FRIDAY, MARCH 4:

Chair Ozment called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Hunter moved, seconded by Commissioner Ledgerwood, to approve the minutes of the of the February 4-5, 2005, Commission meeting. The motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously.
(Commissioner Roehl was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

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

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

BUDGET UPDATE:
Jim Lux provided a status report on the Department's budget.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
Tom Davis provided a legislative update.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Eight individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the workshop.

GOLD AND FISH PAMPHLET UPDATE -- BRIEFING:
Gayle Kreitman briefed the Commission on the status of issues associated with the Department's "Gold and Fish" pamphlet, which contains Hydraulic Code rules and regulations specific to mineral prospecting and placer mining in Washington state.

2005 DIRECTOR GOALS -- DISCUSSION:
The Commission and Director Koenings reviewed the 2004 WDFW Director Goals and discussed updates for 2005.

WOLF MANAGEMENT IN WASHINGTON STATE -- BRIEFING:
Harriet Allen, Linda Saunders, Jim Michaels (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), and Roger Woodruff (U.S. Department of Agriculture) briefed the Commission on the status of wolf recovery and management in the state of Washington.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS -- DECISION:
Dan Budd presented one land transaction for the Commission's consideration and approval.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Hunter, to approve the following land transaction:

HUNTER EDUCATION PROGRAM UPDATE -- BRIEFING:
Mik Mikitik and Bruce Bjork provided an update on the progress of responding to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's January 2003 review of the program, along with a brief overview on the history of hunter education.

DISPOSAL OF WILDLIFE HIDES -- BRIEFING:
Sean Carrell and Bruce Bjork briefed the Commission on a proposal to reduce wastage of wildlife hides taken under depredation permits. The plan would reduce the Department's handling and storage costs and allow interested parties access to competitively acquire the hides.

The Commission agreed that the Department should go ahead with a Request for Proposals.

Department staff will provide an update to the Commission during a future Commission conference call.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Three individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the workshop.

COMMISSION HANDBOOK UPDATE -- WORK SESSION:
Susan Yeager and the Commission reviewed components of the Commission Handbook on operations and procedures and discussed updates.

Commissioner Ledgerwood moved, seconded by Commissioner McBrayer, to convene in Executive Session for one hour. The motion carried unanimously.
(Commissioner Roehl was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i), the Commission met in Executive Session to discuss with legal counsel representing the Department potential litigation to which the Department is or is likely to become a party. The public was not permitted to attend the Executive Session.

Chair Ozment recessed the meeting at 6:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5:

Chair Ozment called the meeting back to order at 8:30 a.m. The Commission immediately went into Executive Session. The public was not permitted to attend the Executive Session.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i), the Commission met in Executive Session to discuss the performance of and future expectations for a public employee or employees. No action was taken during the Executive Session.

At 9:47 a.m., the Commission came back into public session.

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

RECREATIONAL CRAB RULE PROPOSALS -- BRIEFING:
Morris Barker briefed the Commission on proposed rule amendments to meet the Commission Policy Decision C-3609 - Puget Sound Crab Fishery. The Commission will consider permanent rule amendments and receive public testimony at a special meeting to be held May 14, 2005, in Tumwater.

SALE OF WILD SHELLFISH -- RULE ACTION:
Lisa Veneroso, Evan Jacoby, and Jim Peters (Squaxin Island Tribe) presented permanent rule proposals that would establish a trial fishery license for aquatic farmers that harvest wild embedded shellfish on private property, and to provide harvest accountability for purposes of better understanding wild shellfish populations:

At its February 4-5, 2005, meeting in Olympia, the Commission continued the public hearing and rule action on the above in order to provide time for additional stakeholder involvement.

One individual provided oral testimony on the rule proposals and proposed amendments during the meeting.

To allow for additional stakeholder involvement in the rulemaking process, Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Ledgerwood, to continue the public hearing and rule action to the April 8-9, 2005, Commission Meeting in Moses Lake. The motion carried unanimously.

NORTH COAST RECREATIONAL HALIBUT FISHERY -- BRIEFING:
Phil Anderson and Michele Culver briefed the Commission on the status of the North Coast (Neah Bay/LaPush) halibut fishery, management objectives, consistency with Commission policy, and the public process to develop management tools for the short season.

BOUNDARY AGREEMENT WITH MEDICINE CREEK TREATY TRIBES -- BRIEFING:
Phil Anderson, Jim Peters (Squaxin Island Tribe), and Alan Stay (Muckleshoot Indian Tribe) briefed the Commission on the inter-local agreement between the Department, County prosecutors, and Medicine Creek Treaty Tribes that established a line relative to the southern boundary of the tribes' hunting area.

Mike Iyall and Philip Harju of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe provided comments on the agreement to the Commission.

Commissioner Ledgerwood moved, seconded by Commissioner Roehl, to direct the Department to continue working with the other parties to the agreement and report back to the Commission at its August 5-6, 2005, meeting in Spokane. The motion carried unanimously.
(Commissioner Chew was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

NORTH OF FALCON PROCESS REPORT -- BRIEFING:
Phil Anderson provided an overview and status report on the North of Falcon fisheries seasons annual planning process.

SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS TO THE DEPARTMENT:
The Commission reviewed and updated the Summary of Commission Requests to Department staff.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Tuck, to request the Department initiate negotiations with the Federal Government to gain authorization to control cormorants on selected inland waters, since cormorants are causing high losses of small trout (planters). The motion carried unanimously.
(Commissioner Chew was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:
The Commission discussed items that arose immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda was published.

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

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Ledgerwood, to adjourn the February 5-6, 2005, Commission meeting. The motion carried unanimously. (Commissioner Chew was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

Chair Ozment adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m.

These minutes, plus the audio recording, constitute the full minutes.

MEMOS AND AUTHORITIES FROM THE MARCH 4-5, 2005
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING, OLYMPIA

* Commissioner Roehl was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.
** Commissioner Chew was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.

Commissioners in Attendance:
Ron Ozment, Chair
Fred Shiosaki, Vice Chair
Ken Chew
John A. Hunter
Holly Ledgerwood
Clyde McBrayer
Will Roehl
J. Pete Schroeder
Bob Tuck