April 18-20, 2024 Meeting agenda - WDFW Fish and Wildlife Commission

Meeting location

Natural Resources Building 
1111 Washington Street SE  
Olympia WA 98501 – Room 172 

- Committee Meetings

8:00am - 10:00am – Fish Committee - Commissioners Anderson, Linville, Ragen, & Parker

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 823 2068 1184

Agenda Topics:

  • North of Falcon
  • Policy C-3632: Non-Native Game Fish & Fisheries
  • Fish Program Supplemental Budget Outcomes
  • General Discussion - Current Events & Future Meeting Planning

10:00am - 12:00pm – Habitat Committee - Commissioners Linville, Lehmkuhl, Ragen, & Myers

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 875 0635 8486

Agenda Topics:

  • Springwood Ranch Update
  • Outcomes of Supplemental Budget
  • General Discussion - Current Events & Future Meeting Planning

1:00pm - 3:00pm – Big Tent Committee - Commissioners Lehmkuhl, Baker, Parker, & Smith

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 882 5630 5174

Agenda Topics:

3:00pm - 5:00pm – Wildlife Committee - Commissioners Smith, Anderson, Rowland, & Myers

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 880 1659 9768

CANCELLED

 

- Regular Meeting Hybrid/Olympia

If you are interested in providing comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online.

Virtual Participation:

The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect:

  • Registration for those wishing to provide virtual comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins.
  • Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda. 
  • Registrants will be called upon and typically have three (3) minutes to speak.
  • If you are unable to participate, you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page

In-Person Participation:

The following in-person deadlines are in effect:

  • If you haven't pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony Form, available at the registration table.
  • The from must be submitted at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on. 

To listen to the meeting, please access it at the Zoom Link or TVW Link.

Or by phone, by dialing: 1-253-205-0468 and entering Webinar ID# 837 0382 0616

8:00am - 8:30am – 1. Call to Order

Commissioners' Discussion

Meeting Minutes Approval

Committee Reports

8:30am - 10:00am – 2. Open Public Input

The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda. 

Public Comment - This Item Only

10:00am - 10:15am – Break

10:15am - 10:45am – 3. Director's Report

The Director will brief the Commission on various items.

10:45am - 11:15am – 4. Consent - Decision

The Commission will vote whether to delegate authority for the Director to review and decide the following suite of rulemaking petitions. If the Commission votes against delegation, the Commission will consider the merits of the rulemaking petitions in a future meeting:

11:15am - 11:45am – 5. Land Transaction - Public Comment, Decision

The Commission will consider approval of a land transaction for Springwood Ranch, recommended by the department.

Staff Report: Lisa Coffman, Lands 20/20 & Acquisition Funding Coordinator, Mike Livingston, Region 3 Director, and Cynthia Wilkerson, Wildlife Program Lands Division Manager.

 

Public Comment - This Item Only

11:45am - 12:00pm – 6. Timber Sale Approval: Scatter Creek Phase 3 Forest Restoration Project - Briefing, Decision

Staff will brief the Commission and ask for a decision on the proposed Forest Restoration Thinning Project.

Staff Report: Rod Pfeifle, Statewide Forester

12:00pm - 1:00pm – Lunch

1:00pm - 2:00pm – 7. Managing Public Comments - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on options available for managing public comments.

Staff Report: Nate Pamplin, Director of External Affairs and Dr. David Trimbach, Conservation Social Scientist

2:00pm - 2:30pm – 8. HPA Rulemaking for Dock Flotation - Decision

Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on the proposed rulemaking changes related to the Hydraulic Project Approval permitting program for dock flotation.

Staff Report: Theresa Nation, HPA Rule Making Coordinator

2:30pm - 2:45pm – Break

2:45pm - 5:00pm – 9. Cougar Rulemaking Discussion - Decision

Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on cougar rule making.

Staff Report: Eric Gardner, Wildlife Program Director and Anis Aoude, Game Division Manager

5:00pm – Recess

- Regular Meeting Olympia/Hybrid

If you are interested in providing comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online. 

Virtual Participation:

The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect:

  • Registration for those wishing to provide comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins. 
  • Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda.
  • Registrants will be called upon and typically have three (3) minutes to speak.
  • If you are unable to participate, you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page

In-Person Participation:

The following in-person deadlines are in effect:

  • If you haven't pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony Form, available at the registration table. 
  • The form must be submitted 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on.

To listen to the meeting, please access it using the Zoom Link or TVW Link.

Or by phone by dialing: 1-253-205-0468 and enter Webinar ID# 839 0174 8894

8:00am - 9:30am – 10. Open Public Input

The Commission is a direct link between the citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. NOTE: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda. 

Public Comment - This Item Only

9:30am - 9:45am – Break

9:45am - 10:00am – 11. Best Available Science Policy - Decision

Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on the Best Available Science Policy.

Staff Report: Amy Windrope, Deputy Director

10:00am - 11:00am – 12. Annual Wolf Report - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on the 2023 annual Wolf Conservation & Management Report.

Staff Report: Benjamin Maletzke, Statewide Wolf Specialist

11:00am - 11:45am – 13. Meeting Debrief & Future Meeting Planning

The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before, during, or after the meeting and consider future agenda planning. 

11:45am - 12:00pm – Break

12:00pm - 1:00pm – 14. Executive Session & Working Lunch

Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(i), the Commission will meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency. 

1:00pm – Adjourn