PRESENTER: Presenter
Garry Ford, Transportation & Capital Improvements Director
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Texas State University Center for Archeological Studies for Archeological Mitigation Services within the Mission Hill Park project site.
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation and Capital Improvements
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 3
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In November 2021, Texas State University’s Center for Archeological Studies (CAS) provided an Archeological Report for Mission Hill Park to evaluate the archeological sensitivity of the proposed project. The project area comprises the entire 10-acre Mission Hill Park within the City of New Braunfels and includes two areas: a 1.0-acre narrow strip slated for development as the park’s entrance and parking area and a 9.0-acre portion at the apex of Mission Hill where trails and a building are planned. The survey of the 1.0-acre narrow strip, wherein Phase 1 construction was completed in 2022, found no cultural material and CAS recommends that no further archaeological research is needed in this area.
Within the rest of the project area (totaling 9.0 acres), where the trails and building are planned, there are two previously recorded sites (41CM308 and 41CM309) and an isolated historic feature. Site 41CM308 is the Mission Hill Site, first recorded as a historic farmstead complex located at the highest point of the property. During the survey, the previously recorded foundations and structural remains were found and a precontact component was also recorded. Site 41CM309 was first interpreted as a cistern and more recently as a kiln. The survey found an isolated historic concrete trough, and shovel tests excavated around it did not yield any associated artifacts. CAS recommends that sites 41CM308 and 41CM309 are significant sites and it was recommended in this report that disturbance of the sites should be mitigated through photography, mapping, careful excavation, and interpretation for the public.
Through an interlocal agreement between the City and Texas State University, city staff solicited the Archeological Mitigation services to be provided in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Council of Texas Archeologists and adopted by the Texas Historical Commission.
Texas State University Center for Archeological Studies submitted a proposal for $119,224 to complete the recommended mitigation on the project site.
ISSUE:
Perform state-required archeological mitigation to preserve historic elements.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for Mission Hill Park was approved as part of the 2023 Bond Program, therefore sufficient funding exists.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of a Professional Services Agreement with Texas State University Center for Archeological Studies in the amount of $119,224 for Archeological Mitigation Services within the Mission Hill Park project site.