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Home My WebLink AboutAAC Min 1993-10-25 . . . f~l[ COpy CITY OF SEAL BEACH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ADVISORY COM1\1ITTEE MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 25,1993 The Archaeological Advisory Committee met on October 25, 1993 at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. 2. ROLL CALL Presen t: Members Belardes, Benjamin, Davies, Frietz, Goldberg, Hahn and Unatin (5: 15 PM) Absent: Members Cole, Fitzpatrick and Price (Fitzpatrick and Price excused) Staff Present: Lee Whittenberg, Development Services Director Committee Member Frietz served as Chairman. 3. APPRO V AL OF MINUTES A. Minutes of August 23, 1993 Chairperson Frietz asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of August 23, 1993? Member Hahn requested the following language be added as a second paragraph, Item IX, page 5: "Committeemember Hahn indicated she felt the Navy was in a state of noncompliance with Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and to comply must conduct a facility survey in accordance with Section 106 of NHPA." MOTION by Goldberg, SECOND by Hahn to approve the Minutes of August 23, 1993 as revised. There being no objections it was so ordered by Chairperson Frietz. C'\WP51\ARCHC'OMM\10-25-Q3 MIN\I.W\II-OI-Q3 . . . A,.chaeo!o~ica! Advisory Committee Minutes October 25, 1993 B. Minutes of September 22, 1993 Chairperson Frietz asked if there were any corrections or additions to the minutes of September 22, 1993? Member Hahn requested the following language be added as a first paragraph, Item 4, ADJOURNMENT, page 4: "The Committee ascertained that the representatives of the Naval Weapons Station would be willing to meet in the future with the Archaeological Advisory Committee to discuss issues of concern. " MOTION by Goldberg, SECOND by Price to approve the Minutes of September 22, 1993 as revised. There being no objections it was so ordered by Chairperson Frietz. 4. REVIEW OF FIELD TRIP, SEAL BEACH NAVAL WEAPONS STATION Member Goldberg indicated she was disappointed in the behavior of Dr. Stickel on the field trip, and apologized to the representatives of the Navy regarding his behavior. She further stated that the current personnel of the Naval Weapons Station are not responsible for the past practices of the Navy and should not be attacked for those past practices. She did not want to impact the building relationship between the Committee and the Navy by the actions of city consultants. Chairman Frietz indicated the Navy has contacted the native american representatives after the field trip and will continue to work with their groups. This action is most positive, as before the Navy was very hesitant to allow native americans onto the Station. She also indicated she did not want the archaeologists to interfere in the efforts of the Committee to develop a working relationship with the Navy regarding archaeological issues and concerns. Member Goldberg indicated that the archaeologists can provide beneficial input to the Committee. However, they need to be respectful when questioning past or present activities on the Naval Weapons Station, since it is a federal facility and outside the regulation of the City. Member Hahn indicated that she felt that Dr. Stickel's behavior was over emotional and not productive. She indicated that some of the issues raised by Dr. Stickel were pertinent, but that his presentation was inappropriate. C:\WP51\ARCHCOMM\10-25-93,MIN\tW\II-OI-CJ3 2 . . . Arclwe%xica/ Adl'isory C0l7unittee Minutes October 25, 1993 Further discussion by the members of the Committee focused on the ability to work in a cooperative way with the Station to further resolve archaeological issues and concerns. MOTION by Goldberg, SECOND by Benjamin to instruct Mr. Whittenberg to prepare a letter for Committee review to all city archaeologists, reminding them of the sensitive nature of dealing with the Navy, and requesting the use of non-confrontational methods of working with the Navy regarding archaeological issues. Discussion was held among the committee members' as to the necessity of sending a letter to all of the consultant's, since Dr. Stickel was the only one which attacked the Navy. It was also discussed that the city archaeologist's probably have no further necessity to attend meetings regarding the Navy, as the Navy has there own archaeological consultants, and the Committee may wish in the future to meet with the Navy's consultants. There being no objections to the motion, it was so ordered by Chairperson Frietz. MOTION by Benjamin, SECOND by Davies to instruct Mr. Whittenberg to prepare a letter for Committee review to the representatives of the Station, thanking them for their efforts in assisting with the field trip and the presentation of current activities at the Station relating to archaeological issues. There being no objections it was so ordered by Chairperson Frietz. Member Hahn discussed the importance of the Hog Island site and her concern regarding the field trip's potential harm to the site. She further indicated that recent evaluation of the site indicate that it is eligible for designation as a National Historic Site. Discussion was held among the members of the committee as to previous disturbance which occurred as a result of the agricultural activity in the early 1900's and the leveling of portions of the island during that time. Member Hahn also indicated that there was no native american monitors present during the recent evaluation of the site. Mr. Whittenberg indicated that the City has received today the following documents: 1) "Architectural Evaluation qf Cultural Resources on the Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach - Section 3: Methods; and Section 4: ArchaeoloRical Historic Properties Evaluation Results" and 2) correspondence of October 25, 1993 from the Naval Weapons Station, with attached letters of May II, June 12, July 12, July 13 and August 19, 1993. Mr. Whittenberg further indicated the Committee may wish to review this documentation in detail, and then schedule another meeting with representatives of the Station to discuss issues and concerns. There was a consensus of the Committee to follow this suggestion. Member Unatin reminded the Committee that the Weapons Station is a federal facility, and not subject to the provisions of the City's "Archaeological Element", and the C:\WP51\ARCHCOMM\10-25-93 MIN\LW\II-lll-CJ3 3 . . . Archaeological AdvisOIY Committee Minutes October 25, 1993 Committee was graciously allowed to visit the sites and receive the presentation from the Navy. He urged the Committee to continue to work in a cooperative manner with the Navy, rather than antagonize and possibly cut of the development of a good working relationship between the Committee and the Navy. Member Hahn stressed that the Navy should be encouraged to utilize the guidelines of the City which are set forth in the "Archaeological Element". Member Unitan indicated he agreed with that position, but that the Navy must be approached in a more sensitive manner than Dr. Stickel used. Chairman Frietz indicated that the native americans have been contacted by the Navy after the field trip, and that continuing discussions are being held regarding native american involvement on future projects at the Station which might impact archaeological resources. She felt this was a positive step, and would not want this positive step hurt by any activities of the archaeologist's or the Committee. Member Hahn indicated she did not feel that the Navy was complying with its responsibilities in complying with Section 106 or Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as related to ongoing activities on the Station, such as the Installation- Recovery program and the underground tank removal program. The Committee determined to review the documents presented this evening and schedule a future meeting to review those documents, and the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act in order to focus on specific issues and concerns to discuss with the Navy at a future meeting. Member Hahn indicated she had contacted Ron Bissell, an archaeologist which has conducted surveys of portions of the Weapons Station in 1987, whose work was incorporated into the 1988 Master Plan Update. She indicated he would be willing to come and discuss with the Committee issues of concern to the Committee. Mr. Whittenberg summarized the issues for the Committee to consider, as he understood them, at their next meeting: 1) Section 106 and Section 110 provisions and compliance issues; 2) applicability of "Archaeological Element" provisions to the Weapons Station; and 3), the IR Program and underground tank removal program and archaeological issues. In addition, Mr. Bissell would be contacted to present information regarding previous surveys of the Weapons Station and his recommendations at that time. Member Goldberg inquired if a general tour of the Station was being organized by the Committee. Mr. Whittenberg indicated that Richard Williamson, Public Affairs Officer at the Station, conducts a monthly tour and recommended that those interested members contact Mr. Williamson directly to schedule attendance. C:\WP51 \ARCHCOMM\I 0-25-93 ,MIN\L W\11-0l-93 4 . . . Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes October 25, 1993 There being no further issues to discuss, the Chairman instructed Mr. Whittenberg to contact Mr. Bissell and schedule a Committee meeting at his convenience to present information regarding previous surveys of the Weapons Station and his recommendations at that time, and for Mr. Whittenberg to schedule discussion regarding the following matters: 1) Section 106 and Section 110 provisions and compliance issues; 2) applicability of "Archaeological Element" provisions to the Weapons Station; and 3), the IR Program and underground tank removal program and archaeological issues. There being no objections, it was so ordered by the Chairman. Mr. Whittenberg indicated it was his understanding that a meeting with the Navy would be requested after the above referenced meeting is held and additional direction is provided to staff. The Committee agreed with that understanding. 5. COMMITTEE CONCERNS A. Report re: City Council Amendment to Resolution No. 4186, regarding Committeemember absences. Mr. Whittenberg indicated the City Council had amended Resolution No. 4186 in accordance with the Committee's recommendation of August 23, 1993. The amending City Council Resolution No. 4254 is being provided for the information of the Committee. There being no objection, the Report was ordered received and filed by Chairperson Frietz. B. "Finding Lost Worlds", U.S. News and World Report, September 13, 1993. Mr. Whittenberg indicated the above referenced article had been provided by Moira Hahn, and was most interesting. There being no objection, the article was ordered received and filed by Chairperson Frietz. 6. STAFF CONCERNS A. Presentation of Background Materials relating to Indians in Southern California and Archaeological Issues. Mr. Whittenberg indicated the City has obtained excerpts from three books which deal with native americans of this area of southern California, and has provided copies of those materials in the agenda packets for the information of the Committee. He also indicated the City has obtained three other books which deal C:\WP51 \ARCHCOMM\l 0-25-93, MIN\L W\11-111-93 5 . . . Archaeolo/:ical Advisory Committee Minutes October 25, 1993 with archaeological issues in general and 12 past issues of the "Pacific Coast Archaeological Society Quarterly", which contain approximately 19 articles which would be of interest to the Committee. Mr. Whittenberg indicated the books and Quarterly's are available at his office for review and check-out by members of the Committee. The Committee thanked Mr. Whittenberg for his efforts in obtaining the above background information. 7. ADJOURNMENT The Committee adjourned at 5:50 p.m. ~1~, Ch 1 man, Archaeological Advisory Committee ~ v.U~~ VI Whittenberg, Secretary Archaeological Advisory Committee Note: These Minutes are tentative until approved by the Archaeological Advisory Committee. The Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes of October 25, 1993 were approved on _ Nov ) 7.. )~93' ,1993. , C:\WP51\ARCHCOMM\1ll-25-93 MIN\LW\11-0l-93 6