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Home My WebLink AboutAAC Min 2002-12-04 I . . . . ~ CITY OF SEAL BEACH Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes of December 4, 2002 I. Call to Order The meeting of the Archaeological Advisory Committee (AAC) was called to order at 5 :33 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2002. The meeting was held in the City Hall Council Chambers.l II. Roll Call Present: Absent: Members Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Vesely Hoy Also Present: Department of Development Services Lee Whittenberg, Director Mr. Whittenberg reported that Member Hoy had telephoned to indicate that he would be out of town and unable to attend tonight's meeting. Mr. Whittenberg said it would be appropriate to excuse his absence. MOTION by Vesely; SECOND by Dixon to excuse Member Hoy from tonight's meeting. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 4-0-1 Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Vesely None Hoy III. Selection of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson Member Dixon nominated Gene Vesely for ChaIrperson. Member Vesely nominated Bruce Fitzpatrick for Chairperson who respectfully declined as he stated he is too frequently out of town and would not be available for the regular meetings of the ArchaeologIcal Advisory Committee (AAC). MOTION by Dixon; SECOND by Fitzpatrick to nominate Gene Vesely for the position of Chairperson. 1 These Minutes were tranSCribed from audiotape of the meeting 1 . MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: Czty of Seal Beach Archaeologlcal AdvlSOry Commlttee Meeting Mznutes of December 4, 2002 3-0-1-1 Coles, Dixon, and Fitzpatrick None Boy Vesely Member Dixon nominated Richard Coles for Vice-Chairperson. MOTION by Dixon; SECOND by Vesely to nominate Richard Coles for the position of Vice- Chairperson. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: 3-0-1-1 Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Vesely None Boy Coles Chairperson Vesely then proceeded to chair the meeting. IV. Approval of Agenda . Member Dixon requested that Items 2 and 3 be removed from the Consent Calendar for discussion. MOTION by Coles; SECOND by Fitzpatrick to approve the Agenda as amended. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: V. Oral Communications None. VI. Consent Calendar 4-0-1 Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Vesely None Hoy 1. RECENE AND FILE Planning Department Memorandum re: "Seal Beach Weapons Support Facility, Installation Restoration Program -Status Report re: RAB Project Update", Memorandum dated November 12, 2002 . MOTION by Coles; SECOND by Fitzpatrick to approve the Consent Calendar as amended. 2 . MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Czty of Seal Beach Archaeologlcal AdvlSOry Commlttee Meetzng Mznutes of December 4, 2002 4-0-1 Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Vesely None Hoy 2. RECENE AND FILE Letter Dated November 19, 2002 to Karl Schwing, California Coastal Commission re: "Archaeological Investigations within the Hellman Ranch Specific Plan Area - Cease and Desist Order and Review Of "Mitigation Plan" Member Vesely asked Staff questioned the use of the statement in the last sentence of the second to the last paragraph on Page 2 stating that the AAC understands if the California Coastal Commission (CCC) does not forward the mitigation plan due to confidentiality issues. Mr. Whittenberg stated that this language was included at the direction of the City Attorney's Office because the last paragraph on page one indicates that the AAC cannot meet in closed session to discuss confidential matters. He said that whatever maps are attached to the mitigation program are confidential documents that cannot be distributed to the general public. Member Dixon inquired about the packet of information provIded to the AAC Members with documents that showed where the burial sites were located. Mr. Whittenberg stated that these documents were marked as CONFIDENTIAL but the AAC Members do have the right to review this confidential information. He indicated that what is circulated to the public is part of an agenda packet that would not contain these confidential documents. He stated that there are federal and state laws against divulging locations of cultural resource sites. . MOTION by Coles; SECOND by Dixon to RECENE AND FILE Letter Dated November 19, 2002 to Karl Schwing, California Coastal Commission re: "Archaeological Investigations withm the Hellman Ranch Specific Plan Area - Cease and Desist Order and Review Of "Mitigation Plan" MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 4-0-1 Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Vesely None Hoy 3. RECEIVE AND FILE Letter Dated November 19,2002 to Jamie Cleland, EDAW, re: Archaeological Advisory Committee Request for Clarification - "Archaeological Investigations within the Hellman Ranch Specific Plan Area, Seal Beach, California", prepared by EDA W Inc. (Formerly KEA Environmental, Inc.) MOTION by Dixon; SECOND by Coles to RECEIVE AND FILE Letter Dated November 19, 2002 to Jamie Cleland, EDA W, re: Archaeological Advisory Committee Request for Clarification - "Archaeological Investigations within the Hellman Ranch Specific Plan Area, Seal Beach, California", prepared by EDA W Inc. (Formerly KEA Environmental, Inc.) . MOTION CARRIED: 4 - 0 - 1 AYES: Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Vesely 3 Czty of Seal Beach Archaeological Advlsory Committee Meetzng Mznutes of December 4, 2002 . NOES: ABSENT: NODe Hoy VII. Scheduled Matters 4. Approval of Minutes of October 9,2002. Recommendation: Approve Minutes with any corrections determined appropriate. Member DIxon indicated several minor revisions to the minutes of October 9, 2002. MOTION by Dixon; SECOND by Coles to approve the Minutes of October 9, 2002 as revised per the comments of Member Dixon. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 4-0-1 Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Vesely None Hoy VIII. Committee Concerns . Member Fitzpatrick commented on a situation at an Indian Wells golf course that was constructed near Native American burial sites. He stated that the golf course was constructed around the burial sites and the area is clearly marked as a sacred burial ground to be respected. He asked why this could not be done at the Laing Homes site. Mr. Whittenberg stated that up until September 6, 2002 the Native Americans had not stated any particular desire to keep any of the remains on site. On September 6,2002 the Most Likely Descendent (MLD) then stated that he wanted a portion ofthe property available to re-inter the remains on the property. He said that this proposal is now under consideration. Member Dixon noted that in this case, instead of being surrounded by the open space of a golf course, the burial sites would be surrounded by dense housing and lots of children leaving open the possibility of vandalism. . Member Fitzpatrick noted that typically with new developments there are areas that are set aside for parks and open space. Mr. Whittenberg explamed that 100 acres adjacent to the mesa are deed restricted for a wetlands restoration project. He also noted that the Hellman's did deed Gum Grove Park to the City and there are cultural resources within the park boundaries. He indicated that the City has made an offer to have the burial remains re-interred within the boundaries of Gum Grove Park, however, this presents the problem of possibly digging up cultural resources within Gum Grove Park when attempting to re-inter the remains. The Director of Development Services stated that the City has also contacted the Navy to inqUire whether the remains could be re-interred in the Naval Weapons Station (NWS), however, this might present a problem with regard to base security and allowing the Native American to hold their ceremonies 4 . . . Clty of Seal Beach Archaeologlcal AdvlSOry Commlttee Meetzng Mznutes of December 4, 2002 on the base and permit the public to be on site. Member Dixon stated that there is a monument on the NWS that is open to the public. Member Fitzpatrick noted that the area designated for the wetlands restoration might be a good location for re-interment. Mr. Whittenberg stated that the law states that approval from the California Coastal Commission (CCC) must be obtained if re-interment is to take place off the site or off Gum Grove Park. Member Fitzpatrick asked how negotiations with the Native Americans were progressing regarding re-interment. Mr. Whittenberg stated that the MLD has not yet focused on this issue. Member Coles inquired as to who would bear the financial responsibility for re-interment of the remains. Mr. Whittenberg stated that the property owner would have to bear the cost. He noted that the owner has agreed to cover this cost for any option that the Native Americans decide upon, and have even agreed to pay for a monument indicating that the area was a Native American habitatIon area. IX. Staff Concerns Mr. Whittenberg stated that a special meetmg would probably be scheduled between now and the February 5,2003 meeting in order to review the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Boeing Specific Plan project. He approximated that the DEIR would be released around December 20, 2002. X. Adjournment MOTION by Coles; SECOND by Fitzpatrick to adjourn to the next scheduled meeting of January 2003. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 4-0-1 Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Vesely None Boy The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. to the next scheduled meeting. 5 . . . Czty of Seal Beach Archaeologlcal AdvlSOry Commlttee Meetzng Mznutes of December 4, 2002 Respectfully Submitted, \.'~~ Carmen Alvarez, Executive Secretary Planning Department APPROV AL The Archaeological Advisory Committee on -9" -2:3 "1>::5 approved the Minutes of the December 4, 2002 meetin~ 6