Link to other thread: Here we go again.

just moving this up

Making sure everyone see's this...

moving it up again

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one more...need to keep this at the top!

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Here's that patronizing reply I've been expecting:

Mr. Shirey requested that I respond to your email and let you know the status of the Historic Cemetery Rose Garden.

In the last year, the City of Sacramento has been
working with various volunteers and stakeholders to holistically address
the preservation of the historical City Cemetery and the rose garden. A
recent news story may have left the impression
that the City is eliminating rare, historic roses from the Victorian
era to comply with the cemetery’s historic designation. The fact is that
the City is not engaging in any activity to purposefully rid the
cemetery of its distinguished rose garden. To the
contrary, the City has been engaging with its volunteers for the last
year to preserve the cemetery along with the rose garden, 98 percent of
which was planted in the 1990s.

Donated to the City in 1850 by John Sutter Jr., The
Old City Cemetery is the oldest existing cemetery in Sacramento, and is
the largest public cemetery in California. The Cemetery was listed on
the National Register of Historic Places in
2014 which recognizes the cemetery as a site deemed worthy of
preservation at the highest level of national significance.

Once the location was listed on the National
Register, staff recognized the need to coordinate with our dedicated
volunteers on designation requirements. In 2015, staff and volunteers
met over several months to come up with guidelines for
working together to preserve the cemetery and enhance programs, while
maintaining the designation. The guidelines for maintaining and trimming
the rose garden were reviewed and agreed to by the rose garden
volunteers as well as the Adopt A Plot participants
at that time. City staff continues to work with a designated ad-hoc
committee made up of long-time volunteers who continue to be actively
involved in the preservation effort as well as the gardens located
throughout the site.

The rose garden was established in 1992 and is made
up of a collection of historic roses of the period. Ninety-eight
percent of the current roses were planted in the 1990s. Two percent of
the rose population is made up of the species from
the Victorian era. At no time were there any recommendations to have
the roses ripped out or killed off in any way. The roses have become a
beautiful addition to the cemetery and are cherished for the beauty that
they bring.

The guidelines put together by the ad-hoc committee
call for roses to be trimmed around the gravesites so that visitors can
access and see the headstones. During the planning sessions, it was
also recommended that the climbing roses and
non-historic trellises be relocated to the stone fence that surrounds
the cemetery. The move of the trellises will take place in December.

All recommendations received input prior to being
put in place and agreed to by all of the volunteers in attendance. The
planning efforts and the on-going guidelines are in place so that both
the historic cemetery and headstones may be
enjoyed along with the rose garden. In an effort to alleviate any
misunderstandings among the group, the City will be meeting with the
ad-hoc committee to review the plans to ensure that everyone is in
agreement.

I hope this information is useful to you,

This information was provided by:

Director of Convention and Cultural Services Jody Ulich

Director of Parks and Recreation Chris Conlin

Historic Preservation Director Roberta Deering

I got the same one

phhhht...."we know best so we're ignoring you". WHO are the volunteers, WHO is on this ad hoc committee, WHO made an agreement?

(pi**ed off even more) JOHN

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John -- They lie like a rug.

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Definitely! I don't think they have the slightest clue about the enormity of what they're doing!

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Here's the response I received today:

Hello,

Thank you for emailing about our Heritage Rose Garden and Historic City Cemetery. Councilmember Hansen and I are actively engaged with the Rose Garden Volunteers and the two City Departments who care for the Cemetery. We've asked the departments to take a step back while we bring both sides together to sort out the issues. We will keep you updated on our progress and I thank you for taking the time to advocate for these local treasures. We are fortunate to have them in our backyard.

Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you. In the meantime, please know that Councilmember Hansen has requested a moratorium on any action until with have had a chance to sort this out.

Best,

Peter Fenolio

District Representative

Office of Councilmember Steve Hansen

City of Sacramento, District 4

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Up we go again!

Mr Fenolio also responded to me with a reply that sounded as though he at least did not dismiss me without considering what I said. Let's hope that more of that takes place.

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I got a form letter from the Mayor and the same letter Desertgarden received from the office of Councilman Steve Hansen.

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I suppose there really is nothing more to do at this point but wait to see what transpires at the April 13 meeting, except for those who have not yet written a letter of protest to someone at the City. The more protests the better, needless to say. Keeping fingers crossed!

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Don't forget! This coming Sat, April 2nd, at 2PM there is a Garden of Excellence award ceremony at the rose garden. Anyone local who can show up, should. There will be folks there from the City, and they need to see how the garden is appreciated!

Jackie