NOTE: From 2-5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 6, 2007, the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s two fish committees will meet with Department staff for a work session to discuss the status of the Department’s 21st Century Salmon and Steelhead Project. The meeting is open to the public; however, no public input will be accepted.

* (revised 11/21/07)
Times are approximate and subject to change.
TVW plans to cover this event - http://www.tvw.org

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7

8:00 AM	1. CALL TO ORDER Approval of Meeting Minutes Commissioners' Discussion Director's Report (Jeff Koenings) Strategic Planning & Budget Update (Joe Stohr) 2. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The public is encouraged to share views of Department programs and topics of concern during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for those issues not on the agenda for this meeting.) 3. PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS - DECISION: The Commission will consider approval of proposed land transactions. Acquisition of 516-acre property in Klickitat County. Lease of two .13-acre sites in Grant and Yakima Counties. Staff Report: Dan Budd, Real Estate Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only)
	BREAK
	4. SPRING BLACK BEAR SEASONS – RULE ACTION: The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-286; 2007, 2008, and 2009 Spring black bear seasons and regulations, which would establish spring bear hunts in a portion of GMU 418 with 20 permits and a portion for GMU 448 with 25 permits, in order to reduce local bear populations and address tree damage caused by bears. The Commission held a public hearing regarding these proposed rules at its November 2-3, 2007, Commission meeting in Chelan. - Greensheet - PDF format (267 KB) Staff Report: Dave Ware, Game Division Manager, Wildlife Program 5. NONTOXIC SHOT REQUIREMENTS – RULE ACTION: The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to WAC 232-12-068, Nontoxic shot requirements, which would expand the requirement to hunting on the Chinook pheasant release site. The Commission held a public hearing regarding these proposed rules at its November 2-3, 2007, Commission meeting in Chelan. - Greensheet - PDF format (223 KB) Staff Report: Dave Ware, Game Division Manager, Wildlife Program 6. MULTIPLE SEASON BIG GAME PERMITS AND MANDATORY REPORTING – RULE ACTION: The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to WAC rules that would provide multi-season permits as incentives to recruit and retain hunter education instructors and allow 10 days to report hunting activity for hunts that extend past the January 31 reporting deadline. The Commission held a public hearing regarding these proposed rules at its November 2-3, 2007, Commission meeting in Chelan. WAC 232-28-294, Multiple season big game permits; and WAC 232-28-299, Mandatory report of hunting activity. - Greensheet - PDF format (251 KB) Staff Report: Dave Ware, Game Division Manager, Wildlife Program 7. BIG GAME & WILD TURKEY AUCTION, RAFFLE, & SPECIAL INCENTIVE PERMITS – RULE ACTION: The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-282, Big game and wild turkey auction, raffle, and special incentive permits, which would modify hunting opportunity to increase attractiveness and revenue for the wild turkey special raffle drawing and expand hunting opportunity to generate additional revenue for mule deer and white-tailed deer through auction and raffle starting in 2009. The Commission held a public hearing regarding these proposed rules at its November 2-3, 2007, Commission meeting in Chelan. - Greensheet - PDF format (269 KB) Staff Report: Dave Ware, Game Division Manager, Wildlife Program 8. DEER AND ELK AREA DESCRIPTIONS – RULE ACTION: The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to WAC 232-28-337, Deer and elk area descriptions, which would provide increased quality hunting, clarify boundary descriptions, address elk damage/nuisance problems, and improve population management of the Mount St. Helens elk herd. The Commission held a public hearing regarding these proposed rules at its November 2-3, 2007, Commission meeting in Chelan. - Greensheet - PDF format (287 KB) Staff Report: Dave Ware, Game Division Manager, Wildlife Program 9. PUBLIC CONDUCT ON DEPARTMENT LANDS – RULE ACTION: The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to Chapter 232-13 WAC, Public conduct in wildlife areas and access sites owned or controlled by the Department of Fish and Wildlife; and including repeal of: WAC 232-13-174, Domestic animals on department lands; WAC 232-12-177, Vehicles using department lands; WAC 232-12-184, Aircraft — Authorized use on department lands; WAC 232-12-187, Access areas — Other department land — Wildlife agent to control traffic thereon; and WAC 232-12-251, Removal of minerals, wood and artifacts from department lands. The Commission held a public hearing regarding these proposed rules at its August 3-4, 2007, Commission meeting in Anacortes. At its October 12-13, 2007, meeting, the Commission continued rule action on these proposals to this meeting in order to allow more time for considering received stakeholder input. - Greensheet - PDF format (451 KB) - Chapter 232-13 WAC rule proposals - PDF format (38 KB) Staff Report: Steve Pozzanghera, Deputy Assistant Director, Wildlife Program; and Paul Dahmer, Wildlife Area Section Manager, Wildlife Program 10. MASTER HUNTER PROGRAM – COMMISSION POLICY DECISION: The Commission will consider approving proposed Commission Policy C-6005, Master Hunter Program, which would provide guidance to the Department for developing WAC rules with stronger accountability standards and improvements to the existing Advanced Hunter Education program. The Commission held a public hearing on the proposed policy at its November 2-3, 2007, meeting in Chelan. - Draft Policy Decision - Master Hunter Program - PDF format (22 KB) 11. MASTER HUNTER PROGRAM – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-12-073, Advanced hunter education. Master hunter program, to address deficiencies in the requirements for certification and penalties for unethical or unlawful behavior by Master Hunters. The Commission will consider final adoption of the rule proposals at its January 10-12, 2008, meeting in Vancouver. - Greensheet - PDF format (157 KB) Staff Report: Chief Bruce Bjork, Assistant Director, Enforcement Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only)
12:00 PM	LUNCH BREAK
1:30 PM	12. COMMISSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES UPDATE, AND 2007 REPORT TO LEGISLATURE - DECISION: The Committee Chair, Albert “Bill” Vincent, will brief the Commission on activities and progress of the Committee since its first report was submitted to the Legislature in 2004. The Commission will consider approval of the 2007 report, which will be submitted to the Legislature by December 14, 2007. - Committee Report to Legislature (Draft) - PDF format (191 KB) 13. COLUMBIA RIVER SPRING & SUMMER CHINOOK ALLOCATION POLICIES – BRIEFING: Department staff will brief the Commission on the current Commission policies C-3615 and C-3616, which will expire on December 31, 2007. The Commission will consider new policies at its February 1-2, 2008, Commission meeting in Olympia. - Greensheet - PDF format (1.21 MB) Staff Report: Cindy LeFleur, Columbia River Policy Coordinator, IRM
	BREAK
	14. STATEWIDE STEELHEAD MANAGEMENT PLAN – BRIEFING: Department staff will brief the Commission on the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan and comments received from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that was released to the public earlier this year. - Greensheet - PDF format (21 KB) Staff Report: Heather Bartlett, Salmon and Steelhead Division Manager, Fish Program; and Jim Buck, Statewide Steelhead EIS Manager 15. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The public is encouraged to share views of Department programs and topics of concern during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for those issues not on the agenda for this meeting.)
	BREAK
	16. 2008-09 DEPARTMENT GOALS & OBJECTIVES AND POLICY DOCUMENT – WORK SESSION / DECISION: Commissioners and Department staff will discuss setting 2008-09 goals and objectives for the Department. The Commission will also consider approving updates to the Policy Document, which provides guidance on the roles of the Commission and Director. - Draft Department Goals and Objectives - PDF format (69 KB) - Draft Policy Document - PDF format (38 KB)
	RECESS

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8

8:00 AM

17. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The public is encouraged to share views of Department programs and topics of concern during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for those issues not on the agenda for this meeting.) 18. PUGET SOUND PURSE SEINE/GILLNET HARVEST ALLOCATION GUIDELINES – BRIEFING: Department staff will brief the Commission on guidelines and process for Puget Sound Purse Seine/Gillnet Harvest Allocation. The Commission will accept public testimony on this item at its January 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Vancouver. - Greensheet - PDF format (148 KB) Staff Report: John Long, Statewide Salmon Manager, Fish Program 19. WILDLIFE CLASSIFICATION – RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING: Department staff will brief the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-12-011, Wildlife classified as protected shall not be hunted or fished, which would down-list the bald eagle from threatened to sensitive in Washington state based on the biological status of the species. - Greensheet - PDF format (207 KB) Staff Report: Harriet Allen, Endangered & Threatened Species Section Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (Above item only) 20. COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Commissioners will discuss activities of the various Commission committees 21. SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS: The Commissioners and Director’s Office will review the current list of Commission requests to the Department and consider new requests. 22. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The public is encouraged to share views of Department programs and topics of concern during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for those issues not on the agenda for this meeting.) 23. MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF: The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.

12:00 PM

ADJOURN

NEXT MEETING: January 10-12, 2008 in Vancouver, Washington.

*(revised 11/21/07)
Times are approximate and subject to change.

Contact the Fish and Wildlife Commission Office for further information:
Phone (360) 902-2267
Email: commission@dfw.wa.gov

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