Staff Report - CAC 2.04 - Milestone Events, Remembrances, and Well Wishes Policy Page 1 of 2
STAFF REPORT
T
O: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Christopher J. Diaz, City Manager
Dan Barros, City Manager
MEETING DATE: April 22, 2026
SUBJECT: Colma Administrative Code Subchapter 2.04 Adopting Policies and Procedures for Celebrating Lifetime Milestone Events, Remembrances, and Providing Health Well Wishes
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the following:
RESOLUTION ADDING SUBCHAPTER 2.04 TO THE COLMA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE,
ADOPTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CELEBRATING LIFETIME MILESTONE
EVENTS, LIFETIME REMEMBRANCES, AND PROVIDING HEALTH WELL WISHES PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINE 15378
COUNCIL ADOPTED VALUES
Responsibility:
- The use of public resources will not be used for private gains or personal purposes - Developing strong relationships with the community
BACKGROUND
The Town of Colma was incorporated in 1924 with a unique mission to preserve existing cemeteries and respect the deceased. The proposed policy updates the Town’s long -standing tradition of "celebrating life" by providing small gifts (plants, flowers, or charitable donations) for significant birthdays and anniversaries, illnesses, or deaths. This resolution will supersede Resolution 96-16 adopted in 1996 adopting a similar policy to better reflect current administrative practices and community needs.
ANALYSIS
The proposed addition of Subchapter 2.04 outlines specific eligibility and administrative procedures:
AGENDA ITEM #4
Staff Report - CAC 2.04 - Milestone Events, Remembrances, and Well Wishes Policy Page 2 of 2 Eligibility:
• Town Resident that possesses a current Colma Resident Card, or other objective proof of residency that may include a current utility bill, lease agreement, or current voter registration.
• Town Business Owners with a valid Town Business license • Employees of the Town
Qualified Events:
• Birthdays: 70th birthday and every five years thereafter • Anniversaries: 50th wedding anniversary and every five years thereafter • Health Well Wishes: Following hospitalization or major illness • Remembrances: In the event of the death of a resident or business owner Gift Limitations:
• All gifts (plants, flowers, or donations) are capped at $100 in value.
Vendor Selection:
• To support the local economy, all floral and plant orders must be placed with businesses located within the Town of Colma. Staff will maintain a rotating list to ensure equitable use of local vendors.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact is expected to be minimal and will be managed within the existing General Fund budget under the City Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL
This action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15378, as it is an administrative activity that will not result in a physical change to the environment.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
A. Resolution
Res. 2026 – CAC 2.04 - Milestone Events, Remembrances, and Well Wishes Policy Page 1 of 5 25977.00100\44867457.1
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-__
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF COLMA
RESOLUTION ADDING SUBCHAPTER 2.04 TO THE COLMA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE,
ADOPTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CELEBRATING LIFETIME MILESTONE
EVENTS, LIFETIME REMEMBRANCES, AND PROVIDING HEALTH WELL WISHES PURSUANT TO CEQA GUIDELINE 15378
T
he City Council of the Town of Colma hereby resolves:
ARTICLE 1. RECITALS AND PUBLIC PURPOSE FINDINGS
The City Council makes the following findings of fact in support of adoption of this Policy:
(a) The Town of Colma’s incorporation in 1924 was brought together by the then existing 14 cemeteries in the Town in an effort to ensure respect for the deceased and celebrate life. (b) The Town’s cemeteries came to be after the gold rush and population explosion led cemetery owners to seek more land since San Francisco would not let the current cemeteries expand. San Francisco also adopted various laws over the years prohibiting further burials and ultimately evicting cemeteries from the City limits.
(c) On June 3, 1887, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese opened the first cemetery in Colma, Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. Seven cemeteries were established by 1900 and another six by 1910.
(d) In forming the Town of Colma in 1924, then Mayor Mattrup Jensen stated he “drew a line around the cemeteries situated within this Colma area … so as to preserve it.” (e) It is this preservation of life and the deceased that the Town continues to celebrate today.
(f) In honor of preserving and celebrating life, the Town of Colma adopts this policy to celebrate lifetime milestone events, lifetime remembrances, and seeks t o provide health well wishes with small tokens to its Town residents and business owners, and Town employees for health well wishes.
(g) The Town hereby finds that the Town’s expenditure of a plant, flowers, or a small donation, does not constitute a gift of public funds because although there is an incidental benefit to an individual with any small plant, flower, or donation made, a public purpose exists as all Town residents and business owners are eligible for participation, and the Town will endeavor to highlight all celebrations and remembrances in a public setting so all Town residents can participate in any celebration or remembrance. (h) The Town further finds that there is a public purpose with this policy as any small plant or flower purchased would be solely purchased from Town businesses with an active business license and this will promote economic development in the Town and ensure that businesses are maintained to allow for future tax revenue.
ATTACHMENT A
Res. 2026 – CAC 2.04 - Milestone Events, Remembrances, and Well Wishes Policy Page 2 of 5 25977.00100\44867457.1
(i) The Town further finds that there is a public purpose with the expenditures contemplated under this Policy as it will continue the Town’s belief at the time of incorporation to respect the deceased, preserve the cemeteries, and in doing so, celebrate life. (j) The Town now seeks to celebrate each Town resident and Town business owners’ milestone birthday, anniversary, and to extend health well wishes to those in need to continue with the practice of respecting the deceased and celebrating life while promoting economic development.
ARTICLE 2. COLMA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE SUBCHAPTER 2.04 ADDED Subchapter 2.04 is hereby added to the Colma Administrative Code to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER 2 .04: Celebrating Lifetime Milestone Events, Lifetime Remembrances, and Providing Health Well Wishes
2.04.010 Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish a policy for the Town to celebrate Town resident and Town business owner lifetime milestone events, lifetime remembrances, and provide health well wishes to Town residents, business owners, and Town employees.
2.04.020 Definitions
(a) “Lifetime Milestone Event” shall be defined to include a Town resident or Town business owner’s birthday if 70 years of age and over, and wedding anniversaries if celebrating 50 years or more of marriage. Lifetime Milestone Events shall only be celebrated by the Town every five years beginning with either the 70
th birthday, or 50th year of marriage.
(b) “Lifetime Remembrances” shall be defined as the Town remembering the death of a Town resident or Town business owner.
(c) “Providing Health Well Wishes” shall be defined to include the Town wishing a Town resident or Town business owner good health after a major illness or hospitalization. (d) “Town Resident” shall be limited to a individual whose primary residence and domicile is in the Town of Colma as confirmed by a current Colma Card , or by some other objective proof of residency that may include a current utility bill, lease agreement, or voter registration.
(e) “Town Business Owner” shall be limited to an owner of a business in the Town of Colma with a current Town business license.
2.04.030 Celebrating Lifetime Milestone Events
(a) Birthday Celebrations. In honor of a Town resident or Town business owner turning 70 years of age, and every five years thereafter, the Town shall send a plant or flowers not exceeding $100 in value to the Town resident or Town business owner to celebrate their birthday.
Res. 2026 – CAC 2.04 - Milestone Events, Remembrances, and Well Wishes Policy Page 3 of 5 25977.00100\44867457.1
(b) Celebrating Anniversaries. In honor of a Town resident or Town business owner celebrating 50 years of marriage, and every five years thereafter, the Town shall send a plant or flowers not exceeding $100 in value to the Town resident or Town business owner to celebrate their anniversary.
2.04.040 Lifetime Remembrances
(a) In remembrance of the death of a Town resident or Town business owner, the Town shall send a plant, flowers, or make a donation to a charity selected by the next of kin, in an amount not exceeding $100 in value.
(b) In circumstances where the immediate family may be considered low income as determined by the City Manager’s verification of the immediate family’s participation in a governmental or utility based low income program, the Town has the discretion to make a donation not exceeding $100 in value directly to the funeral home, cemetery, or mortuary towards funeral expenses.
2.04.050 Providing Health Well Wishes
If a Town resident, Town business owner, or Town employee is hospitalized, or otherwise suffers a major illness as determined by the City Manager, the Town shall send a plant or flowers to the resident, business owner, or employee not exceeding $100 in value.
2.04.060 Plant and Flower Shop Selection
(a) Town staff shall only place plant and flower orders from businesses within the Town of Colma with a valid Town business license.
(b) Town staff shall create a list of all such businesses on January 1 st of each year and rotate
which businesses are used so that by the end of the calendar year, there has been a fairly equal use of all businesses on the list by the Town. Town staff shall keep a clear tracking of when a business was used, the date of purchase, and items ordered. (c) If a new business opens after January 1
st of the year, or an existing business clears any
business license issues after January 1st, Town staff shall add any such business to the list once a valid business license is obtained.
2.04.070 Procedure and Administration
(a) Each plant, flower, or donation made by the Town pursuant to this Policy shall be noted to be from the “Town of Colma” and no names or titles of any public official, including Town employees, shall be noted.
(b) Upon a plant or flower being sent, or donation made in remembrance, Town staff shall notify the City Council and work with the Mayor to celebrate the Lifetime Milestone Event, Lifetime Remembrance, or Well Wishes through a City Council meeting announcement , or close in memory.
(c) Town staff shall advertise this Policy in Town publications and on Town social media.
Res. 2026 – CAC 2.04 - Milestone Events, Remembrances, and Well Wishes Policy Page 4 of 5 25977.00100\44867457.1
(d) The City Manager shall administer this Policy.
ARTICLE 3. RESOLUTION 1996-16 SUPERSEDED.
In adopting this resolution, the City Council hereby supersedes Resolution 1996- 16 adopted by the City Council on February 14, 1996 titled “Resolution Adopting Policies and Procedures for Get-Well Packages and Remembrances” and it shall have no further force or effect.
ARTICLE 4. SEVERABILITY.
Each of the provisions of this resolution is severable from all other provisions. If any article, section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this resolution is for any reason held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. The City Council hereby declares that it intended do and would have adopted each and every provision of this resolution independent of any other provision of this resolution.
ARTICLE 5. N
OT A CEQA PROJECT.
The City Council finds that adoption of this resolution is not a "project," as defined in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is more akin to an administrative activity under CEQA Guideline 15378 and does not have a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and concerns general policy and procedure making.
ARTICLE 6. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This resolution shall be effective upon its adoption by the City Council.
//
//
//
//
//
Res. 2026 – CAC 2.04 - Milestone Events, Remembrances, and Well Wishes Policy Page 5 of 5 25977.00100\44867457.1
Certification of Adoption
I certify that the foregoing Resoluti on No. 202 6-__ was duly adopted at a regular meeting of said City Council held April __, 2026 by the following vote:
Name Voting Present, Not Voting Absent
Aye No Abstain Not Participating
Carrie Slaughter, Mayor
Helen Fisicaro , Vice Mayor
Joanne F. del Rosario
Ken Gonzalez
Thomas Walsh
Voting Tally
Dated ______________________ ___________________________________ Carrie Slaughter, Mayor
Attest: ____________________________
Michelle Estabillo, City Clerk