FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
August 8-9, 2008
Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center
20610 - 44th Avenue West
Lynnwood, Washington

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Department (continued)
Jerry Gutzwiler, Chair	Don Kraege
Miranda Wecker, Vice Chair	Don Larsen
Ken Chew	Pat Frazier
Gary Douvia	Doug Hatfield
Conrad Mahnken	Annette Hoffmann
George Orr	Aaron Bosworth
Chuck Perry	Dan Budd
Shirley Solomon	Penny Warren
	Jennifer Hayes
	Steve Penland
Commission Staff:	Rich Childers
Susan Yeager	Bridget Moran
Nancy Burkhart	Other Department staff
	Public
Department	Leonard Halverson
Jeff Koenings, Director	Glenn Jay Ward, Pilchuck Audubon
Phil Anderson, Deputy Director - Resource Policy	Paul r. fischbach
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director - Operations	Butch Wilson
Bill Frymire, AGo	Bruce Beatty
Bruce Bjork	Robert Cunningham
Dave Brittell	William Thomas
Bob Everitt	Steve link, Wa State bowhunters
Jo Wadsworth	Jesse Scott, Evergreen Fly Fishing Club
Ron Warren	Rick Stefanson
Kirt Hughes	B.J. Thorniley, WA State Trappers; WA for Wildlife Conservation
Jim Scott	John Evenson
Craig Burley	Jim Davis, North Cascades Cons. Council
Darren Freidel	Ken Masel, Trail Blazers
Ross Fuller	Rebecca Wolfe, Sierra Club
Peggy Crain	Gestin Sutle, F.I.S.H.
Heather Bartlett	Milt Tanggard, Trail Blazers
Steve Pozzanghera	Jim Tobler, Trail Blazers
Anita Davies	Steve Wymore, Trail Blazers
Dave Ware	Dan H. Stauffer, Ed's Surplus
Denise Hawkins	Nina Carter, Audubon Society
Jeff Olsen	Scott Atkinson, NWMPC: Gold and Fish Workgroup
Bill Phillips	Robert Elskamp, NWMPC
Tom Davis	Martha Jordan, The Trumpeter Swan Society
John Long
Donald Velasquez
Chad Jackson

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8:

Chair Gutzwiler called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m.

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

COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION:
Commissioners discussed recent activities and items of general interest, including:

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

OPERATIONS UPDATE:
Deputy Director Stohr provided an update to 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:

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS - DECISION:
Dan Budd presented two proposed land transactions.

No one signed up to testify on the proposed transactions.

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

CAPITAL PROGRAM ACTION PLAN - DECISION:
Bill Phillips briefed the Commission on updates to the Capital Program Action Plan (CPAP) for Commission approval of the report for submission to the Legislature by September 2008 as required.

No one signed up to testify on the proposed Capital Program Action Plan.

Commissioner Chew moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to approve the Capital Program Action Plan as presented by staff for submission to the Legislature in September 2008. The motion carried unanimously.

2009-2011 CAPITAL BUDGET REQUEST - DECISION:
Bill Phillips presented for approval the Department's proposed 2009-2011 Capital Budget Request package for submission to the Office of Financial Management.

No one signed up to testify on the proposed 2009-2011 Capital Budget Request.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken, to approve the 2009-2011 Capital Budget Request as presented for submission to the Office of Financial Management on or before September 2, 2008. The motion carried unanimously.

2009-2011 OPERATING BUDGET REQUEST - DECISION:
Jeff Olsen presented for approval the Department's proposed 2009-2011 Operating Budget Request package for submission to the Office of Financial Management.

The following individual provided oral testimony on the proposed 2009-2011 Operating Budget Request during the meeting:

AGENDA ITEM ADDED DURING MEETING-FORMATION OF COLUMBIA RIVER FISH WORKING GROUP - DECISION:
Deputy Director Anderson and Commissioners discussed the formation of the Columbia River Fish Working Group (committee). This committee will be responsible for providing recommendations to Washington and Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commissions on: (1) allocation for spring and summer chinook for commercial and recreational fisheries in Lower Columbia River; and (2) vision for future of fisheries within the Columbia River.

The Washington Commission will send a letter to Lower Columbia River fisheries stakeholders requesting nominations for participation on the committee as advisory members. The Commissions will each appoint three advisors to the committee.

Commission Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Douvia, to approve the Commission's letter as, discussed and amended, to stakeholders, including the process document. The motion carried unanimously.

PROPOSED 2009 DEPARTMENT REQUEST LEGISLATION - BRIEFING:
Tom Davis briefed the Commission on proposed Department request legislation being developed for the 2009 legislative session. The Commission will consider approval during its August 15, 2008, conference call meeting.

PUGET SOUND DUNGENESS CRAB CATCH RECORD CARD - RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Rich Childers briefed the Commission on proposed permanent amendments to WAC 220-56-175, Catch record cards, which would implement legislation passed in 2008 granting authority to the Commission to implement a penalty of up to $10 for Puget Sound sport crab fishers who fail to comply with catch-reporting requirements. The Commission will consider approval during its September 5-6, 2008, meeting in Olympia.

The following individuals provided oral testimony on the Dungeness crab catch record card penalty during the meeting:

FIR ISLAND SNOW GOOSE MANAGEMENT PLAN - BRIEFING:
Bridget Moran briefed the Commission on the Fir island Snow Goose Management Plan. This Plan provides a set of recommendations to ensure continuation of the collaborative approach to snow goose management on Fir Island.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to approve the Fir Island Snow Goose Management Plan. The motion carried unanimously.

SOUTH FORK SKYKOMISH RIVER SUMMER STEELHEAD - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Denise Hawkins and Chad Jackson briefed the Commission on results of the genetic study used to determine the source of unclipped, natural-origin summer steelhead returning to Sunset Falls on the South Fork Skykomish River.

DEPARTMENT'S ROLE IN LOCAL LAND-USE PLANNING - BRIEFING:
Jennifer Hayes briefed the Commission on the Department's role in local land-use planning, including upcoming technical assistant activities of the Habitat Program under the Growth Management Act and related laws.

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

Chair Gutzwiler recessed the meeting at 5:20 p.m.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9:

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

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

COLUMBIA RIVER SELECT AREA FISHERIES EVALUATION (SAFE) PROJECT HISTORY AND WILLAPA BAY SAFE PROJECT - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Pat Frazier briefed the Commission on the history of the SAFE Project in the Columbia River region, including potential costs of expanding into the Willapa Bay region.

COUGAR MANAGEMENT - RULE ACTION:
Dave Ware briefed the Commission on proposed permanent amendments to cougar hunting regulations. The rule amendments would implement legislation that extends the pilot program for use of dogs to pursue and kill cougar in specific counties. The Commission held a public hearing on these proposed rules at its July 18, 2008, meeting in Olympia and Spokane via videoconference.

Commissioner Wecker moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to adopt the permanent rule amendments as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amended by staff:

GAME MANAGEMENT PLAN - BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Dave Ware briefed the Commission on the proposed 2009-2015 Game Management Plan. The Commission will consider adoption of the Plan at its September 5-6, 2008, meeting in Olympia.

One individual provided oral testimony on the proposed Plan:

SURVEY QUESTION DEVELOPMENT - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Steve Pozzanghera briefed the Commission on the history of survey development, including how the Colorado State University and 2008 wildlife surveys were developed to support sound and credible decisions and to meet the intent of the Department's Goals and Objectives.

MIGRATORY WATERFOWL SEASONS AND REGULATIONS - RULE BRIEFING, PUBLIC HEARING, AND RULE ACTION:
Don Kraege briefed the Commission on proposed WAC 232-28-432, 2008-09 Migratory waterfowl seasons and regulations, and the repeal of WAC 232-28-431, 2007-08 Migratory waterfowl seasons and regulations.

One individual provided oral testimony on the proposed amendments:

JOHNSON/DEBAY'S SLOUGH GAME RESERVE - RULE BRIEFING, PUBLIC HEARING, AND RULE ACTION:
Don Kraege briefed the Commission on proposed permanent amendments to WAC 232-16-800, Johnson/Debay's Slough Game Reserve, which would correct incomplete information in the boundary description of the reserve.

The following individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed amendments:

FEDERAL FARM BILL OVERVIEW - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Don Larsen briefed the Commission on the content and status of the Federal Farm Bill, which was passed by Congress in June 2008.

OFFICE OF FARMLAND PRESERVATION - BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Don Larsen briefed the Commission on the Office of Farmland Preservation, which was established by 2007 legislation and is based within the Washington State Conservation Commission.

COMMISSION MEETING COSTS - BRIEFING:
The Commission deferred this agenda item to its September 5-6, 2008, meeting in Olympia.

COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The Commission deferred this agenda item to its August 15, 2008, conference call meeting.

SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS:
The Commission deferred discussion of the Summary to its September 5-6, 2008, meeting in Olympia.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to request the Department conduct boundary negotiations/adjustments with respect to the Halverson property as it relates to the Johnson/Debay's Slough Reserve and follow an extensive public process and brief the Commission at its October 3-4, 2008, meeting in Ellensburg. The motion carried unanimously.
(Commissioners Mahnken and Orr were absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
No one signed up to testify.

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

Chair Gutzwiler adjourned the meeting at 4:10 p.m..

MEMOS AND AUTHORITIES FROM THE AUGUST 8-9, 2008
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING, LYNNWOOD

* Commissioner Orr was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.
** Commissioners Mahnken 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
Shirley Solomon