Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC Min 1999-02-17 . CITY OF SEAL BEACH ARCHAEOLOGICAL ADVISORY COMMItTEE SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 17, 1999 CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Johnston called the meeting to order at 5:32 P.M. in the City Council Chambers ROLL CALL Present: Goldberg, Fitzpatrick, Young and Chairperson Johnston . Also Present: Lee Whittenberg, Director of Development Services Absent: Willey Mr. Whittenberg indicated Member Willey had not called, and perhaps she will arrive later. There being no objections, Vice-Chairperson Fitzpatrick trailed this matter to the end of the agenda. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Goldberg; SECOND by Fitzpatrick to approve the agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: ABSENT: 4-0-1 Goldberg, Fitzpatrick, Young and Chairperson Johnston Willey ORAL COMMUNICATIONS - None CONSENT CALENDAR . C:\My Documents\ARCHCOMM\02-17-99 Minutes.doc\LW\02-25-99 . ArchaeologIcal Advisory Committee SpecIal Meetmg Mmutes February 17, 1999 MOTION by Goldberg SECOND by Young to approve the Consent Calendar as follows: 1. RECEIVE AND FILE Letter from City of Seal Beach to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District re: "Public Noticel Application No. 98-00638- YJC, Bolsa Chica Channel, Orange County, California", dated September 29, 1998 2. RECEIVE AND FILE Letter from City of Seal Beach to County of Orange Planning and Environmental Services Department re: City of Seal Beach Comments re: "Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration - Balsa Chica Channel (C02) Improvements", dated September 29, 1998 3. RECEIVE AND FILE City Council Staff Report dated January 25, 1999 re: Seal Beach Weapons Support Facility Installation Restoration Program - Draft Final Site Management Plan . MOTION CARRIED: A YES: ABSENT: 4-0-1 Goldberg, Fitzpatrick, Young and Chairperson Johnston Willey Member Willey arrived at 5:40 PM. SCHEDULED MATTERS 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MEETING OF NOVEMBER 4, 1998 Chairperson Johnston asked for any corrections or amendments to the Minutes of the Meeting of November 4, 1998. There were no corrections requested. MOTION by Fitzpatrick; SECOND by Goldberg to approve the minutes of November 4, 1998 as presented. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: 4-0-1 Fitzpatrick, Goldberg, Willey and Young None Chairperson Johnston 5. REVIEW AND APPROV AL - Archaeological Services for Bixby Old Ranch Towne Center Project, Seal Beach - KEA Environmental . Recommendation: Approve Proposal for Archaeological Services with any modifications determined appropriate and forward to City Council for concurrence. 02-17-99 Minutes.doc 2 . ArchaeologIcal Advisory CommIttee SpecIal Meeting Minutes February 17, 1999 Mr. Whittenberg reviewed this matter, indicating this is one of the first compliance measures regarding the Bixby Old Ranch Towne Center project to come before the Committee. The overall project was approved by the City Council in November 1998, and this item is being submitted for Committee review and approval in compliance with the requirements of the mitigation measures relating to cultural resources on the Bixby site. The proposal submitted by KEA responds, in the opinion of staff, to the concerns of the Committee as set forth in the various cultural resource mitigation measures and the discussion of the Committee. Member Fitzpatrick inquired as to the dedication of the Old Ranch Tennis Club to the City and the location of the noise impact zones related to the Armed Forces Reserve Center as those have been changed over the years. Mr. Whittenberg indicated the noise impact zones related to the Armed Forces Reserve Center is not an issue of concern to the Committee, and would be happy to discuss that issue with Mr. Fitzpatrick at another time. Member Goldberg verified that the staff of KEA is ready to proceed upon approval of the scope of work. Mr. Whittenberg indicated the Committee action should be to authorize the Chairperson to sign the Memorandum to the City Council recommending approval of the Scope of Work submitted by KEA Environmental, dated February 4, 1999. . MOTION by Goldberg; SECOND by Willey to approve the Scope of Work submitted by KEA Environmental, dated February 4, 1999 and authorize the Chairperson to sign the Memorandum to the City Council regarding the Committee review and approval of said document. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: 5-0 Fitzpatrick, Goldberg, Willey, Young and Chairperson Johnston None None 6. DISCUSSION REGARDING ONGOING AND FUTURE CULTURAL RESOURCE EVALUATIONS - WEAPONS SUPPORT FACILITY, SEAL BEACH Recommendation: Receive presentation from Weapons Support Facility cultural resource personneVconsultants and provide comments and/or concerns based on presentation. . Mr. Whittenberg indicated this matter was scheduled for the previous Committee meeting, but was placed on this agenda due to the cancellation of the last meeting due to a lack of a quorum. Mr. Whittenberg turned the presentation over to Lisa Bosalet of the Weapons Support Facility and the archaeologist's from the firm of Mooney and Associates. 02-17-99 Minutes doc 3 . Archaeological Advisory Committee Special Meeting Minutes February 17, 1999 Mrs. Bosalet indicated the Navy has embarked on conducting a Phase I survey of those portions of the Weapons Support Facility not previously investigated. The survey will encompass approximately 2,830 acres of the Facility. Mrs. Bosalet indicated the Navy will be presenting additional information to the Committee, as the field research has now been completed. She asked Richard Carrico of Mooney and Associates to present their findings to the Committee. . Richard Carrico, Senior Archaeologist and Robert Case, Associate Archaeologist, Mooney & Associates addressed the Committee. In response to a question of Member Goldberg, Mrs. Bosalet indicated some remaining portions of the Weapons Support Facility under easement to various agencies was not surveyed, but the large m~ority of the Facility has been surveyed. Mr. Carrico indicated Mooney & Associates are under contract with the Navy to complete this project, and he was previously with Ogden Environmental when the Historic and Archaeological Resources.Plan (HARP) was prepared for the Facility. Mr. Carrico indicated the survey has been completed, and the site conditions allowed for very good visibility, with the exception of some fields under investigation. Mr. Carrico and Mr. Case then reviewed the survey methodology, indicating the dates various areas of the facility were surveyed. They then presented the preliminary results of those findings to the Committee, indicating that one prehistoric site and two prehistoric isolates were discovered, and also two possible historic trash areas and five historic isolates. At the prehistoric site cremated human remains, stone bowl fragments, flaked stone tools and manos were found. Mr. Carrico and Mr. Case discussed these sites in greater detail with the Committee and reviewed their Presentation Report to the Committee (attached to these minutes for public information). The Committee discussed with the consultant team the possible importance of the sites and the continued viability of the sites during the rainy season. After reviewing several of the artifacts recovered and discussing the reasons for the Orange County Coroner determining not to visit the site to verify the determinations of the archaeologist, the Committee requested Mr. Carrico to again request the coroner to visit the site. The Committee wished to ensure that all of the proper procedures regarding the human remains were followed, and Mr. Carrico indicated that request would be made. The Committee also requested the archaeologists to consider the impact leaving the remains in place or instituting some sort of recovery program to protect the site from destruction due to natural storm activity during the winter season. Mr. Carrico indicated his firm and the Navy are sensitive to the concerns of the Native American community and will be communicating with the appropriate interested parties as to how do deal with this situation. . The Committee thanked the Navy and the archaeologists of Mooney & Associates for their informative presentation, and requested the opportunity to review and comment on the reports that will be prepared regarding this project. Mrs. Bosalet indicated the Committee will be kept fully informed and will be provided an opportunity on the project reports. 02-17-99 MlDutes doc 4 . Archaeological Advisory CommIttee SpecIal Meeting Minutes February 17, 1999 COMmflTTEECONCERNS Member Fitzpatrick indicated he has accepted a teaching position in Tokyo, Japan that will take four months, starting May 1, 1999. He is not sure as to how to deal with that opportunity and his desire to remain on this Committee. Member Fitzpatrick indicated he would like to see the Hellman project through. Mr. Whittenberg indicated he may want to remain on the Committee, as realistically there does not appear much coming before the Committee during the May to August time period, as the Hellman archaeological field work will require a substantial time, and the appropriate reports for Committee consideration would probably not be before the Committee during the time period Member Fitzpatrick would be in Japan. Member Fitzpatrick indicated he will discuss this situation with Councilperson Fitzpatrick, and it was the consensus of the Committee that Member Fitzpatrick remain on the Committee if at all possible. . Chairperson Johnston indicated she will be resigning form the Committee due to other demands on her time in teaching native languages and serving as Tribal Chair of the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, along with her job and family responsibilities. Chairperson Johnston indicated her appreciation to the Committee for its sensitivity to Native American concerns and issues and will miss working with the Committee. She suggested another Native American, such as Craig Torres, be considered for the Committee. The Committee members and Mr. Whittenberg indicated their appreciation to Chairperson Johnston for her service to the City and her ability to work within the City in this sensitive area. Chairperson Johnston indicated this will be her last meeting with the Committee. STAFF CONCERNS Mr. Whittenberg indicated there is no need to meet on March 3, as there are no pending items for the Committee to consider. ADJOURNMENT There being no objections, Chairperson Johnston adjourned the meeting at 6:47 P.M. to Wednesday, May 5, 1999 at 5:30 P.M. Chairperson, Archaeological Advisory Committee . 02-17-99 Minutes.doc 5 . . . ArchaeologICal Advisory Committee SpecIal Meeting Minutes February 17, 1999 ~/t7~ Whittenberg, Secretary Archaeological Advisory Committee Note: These Minutes are tentative until approved by the Archaeological Advisory Committee. The Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes of February 17, 1999 were approved on J (/LY -, ,1999. * * * * 02-17-99 Minutes doc 6