Minutes and audio/video recordings
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:
- Conservation Policy Update
- Science Policy Final Draft
- Communication & Public Outreach: Draft Code of Conduct and Proposal for Addressing Public Comment Hearings
- Conservation: An Overview of the Conservation Policy Office and Near-Term Priorities
- General Discussion - Current Events & Future Meeting Planning
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.
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:
- Use of decoys and calls
- Standardization of three-point antler restrictions for White Tailed Deer across District 1 in Region 1
- Cougar management & public safety hunting seasons
- Spring black bear hunting season
- Closure date change for Park, Blue, & Deep Lakes
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.
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.
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.