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Resident asks commission to investigate Mission Viejo fossil collection held by Saddleback College
Summary
A resident told commissioners a 2004 agreement with Saddleback College governing Mission Viejo's paleontological fossil collection expired in 2010 and asked the commission to add the issue to a future agenda and consider a subcommittee to determine the materials' condition and curation status.
Robert Berton addressed the commission during public comment and requested that the commission place on a future agenda a city review of the Mission Viejo paleontological fossil collection currently held by Saddleback College.
Berton said the agreement with Saddleback College was entered in 2004 and, according to his reading, expired in 2010. He described the collection as "30 to 50 boxes of fossils and dozens and dozens of jackets" containing plaster field jackets and said the college had duties under the agreement to inventory, inspect, clean, sort, restore and display the materials. Berton asked the commission to consider appointing a subcommittee to find out whether the college complied with those terms and whether the collection should remain at the college or be transferred.
The chair agreed to place the matter on a future agenda so the commission and its heritage committee can investigate next steps. No formal action was taken at the March 18 meeting beyond the request to add the item to a future agenda.
