HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/19/1996, C-3 - RFP FOR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES FOR THE PALM STREET PARKING STRUCTURE ARCHAEOLOGICAL STUDY `
council �°°�ID�ta-�4
j ac,Enaa RepoRt
C I T Y OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Ken Hampian, Assistant City Administrative Ofiicer(/� ___�
Prepared By: Wendy George, Assistant to the CAO tt
SUBJECT: RFP for Archaeological Services for the Palm Street Pa.ddng Structure
Archaeological Study
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Approve RFP for archaeological services for the Palm Street parking structure archaeological
study, authorize soliciting of proposals, and authorize contract award by the CAO if the proposed
contract amount does not exceed $50,000.
DISCUSSION
Approximately ten years ago the City contracted with an archaeological firm to remove, catalogue
and prepare a technical report on artifacts located at the site of the future Palm Street parking
structure. The location was excavated and the artifacts were partially catalogued at that time.
Contractual difficulties arose between the City and the archaeological firm and work was
suspended. Eventually, the artifacts were returned to the City and placed in storage at the
Corporation Yard. They remained there until this past spring when the catalogued artifacts were
removed from storage, reboxed and placed on new shelving in the storage container at the
Corporation Yard. The process of reboxing was performed by students of Dr. Robert Hoover of
Cal Poly University, assisted by members of the San Luis Obispo County Archaeological Society
(SLOCAS).
Approximately one-third to one-half of the material has been catalogued. The remainder must still
be identified, sorted and catalogued. Additionally, a technical report must then be prepared and
eventually the collection must be archived. As part of the 1996-97 budget process, staff requested
and received Council approval for $50,000 to complete the archaeological study.
The attached RFP has been prepared in accordance with the City's adopted Archaeological
Resource Preservation Guidelines and, if approved, will be sent to archaeologists certified under
the Guidelines requesting proposals to complete the study. Unlike the original study, we are now
asking that the artifacts remain in the City during the completion of the work. We have also
requested that any proposal contain methods of organizing and training local volunteers to assist
with the work.
Since last winter, staff, with the help of SLOCAS, has attempted to retrieve the fields notes made
at the time of excavation from the original archaeological fine. These notes will be critical in
analysis and preparation of the final technical report. To date, staff has not been successful in
retrieving these notes. However, we are still attempting to facilitate the return of the notes
Council Agenda Report - RFP for Palm Street Paddng Structure Archaeology Study
Page 2
through several archaeologists acquainted with the original firm and hope to begin negotiations
with the original firm shortly. Should this last attempt be unsuccessful, we will begin to
implement legal action.
In the meantime, staff believes that it is appropriate to move forward with an RFP without the
field notes. Significant progress can still be made in the process of sorting and cataloguing the
material without them. We have indicated in the RFP that the final written report may need to
be delayed pending the return of the notes. During any delay the artifacts would simply be
placed back in the storage container at the Corporation Yard.
CONCURRENCES
SLOCAS worked with staff on developing the RFP and concurs with moving forward with the
project at this time.
FISCAL IMPACT
$50,000 has been approved for completion of the Palm Street Parking Structure archaeological
study as part of the 1996-97 budget (1995-97 Financial Plan Supplement, Page E4).
ALTERNATIVE
It could be possible to wait until the field notes have been returned to the City before
commencing the project. However, staff and SLOCAS believe that sorting and cataloguing can
begin without the notes, so that when the notes are actually returned we will be able to move
directly into the analysis and report phase without additional delay.
Attachments
Request for proposal (in Council Reading File)
Archaeological Resource Preservation Guidelines (in Council Reading File)
L'3-�