Commission raises concerns about National Park Service loan agreement and map preservation

Commission members expressed concern that the National Park Service (NPS) did not follow through on an expected addendum to a loan agreement for county maps, leaving preservation expectations undocumented in the signed agreement.

"They're saying they can't revise the loan agreement without redoing it, redoing all the signatures," said Paulina Pivock, the commission’s staff liaison, reporting on recent communications with Paul Rogers at the NPS. Pivock said the Park Service provided digital files and metadata but declined to incorporate commission-specified language into the signed loan agreement after signatures were completed.

Commissioners said the omission creates a risk if staff turnover occurs and pressed staff to prepare a memo to the Board of Supervisors outlining the timeline, the commission’s requested edits and recommended next steps. Several commissioners requested that county staff members Danielle and Vince be looped into the conversations so that the project manager (Vince) can provide inventory details and the county can secure written protections.

Members emphasized that their role is advisory but argued the commission’s recommended preservation steps should be visible to supervisors. Paulina Pivock said she would compile communications and consider asking Paul Rogers and county staff to appear before the commission to explain the implementation approach and any limitations in the loan agreement.

Next steps: staff will draft a memo for the Board of Supervisors outlining the timeline and recommended remedies; staff will attempt to schedule Paul Rogers and county project manager Vince to speak with the commission and will return the item to the commission next month.