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Home My WebLink AboutAAC Min 1998-04-08 . CITY OF SEAL BEACH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES APRIL 8, 1998 CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Johnston called the meeting to order at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers ROLL CALL Present: Willey, Young, and Chairperson Johnston . Also Present: Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services Absent: Fitzpatrick and Goldberg Mr. Whittenberg indicated Member Fitzpatrick would not be present as he was on spring break and Member Goldberg was not certain if she would be able to attend, as she was attending another meeting in Los Angeles. MOTION by Willey; SECOND by Young to excuse the absences of Members Fitzpatrick and Goldberg. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0-2 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Willey, Young, and Chairperson Johnston None Goldberg and Fitzpatrick APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairperson Johnston indicated the Minutes would be considered separately. . MOTION by Young; SECOND by Willey to approve the Agenda as modified by the Chairperson. C:\My Documents\ARCHCOMM\04-08-98 Minutes.doc\L W\O 1-28-98 . . . ArchaeologICal AdvIsory Committee Adjourned Meetmg Mmutes J411....,.}' 21, 1998 p,.f i, l %" J MOTION CARRIED: 3-0-2 A YES: NOES: ABSENT: Willey, Young, and Chairperson Johnston None Goldberg and Fitzpatrick ORAL COMl\fiJNICATIONS - None Member Willey arrived at 5:32 P.M. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: ADJOURNED MEETING OF JANUARY 21,1998 Member Willey indicated the word "authorize" is missing in the first line of the first paragraph on page 6. MOTION by Willey; SECOND by Young to approve the Minutes of January 21, 1998 as revised with the change on page 6, adding the word "authorize". MOTION CARRIED: 3-0-2 AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: Willey, Young, and Chairperson Johnston None Fitzpatrick and Goldberg 2. RECEIVE and FILE - City Council Staff Report of January 12, 1998 re: Seal Beach Naval Weapons Installation Restoration Program - Status Report re: All Installation Restoration Sites Recommendation: Receive and File subject report. 3. RECEIVE and FILE - City Council Staff Report of March 9, 1998 re: Seal Beach Naval Weapons Installation Restoration Program - Status Report re: All Installation Restoration Sites Recommendation: Receive and File subject report 4. RECEIVE and FILE - City Council Staff Report and Comment Letter of March 9, 1998 re: City Response Letter re: "Draft Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis - Non-Time Critical Removal Action for Installation Restoration Program Site 19 - Building 241 Disposal Pit, Weapons Support Facility, Seal Beach e....doo 2 . ArchaeologICal AdvIsory CommIttee Adjourned Meebng Mmutes rls"u",:,. :1 " 1998 A~r.~\ ~, Recommendation: Receive and File subject report 5. RECEIVE and FILE - City Council Staff Report and Comment Letter of March 9, 1998 re: City Response Letter re: "Draft Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis - Non-Time Critical Removal Action for Installation Restoration Program Site 8 - Battery Shop Drainage from Building 235, Weapons Support Facility, Seal Beach Recommendation: Receive and File subject report 6. RECEIVE and FILE - City Council Comment Letter of March 25, 1998 re: "Draft Field Sampling Plan and Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Groundwater Monitoring Study at Sites 1 and 7, Weapons Support Facility, Seal Beach Recommendation: Receive and File subject Comment Letter 7. RECEIVE and FILE - City Council Comment Letter of March 25, 1998 re: "Draft Ecological Risk Assessment - Phase II Validation Study Work Plan for Weapons Support Facility Seal Beach Installation Restoration Program . Recommendation: Receive and File subject Comment Letter 8. RECEIVE and FILE - "Digging for Dinosaur Gold", Smithsonian, March 1998, pages 40-53 Recommendation: Receive and File subject magazine article MOTION by Young; SECOND by Willey to approve the Consent Calendar, items 2 through 8. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0-2 A YES: NOES: ABSENT: Willey, Young, and Chairperson Johnston None Fitzpatrick and Goldberg SCHEDULED MATTERS 9. PRESENTATION by Members Fitzpatrick and Willey re: C14 dating process . Recommendation: Receive presentation and direct staff regarding other information needs of the Committee re: C14 dating process. 04-08-98 Minutes.doc 3 . ArchaeologICal Advisory Committee Adjourned Meetmg Mmutes .HH9/HlI} 21, 1998 ~~~ \ "") Member Willey indicated she did not have a presentation, as she was not able to get to the library at Cal State Long Beach. She did prepare some information off the Internet, which is more technical than Member Fitzpatrick's materials. Her material is from Oxford University, and discusses the topics of radiocarbon dating, radiocarbon date calculations, corrections to radiocarbon dates, and liquid scintillation counting, and is radiocarbon dating the best current method. Member Willey indicated she will prepare additional information when she can find the article she wanted to provide. She also indicated she provided an article from a Christian group that is not scientifically founded. Member Willey further discussed various dating methodologies, including C14 and potassium argon, and which is appropriate for use within certain time periods, based on the half-life of the particular dating chemical. The Committee determined to review the material presented and to schedule this matter for additional discussion at a future date. 10. CONSIDERATION of COMMENT LETTER re: Recirculated DEIR: "Commercial Development Of Los Altos Drive-In Theater, City Of Long Beach ", dated March 1998 . Recommendation: Authorize Chairperson to sign proposed response letter, with any amendments determined appropriate. Receive and File subject report Mr. Whittenberg indicated this matter is presented to the Committee for consideration based on staff review of the proposed mitigation measures. It is the opinion of staff that several of the mitigation measures could be improved. Member Willey indicated it is obvious the site has been decimated, but the paving work in 1972 was the most destructive to the site. The question now is what may remain under the paved areas. When the cover material is removed, a test pit investigation is warranted, rather than monitoring grading, and then doing test pit investigations if something is discovered. She would recommend that a testing program be required at the time of removal of the overlay pavement. Chairperson Johnston indicated the area is a major burial ground, referencing the burial information from Ca-LAN-270, and to not consider a testing program, is inappropriate. . Mr. Whittenberg asked if the Committee could define the areas where the test phase work should occur in, or should a sampling program of the entire site be considered? Member Willey indicated a qualified archaeologist should 04-08-98 Minutes doc 4 . ArchaeologICal AdVIsory Committee Adjourned Meetmg Mmutes ""..un.,1 '1, 1998 ~{. " C( ) investigate the entire site when the covering pavement is removed. Mr. Whittenberg indicated staff was suggesting a "Research Design" be prepared, and the Committee concurred with tha,t suggestion. Member Willey indicated the "Research Design" should include a formal testing program, not a monitoring program. Member Willey also indicated the "Research Design" should include the procedural steps in contacting the most likely descendents and appropriate authorities if human remains are found. Mr. Whittenberg indicated the response letter should expand on the comments regarding Mitigation Measure 111.5, indicating the "Research Design" should include test phase investigations upon removal of the cover material, process for identification and notification of the "most likely descendent" and appropriate authorities if human remains are found, given the existing information regarding burials within the area and within close proximity of the site. Mr. Whittenberg asked for instruction from the Committee to revise the discussion Mitigation Measure 11-5 as indicated, and forward it to the Chairperson for signature. . MOTION by Young; SECOND by Willey to instruct staff to revise the comment letter as discussed and forward to the Chairperson for signature. MOTION CARRIED: 3-0-2 AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Willey, Young, and Chairperson Johnston None Fitzpatrick and Goldberg Mr. Whittenberg indicated he will prepare the revised letter early next week for transmittal to the Chairperson for signature. CO~TTEECONCERNS Member Willey asked the status of the Hellman Ranch project. Mr. Whittenberg reviewed the Coastal Commission hearing on April 7, indicating the matter was continued to June, more than 100 persons spoke regarding the project, with approximately 80% in favor. The major issue to be resolved is the actual number of acres of wetlands to be restored. . STAFF CONCERNS 04-08-98 Minutes doc 5 . . . Archaeological Advisory CommIttee Ad.Joumed Meetmg Mmutes ./fmNBt"Y 21, 1998 A~n \ i'") Mr. Whittenberg indicated the Bixby Old Ranch Towne Center Draft EIR will be released some time next week, and that will trigger a 45-day public comment period. During the time, the Committee will consider the "Cultural Resources" section of the Draft EIR and provide comments to the Environmental Quality Control Board and the Planning Commission. He indicated the Committee will need to meet at a special meeting to consider this matter, as the next regular meeting of the Committee will be after the close of the 45-day comment period. After discussion, Mr. Whittenberg was instructed to schedule a special meeting at a time in early May, 1998. ADJOURNMENT There being no objection, at 6:04 P.M., Chairperson Johnston adjourned the Archaeological Advisory Committee Meeting. !fit<- U~ Whittenberg, Secretary Archaeological Advisory Committee Note: These Minutes are tentative until approved by the Archaeological Advisory Committee. The Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes of April 8, 1998 were approved on /J'JA-Y ~ ,1998. * * * * 04-08-98 Minutes.doc 6