MEETING MINUTES

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
March 7-8, 2008
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington Street SE, Room 172
Olympia, Washington

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Department (continued)
Jerry Gutzwiler, Chair	Elizabeth Rodrick
Miranda Wecker, Vice Chair	Jennifer Quan
Ken Chew	Don Kraege
Gary Douvia	Ted Clausing
Conrad Mahnken	Dave Ware
George Orr	Jerry Nelson
Chuck Perry	Other department staff
Will Roehl
Shirley Solomon	Public
	Walt Christensen, WA State Muzzleloaders Assn.
Commission Staff:	Jack Havens
Susan Yeager	Rich Struna, OFM
Nancy Burkhart	Tony Wells, Hound Council
	Ed Owens
	Dave Akehurst, Western W/L Cons.
Department	Michael March, WA Native Plant Society
Jeff Koenings, Director	Jim Pearson, SCI
Phil Anderson, Deputy Director - Resource Policy	Carl Sheats, Bubble Heads, Inc.
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director - Operations	John D. VanBrocklin
Lew Atkins	Kathy Barth, Bubble Heads, Inc.
Dave Brittell	Roger Kehoe, Purse Seine Vessel Owners Assn.
Greg Hueckel	Jim Baumgart
Guy Norman	Peter Knutson, Puget Sound Harvesters
Tom Davis	Kevin P. Marilley, Puget Sound Harvesters
Dan Budd	Ray Honea, Puget Sound Harvesters
Theresa Nation	David Harsila, Puget Sound Salmon Commission
Mick Cope	Sam Wright
Kevin Robinette	Frank Lockard
Bill Frymire, AGO	L. B. Lennox
Donny Martorello	Ray Crisp, WA State Archery Assn.
Marc Daily	Jean Bulette, Lake Tahuyeh Community Club
Matt Niles	Steve Link, WA State Bowhunters Assn.
Pat Pattillo	Fred Martinson
Lisa Veneroso	Dianne Warrant, GPO Alliance of Washington
John Long	Tim Rogers, Harstein Island Crime Watch
Heather Bartlett	Lynn Helbrecht, WA Biodiversity Council
Amilee Wilson
John Kerwin
Terry Rudnick
Bill Joplin

FRIDAY, MARCH 7:

Chair Gutzwiler called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

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

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
Tom Davis provided an update to the Commission on the 2008 Legislative Session.

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

STRATEGIC PLANNING, BUDGET AND LICENSING SYSTEM UPDATE:
Deputy Director Stohr and Bill Joplin provided an update to the Commission on strategic planning, the Department's budget, and the Department's licensing system.

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

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS - DECISION:
Dan Budd presented two proposed land transactions. Two items were withdrawn by the Department.

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

- Sale of the 20.12-acre Beebe Springs (former RLF) property in Chelan County to the County of Chelan for $255,000.

WASHINGTON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION STRATEGY - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Elizabeth Rodrick and Lynn Helbrecht (Executive Coordinator, Washington Biodiversity Council) briefed the Commission on the Washington Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, which includes methods for defining priorities, fostering widespread landowner engagement, and measuring progress.

LANDS 20/20 ACQUISITION PROCESS - BRIEFING:
Jennifer Quan briefed the Commission on the current status of land acquisition projects and presented 24 potential acquisition projects that were assessed using the Lands 20/20 prorcess.

Department staff will provide an update to the Commission on the Wiley Slough Report (including the Memorandum of Understanding) at a future Commission meeting.

CLASSIFICATION OF WILD BIRDS - RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Don Kraege briefed the Commission on proposed permanent rule amendments to WAC 232-12-004, Classification of wild birds, which would manage as new and rapidly spreading exotic species (Eurasian collared dove) as a predatory bird. The Commission will consider adoption of these rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco.

No individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed rule amendments during the meeting.

SMALL GAME SEASONS - RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Mick Cope and Don Kraege briefed the Commission on proposed permanent rule amendments to WAC 232-28-342, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09 Small game seasons, which would establish more fall turkey hunting opportunity, help control expanding turkey populations, provide additional hunting opportunity for mourning doves, and provide consistent goose season regulations in Goose Management Area 3. The Commission will consider adoption of these rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco.

No individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed rule amendments during the meeting.

LANDOWNER HUNTING PERMITS - RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Mick Cope, Kevin Robinette, and Ted Clausing briefed the Commission on proposed permanent rule amendments to WAC 232-28-295, Landowner hunting permits, which would address damage concerns and provide public hearing access to private lands. The Commission will consider adoption of these rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco.

The following individual provided oral testimony on the proposed rule amendments during the meeting:

HUNTING EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS - RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Dave Ware briefed the Commission on proposed permanent rule amendments to WAC 232-12-045, Hunting equipment restrictions, which would restrict the use of radio telemetry equipment for hunting. The Commission will consider adoption of these rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco.

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

MOOSE, BIGHORN SHEEP, AND MOUNTAIN GOAT SEASONS - RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Donny Martorello briefed the Commission on proposed permanent rule amendments to WAC 232-28-273, 2006-2008 Moose, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat seasons and permit quotas, which would address increasing problems with moose, help address the expanding ewe component of the bighorn sheep population, and adjust mountain goat unit boundaries on Mount Baker. The Commission will consider adoption of these rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco.

No individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed rule amendments during the meeting.

HABITAT CONSERVATION PLANNING FOR WILDLIFE AREAS AND HYDRAULIC PROJECT APPROVALS - BRIEFING:
Marc Daily, Matt Niles, and Jennifer Quan, briefed the Commission on progress made over the last year on two projects that seek to develop Habitat Conservation Plans for activities authorized under the Hydraulic Project Approval program, and for activities on state-owned and -managed Wildlife Areas.

PUGET SOUND PURSE SEINE/GILLNET HARVEST ALLOCATION - BRIEFING:
John Long and Lisa Veneroso briefed the Commission on guidelines and the process for Puget Sound Purse Seine/Gillnet Areas 10 and 11 chum salmon harvest allocation, and provided an update on the 2008 North of Falcon fisheries process.

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

Chair Gutzwiler recessed the meeting at 5:25 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8:

Chair Gutzwiler called the meeting back to order at 8:30 a.m.

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

STATEWIDE STEELHEAD MANAGEMENT PLAN - DECISION:
Heather Bartlett and Amilee Wilson presented the proposed Statewide Steelhead Management Plan for approval. The Commission held a public hearing on the Plan during its February 1-2, 2008, meeting in Olympia.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to adopt the Statewide Steelhead Management Plan, which includes policy statements for the conservation and management of steelhead in Washington State. The motion carried unanimously.

GO PLAY OUTSIDE©, YOUTH FISHING, AND 2008 YOUTH EXPO - BRIEFING:
John Kerwin, Terry Rudnick, and Dianne Warrant (President, Go Play Outside Alliance of Washington) briefed the Commission on the events and activities of the go Play Outside© initiative, 2007-2008 Youth fishing activities, and the upcoming Youth Expo planned for May 16-17, 2008, in Benton County.

DEER AND ELK AREA DESCRIPTIONS - RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Jerry Nelson briefed the Commission on proposed permanent rule amendments to WAC 232-28-337, Deer and elk area descriptions, which would help protect elk coming down to active feeding areas during late archery season. The Commission will consider adoption of these rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco.

No individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed rule amendments during the meeting.

DEER AND ELK GENERAL SEASONS AND DEFINITIONS, SPECIAL HUNTING PERMITS - RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Jerry Nelson briefed the Commission on proposed permanent rule amendments which would make minor adjustments to deer and elk general seasons to address emergent issues and fine-tune hunts designed to alleviate agricultural damage:

The Commission will consider adoption of these rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco.

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

DEER AND ELK SPECIAL PERMITS - BRIEFING:
Jerry Nelson briefed the Commission on the current status of developing WAC rule proposals to respond to population changes, winterkill, agricultural damage complaints, and other issues. A public hearing on the proposed rule amendments will be held at the April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco. The Commission will consider adopting permanent amendments immediately following that public hearing.

COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Commissioners discussed activities of the various Commission committees.

SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS:

Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to request the Department provide a briefing at the June 6-7, 2008, Commission meeting in Ocean Shores on the development of salmonid runs spawning above the falls on the South Fork of the Skykomish River. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Orr, to request the Department brief the Commission at the April 11-12, 2008, Commission meeting in Pasco on the assessment of conservation benefits associated with the recent change in the lower Columbia River spring chinook allocation (Policy C-3617). The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Perry moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to request the Department brief the Commission at either the October 3-4, 2008, or November 7-8, 2008, Commission meeting on recreational fishing gear restrictions on the Columbia River. Barbless hook rules for sport fishers and reduction of the hook-and-release impact on listed species are to be included. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioners asked the Department to provide a presentation on annual statewide salmon forecast data, including implication for fisheries, conservation of stocks, and options for shaping fisheries. This information is to be provided to the Commission annually each January, with the first presentation at the June 6-7, 2008, Commission meeting in Ocean Shores.

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

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:
Guy Norman presented a draft on the Columbia River visioning process for Commission review.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to support the stakeholder Lower Columbia River allocation process by accepting Page 1 of the DRAFT document "Lower Columbia River Salmon Fisheries Stakeholder Group". The motion carried.

The Commission went into Executive Session pursuant to RCW 42.30.110 to discuss the performance and to consider salary adjustments of a public employee or employees. The Executive Session was closed to the public. No action was taken during the Executive Session.

After returning to regular session, Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Solomon, to increase the Commission's Executive Assistant's salary by 10 percent. The motion carried unanimously. (Commissioners Chew and Orr were absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

Chair Gutzwiler adjourned the meeting at 2:43 p.m..

MEMOS AND AUTHORITIES FROM THE MARCH 7-8, 2008
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING, OLYMPIA

* Commissioner Orr was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.
** Commissioners Chew and Orr were absent during discussion and vote on the motion.

Commissioners in Attendance:
Jerry Gutzwiler, Chair
Miranda Wecker, Vice Chair
Ken Chew
Gary Douvia
Conrad Mahnken
George Orr
Chuck Perry
Will Roehl
Shirley Solomon