MEETING MINUTES

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION
May 2-3, 2008
Sheriff's Ambulance Training Center & Conference Room
435 North Highway 395
Colville, Washington

Commission	Public
Jerry Gutzwiler, Chair	Senator Bob Morton
Miranda Wecker, Vice Chair	Representative Joe Kretz
Gary Douvia	Danny Bell, Stevens Co., Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee
Conrad Mahnken	Jeff Pitts, Stevens Co., Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee
George Orr	Jeff Dawson, Wolf Recovery Committee
Chuck Perry	Mayor Dick Nichols, City of Colville
Shirley Solomon	Bob Broden, Forest Capital Partners
	Red Fogle, Safari Club International
Commission Staff:	Sue Fogle, Safari Club International
Susan Yeager	Mike Blankenship, Ferry County Commissioner
Nancy Burkhart	Ken Oliver, Pend Oreille County Commissioner
	Tricia Woods, Colville Chamber of Commerce
Department:	Tony Delgado, Chairman, Stevens County Commission
Jeff Koenings, Director	Merrill Ott, Stevens County Commissioner
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director - Operations	Yvonne Blankenship
John Andrews, Region 1 Director	Tammy Mahnken
	Pam Douvia
	Mary Perry
	Linda Morton
	Evelyn Bell
	Michel Pitts
	Marilyn Delgado
	Sheila Stalp, Northern Dist. Dep. Director to Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers
	Phil Stalp
	Marlene Nichols

FRIDAY, MAY 2: (Regular Meeting)

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Public (continued)
Jerry Gutzwiler, Chair	Larry Guenther, Stevens Co. Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee
Miranda Wecker, Vice Chair	Shelly Short
Ken Chew	Mike Blankenship, Ferry County Commissioner
Gary Douvia	Merrill Ott, Stevens County Commissioner
George Orr	Wes McCart
Chuck Perry	Sheila Stalp, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers' Office
Shirley Solomon	Mary Lou Peterson, Okanogan County Commissioner
	Tony Delgado, Stevens County Commissioner
	Roland L. Heath
Commission staff:	Don Tryon
Susan Yeager	Jim McGowan, U.S. Forest Service
Nancy Burkhart	Danny Bell, Stevens Co. Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee
	Bobbie Thorniley, WA State Trappers; WA for Wildlife Cons.
Department:	Karen Dodson, Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers' Office
Jeff Koenings, Director	Wanda Clifford, Inland NW Wildlife Council
Phil Anderson, Deputy Director - Resource Policy	Russ Larsen, Stevens Co. Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director - Operations	Ken House, Lake Roosevelt Walleye Club
John Andrews, Region 1 Director	Michael Pitts, Arden Tree Farms
Dennis Beich, Region 2 Director	Scott Fisher, WA Dept. of Natural Resources
Steve Pozzanghera	Freddie Giannechini, Real Estate Guide Services
Kevin Robinette	Jeff Dawson, Stevens Co. Cattlemen
Bill Frymire, AGO	Scott Barr
Dave Brittell	Jimmy Nil
Bill Phillips	Rick Kuh, NE WA Fish & Wildlife Commission
Dan Budd	Kelly White
Madonna Luers	Patricia White
John Whalen	Dan Trochta
Jennifer Quan	Dave Junker
Donny Martorello	Rick Moore
Dana L. Base	Mike Blankenship, Ferry County Commissioner
Allen Palmanteer	Derrick Knowles, Conservation NW
Mitch Combs	Dale Magart, NW WA Wildlife Group
Other Department staff	Greg LaPapa
	Kyle Winton, Eyes in the Woods
	Gwen Green
Public:	Andy Hydorn, NW Turkey Foundation
Rep. Joel Kretz	Paul DeMorgan, RESOLVE
John Magart, NW WA Wildlife Group	Duane Cocking
Ken Oliver, Pend Orielle Co. Commissioner	Dave Palmer
Dale Denney, NW Turkey Foundation	Kevin Tayler
L. D. Green, Adams County	Nora Tayler
Fran Bolt	Kurt Kleinstick
Dennis Jenson	Tim Durnell
Ray Clark	Ginger Gumm
Rich Landers, Spokesman-Review	Daniel Poleschooks, Jr.
Jeff Pitts, Stevens Co. Fish & Wildlife Advisory Committee	Charlie Rose
Tim Nizich	Jasmine Minbushian, Conservation NW
Dave Bostick, U.S. Forest Service	Mitch Friedman, Conservation NW
Gery Nielson	Jamie Henneman, Capitol Press
Todd Fisher	Pat Lowe
Jim Schumacher	Ken Oliver, Pend Oreille County Commissioner
Wayne M. Morris	Stan Christie, Ferry County
Don Dashiell, Stevens Co. Cattlemen	Dan Dashien, WA Cattlemen's Assn

Chair Gutzwiler called the meeting to order at 10:35 a.m.

Chair Gutzwiler recognized Sheila Stalp, from Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers' office, who welcomed the Commission to Colville.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Orr, to approve the minutes of the following:

COMMISSION'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES - APPOINTMENT:
Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Wecker, to appoint Robert Vavla to the Region 5 vacancy on the Commission's Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities. 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:
Director Koenings and Deputy Director Anderson reviewed significant Department issues and activities.

OPERATIONS UPDATE:
Deputy Director Stohr updated the Commission on the Department's operations.

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

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES, BUDGET PROCESS UPDATE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS - BRIEFING:
Deputy Director Stohr and Bill Phillips discussed with Commissioners the developments for the Department's 2009-2011 Operating and Capital Budget request packages passed on key strategic priorities.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS - DECISION:
Dan Budd presented five proposed land transactions to the Commission for approval that would protect critical fish and wildlife habitat, provide public recreational opportunity, and address responsible property management

The following provided oral testimony on the proposed land transactions:

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to approve the following:

COUGAR MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Donny Martorello briefed the Commission on findings and recommendations contained within the 2008 Pilot Cougar Control Program final report to the Legislature, and on the progress and future direction of cougar research projects, include Project CAT.

COUGAR PILOT PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS' REVIEW:
At the request of the Commission Chair, Mike Blankenship (Ferry County Commissioner), Tony Delgado (Stevens County Commissioner), Ken Oliver (Pend Oreille County Commissioner), and Mary Lou Peterson (Okanogan County Commissioner) each provided their perspectives on the Pilot Cougar Control Program.

WDFW/WDNR LAND EXCHANGE UPDATE - BRIEFING:
Jennifer Quan and Dan Budd briefed the Commission on the status of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife / Washington Department of Natural Resources' Land Exchange process. The Commission will consider approval of the agreement in November 2008.

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 6:05 p.m.

SATURDAY, MAY 3:

Chair Gutzwiler called the meeting back to order at 8:10 a.m.

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

WOLF MANAGEMENT - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission Chair, Rocky Beach and Paul DeMorgan (Senior Mediator at RESOLVE, Inc.) briefed the Commission on the status of developing a Wolf Management Plan.

HUNTING GROUPS - INVITED TESTIMONY:
At the request of the Commission Chair, Danny Bell (Stevens County Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee), Dale Magart (NE Washington Wildlife Management Group), and John Magart (NE Washington Wildlife Management Group) provided their groups' recommendations for the next 3-year hunting regulations proposal package.

DEPARTMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEES - POLICY DISCUSSION:
Chair Gutzwiler deferred this discussion item to a future Commission meeting.

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

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

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:
Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Solomon, to request the Department brief the Commission at its November 7-8, 2008, Commission Meeting in Leavenworth on a wolf plan paper/communications tool. The briefing is to include:

2. A plain English fact sheet explaining the status of the gray wolf in Washington state under federal law (including discussion of federal policy for Washington state outside the distinct population segment) and under state law (including the process for delisting and any standards/criteria generally used in delisting).

On its May 16, 2008, Conference Call, the Commission will discuss having two public hearings (one in Spokane; one in Olympia) on July 18, 2008, for rule briefing and public hearing on proposed cougar hunting rule amendments.

Chair Gutzwiler adjourned the meeting at 12:55 p.m.

MEMOS AND AUTHORITIES FROM THE MAY 2-3, 2008
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING, COLVILLE

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