Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 08-24-2010 Regular — reading text

Recognition Scoland Xchary Frain Boy Scout Troop 44 Agenda Item Number: 5. 2  1 N o a U bA O KOWN M 0 U MW O cc3 0 N O 4 O bA cc3 0 O O cc3 IT.-j o O M od O O c. 4 9 d' N 4 Un O U f 4 t O 4 O O O O c Rm 0 4 U U  Pyle,, 4- 4 ry,) U THIS PAGE IS LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK  CITY CONCIL KEYING August ;10 Presentation Walton Guard 2011 /FWB Chamber of Commerce. Synopsis: Jim Busby, Walton Guard, and Ted Corcoran, FWB Chamber of Commerce, will make a presentation about, and request approvalfor, a proposed April 2011 Civil War encampment re- enactment Agenda Item Number: 61  CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH Heritage Park and Cultural Center STAFF REPORT To: Robert T. Mearns, City Manager From: Gail Lynn Meyer, Museum Manager Date: August 18, 2010 Subject: Ft Walton Guard Use of Landing for Civil War Re- enactment 1. Background: 1. 1 The City of Fort Walton Beach Landing Park was the location of a Civil War tent encampment from 1861 - 1862. The Landing Park is located within the archaeologically sensitive zone established by the City of Fort Walton Beach. 1. 2 150th In April 2011 the nation will be celebrating the anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. The Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, the City of Fort Walton Beach Parks and Cultural Division, several local re- enactor groups and the City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center will be partnering to bring a festival celebration to the Landing for the general public. In the course of the festival the re- enactors have asked to build five to ten campfires on the Landing property. These campfires are for the purpose of cooking only and will require the removal of the sod layers and a maximum of 6 inches of underlayment soil. 1. 3 Under 17. 70. 7 of the Land Development Code ( LDC) entitled Phase I Archaeological Survey: If any development on property, other than residential property, will disturb the ground and is located within the archaeological sensitive zone, then a Phase I Archaeological Survey is required unless waived by the Historic Sites and Structures Advisory Board ( HSSAB). 2. Discussion: 2. 1 On July 20, 2010 a staff report was made to the HSSAB asking them to consider the impact of possible fire building activities at Fort Walton Landing in conjunction with the 2011 Civil War event. The HSSAB felt that the proposed area impacted would be minimal and the expected damage to the archaeologically sensitive area would also be minimal. Staff recommended that monitoring of the fire- building activity could be used to assure that re- enactors do not contribute to any archaeological disturbance. This could be accomplished as the disturbance was expected to be very specific in nature and extremely low- impact. The Board recommended instead that the re- enactors receive training prior to the activity to make them aware of the possible artifacts to be encountered at the site. Museum staff would be happy to assist in the training. 2.2 Under 17. 70. 10 of the LDC Excavations Public entitled on City Property: No disturbances shall be authorized within properties belonging to the city, excluding public  streets and rights -of w - ay or in the case of an emergency repair, which are located within the archaeologically sensitive zone without an archaeologist being present on site during excavation or an archaeological survey being conducted, unless approved by the HSSA Board. Staff recommended that museum personnel have the ability to monitor re- enactor activity and they could be relied upon to cease any activity outside the expected range should the HSSAB agree that archaeological monitoring by a certified archaeologist was not necessary. The HSSAB felt this could be an acceptable course of action. 2. 3 Under 17. 70. 11 of the LDC entitled Ownership, possession of artifacts; removal of human skeletal remains: Provisions are made for artifacts uncovered, recovered or discovered during the course of any testing or monitoring. The City of Fort Walton Beach Heritage Park and Cultural Center would be proud to retain possession of any artifacts resulting from the re- enactor activity and would provide for the proper analysis, cataloging and recording of any recovered materials. Although the museum has agreed to curate any materials recovered, it is anticipated that artifact removal will not take place and any items encountered will remain in -situ. It is also understood that staff may suggest the relocation of a fire pit if significant artifacts are uncovered. 2. 4 Should human remains be recovered in the archaeological context, the discovery would be coordinated with the local medical examiner and the state archaeologist in accordance with provisions of Chapter 872 of the Florida Statutes, as amended. Such material would be sensitively treated, would not be removed and re- enactor activity would be ceased at that location. 3. Recommendation 3. 1 The HSSAB recommends that the re- enactors be asked to agree that 1) the placement of the fire pits would be flagged in advance; 2) no digging would take place without a museum staff member present; 3) the sod would be removed carefully and replaced along with the soil in the original hole; 4) this agreement stands for the specific activity mentioned and would not exempt them from archaeology requirements for any future events taking place on the Landing and 5) any safety procedures for open fires set by the City of Fort Walton Beach Fire Department and/ or the City of Fort Walton Beach Parks and Cultural Division would be followed. 4. 1 Sienature Block Submitted by: Gail Lynn Meye', Museum Manager Reviewed and Concur - Jeff Peters, Rec & Cultural Svcs Dir Reviewed for Agenda: o ert T. Mearns, City Manager  GREATER FORT WALTON BEACH fW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE May 10, 2010 ... helping its r p themst I r Mr. Bob Meams - City Manager t Chad Hamillon 1 + 110 Chait of th, Board City of Fort Walton Beach O' Sulttvan Crof,4 Post Office Box 4009 Uso Jo Spencer 2010 - Elect Fort Walton Beach Florida 32549 Cir VKe - trr-t3usux > Fleet, SperKor & Kilpatrick PA Dear Mr,. Meams: Alan Gleseeman immediate Past Char White- Wilson Medical Centcfr On behalf of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, I am requesting Lyn Kelley that the City of Fort Walton Beach co- sponsor the 150th Vice Chat, Community Anniversary of Camp Walton. This once in a lifetime celebration is White -Wilson M(Aical Center Jahn McLane scheduled for April 8 -10, 2011 at The Landing. I Vice Chair - Special Events am pleased to advise that a group of volunteers called the Walton Guard will be Inirc)} i - v, tr r : R Digttal Sorv" s Inc. responsible for all the re- enactment ceremonies, all Shona O' Dell Chamber. under the leadership of our Vi, o Chair - Membership Merrill Lynch Chris Sehman Vice Chair - G . vo rnment The 1861.original Walton Guards arrived and established Camp Walton in the late spring of Helon Pack The group dutifully executed their military mission to secure and monitor the Tammy McGaughy narrows and the East Pass near Cam p Walton now the Landing!) Try; isuiw They were eventually sent to fight battles big and small, 0 Creel including Shiloh, Franklin and Chicamauga. One of these Walton Guards -- John Brooks -- 201201 0 Board Boa of Directors.