Council approves proposal for park monitoring plan

During its Monday, Jan. 19 session, Cathlamet Town Council approved an agreement with Vancouver engineering consulting firm Gray & Osborne, Inc. "for additional cultural resources services" relating to the Waterfront Park Monitoring Plan. Labeled Contract Amendment 18, this agreement is in accordance with the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO), which is helping to fund the Waterfront Park development. According to a Jan. 8 letter from Portland's Archaeological Investigations Northwest, Inc. (AINW) to Gray & Osborne, Inc., the Waterfront Park project, due to its being funded by RCO, "requires compliance with Governor's Executive Order 21-02 and the Washington State Environmental Policy Act." To help meet the compliance, AINW completed a cultural resource survey, which, according to its letter to Gray & Osborne, "included background research, an archaeological survey, and a historic resource survey." Following a records review, it was found that "an archaeological site (labeled 45WK86) is reportedly nearby, potentially where lagoons associated with the Town's first sewer collection and disposal system were located." AINW's letter also stated the site "reputedly once served as a Native American burial ground" and, "after the lagoons were decommissioned in 2013, they were infilled with approximately three meters of dredge soils" and that "additional fill will be imported to the project area during construction."

As a result of the "archaeological sensitivity" of site 45WK86, RCO "has requested the preparation of an archaeological monitoring plan and archaeological monitoring for all ground-disturbing work that may impact native soils." In order to meet RCO's request, AINW proposed to coordinate with RCO and the Town of Cathlamet and "prepare an archaeological monitoring plan for RCO review." According to its Jan. 8 letter, AINW also proposes to, if applicable, "prepare a landowner permission letter and curation request form." As part of Amendment No. 18 to the contract between the Town of Cathlamet and Gray & Osborne, Inc., AINW's cost proposal of $7,030.50 for its archaeological monitoring plan was approved unanimously by council members. According to the Jan. 19 meeting's packet, the Town was notified of this requirement several months ago but it was "inadvertently overlooked during staffing transitions." Amendment No. 18 "is expected to be the final amendment to cultural resources," according to the packet.

Prior to approving the amendment, Council discussed the proposed amendment. At one point in the discussion, Councilmember Joe Baker asked, "Are we going to be able to afford this park?" Town Clerk/Treasurer Sarah Clark noted "everything with engineering has nearly been paid out." Councilmember Baker, prior to approving the amendment, said, "We wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't approve this." For more info, visit townofcathlamet.com.