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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC Min 1995-04-19 , , ~ '-' '-" ~ t CITY OF SEAL BEACH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ADVISORY COl\1MITIEE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 19, 1995 I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Belardes called the meeting to order at 5:05 P.M. ll. ROLL CALL Present: Members Benjamin, Fitzpatrick, Frietze, Price, Unatin and Chairman Belardes Absent: Members Aviani, Goldberg, and Hahn Staff Presen t: Lee Whittenberg, Development Services Director Mr. Whittenberg indicated Members Goldberg and Hahn have indicated they would not be present this evening. Without objection, Chairman Belardes excused the absence of Members Goldberg and Hahn. ill. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairman Belardes said this was the time for any member of the Committee, staff or public to rearrange the order of the agenda, or request items to be removed from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion. MOTION by Benjamin; SECOND by Frietze to approve the Agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED 6-0-3 AYES: Benjamin, Fitzpatrick, Frietze, Price, Unatin, and Chairman Belardes D: \WPS 1 \ARCHCOMM\04-19-95. MIN\L W\04-20-9S " "-' \a.,. '-' Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes April 19, 1995 NOES: None ABSENT: Aviani, Goldberg, and Hahn IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Chairman Belardes asked for oral communications from the audience. There were none. V. CONSENT CALENDAR MOTION by Benjamin, SECOND by Price to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. MOTION CARRIED: 6-0-3 AYES: Benjamin, Fitzpatrick, Frietze, Price, Unatin, and Chairman Belardes NOES: None ABSENT: Aviani, Goldberg, and Hahn 1. FOLLOW-UP REPORT RE: RECEIVE AND FILE CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT RE: FINAL EA/IS - LOS ALAMITOS AFRC IP-S FUEL STORAGE FACILITY, dated March 27, 1995. Recommendation: Receive and File Follow-up Staff report. 2. ABSENCES OF COMMITTEE MEMBER A VIANI Recommendation: Receive and File Staff Report, instruct staff to forward to City Council for declaring of vacancy and re-appointment. VI. SCHEDULED MATTERS 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: APRIL 5, 1995 Recommendation: Approve Minutes with any corrections appropriate. D:\WPSI\ARCHCOMM\04-19-95 .MIN\L W\04.20-95 2 '-' Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes April 19, 1995 Chairman Belardes asked if there were any corrections to the Minutes of April 5, 1995. There were none proposed. MOTION by Unatin; SECOND by Frietze to approve the Archaeological Advisory Committee minutes of April 5, 1995 as submitted. MOTION CARRIED: 6-0-3 AYES: Benjamin, Fitzpatrick, Frietze, Price, Unatin, and Chairman Belardes NOES: None ABSENT: Aviani, Goldberg, and Hahn 4. REVIEW OF BIXBY OLD RANCH DEVELOPMENT PLAN FINAL EIR - CHAPTER 4.13 - CULTURAL RESOURCES ... Recommendation: Review and approve/modify the proposed conditions of approval and mitigation monitoring measures for the Bixby Old Ranch Development Plan FEIR, and forward a recommendation to the Environmental Quality Board as to the adequacy of the information provided, and forward a recommendation to the Planning Commission as to the adequacy of the proposed "Mitigation Measures". Approval should be through the adoption of Resolution No. 95-1 and Resolution 95-2 <Attachments 1 and 2, respectively). Alternate Resolutions are presented for the Committee if it determines modifications to the FEIR are appropriate. '-" Mr. Whittenberg indicated staff has provided a cover staff report which discusses previous actions taken by the Committee relative to the Bixby Old Ranch Golf Course Draft EIR (DEIR), indicating the staff report includes the memorandum from the Archaeological Committee to the Environmental Quality Control Board (EQCB), the comments from the UCLA Archaeological Information Center, and the "responses" to those comments included in the Final EIR (FEIR) for the proposed Bixby project. Mr. Whittenberg further indicated the Committee has prepared several resolutions for consideration by the Committee. Attachments 1 and 2 are from the Committee to the EQCB and the Planning Commission, respectively, and are prepared for adoption if the Committee determines the responses to comments and the revised mitigation measures, in conjunction with the information contained in the DEIR, adequately address the concerns of the Committee relative to protection of potential archaeological resources which may '-- D:\WP51 \ARCHCOMM\04-19-95. MIN\L W\04-20-95 3 \... Archaeological Advisory CommiJ1t't' Mil/lltt's All/it N, I (N5 be encountered as part ofa project approval development phase and comply with CEQA adequacy provisions. Attachments lA and 2A, respectively, are prepared for adoption if the Committee determines the responses to comments and the revised mitigation measures do not adequately address the concerns of the Committee relative to protection of potential archaeological resources which may be encountered as part of a project approval development phase. If the n:sponses and proposed mitigation measures are determined by the Committee to be inadequate, the Committee will need to specify what is believed to be inadequate, and propose additional mitigation measures for consideration by the EQC Band Planning Commission to address the concerns of the Committee. Member Benjamin asked for a recap of the concerns of the Committee. Mr. Whittenberg referred the Committee to Attachment 3, which includes the memorandum from the Committee to the EQCB, along with the responses to those comments contained in the Pinal EIR. Mr. Whittenberg further indicated the Committee should focus its efforts on determining if those responses and the proposed changes to the mitigation measures address those concerns. If they do not, additional comments and concerns should be prepared and forwarded to the EQCB and the Planning Commission. ~ Member Price indicated it was her understanding that if an archaeologist and Native American monitor was present, the concerns of the Committee was basically addressed. Mr. Whittenberg indicated it was his belief that there was a difference of opinion among members of the Committee, with some members feeling a Phase I site survey should be completed by an archaeologist prior to any project approval, and that the current mitigation measures would require observation by the city-selected archaeologist and Native American monitor at the time grading activity is ongoing. In response to a question from Member Price, Mr. Whittenberg indicated the "Archaeological Element" requires a walkover survey for "undeveloped" properties, and there are different interpretations as to what is "undeveloped". Mr. Whittenberg reviewed past practices on the Bixby Old Ranch Golf Course property, including the sod farming and composting uses of portions of the property. Member Benjamin stated she felt a walkover should be conducted of the entire site by an archaeologist, and inquired if members of the Committee could observe the walkover. Mr. Whittenberg indicated arrangements could be made at the time of any walkover survey, reviewed the size of the current golf course, and past earth removal activity which occurred to build up the College Park East area of the City. ~ D:\WPSl \ARCHCOMM\04-19-95. MINIL W\04-20-95 4 '-' Archaeological Advisory Committee MinI/It's April 19, 1995 Member Unatin inquired if all Committee members have reviewed the subject document and recommended that they proceed to review it section by section. Member Unatin reviewed the recommendation of the UCLA Archaeological information center and the response to that recommendation, asking if any members had concerns as to the proposed responses. Member Unatin indicated he felt the responses and revised mitigation measures were sufficient. ~ Chairman Belardes indicated the proposed measures allow for the capability to respond to a situation if archaeological resources are encountered during grading activities. Member Unatin further reviewed the proposed mitigation measures and compliance with the provisions of the Archaeological Element of the General Plan. Mr. Whittenberg indicated the drafting of the initial mitigation measures for this project was based on previous actions taken by the Committee relative to the UNOCAL project. The Committee, after discussion, then wished to revise the conditions and delete a reference to a Native American monitor from a specific tribe. Staff uses past approved conditions in providing direction in developing new conditions for new projects. Members Fitzpatrick and Benjamin indicated they felt the conditions were adequate. The Committee discussed the applicability of the "undeveloped" terminology of the Archaeological Element to the project site, with Mr. Whittenberg reviewing by use of the aerial photograph the location of the sod farm and composting areas, and the area previously leased by the AFRC. Member Prietze indicated that with the amount of past disturbance, it would be difficult to encounter archaeological resources, unless they are deeply buried. Mr. Whittenberg further reviewed the current proposed mitigation measures, and the Committee should focus on the ability of those conditions to adequately protect potential archaeological resources. Member Unatin asked if the members present could divine any issues which absent members might have brought up. Chairman Belardes indicated he felt Member Hahn wanted a walkover prior to project approval. Mr. Whittenberg indicatcd his understanding is that Member Hahn desires a walkover prior to project approval, not prior to grading or as observation as grading is occurring. The Committee determined the proposed conditions are sufficient. Member Benjamin indicated Member Hahn also had a concern because artifacts were found within one mile of the project site. Chairman Belardes reviewed the proposed process as being a risk of the developer, in anticipation that no cultural resources exist on the site. If cultural resources exist, they will show up. Chairman Belardcs indicated he felt the proposed mitigation measures are adequate safeguards. The Committee further discussed the abilities of the Native American representative's on the Committee to participate in the deliberations, since they both serve as monitors. They felt there was no conflict with the general nature '-- D:\WP51 \ARCHCOMM\04-19-95. MIN\LW\04-20-95 5 \..... Archaeologici/I Advi.w/y Committee Minutes April 19, 1995 of the proposed mitigation measures and the members of the Committee. Chairman Belardes reviewed the controversies involved with site mitigation on the Bolsa Chica project which involved reburial of Native American ancestors, and the difficulty of achieving consensus among the various Native American tribes. Chairman Belardes again indicated the conditions were sufficient. Chairman Belardes and Member Frietze reviewed difficulties involved with the Puvunga site at Cal State Long Beach. Member Frietze indicated her major concern was that a Native American monitor be present during any walkover and site excavation activity. The Native American monitor can evaluate the context within which shell artifacts might be found. Member Unatin asked for clarification regarding the recorded site across Seal Beach Boulevard. Mr. Whittenberg indicated till' second paragraph of the response addresses the concern, based on a correction of the site identification from Los Angeles to Orange County by UCLA Archaeological Information Center. The EIR document will be revised to reflect that correction. '-' MOTION by Unatin; SECOND by Fitzpatrick to approvl' Resolutions 95-1 and 95-2, as submitted. MOTION CARRIED: 6-0-3 AYES: Benjamin, Fitzpatrick, Frietze, Price, Unatin, and Chairman Belardes NOES: None ABSENT: Aviani, Goldberg, and Hahn 5. REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF "PHASE I - OVERVmW SURVEY and PHASE II - ARCHAEOLOGICAL, HISTORICAL, AND ARCHITECTURAL ELIGIBILITY STUDY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES ON THE NAVAL WEAPONS STATION, SEAL BEACH", revised February 1995. Recommendation' Re' d od . . . VIew an conSl er subject report. Instruct Chairman to sign 'prop~sed response letter or instruct staff to finalize a draft response letter for cOdnsIder~dtlon ~n May 3, 1995, or continue to May J 1995 for further "evl'ew an conSl eratlOn. "A' '-" D:\WP51 \ARCHCOMM\04-19_95. MIN\L W\04-20-95 6 Arch",'%gical Advisory Committee Minutes April 19, 1995 '--' Mr. Whittenberg indicated staff has reviewed the previous concerns of the Committee from December 1993 relative to this report, included a reference to those portions of the final document which, in staffs opinion, addressed those concerns of the Committee, and has prepared a draft response letter for Committee consideration. Mr. Whittenberg further reviewed the staff time constraints which the Committee has been appraised of in the Staff Report. '-- Member Unatin suggested continuing this matter until May 3 or have the members mail in concurrence with the proposed response. Mr. Whittenberg indicated the Committee should focus on the addr~sing of your concerns of 1993 in the subject document. Mr. Whittenberg indicated as staff, we do not have pride of authorship, we are attempting to place all of the concerns of the Committee, based on previous discussions and actions, into a format for the Committee to review and modify as appropriate. Member Price indicated she felt th~ letter ~a~ a good letter and reflected the thoughts of the Conunittee. Member Fnetze l~dIcated that communications between the Native American represen~tlves and the Naval Weapons Station have opened up since the f~rrr~ulatlOn of the Co~mittee, and she is frustrated about the amount of nit- pIcking on archaeologIcal issues at the base. Member Pn'c . d' ted h understands the ft' e 111 lca S e rus ration of the Weapons Station and th C . help of the Weapons Station. ' e ommlttee needs the Mem~er Price indicated this has been onooiJ () " doesn t step on an ybod y' s toes d b J to sm~e 1993 and the proposed letter in the past year. Mr. Whittenb~~ i~~?retsS~sl th~ Issues we have been discussing ;h~t ~~v:\:~~:~; ~\~t~~~s~r ~ra;~~I~:( I~~ig:l~a~: ~:~th::em:d the Navy has been extrel 0 e ayoSlllve one. Member Frietze' .' Fitzpatrick indicated he fee~:~~ responsIve 10 the Native Americans ~:cabted ecurrentC0ll1rnanderh b . m ef MOTION b . as een extremely helpful. y Pnce; SECOND b '. response letter as prepared b Y B~nJamln to instruct Chairman to . y staft. _ SIgn proposed MOTION CARRIED: AYES: 4-0-2-3 Benjamin F' t . , ne ze, PrIce, and Chairman Belardes None NOES: ABSTAIN: Fitzpatrick and Unatin '-' D:\WPSJ\ARCHCOMM\04_J9_95 M . IN\LW\04-20-95 7 ArchaeologiCllI Advisory Committee Minutes April 19. 1995 \. ABSENT: Aviani, Goldberg, and Hahn The Committee discussed the effect of the vote, with Mr. Whittenberg indicating he will research the rules of the Committee to determine if this vote constitutes a final action. If it does not, he will notify the Chairman and the Committee will need to meet again prior to the next regular Committee meeting to reconsider this matter. Vll. COMMITTEE CONCERNS Member Fitzpatrick reviewed for the information of the Committee the overflight patterns from Los Alamitos AFRC in relation to the proposed housing on the Bixby Old Ranch Golf Course, indicating the proposed homes are not in direct line with the end of the runway used by fixed wing aircraft. The placing of homes on the Bixby property would preclude general aviation use of the Los Alamitos AGRC. VID. STAFF CONCERNS '-' Mr. . Whitten~erg presented a staff report previously presented to the City Council re1atm~ ~o hIS cOJ?m~nts to the Restoration Advisory Board on the "Draft Final ~~~edIatI~n InveStIgatlO.n Report" relating to Sites 1, 7, 19 and 22, for information of th COh~mIttee. Mr. WhIttenberg also indicated that Joan Golberg of this Committee and e aIrman of the Environ t 1 Q r ' several other residents of Sea~~~a h ua Ity Cohntrol Boar(~, 10 ad~ition to himself and c serve on t e RestoratIon AdvISOry Board (RAB). IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Price; SECOND b Ben" . Wednesday, Iune 7 1995 5'00 Y ~amm ,to adjourn the meeting at 6'14 pm t , ,. p.m. at the CIty Hall Council Chambers.' " 0 MOTION CARRIED: 6-0-3 AYES: Benjamin, Fitzpatrick F . t p' , fIe ze, nee tl1ntin and Ch . , " aIrman Belardes None NOES: ABSENT: A viani, Goldberg, and Hahn '-" D:\ wPSl \ARCHCOMM\04_19_95 . MlN\L W\04-20-95 8 '-' '-' ,-". Archae%ginll Advisory Committee Minutes April 19, 1995 Chairman, Archaeological Advisory Committee Whittenberg, Secretary Archaeological Advisory Committee Note: These Minutes are tentative until approved by the Archaeological Advisory Committee. The Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes of April 19, 1995 were approved on Jv~.E. '/ ,1995. D:\WPSl \ARCHCOMM\04_19_95. MIN\L W\04-20-95 9