HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC Min 1993-05-19
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CITY OF SEAL BEACH
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ADVISORY COMl\fiTTEE MEETING MlNUfES
MAY 19, 1993
The Archaeological Advisory Committee met on May 19, 1993 at 5:00 p.m. in City Council
Chambers.
2. ROLL CALL
Present:
Members Belardes, Cole, Fitzpatrick, Frietz, Goldberg, Price, Rice,
Unatin, Wolff
Absent:
None
Staff
Present:
Lee Whittenberg, Development Services Director
3.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - APRIL 26,1993
MOTION by Fitzpatrick, SECOND by Cole to approve the Archaeological Advisory
Committee Minutes of April 26, 1993, with the following corrections:
Page 1:
Members Absent: add Goldberg and Cole.
Page 2:
Paragraph 10, revise to read as follows: "Upon the recommendation of
Dr. Gary Stickel, an archaeologist, it was the consensus of the Committee
that the following condition be imposed: "A test phase should be
performed if any excavation will be involved. "".
Page 3:
Paragraph 1, add the following sentence: "In the future, the Committee
shall be provided a copy of the Cultural Resources Records Search Quick
Checkform completed by UCLA when reviewing an application."
MOTION CARRIED
9-0-0
4. REVIEW OF "CULTURAL RESOURCES REPORT for the UNOCAL PROPERTY at
99 MARINA DRIVE, SEAL BEACH, CALIFORNIA", prepared by CHAMBERS
GROUP, INC. and PROPOSED MITIGATION MONITORING PROGRAM for
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 92-7, UNOCAL.
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Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes
May 19, 1993
Mr. Whittenberg presented an overview of the project proposal as submitted to the City
by UNOCAL, indicating the review process before the Archaeological Advisory
Committee, the Planning Commission and the City Council. He also reviewed the
selection process taken by the City in retaining the three archaeological consulting firms.
Mr. Whittenberg indicated the Committee should focus on the proposed archaeological
impact conditions of approval and the mitigation monitoring and reporting requirements
as proposed by staff, based upon previous review by the Committee. It is the ultimate
responsibility of the Committee to determine its recommended conditions to be forwarded
to the Planning Commission for consideration during the formal project review process.
Mr. Whittenberg further indicated that representatives of UNOCAL and Chambers
Group. Inc., were present this evening to respond to questions and concerns of the
Committee. He introduced Robert Province and Carlos Carrion of UNOCAL.
Mr. Province and Carrion reviewed the proposed project in detail for the Committee, and
addressed concerns of the Committee:
Mr. Fitzpatrick, reviewed planned activities in detail, determining that only the provision
of the "berm ramp", would require excavation. The ramp would be approximately 2 feet
high, 15 feet wide, and 2 to 3 feet in length. Anticipated excavation would be
approximately 2 feet. In response to a question from Mr. Whittenberg, Mr. Carrion
indicated the ramp could be constructed of imported material.
Ms. Hahn determined that pressure testing activities would not result in excavation, since
the service and distribution lines are all above-ground. She also requested to have
indicated on the Soils Report Map the location of the planned activities, with Mr. Carrion
so indicating.
Mr. Whittenberg introduced Philip DeBarros and Roger Mason of the Chambers Group
to the Committee. Mr. DeBarros distributed to all members of the Committee a
pamphlet titled "A Guide to Cultural Resource Management for California Planners,
Developers, Contractors and Property Owners", authored by Dr. Philip DeBarros and
Carmen Weber of the Chambers Group. Inc.
Mr. DeBarros and Mason responded to questions of the Committee and indicated that
normally a test phase investigation is not recommended unless the site in question has
previously been recorded, that this site could contain either natural or cultural materials,
with their belief the material on the surface is natural in origin. However, in order to
insure adequate protection they have recommended monitoring during any excavation
phase, the 1896 USGS Map indicates the subject site to be part of an estuary system and
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Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes
May 19, 1993
therefore any deposits are most probably natural in origin, and explained that the
monitoring language could be revised to indicate more detailed and explicit monitoring
activity to occur during any excavation phase.
Further discussion was held between the members of the Committee, Dr. Gary Stickel,
and the representatives of the Chambers Group as to apparent inconsistencies between
determinations and conclusions of a 1979 study conducted on the Department of Water
and Power Site, and the conclusions and determinations of the UNOCAL report.
Members of the committee felt that an inadequate analysis has been presented, with the
representatives of the Chambers Group indicating that in their opinion, the 1979 study
incorrectly denoted the size of the DWP site, understating its size. It was the opinion
of the Chambers Group that the subject UNOCAL site was part of the San Gabriel River
estuary system, and that the probability of cultural resources being on the site are
limited. However, their recommendation for monitoring during any excavation phase of
construction is based on the potential that cultural resources could be encountered, and
are conservative in nature, leaning towards protective mechanisms to be place during any
excavation activity.
After further review and discussion among the committee members, with the concurrence
of the representatives of UNOCAL, it was determined an a "test phase" analysis would
be appropriate in insure whether or not cultural resources occur on the site.
MOTION by Unatin, SECOND by Goldberg to recommend that a "test Phase" analysis
be conducted by Interdisciplinary Research Incorporated, with a minimum of two test
pits, and a cost of hopefully not to exceed $ 10,000.00.
MOTION CARRIED
6-0-0
Staff was requested to prepare new language regarding the proposed conditions of
approval and the "Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program".
5. REVIEW OF "DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR THE CURATION OF
ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS", prepared by the STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
revised October 23, 1992.
The Committee determined to review this matter at a future scheduled meeting.
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Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes
May 19, 1993
6.
ADJOURNMENT
The Committee determined to adjourn to May 24, 1993 at 5:00 P.M., and adjourned at
6:30 p.m.
J-.JJ!~
aIrman ,
Archaeological Advisory Committee
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Whittenberg, Secretary
Archaeological Advisory Committee
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Note: These Minutes are tentative until approved by the Archaeological Advisory Committee.
The Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes of May 19, 1993 were approved on August
21-, 1993.
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