Minutes, Cultural and Historical Resources Technical Advisory Team
November 9, 2000

The Cultural and Historical Resources Technical Advisory Team met in regular session in Conference Room D at the Pima County Public Works Center, 201 N. Stone Avenue, Tucson, Arizona on Thursday, November 9, 2000 at 10:30 a.m. Those present and absent were listed as follows:
Present:

Dr. Paul Fish, Arizona State Museum (Chair)

Dr. Beth Grindell, Arizona State Museum
Ms. Mary Farrell, Coronado National Forest
Ms. Marty McCune, Historic Program Administrator, City of Tucson
Mr. Peter Steere, Tohono O'odham Nation Cultural Preservation Office
Mr. David Cushman, Pima County Archaeological and Historic Preservation Office
Ms. Linda Mayro, Pima County Archaeological and Historic Preservation Office
Absent:

Mr. Max Witkind, Bureau of Land Management
Ms. Sue Wells, National Park Service
Mr. Jerry Kyle, Arizona Historical Society
Mr. Joe Joaquin, Tohono O'odham Nation Cultural Preservation Office (alternate)

There were two members of the public present:
Dr. Jonathan Mabry, Desert Archaeology, Inc.
Mr. Jim McDonald, Coronado National Forest, USFS

1.CALL TO ORDER

The meeting got under way with a call to order by Dr. Fish at approximately 10:40 a.m. Mr. Jim McDonald, a planner for the Coronado National Forest, was recognized. Mr. McDonald said that he was attending as an observer for the USFS.

OLD BUSINESS

2.APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM AUGUST 21, 2000 AND SEPTEMBER 25, 2000 MEETING

The draft minutes for the previous two meetings of the Team were approved as follows.

For the meeting held on August 21, 2000, Marty McCune motioned for approval that was seconded by Paul Fish. Motion carried unanimously.

For the meeting held on September 25, 2000, Marty McCune motioned for approval that was seconded by Beth Grindell. Motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

3.SDCP UPDATES

Linda Mayro was not present at the beginning of the meeting to provide an update on the status of the SDCP. Mr. Cushman informed the Team that Congress had recently approved a 1 million dollar appropriation for the SDCP in the next fiscal year and added that some of this would be available for cultural resources studies. He reviewed the proposed schedule for the Environmental Impact Statement and noted that the county planned to produce 100 reports over the next two years, five of which are related to cultural and historical resources. He also noted that since the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) had accepted the argument that issuance of the Section 10 permit is an undertaking under the National Historic Preservation Act, cultural resources would figure into the federal processes now underway. There was some question about whether the USFWS would be handling this out of their Albuquerque office or whether this would be done here in Tucson. Mr. Cushman said it was his understanding that this would be coordinated through Sherry Barrett, the USFWS staffer, here in Tucson.

Paul Fish asked if the USFWS could survey the Buenos Aires Wildlife area as their contribution to cultural resources management for the SDCP. He pointed out how much that would contribute to the limited survey data that currently exists for the Altar Valley. Mr. Cushman thought that was a fine idea and said we could always ask, but noted that the USFWS is sensitive about what they are obligated to do under the National Historic Preservation Act.

Peter Steere seconded the idea and suggested that the Team send a letter to the USFWS recommending the survey. No motion was made to do this and the matter was dropped for possible action at a later date.

4.FEDERAL CULTURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT PLANS AND THE SDCP

David Cushman brought up the subject of how to integrate Pima County's cultural resource management goals with those of the federal land managers. He explained that the county saw the need to do this in order to develop a truly regional approach to the identification, treatment, and conservation of cultural resources. Since the federal land managers (NPS, USFS, and BLM) are required by federal law to manage these resources on lands that they administer, making the county's plans consistent with theirs makes sense from a practical standpoint and would enhance overall effectiveness in management. He asked if the federal agencies have planning documents from which a synopsis of management goals and practices could be developed for the county's use.

Mary Farrell and Jim McDonald of the USFS were the only federal agency representatives at the meeting. Ms. Farrell responded by saying that yes the Forest Service had a management plan. She added that what was a priority at the moment was tribal consultation over actions on the Forest lands that might affect cultural resources that are of particular concern to the tribes. She noted that these resources are skewed to the uplands because of the nature of USFS land holdings in the mountains.

Mr. Cushman acknowledged this and pointed out the BLM would have experience with the lowland areas. He added that the BLM was not effectively a part of the Cultural and Historical Team because of the absence of Max Witkind. He thought that the BLM should rectify this problem if Max could not attend the meetings. Jim McDonald suggested speaking to Jessie Juen at the Tucson Field Office.

Mr. McDonald went on to say that the Coronado Forest does have plans and standards and guidelines for cultural resources management. The problem in the past is that there has been no funding for planning assessment updates. He did note, however, that the Forrest Plan was up for revision this spring. This document has been in place for fifteen years and must be updated by law. He said they expected funding this fiscal year.

Ms. Cushman asked if the county could review drafts of the plan as it developed since the timing of the revision was so close in time to the development a county wide management strategy. He thought it would be of great assistance to the county if this were possible.

Mr. McDonald said that normally review of the drafts outside of the agency would not be likely but that in this case the agency might make an exception.

Mr. Cushman said that the county would pursue the idea.

5.BUILDING THE CONSTRAINTS LIST/PROCESS

(Note: Linda Mayro joined the meeting at approximately 11:30 a.m.)

The next topic of discussion was how to address the need to develop a "constraint" list of places of exceptional importance that should be considered for conservation efforts as part of the SDCP. Mr. Cushman reiterated the need for this and reminded the Team of the preliminary listing that was developed for the Cultural Resources Element Report. He noted that the list was simply a tally of places considered important by the Team. The next stage is to narrow that list and in the process bring in other view points so that the end product reflects a consensus of the preservation community. He thought a subcommittee devoted to this task would be appropriate.

Jonathan Mabry noted that the Team needed to develop selection criteria to guide the process.

Marty McCune suggested that threat be considered as one of those criteria.

Mr. Cushman noted that the constraint list would become the basis for the report on high value archaeological sites due in May of next year.

Linda Mayro added that what is needed is an adaptive management plan that includes the constraint list so that the County can make comprehensive recommendations about future policies toward all cultural resources.

Dr. Fish thought that two lists, one for archaeological sites and one for historic resources, be prepared.

Ms. Farrell wondered if multiple subcommittees might be needed, one for each property type (archaeological sites, traditional cultural places, and historic resources).

Beth Grindell recommended that the AZSITE data base be used to help in selecting sites that could added to the constraints list. She volunteered to assist on the subcommittee.

Dr. Mabry suggested that this could be done by creating a data base with designated fields for each site under consideration and then using the data base to facilitate review of potential candidate sites.

Mr. Cushman thought that Dr. Mabry should be on the subcommittee; Dr. Mabry agreed.

Dr. Fish said he wanted to volunteer as well.

Ms. McCune asked that she be a part of the historic resources subcommittee and thought that there should be a representative from the Tucson Pima County Historical Commission (TPCHC). She suggested Terry Majewski.

Ms. Mayro suggested meeting as one subcommittee first and see how it goes. Then, if needed, break up into other groups.

Mr. Cushman said that the subcommittee needs to focus on three objectives: defining what is a constraint in the context of the SDCP; establishing the criteria to be used in selecting constraints; and, creating the process by which the Team and other members of the preservation community make the selections. A list can be developed by the Team and then circulated for outside review. Mr. Cushman then went on to suggest that he write up a proposal to create the subcommittee and asked the Team for potential names. Then at the next meeting the Team could vote on the creation of the subcommittee as proposed.

6. MARANA MOUND FIELD VISIT

The Team took up the idea of a joint field visit to a prominent local cultural resources with members of the Science and Ranching Teams. The Marana Mound complex was mentioned at the last meeting. Dr. Fish noted that archaeological testing was ongoing at the site now but only on Saturdays. After January 1, the work will intensify and there will be more potential dates for a field visit. He thought a mid January date would be best and recommended either Monday, Wednesday, or a Friday. He also suggested that we take the opportunity to show the other Team members the up slope areas so that they get a more complete understanding of the scale of the prehistoric settlement. All thought this a good idea.

Ms. McCune suggested inviting members of the Tucson Pima County Historical Commission.

Ms. Mayro also recommended inviting the cultural committee for the Tohono O'odham Nation and Peter Steere agreed that this would be appropriate. He said Mondays would be better but thought that a mid January date doable. Ms. Mayro suggested coming up with three alternate dates for people to consider.

7.NEXT MEETING

The next scheduled meeting will be on Thursday, December 14, 2000 at 10:30 a.m. at the Pima County Public Works Center Conference Room D.

There was extended last minuted discussion about the constraints subcommittee. The consensus was that a formal proposal as suggested earlier by Mr. Cushman was not necessary. Instead the subcommittee should be composed of willing members of the Team and several others invited to participate. Names suggested were Terry Majewski (TPCHC), Paul Fish, Jonathan Mabry, Beth Grindell, Marty McCune, and David Cushman. All present agreed to serve; Ms. McCune said that she would ask Ms. Majewski if she would serve and report back to the Team. It was decided that the Subcommittee on Constraints will meet on Wednesday, November 29th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Pima County Public Works Center Conference Room D.

Before adjourning, Mr. Steere expressed the concern of the Tohono O'odham Nation over the proposed Brawley Wash subdivision development, a 500 acre parcel in the Avra Valley that contains known archaeological sites of concern to the Tohono O'odham. He noted that the Planning and Zoning Commission had voted against it, but that it would come before the Board of Supervisors. Ms. Mayro said that she did not think the development would be approved.

8.ADJOURNMENT

As there was no further business to come before the Cultural and Historic Resources Technical Advisory Team, the meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

(Notes taken by David Cushman, Pima County Cultural Resources Office)