The Urban Parks and Forestry Board heard a biannual update on Sunset Hills Cemetery from longtime Coordinator Shane Surber, who has managed the facility for over 34 years. The 73-acre cemetery currently handles approximately 145 burials per year and has seen a dramatic shift in burial preferences—from 80% casket burials when Surber started to a current majority of cremations. The cemetery operates five columbariums with 80 niches each and recently completed significant progress on the six-year Southwest Montana Veterans Cemetery project, which now has 34 filled spaces across two columbariums. The board learned that groundbreaking this week began on a lower tier for in-ground ash burial lots, with the goal of opening the option to veterans and their families by late summer or early fall at minimal or no cost. Surber said the cemetery has sufficient undeveloped land—roughly 55 additional acres—to meet demand for the foreseeable future, though expansion requires installing water infrastructure and roads. The cemetery is currently subsidized by the city's general fund, with lot prices around $1,865 for full-size burial, $1,150 for ash burial, and $900 for columbarium niches.
The board also received an informational work session on the Urban Forest Management Plan from consultants DJ&A and PlanetGeo. A public survey of 137 residents found general support for maintaining existing trees and increasing plantings, though opinion was split on requiring permits for tree removal on private land. Consultant Matt Ermsen presented inventory data showing Bozeman manages 28,459 public trees, with ash trees comprising 22% of the total—still exceeding industry guidelines recommending no single genus exceed 20%. The consultant team recommended a 12% canopy cover goal over 20 years, requiring approximately 871 new trees annually, noting that industry targets of 18 to 20% weren't realistic given Bozeman's climate, pest risk, and staffing constraints. The team outlined a phased approach to emerald ash borer management, recommending prioritized removal of poor-condition ash while preserving healthy, high-value specimens. The board will review the draft plan at its July meeting.