ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Public
Ron Ozment, Chair	Donny Jackson
Ken Chew	Danny Cox
Jerry Gutzwiler	John Delaney
Conrad Mahnken	Jim Pearson, SCI
Chuck Perry	Tom Perry, SCI
Will Roehl	Lisa Renan, WA Dept. of Ecology
Miranda Wecker	Jim Skucy, SCI
	Joe Haley
	Tony Delgado, Stevens Co. Commissioner
Commission Staff:	Tom Dresser, Grant County PUD
Nancy Burkhart	Stephen Brown, Grant County PUD
	Tracy Yount, Chelan County PUD
	Jim McGowan, GMAC
Department	Greg Hughes, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Larry Peck, Deputy Director	Bill Vincent, GMAC
Bruce Bjork	Rick Leibel, GMAC
Dave Brittell	Harold Heacock, Tridec
Jeff Tayer	Kelly White
Sue Patnude
Dennis Beich
Bill Frymire, AGO
Steve Pozzanghera
Dave Ware
Bill Tweit
Evan Jacoby
Ted Clausing
Chuck Kohls
Justin Secrist
Other Department staff

FRIDAY, MARCH 10:

Chair Ozment called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to approve the minutes of the February 17, 2006, Commission conference call. The motion carried unanimously.

COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION:
Commissioners discussed recent activities and items of general interest and provided status reports on Commission committees.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Deputy Director Peck reviewed significant Department issues and activities.

BUDGET UPDATE:
Deputy Director Peck provided a status report on the Department's budget.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
One individual provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting.

STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPMENT -- BRIEFING:
Sue Patnude briefed the Commission on the Department's 2007-2009 biennial strategic plan development.

COLUMBIA RIVER PARTNERSHIP -- UPDATE ON LEGISLATION:
Bill Tweit updated the Commission on the Columbia River Partnership (formerly known as the Columbia River Initiative) and 2006 legislation. The CRP's purpose is to address both out-of-stream uses and improve fish survivals.

COLUMBIA RIVER FERC RELICENSING ISSUES -- UPDATE:
Bill Tweit updated the Commission on Columbia River FERC relicensing issues as four of the five mid-Columbia PUD dams (operated by Grant County PUD, Chelan County PPUD, and Douglas County PUD) are nearing or have reached the end of their first 50-year FERC license.

SCIENTIFIC COLLECTION PERMITS -- RULE ACTION:
Evan Jacoby presented proposed permanent rule amendments to WAC 220-20-045, Scientific collection permits, and WAC 232-12-067, Sale of fish and wildlife by zoos and aquariums, and repeal of WAC 232-12-276, Scientific permits. These would specify application procedures, compliance requirements, and interim and final reports.

Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to adopt WAC 220-20-045, Scientific collection permits, and WAC 232-12-067, Sale of fish and wildlife by zoos and aquariums, as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amended by staff, and to repeal WAC 232-12-276, Scientific permits. The motion carried unanimously.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS -- ACTION:
Steve Pozzanghera presented various proposed land transactions for the Commission's consideration and approval.

No oral testimony on the proposed land transactions was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Roehl, to approve the following land transactions:

- Acquisition of the 19.22-acre Marshall property in Clallam County for $265,000;
- Acquisition of the 278.23-acre Inland Northwest Land Trust-Eastman property in Lincoln County for $350,000;
- Approval of a 30-year lease of portions of the Vancouver Fish Hatchery site in Clark County to the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center.

The motion to approve the land transactions carried unanimously.

PROBLEM WILDLIFE -- BRIEFING:
Ted Clausing and Captain Chuck Kohls briefed the Commission on a recommendation on implementation of a pilot elk and deer damage problem in Region 3.

The Commission requested that the Department provide interested legislators a tour of elk-damaged property.

2006-08 HUNTING SEASON PROCESS UPDATE -- MAJOR ISSUES:
Dave Ware and members of the Game Management Advisory Council Allocation Sub-Committee (Jim McGowan, Bill Vincent, and Rick Liebel) updated the Commission on the public involvement process for developing recommendations for the 2006-08 hunting season regulations. The Commission will consider action on the proposed rule amendments at its April 7-8, 2006, meeting in Tumwater.

Four individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed rule amendments during the meeting.

SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS:
Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to request the Department provide a briefing at the June 9-10, 2006, meeting in Wenatchee on: (1) history of the 2005 School Fire; (2) timeline of response by federal, state, and local agencies; (3) analysis of what went wrong and how to avoid future problems; and (4) fencing costs. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Gutzwiler moved, seconded by Commissioner Roehl, to request the Department provide a new report and presentation at the October 6-7, 2006, meeting in Olympia on the east side elk spike-only bull general season. Department is to: (1) evaluate alternative branch-antlered strategies for general bull season on the east side; (2) develop opportunities to integrate with damage control initiatives where appropriate; and (3) evaluate season timing and length and permit levels for black bear and cougar and alter as necessary to improve calf survival. The motion carried unanimously.

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:
The Commission discussed items that arose after the preliminary agenda was published.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
One individual provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting.

DISCUSSION REGARDING COMMISSION COMPENSATION:
Since not all Commissioners were in attendance, it was decided to discuss Commission compensation at either the April 7-8, 2006, meeting in Tumwater or the June 9-10, 2006, meeting in Wenatchee.

Chair Ozment adjourned the meeting at 6:17 p.m.

Commissioners in Attendance:
Ron Ozment, Chair
Ken Chew
Jerry Gutzwiler
Conrad Mahnken
Chuck Perry
Will Roehl
Miranda Wecker

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