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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC Min 2005-06-13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 CITY OF SEAL BEACH Archaeological Advisory Committee Minutes of June 13,2005 The Archaeological Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting of June 13, 2005 was called to order at 5 :30 p.m. The meeting was held in the City Council Chambers. I. Call to Order II. Roll Call Present: Chairperson Vesely Members Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Hoy Absent: Also Present: Department of Development Services Lee Whittenberg, Director III. Approval of Agenda MOTION by Coles; SECOND by Fitzpatrick to approve the Agenda as presented. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 5-0 Vesely, Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Hoy None None IV. Oral Communications None V. Consent Calendar 1. RECEIVE AND FILE Memorandum dated February 23, 2005 re: Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station - Installation Restoration Program - Status Report re: RAB Project Update. 2. RECEIVE AND FILE Memorandum dated May 2,2004 re: Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station - Installation Restoration Program - Status Report re: RAB Project Update. 3. RECEIVE AND FILE Memorandum dated May 11, 2005 re: Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station - Installation Restoration Program - Status Report re: RAB Project Update. Page 1 of 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 ,39 40 41 42 43 44 45 City of Seal Beach Archaeological AdvIS01Y Committee Meetmg Mmutes of June 13, 2005 4. RECENE AND FILE Memorandum dated May 17, 2005 re: Summary - Base Realignment and Closure Proposals, Seal Beach and Los Alamitos. MOTION by Hoy; SECOND by Dixon to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 5-0 Vesely, Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Hoy None None VI. Scheduled Matters 5. APROV AL OF MINUTES OF February 7,2005 Recommendation: Approve Minutes with any corrections determined appropriate. Member Dixon referred to Item No.8 on Page 2 of the minutes of February 7,2005 and noted that the vote is incorrectly recorded. He indicated that he had arrived a few minutes late for the meetmg of August 9, 2004, but was present for the greater part of the meeting. Mr. Whittenberg stated that Staff would verify this and make any changes necessary to the record of minutes. Member Hoy noted that he would abstain from voting on this item, as he was late in arriving at the meeting of February 7, 2005. Mr. Whittenberg stated that since Mr. Hoy was present for the majority of the discussion he should participate in this vote. MOTION by Dixon; SECOND by Fitzpatrick to approve the Minutes of February 7, 2005, as may be revised. MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 5-0 Vesely, Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Hoy None None 6. RECEIPT OF "SYNOPSIS REPORT - IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MITIGATION PLAN FOR SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL RESOURCE DISCOVERIES, HELLMAN RANCH SPECIFIC PLAN AREA" Recommendation: Committee to Receive Synopsis Report. Receive and File Staff Report. Mr. Whittenberg noted that this report prOVIdes an update on the status of cultural resources at the Hellman Ranch Specific Plan area. He noted that all of the fieldwork is complete and laboratory work is proceeding. A final report will be prepared and made available in approximately 9-12 months. He indicated that reinterment work is still being done for specific Page 2 of 4 City of Seal Beach Archaeological Advismy Committee Meetmg Mmutes of June 13, 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 artifacts at the request of the Most Likely Descendant, and the final permit from the Califomia Coastal Commission (CCC) should be issued within approximately 30 days. Chairperson Vesely asked if specimens are found on the Exploratory Test Units (ETUs), does this then become a Date Recovery Unit (DRU). Mr. Whittenberg confirmed that this is correct. He explained that when the ETU is done, if something is found that becomes a DRU, and additional ETUs would then be done in a radial pattern around the location to verify if there is anything else around the finding. Member Coles asked if the reinterments in the preservation area are to be treated as a classified area after the development of homes is complete. Mr. Whittenberg stated that this will be a public open space area landscaped with native plants and due to federal and state regulations regarding the confidentiality of burial sites, the area will be designated as such on most documents without indicating what lies beneath. He noted that the property owner's legal counsel is in the process of reviewing what disclosures will be given to reSIdents purchasing homes in this development. Member Fitzpatrick noted that this is proposed to be an interment site for remains from other burial sites in the area. Mr. Whittenberg stated that it is set up for this, but so far no request for this have been received. MOTION by Hoy; SECOND by Coles to Receive and File "Synopsis Report - Implementation Of The Mitigation Plan For Significant Cultural Resource Discoveries, Hellman Ranch Specific Plan Area. " MOTION CARRIED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: 5-0 Vesely, Coles, Dixon, Fitzpatrick, and Hoy None None VII. Committee Concerns None. VIII. Staff Concerns Mr. Whittenberg reported that the City of Long Beach released a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Home Depot Project and as part of the City of Seal Beach's comment letter on the Notice of Preparation (NOP) Staff indicated that the project needed to have a cultural resource monitoring portion added to it in case anything is found during grading activities. The DEIR indicated that on-site monitoring would be available for paleontological resources, but not for cultural resources. He indicated that the City comment letter that appears on tonight's City Council agenda states that cultural resource monitoring should be included. He noted that since the release of that DEIR the City of Long Beach has prepared a NOP for another EIR for a project at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and Second Street where the Seaport Marina Hotel is currently located. The proposal is to demolish the hotel and construct 475 residential units, and 170,000 square feet of retail and theater uses. He stated that the DEIR for Home Depot does not mention this project as it was released before the NOP for the Seaport Page 3 of 4 City of Seal Beach Archaeological AdvIsory Committee Meetmg Mmutes of June 13, 2005 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Marina project. He indicated that in the opinion of Staff the City of Long Beach would have to redo all of the traffic studies, as they will have more things coming into the area. He noted that under CEQA it is not clear whether they will have to recirculate a new DEIR or if they can just include revised sections in the Final EIR. Mr. Whittenberg then reported that grading for the Boeing Project should begin by mid-July or early August, and they will have archaeology monitors on site. Member Dixon asked if the work would be contracted with EDA W. Mr. Whittenberg confirmed that it would be. The Committee then discussed the need for an archeologist Native American monitor on the Long Beach projects and inquired whether there were any way of requiring that they comply with this recommendation. Mr. Whittenberg noted that the City of Long Beach has its own Local Coastal Plan (LCP) and he is not certain that the Home Depot project is within the appealable area of the LCP for California Coastal Commission (CCC) action. Member Hoy asked if the City of Long Beach chooses to ignore this recommendation, could the City of Seal Beach Council appeal to the CCC. Mr. Whittenberg stated that generally cities make recommendations, but if they are not agreed with, most cities will not appeal. He noted that occasionally cities will sue, but it is usually regarding an environmental physical impact, such as noise or traffic. Member Dixon noted that perhaps a copy of the comment letter should go to the Native American Heritage Commission to help call their attention to this project. Mr. Whittenberg stated that a copy of the letter would be forwarded to this agency. IX. Adjournment There being no objections, Chairperson Vesely adjourned the meeting at 5:53 p.m. Chairperson, Archaeological Ad Respectfully Submitted, Carmen Alvarez, Executive Secreta Planning Department APPROV AL \~ The Archaeological Advisory Committee on \, I C)~, approved the Meeting Mmutes of the June 13, 2005. ~. Page 4 of 4