DRAFT MINUTES FOR YOUR REVIEW AND APPROVAL FORT WARD PARK AND MUSEUM ADVISORY GROUP MEETING Minnie Howard School August 13, 2014

DRAFT MINUTES FOR YOUR REVIEW AND APPROVAL

FORT WARD PARK AND MUSEUM ADVISORY GROUP MEETING

Minnie Howard School

August 13, 2014

Meeting Attendees:  

Advisory Group:  Ziegler; Moir; Stanton; Magnuson, Washington, Terrell, Rainey, Susan Getlan Gitlin.  

City Staff:  Davis; Cumbey; Rahal; Spengler; Mallamo.  

Public: Williams; Adams; Eugster. 

Elected Officials: Chapman.

The meeting began with Mr. Ziegler, Chair, indicating that this was the last meeting of the advisory group.  After the group approved minutes from the last meeting, Mr. Ziegler opened the meeting for “Public Comment”.  Brenda Adams of the Fort Ward and Seminary African American Descendants Society, Inc. thanked the group for their hard work.  She said that she understood the purpose of the meeting was to vote on the draft management plan but she has concerns about other pieces and documents of the plan.  She said she has concerns about graves and the maintenance yard.

City Archaeologist Frances Bromberg said that the draft plan shows protection areas at Fort Ward Park.  She spoke to a map and said that the blue colored portions of the park are areas of maximum protection.  No work will be done without archaeological investigation and that all work should be avoided in this area unless the action is minor.  She added that pink is high protection and it includes areas where there were households.

Glenn Eugster, an adjacent landhomeowner to the park and Oakland Cemetery asked if the draft plan, once approved, would replace the Recreation Departments 2008 Master Plan.  Laura Durham of the Recreation Department indicated that the 2008 plan was never acted on and is a reference document only.  She said that the draft proposed plan, if adopted, will be the park management plan because there is no other plan for Fort Ward Park. [What did she respond?  If I recall correctly, I think she said that the 2008 Master Plan was never formally adopted.  Her response should be on the tape recording of the meeting, which I gave to you.]

Chuck Ziegler added that nothing will happen to the graves if the archaeology isn’t done first.  Lance Mallamo, Director of the Office of Historic Alexandria said that his office won’t dedicate a whole crew for a large archaeological project.  He expects to do short-term projects.  Frances Bromberg added that this approach allows us to move forward without damaging archaeology.  Laura Durham added that this is a mechanism for a funding stream to work with the Advisory Group.

Frances Bromberg said that one thing you [the public] may be concerned about is the drainage issue.  There could be graves along the fence line that is there.  Archaeology will be done [in that area] in September-October 2014 for the proposed berm along the fence line between the Oakland Baptist Church Cemetery and the park maintenance yard.

Glenn Eugster asked, "How will you handle the subsurface flow, through the gravel, into the cemetery?"  As discussion followed debating the impact of the illegal fill that the city placed in the maintenance yard.  Laura Durham made reference to page 27 in the report which identifies the option of reshaping or removing the fill.  Francis Bromberg said there was no gravel at this location and offered to provide Mr. Eugster with a photo.  Brian Rahal, of the Department of Transportation, questioned the idea that there would be any subsurface flow if a berm was built adjacent to the cemetery.

The conversation expanded to a discussion about whether or not there are graves in the area where the berm is to be placed.  Frances Terrell and Ms. Bromberg shared opinions about statement made in the past by families, city staff and consultants working for the city.  Brenda Adams added the history report, to be included in the draft plan, is a draft report and what was circulated to the public is different than from what is to be acted on at this meeting.

Chuck Ziegler added that the city reserves the right to prohibit food trucks at National Historic Register Sites such as Fort Ward Park.

The discussion returned to graves and the proposed berm.  Sharon Annear urged the group to keep in mind that this is a trial period.  Lance Mallamo added comments about marking graves and said he had no money for fencing.  He said he wanted to use donated stones that were received at the Freedmen’s Cemetery site for marking graves at Fort Ward.  He said that they would like to use a similar approach here and that they will allow for inscriptions.

Sharon Annear spoke to the time that is required to do the earthworks and burial sites and stressed the need for signs to discourage inappropriate recreation use.  She noted that she saw re-enactors threading on graves.  Mr. Mallamo reiterated that money for fencing is not available now due to budget constraints.  Lena Rainey added that you can’t compare Fort Ward with the Freedmen’s Cemetery.  Lance replied that we don’t have the resources to do a fence.  He said markers could go down tomorrow.  We  and are ready to go.

Frances Terrell said that she agreed with Ms. Annear that there needs to be a barrier to keep people from walking across the graves.  Lance replied that the stones will help discourage walking.  Janice Magnuson suggested shrubs.  Sharon Annear suggested rebar and rope.  Lance said that rebar was dangerous.  He added that the wood and rope fences that were used to discourage park users were removed and fell over.

After some brief comments from one of the consultants, Lance Mallamo said that he thought nothing should be done with gravestones until the enclosures go us up.  Lena Rainey agreed, while Ellen Stanton suggested markers, and Frances Terrell asked for a rope fence.  Bob Muir introduced a motion to not not to put markers down until a permanent enclosure was erected.  Lena Rainey urged the group to consider a temporary enclosure.

Frances Bromberg suggested that the rope and wood fence be put back up.  She asked if that was acceptable.  We can put these back and put stones in place.  These would be temporary stations and markers.  Chuck Ziegler noted that we are into minutia and these decisions were operational.

Lance Mallamo followed by saying that he was looking for policy guidance.  We could put up temporary stantions stanchions and mark those areas.  He said the real concern is the Jackson Cemetery and there would be no stones where there are no stations stanchions.

Sharon Annear said that we need to broaden the scope to ask for money.

Chuck Ziegler asked that the motion be withdrawn and the decision handled off-line.

Mr. Ziegler said that we will be working on the final draft of the management plan.  He said that the summary and report are to be acted on.  Laura Durham noted that the History Report and Drainage Master Plan have to be part of the management plan in order to hold a public hearing.

Frances Terrell noted that she had asked for the report and only received the Drainage Plan.  Sharon Annear added that the summary is coming to the group to talk about it for the first time.  She then asked questions about edits and park furniture.  Ms. Durham replied that her department has standard furniture for parks and that consultation with OHA will go on regarding the selection and placement of the furniture within the park.  Ms. Annear added that furniture is a way to introduce art.  Ms. Durham added that we will be putting furniture in the park where there is existing furniture (i.e. benches and tables, etc.).

Ms. Annear commented on spaces in the parking bays and the amount of time that it will take to do projects to redirect sheet flow.  She requested that the projects be done sooner. 

Janice Magnuson commented on the recommendation to place bike racks in Fort Ward Park.  She said she doesn’t want these in the park, and worries that next there will be bike share stations.  Frances Terrell said she agreed.

Susan Getlan Gitlin said that there needs to be a designated walkway in the park, and the racks are useful in helping people get to the park.

Sharon Annear said we need more money to plant trees.  Mr. ZIiegler added that the figures in the draft plan are notional figures.

Adrienne Washington said that work proposed for the burial sites is pie-in-the-sky.  She noted the work will be done in 1 to 7 years.  She added that what you can and can’t do isn’t spelled out legally.  Mr. Ziegler replied that nothing serious will be done without archaeology research.  Adrienne added that there is no guarantee that graves won’t be destroyed.  She said she has had a problem with the process that has been going on.  We’ve been told one thing and something else has been done.  Mr. Ziegler replied, there is a process.

Adrienne Washington said that the process is not spelled out; it needs to be codified.  We don’t trust the city to consultant with the descendants.  There have been too many instances when things were done without consulting us.  We need to be sure the work has been done.

Sharon Annear suggested that an administrative process be developed by Laura Durham and Adrienne Washington.  Mr. Ziegler reiterated that we have a clear process. Ms. Washington replied that past practices have been unacceptable,

Ms. Bromberg said that they used shovel tests to look for concentrations of archaeological artifacts.  We didn’t use shovel test to find graves.  We used over 100 trenches and scrapings for graves.  

Chuck Ziegler said that a dissenting view can be submitted when the document goes to the City Council.  Laura Durham added, yes.  A draft document, a best practice, of how we work together can be a part of the memo of understanding, or attached to the memo.

Elisabeth Lardner said that the memo will be an appendix and include a protocol sheet.

Chuck Ziegler replied that we need to be clear on what we are voting on, including a summary report; section 2; drainage plan; history report.

Frances Bromberg said that she thought that the descendants were okay with the text of the report.  It was posted for public comment and no comments were received.  The draft is now final.  She is still working on images and plans to go back to the descendants for approvals of images.  The text can go ahead.  Adrienne Washington replied, we were supposed to see it after changes.  The changes haven’t been made.  Lance Mallamo replied, we think the changes were made.  

Ms. Washington added that we were not told that the report was final.  Laura Durham replied that the management plan can move forward.  Mr. Ziegler said that the draft plan includes; the summary; not the history report; Memo of Understanding and procedures for ground disturbing activities; archaeology and the drainage plan.

Ms. Washington asked whether the vote would include proxy votes.  Mr. Ziegler replied there would be no proxy votes, only the people present.

Sharon Annear introduced a motion to approve the final draft of the Fort Ward Park and Museum Management Plan including:  Summary Report (Section I); Section II, Chapters 1-10; Three Appendices: Fort Ward Master Drainage Plan; Archaeological Investigations (OHA, March 2014);  and an additional Appendix comprised of the Memorandum of Understanding with an additional section setting forth Best Practices and Operational Procedures for ground-disturbing activities.  The History Report, "Finding the Fort" by Dr. Krystyn Moon, will be added when finalized.  The motion was voted on and 6 votes were in favor.  Three votes were against. Opposed were Terrell, Rainey and Washington.

Sharon Annear asked how do others suggest changes  Laura Durham said that all comments will go to the City Council but we won’t amend the report going forward from tonight.  Ms. Washington asked if we can attach reasons for opposition and dissenting opinions.  Ms. Annear suggested a minority report be included.  Bob Moir added that it should all be sent as a package.

Frances Terrell noted that one of the reasons she voted against the draft plan was that she couldn’t support something she hadn’t read.  Laura Durham told Frances that she had the report waiting for her at the Recreation Department office.

Laura Durham added that on September 10, 2014 there will be a meeting of three City of Alexandria Advisory Commission.  She said it will be a public meeting and it may be at City Hall.  Chuck Ziegler asked about the schedule for the City Council to consider the draft plan.  Ms. Durham said that meeting may be October 21, 2014.  She said she would confirm the date.

Mr. Ziegler added that we won’t have another meeting and then adjourned the meeting.