to two items of floral decoration and one monument saddle floral design piece. These are limited to plants only, either live potted, artificial or cut flower arrangements.
(C) Mowing season defined. The mowing season is defined as that time period from March 1st through November 1st of each year, unless the weather is out of season and mowing will need to continue through the winter months.
(D) Seasonal and holiday decorations.
(1) Potted plants, flowers, baskets and cemetery logs are allowed on any given holiday or on a day that signifies a special occasion, i.e. an anniversary or birthday.
(2) Wreaths or sprays of evergreens will be allowed during the Christmas season.
(3) No live, cut or artificial Christmas trees are allowed.
(4) Flags may be placed on graves for Memorial Day, 4th of July, or Veterans Day observances.
(5) All decorations will be removed starting ten days after a holiday or special occasion without notice and may be subject to removal if they become unsightly before ten days are expired.
(6) The placing of personal articles, toys, metal or wood designs, ornaments, furniture, or any other article of any kind is strictly prohibited.
(7) Small benches are allowed so as to not create difficulty in mowing graves. The bench must be placed on a cement pad that extends six inches in all directions beyond the edge of the bench and in a location to be determined by the Community Services Division Director or designee.
(E) Definition of approved plants.
(1) Approved floral arrangements are potted live plants, cut flowers or artificial flowers, and must be placed in the monument attached vases/urn or on the saddle arrangement on top of monument.
(2) Saddle floral arrangements.
(a) Saddles may be used on top of monuments year round.
(b) Only one saddle is permitted on any one monument.
(c) Saddles are not to be anchored to the ground in any manner and also may not be mounted on foot markers.
(d) Saddles will be removed after they have deteriorated, faded, and/or become unsightly.
(F) Placement of floral decorations.
(1) Floral decorations are not allowed to be displayed on graves during the mowing season unless these are displayed in urns attached to the monument (i.e. colonnade monuments) or in a saddle arrangement.
(2) During the non-mowing season, plants must be placed adjacent to the monument base and not anchored to the ground with wire, rocks or stakes.
(3) Plants cannot be placed in the ground. No digging is allowed.
(4) If no monument is present, then plants shall be placed at the head of the grave until the required monument is installed.
(G) Colonnade monuments.
(1) Colonnade monuments have urns/vases incorporated into their design which are intended for the placement of flowers.
(2) Flowers are to be displayed in the urns/vases only or one saddle.
(H) Approved floral containers. Plastic pots or vases are approved. Glass or clay containers are not permitted.
(I) Horticultural product planting.
(1) The planting of any type of horticultural product is prohibited.
(2) If any tree or shrub situated on any space shall become detrimental, unsightly, impede access to adjacent spaces, walks, roads, or the routine grave maintenance, the city reserves the right to prune or remove in whole or in part as may be determined by the Community Services Division Director or designee without notice.
(3) Any tree or shrub which, in the opinion of the Community Services Division Director or designee, becomes or may become detrimental to a monument may be pruned or removed in whole or in part without notice.
(J) Space landscape.
(1) No person shall alter the surface of any grave space causing the surface of the ground to be raised, lowered or otherwise altered from the existing height of the surrounding area.
(2) Any work, including but not limited to grading, landscaping, improvements or alterations of individual spaces in the cemeteries shall be done by maintenance personnel only under the direction of the Community Services Division Director or designee.
(3) All trees, shrubs and herbage of any kind shall be planted, trimmed, cut or removed by maintenance personnel only under the direction of the Community Services Division Director or designee without notice.
(K) Removal of unsightly decorations.
(1) The city shall have the authority and reserves the right to remove any floral designs, flowers, weeds, trees, shrubs, plants, or any item or thing of any kind as soon as, in the judgment of the Community Services Division Director or designee, they become unsightly, dangerous, detrimental, diseased or in violation of city ordinances without notice.
(2) The city shall not be liable for any floral pieces or frames in which or to which such floral pieces are attached beyond the acceptance of such floral pieces for funeral services held in the cemeteries. The city shall not be liable for lost, misplaced, or broken flower bases, or for plantings damaged by the elements, thieves, vandals or by other causes beyond its control.
(3) The city shall not be liable for any item placed on a grave in violation of this section. Such items will be removed and disposed of without notice.
(4) Flowers left on the grave after a funeral service will be removed after seven days of the date of the funeral service or sooner if appearance requires removal.
(L) Space border, curbing or enclosure.
(1) When approved by the Community Services Division Director or designee, only curbing of concrete with approved reinforcing material shall be used to outline the entire space being four inches in width, extending to a depth of six inches below grade and being top flush with the existing grade.
(2) No enclosures of any kind/material, except as described in division (L)(1) above, are allowed, including fences, ditches, stones, pavers, bricks, boxes, wood, urns or granite enclosures.
(3) Any continuous concrete space curbing or border already in place at the time of adoption of this section shall remain.
(4) Antique fencing already in place in Cleburne Memorial Cemetery may remain in place.
(M) Space coverings.
(1) No lot or grave shall be covered in whole or in part by sand, gravel, rock, broken stone, cinders or other substance which may prevent the free growth of grass.
(2) No concrete slabs allowed. Those already in existence shall remain.
(3) Grave blankets are not allowed except at Christmas and will be removed ten days following the holiday.
(N) Prohibited items.
(1) No statues or crosses, other than statuary or crosses already carved into the design and construction of a monument, will be allowed.
(2) Novelty and decorative items such as toys, balloons, wind vanes and chimes, knickknacks, crockery, glassware, beverage containers, or yard art designs are prohibited.
(3) Decorative articles which are deemed hazardous to cemetery employees or equipment will be removed without notice.
(4) No lights are allowed whatsoever, including but not limited to: open flame candles, torches, vigil lights, eternal lights, solar lights, strings of lights, any type of light that is operated with a battery or battery pack. These items are also not allowed to be in effect while a visitor may be at a gravesite.
(5) Decorating or hanging of any objects in cemetery trees is prohibited.
(6) Wire is not permitted for use in the cemeteries.
(7) Wire easels are permitted for floral decoration during a funeral service or for holiday arrangements. These will be removed after ten days following the service or holiday without notice.
(Ord. 11-1998-86, passed 11-24-98; Am. Ord. 08-2006-64, passed 8-6- 06; Am. Ord. 09-2013-58, passed 9-24-13)