Commissioners will discuss recent activities and items of general interest and provide status reports on Commission committees.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:

Director Koenings will review significant Department issues and activities.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:

The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We encourage you to share your views of Department programs and issues which concern you during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for those who cannot be present later in the day. If workable, please provide your comments during time allotted for specific agenda items or during Open Public Input session later in the day.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

1. BUDGET UPDATE:

Department staff will provide a status report on the Department's current biennial budget.

Staff Report: Jim Lux

2. AMENDMENT TO REDUCED RATE COMBINATION TEMPORARY FISHING AND SHELLFISH LICENSE:

The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 220-55-170, Reduced Rate Combination Temporary Fishing and Shellfish License, to set the fee for the combination temporary fishing and shellfish license at six dollars for both residents and nonresidents.

Staff Report: Bruce Crawford

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

3. AMENDMENTS TO LICENSE RULES TO IMPLEMENT AUTOMATED LICENSING SYSTEM:

The Commission will consider adoption of the following rule proposals for issuing licenses and tags and for dealers to remit payments to the Department using the automated licensing system:

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-55-005, Recreational License;

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-55-010, Recreational Shellfish and Seaweed Validation Tag;

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-55-015, Valid Recreational License Required;

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-55-070, Valid Catch Record Card;

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-55-105, Requirements of Recreational License Dealers;

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-55-110, Temporary Fishing License and Hunting License and Catch Record Card--License Dealer Issuance Duties;

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-55-115, Recreational License Dealer's Fees;

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-56-175, Catch Record Cards;

- Permanent amendment to WAC 220-69-236, Description of Catch Record Cards and Required Information; and

- WAC 220-55-130, Migratory Bird Validations and Stamps.

Staff Report: Bruce Crawford

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

4. AMENDMENT TO POINT-OF-SALE TRANSACTION FEE:

The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 220-55-180, Point-of-Sale Transaction Fee. This amendment would temporarily reduce the transaction fee collected from licensees to 9.5% of the value of all automated licensing system purchases of recreational hunting and fishing licenses and fees paid for second animals.

Staff Report: Bruce Crawford

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

5. YOUTH FISHING PROGRAM STRATEGIC PLAN -- BRIEFING:

Commission members and Department staff will brief the Commission on the draft Youth Fishing Program Strategic Plan to facilitate an organized approach to increase youth participation in fishing by creating and providing more fishing opportunities for urban youth in Washington.

Staff Report: Commissioner Shiosaki, Bob Gibbons, and Jeff Skriletz

COMMON LOON:

The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-12-011, Wildlife Classified as Protected Shall Not Be Hunted Or Fished, to add the common loon to protected wildlife designated as sensitive species in Washington.

Staff Report: Harriet Allen

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

7. AMENDMENTS TO BOUNDARY DESCRIPTIONS FOR GMUS, AND

SPECIAL CLOSURES AND FIREARM RESTRICTION AREAS:

The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following rules to correct an error in previous boundary descriptions and to update closures and firearm restriction areas:

- WAC 232-28-02202, Game Management Units (GMUs)--Special Game Areas--Boundary Descriptions--Region Two

- WAC 232-28-248, Special Closures and Firearm Restriction Areas.

Staff Report: Dave Ware and Rolf Johnson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

8. ESTABLISHMENT OF 2000-2002 LANDOWNER DAMAGE HUNTS:

The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-28-266, 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000 Landowner Damage Hunts. This amendment would establish landowner damage hunts for deer and elk for 2000-2002 to provide relief to private landowners suffering agricultural damage.

Staff Report: Bruce Bjork and Dick Smith

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

9. ESTABLISHMENT OF 2000 MOOSE, BIGHORN SHEEP, AND

MOUNTAIN GOAT PERMIT SEASONS AND QUOTAS:

The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-28-273, 1999 Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goat Seasons and Permit Quotas. This amendment would establish the 2000 permit seasons and quotas for these species.

Staff Report: Dave Ware and Donny Martorello

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

10. ESTABLISHMENT OF 2000-2002 BLACK BEAR AND COUGAR SEASONS:

The Commission will consider adoption of a permanent amendment to WAC 232-28-272, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 Black Bear and Cougar Hunting Seasons and Regulations. This amendment would establish the 2000-2002 black bear and cougar seasons.

Staff Report: Dave Ware and Donny Martorello

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

11. ESTABLISHMENT OF 2000-2002 OFFICIAL HUNTING HOURS

AND SMALL GAME SEASONS:

The Commission will consider adoption of WAC 232-28-276, 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2002-03 Official Hunting Hours and Small Game Seasons.

Staff Report: Dave Ware

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

12. AMENDMENTS TO WEAPON/EQUIPMENT RESTRICTION RULES:

The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following rules:

- WAC 232-12-047, Unlawful Firearms for Hunting: This amendment would simplify modern firearm restrictions, and allow a 12 gauge or 10 gauge shotgun using slugs to be used to hunt big game other than deer, bear, and cougar.

- WAC 232-12-051, Muzzleloading Firearms: This amendment would allow fiber optic sights, and make it unlawful to have any electrical device or equipment attached to a muzzleloading firearm while hunting.

- WAC 232-12-054, Bow and Arrow Requirements: This amendment would change arrow weight restrictions to 6 grains per pound of pull, establish a minimum arrow length of 18 inches, and allow crossbows to be used by disabled hunters.

Staff Report: Mik Mikitik and Dave Ware

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

13. AMENDMENTS TO NONTOXIC SHOT REQUIREMENTS, USE OF

DECOYS, SWINOMISH SPIT GAME RESERVE:

The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to the following rules:

- WAC 232-12-068, Nontoxic Shot Requirement for Waterfowl, Coot, and Snipe Hunting: This amendment would require nontoxic shot for waterfowl, coot, or snipe hunting and when hunting for game birds or game animals in certain areas based on high potential for ingestion of lead by wildlife.

- WAC 232-12-257, Control of Unattended Decoys: This amendment would further restrict the use of waterfowl decoys on Department lands.

- WAC 232-16-700, Swinomish Spit Game Reserve: This amendment would make permanent the regulation to allow two additional weeks of waterfowl hunting (except for brant) at the Swinomish Spit Game Reserve.

Staff Report: Dave Ware

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:

The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We encourage you to share your views of Department programs and issues which concern you during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for only those issues not identified as an agenda item for this meeting.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We encourage you to share your views of Department programs and issues which concern you during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for those who cannot be present later in the day. If workable, please provide your comments during time allotted for specific agenda items or during Open Public Input session later in the day.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

1999 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD:

Director Koenings and Chairman White will present the Department's 1999 Volunteer of the Year Award to Marian and Russell Frobe for their dedication and time given to research and conservation efforts in and around Spokane.

14. HOUND HUNTING COUGAR LEGISLATION -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will brief the Commission on the hound hunting cougar legislation and will provide a tentative schedule of events for the adoption of Commission rules that will authorize hound use for public safety needs. Staff will also brief the Commission on the black bear and cougar supplemental budget request.

Staff Report: Steve Pozzanghera and Bruce Bjork

15. ESTABLISHMENT OF 2000-2002 DEER GENERAL SEASONS AND 2000 PERMIT SEASONS AND QUOTAS:

The Commission will consider adoption of WAC 232-28-278, 2000-2002 Deer General Seasons and 2000 Special Permits.

Staff Report: Dave Ware and Rolf Johnson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

16. ESTABLISHMENT OF 2000-2002 ELK GENERAL SEASONS AND 2000-2001 PERMIT SEASONS AND QUOTAS:

The Commission will consider adoption of WAC 232-28-279, 2000-2002 Elk General Seasons and 2000-2001 Special Permits.

Staff Report: Dave Ware and Rolf Johnson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

The Commission will consider approval of the modified preferred alternative in the Coastal Dungeness Crab Even Flow Harvest Management Plan and delegation of authority to the Director to adopt permanent and emergency rules to implement the Plan.

Staff Report: Phil Anderson

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

18. REGION 4 CRAB FEASIBILITY STUDY -- BRIEFING:

Department staff will update the Commission on the feasibility of Region 4 crab abundance surveys. A final report will be presented at the June 2000 Commission workshop.

Staff Report: Phil Anderson

19. LOWER SNAKE RIVER DAM DEIS -- BRIEFING

Department staff will brief the Commission on the status of the Lower Snake River Dam Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Spring 2000 Decision.

Staff Report: Director Koenings, Phil Anderson and Bill Tweit

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:

The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. We encourage you to share your views of Department programs and issues which concern you during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: This time is set aside for only those issues not identified as an agenda item for this meeting.)

PUBLIC INPUT (Above Item Only)

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:

The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting but after the preliminary agenda is published.