Title
Ordinance No. 14-31 creating a new Part 11 (Funeral Escorts) of Article 3 (Sales of Goods and Services) of Chapter 2 (Business Licensing, Liquor Regulations and Taxation) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to funeral escorts
Body
From:
Councilmember Jan Martin
Summary:
Funeral services are often followed by a procession of mourners from a funeral home, church or other facility to a location for interment of the deceased, usually a cemetery or mausoleum. Traditionally, the mourners travel as a procession, which can be facilitated by personnel, usually a police escort, whose role it is to control traffic affected by the procession.
Due to staffing constraints, the Colorado Springs Police Department is not always able to fulfill requests for sworn police officer overtime staffing for funeral escorts. Members of the private business community have expressed an interest in providing funeral escort services to funeral homes and cemeteries, which requires licensing in order to ensure that businesses are qualified to provide funeral escorts in a safe and responsible manner.
Previous Council Action:
City Council received a staff report in May 2013 summarizing the issue and recommending that, because of a lack of Council staff resources and the existence of other pressing priorities, the issue should not be taken up at that time. Subsequently, Councilmembers Martin and Gaebler offered to research the issue and have worked with stakeholders to produce the proposed ordinance.
Background:
Councilmember Martin has worked with representatives of the business community, funeral homes, cemeteries, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the City Clerk's office, and the City Attorney's office to develop proposed ordinances that balance the needs of businesses and those of public safety. The proposed ordinances track closely with existing City Code provisions that license and regulate private se...
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