The Pleasanton City Council will consider plans Tuesday to take over the historic Pleasanton Memorial Gardens cemetery on Sunol Boulevard, which is now owned by the Livermore chapter of the International Order of Odd Fellows, an organizations whose membership and funds are rapidly dwindling.
The council turned down a bid last May by a citizens’ committee to buy the deteriorating cemetery for $1, an offer the committee had received from the Odd Fellows. However, it agreed to review the proposal again after a study was conducted to develop an action plan.
Chris Beratlis Sr., a downtown businessman and developer, is chairman of the 10-man Pioneers group that is pressing the council to acquire the cemetery and maintain it. His group will present the council with petitions signed by more than 1,000 residents who support the takeover.
He also said his group would volunteer its services to help supervise maintenance, and has arranged with a landscaping firm to perform routine maintenance.
The cemetery, located near I-680 at the gateway to Pleasanton, was opened 120 years ago. It is adjacent to another old cemetery owned and operated by St. Augustine Catholic Church. One of the proposals to be considered by the council Tuesday would seek to partner with the church in maintaining the grave sites.
