The Boulder Cemetery Advisory Committee met on Nov. 8 to discuss and finalize details of its columbarium policy proposal, which it plans to present for consideration at the Nov. 20 City Council meeting.
The committee’s proposal outlines protocol regarding the purchase and resale of columbarium niches, as well as the details of “right to inter” certificate issuance and what such a certificate does and does not grant its holder.
The columbarium — a passion project for committee member (and City Councilor) Patricia Lewis — was installed at the Boulder Cemetery on Aug. 4 by Memorial Monuments of Idaho. The structure includes 48 12-inch niches, each holding space for two standard funeral urns, fitted with etched covers to memorialize Boulder’s deceased.
The committee has spent the fall nailing down questions surrounding columbarium policy, with particular attention paid in the proposal to outlining procedures around niche space purchase and the right to inter.
“The emphasis is that we are offering certificates for the right to inter, not deeds,” Lewis explained. “While a deed means you own something lock, stock and barrel, a right to inter is a bit more like renting — it grants you the right for a specific period of time.”
Certificates for the Boulder columbarium will be valid for use for 60 years from the date of issuance. But Lewis assures this timeline only applies to niches that remain unused or abandoned: The city has no plans to ever evict remains from occupied spaces. “If the right to inter is used and the niche is occupied, that’s perpetual; it’s forever,” she said. “We just want something to protect against abandoned spaces, or finding ourselves hundreds of years down the road with all the slots unused.”
The proposal will also feature a buyback and renewal clause, the details of which are still being finalized.
Lewis has long desired the arcadian hilltop location as the final resting place for her own remains alongside those of distant relatives and the loved ones of her lifetime. She said she is also intrigued by the reverent and immortalizing nature of a columbarium, speaking of it as a monument to Boulder history. Lewis plans to purchase at least three niches, securing places for herself and her family.
The committee anticipates City Council approval of its proposal by January, 2024, at which point the 48 spaces will be made available to the public for $400 a niche. Those considering the purchase of a niche may contact Rose Perna at City Hall to be added to a list of interest.
