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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC Min 1999-07-07 " '" e e . CITY OF SEAL BEACH Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes July 7, 1999 The meeting of July 7, 1999 of the Archaeological Advisory Committee (AAC) was called to order at 5:32 p.m. The meeting was held in the City Council Chambers. L Call to Order ll. Roll Call Present: Acting Chairperson WiJIey Members Basch, Goldberg, and Vesely Member Fitzpatrick Absent: Also Present: Department of Development Services Lee Whittenberg, Director Mr. Whittenberg introduced the new members, Joyce Basch and Gene Vesely, and reminded the committee members that the Development Services Department was available to assist them in answering questions and providing secretarial support for Archaeological Advisory meeting items. ill. Approval of Agenda Mr. Whittenberg recommended that a motion be made to excuse Member Fitzpatrick who is currently traveling outside the country. MOTION by WiJIey; SECOND by Basch to excuse Member Fitzpatrick from tonight's meeting. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 4-0 Basch, Goldberg, Willey, and Vesely None None Acting Chairperson WiJIey provided the committee with a brief explanation of the general procedure for approving the Consent Calendar items. Member Vesely commented that he was in agreement with the City's letters sent to the Naval Weapons Station. MOTION by Vesely; SECOND by Goldberg to approve the Agenda as presented. .. e e e City of Seal Beach Archaeological Advisory CommIttee Meeting MInutes of July 7, 1999 MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 4-0 Basch, Goldberg, Willey, and Vesely None None IV. Oral Communications None V. Consent Calendar MOTION by Goldberg; SECOND by Vesely to approve the Consent Calendar as follows' 1. RECEIVE AND FILE Letter from City of Seal Beach to Department of Navy, Weapons Support Facility re: Comments re: "Draft Closeout Report - Removal Action - Installation Restoration Site 19 - Building 241 Disposal Pit and Sandblast Grit Area", letter dated June 1, 1999 and Environmental Quality Control Board Staff Report, dated May 26, 1999 2. RECEIVE AND FILE Letter from City of Seal Beach to Weapons Support Facility re: City of Seal Beach Comments re: "Draft Project Work Plan - Removal Action Installation Restoration Site 1 - Wastewater Settling Pond, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach", letter dated June 14, 1999 and City Council Staff Report, dated June 14, 1999 3. RECEIVE AND FILE Letter from City of Seal Beach to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Branch re: "Public Notice/Application No. 970033900-YJC, Rossmoor Retarding Basin/Storm Channel, Orange County, California", letter dated June 14, 1999 and City Council Staff Report dated June 14, 1999 4. RECEIVE AND FILE Letter from City of Seal Beach to Weapons Support Facility re: City of Seal Beach Comments re: "Draft Extended Removal Site Evaluation Report, IR Sites 40 and 70, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach", letter dated February 8, 1999 5. RECEIVE AND FILE Letter from City of Seal Beach to Weapons Support Facility re: City of Seal Beach Comments re: "Draft Groundwater Monitoring Study at Sites 1 and 7, Weapons Support Facility Seal Beach", letter dated April 12, 1999 MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 4-0 Basch, Goldberg, Willey, and Vesely None None VI. Scheduled Matters 6. Approval of Minutes of Special Meeting of February 17, 1999. 2 e City of Seal Beach Archaeological Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes of July 7, 1999 Acting Chairperson Willey asked for corrections or amendments to the Minutes of the Meeting of February 17, 1999, and noted one correction of Page 5 of the minutes should read "Member Fitzpatrick indicated he will discuss the situation with Council person Campbell." Mr. Whittenberg indicated that because Members Basch and Vesely were not in attendance at this meeting, their vote should reflect abstaining to vote to approve the Minutes ofFebruaryl7, 1999. MOTION by Goldberg; SECOND by Willey to approve the Minutes as amended. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: 2-0-0-2 Goldberg and Willey None Basch and Vesely None 7. REVIEW AND APPROVAL - "Archaeological Survey and Testing at Bixby Old Ranch Towne Center, Seal Beach, Orange County, California" - prepared by KEA Environmental, Inc. e Recommendation: Approve subject report, with any amendments determined appropriate. Mr. Whittenberg provided an explanation of the background for this report and the history of this proposed commercial development. The report provides the results of a walkover survey of the Bixby Ranch Golf Course to evaluate these areas for potential archaeological sites. He introduced Andrew York, a Senior Archaeologist with KEA Environmental, Inc., who was in attendance to respond to questions related to this report. Lorraine Willey commented that the report well written and easy to understand. Mr. York presented a brief discussion of the findings of the report. Mr. Whittenberg mentioned that monitors had located a fill deposit that will be evaluated further by the Bixby Ranch Company. He stated that an on-site meeting was scheduled to see if the grading plan needed to be changed. He indicated that a separate report of the results of the findings would be made available to the committee members. Mr. York stated that the presence of charcoal is a fairly good indicator that this is a cultural deposit. Member Vesely inquired about the Memorandum referred to in the Staff Report. Mr. Whittenberg provided explanation regarding the memorandum. e MOTION by Goldberg; SECOND by Basch to approve the report as presented. MOTION CARRIED: 4 - 0 AYES: Basch, Goldberg, Willey, and Vesely 3 e City of Seal Beach Archaeological Advisory Committee Meeting Mmutes of July 7, 1999 NOES: ABSENT: None None 8. REVIEW AND APPROVAL - "Revised Draft Historic Properties Evaluation Plan for Sites 30-0011502, 30-0011503, and 30-001154 - Naval Weapons Support Facility, Seal Beach, California", prepared by Mooney & Associates. Recommendation: Receive presentation from Weapons Support Facility cultural resource personneVconsultants and provide comments and/or concerns regarding the subject document. e Mr. Whittenberg stated that the Navy had provided documentation of a number of areas within the Naval Weapons Station observed during a site survey of portions of the property that had never been surveyed. He stated that the Archaeologist and Lisa Bosalet had presented the findings at the February 17, 1999 meeting. He indicated that this document presents the Navy's work plan for completing further evaluation to determine the significance of these sites. Mr. Whittenberg presented Ms. Bosalet and Mr. Rob Case of the Naval Weapons Station who reviewed their findings of Sites 30-0011502, 30-0011503, and 30-001154, and responded to questions from the Committee Members regarding the sites with human remains. (Audiotape was too garbled to distinguish complete text of comments.) Mr. Whittenberg informed the members that the page containing the missing figures for the report was being provided to them tonight. Ms. Bosalet stated that one of the original plans for the evaluation had some backhoe excavation that actually went into the channel area, and the Navy was very concerned about breaching that channel. Because of the narrow channel the Navy will backoff the trenching into the agricultural fields and into the road area that is more stable so as not to compromise the channel bank area. Mr. Case confirmed that the distance from the east bank to the shoulder of the channel is approximately 4 feet. Mr. Vesely asked if the flood control channel was concreted, Mr. Case indicated it was not, but that some areas that had rip rap installed did have concrete. Mr. Vesely inquired if this dig was in support of the Bixby Project. Mr. Whittenberg stated that this was an ongoing investigation undertaken by the Navy since they found a location with human remains and has no connection with the Bixby Project. Mr. Vesely asked how this site was discovered, and Ms. Bosalet answered that it was a result ofa walkover survey of the property. e Member Willey asked how far the trenches would go. Mr. Case responded that no decision had been made as to the length of the trenches. He said that they were soliciting input on this issue, but normally the trenches would be 4-5 meters in length. Further study of the history and topography of the area must be completed. Mr. Case stated that he believed Seal Beach Boulevard was probably one of the original wagon roads, which was selected because it followed 4 e City o/Seal Beach Archaeological Advisory Committee Meeting Mmutes 0/ July 7, 1999 the natural water course where fresh water would be available to travelers. He stated that if this were true, there would be a stronger likelihood of prehistoric occupation of this area, Mr. Whittenberg indicated that Staff had prepared a draft letter to the Naval Weapons Station stating that the City was in agreement with the findings, asking for continued consultation of Native Americans, in particular with regard to Site 30-0011502. The letter also states that a full evaluation will be completed before the winter storm season to prevent the washing away of cultural remains. Mr. Whittenberg then requested a copy of the 1999 Inventory Survey Report, which he stated, had not been received from the Naval Weapons Station. MOTION by Vesely; SECOND by Basch to approve the presentation from the Naval Weapons Station cultural resource personneVconsultants as presented and approve the comment letter as prepared. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 4-0 Basch, Goldberg, Willey, and Vesely None None e VB. Committee Concerns Member Goldberg announced that she would no longer be participating as a member of the Archaeological Advisory Committee. vm. Staff Concerns Mr. Whittenberg indicated that Member Goldberg's participation and knowledge would be greatly missed. IX. Adjournment There being no objections, Acting Chairperson Willey adjourned the meeting at 6: 15 p.m. to September 1999. The July 21, 1999 meeting is cancelled due to lack of agenda items. ~~~~~ dcd~ Acting Chairperson, Archaeological Advisory Committee e 5 e e e City of Seal Beach Archaeological AdvIsory Committee Meeting Minutes of July 7, 1999 Respectfully Submitted, ~A~~ Carmen Alvarez, Executive Secre~ Planning Department APPROVAL The Archaeological A~visory Committee on~, 1999 approved the Minutes of the July 7, 1999 meeting. ~ . 6