FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
February 6-7, 2009
Natural Resources Building, Room 172
1111 Washington Street Southeast
Olympia, Washington

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Public
Miranda Wecker, Chair	Ron Rinear
Gary Douvia, Vice Chair	Sam Wright
Ken Chew	Laura Hendricks, Coalition to Protect Puget Sound
Jerry Gutzwiler	Robert Kehoe, Puget Sound Vessel Owners Assn.
Conrad Mahnken	Hans Mak
George Orr	Ray Crisp, WA State Archers Assn.
Chuck Perry	Dave Croonquist, Puget Sound Anglers
	Emmett O'Connell, NW Indian Fish Commission
Commission Staff:	Axel Swanson, Cowlitz County
Susan Yeager	Kent Martin
Nancy Burkhart	Marsha Schaefer, Coastal Conservation Assn.
	John Wicklund, Coastal Conservation Assn.
Department	Shawn Murray
Phil Anderson, Interim Director	Steve Herman
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director	Ronn Schuttie
Bruce Bjork	Jay Hunter, Eyes in the Woods
Tom Davis	Al Thomas
Pat Pattillo	Bruce Barnes, Mt. St. Helens Rescue
Craig Burley	Edward L. Barnes
Pat Michael	Mark Smith, Mt. St. Helens Preserv. Society
Dan Budd	Gail Sheikhizadeh
Jennifer Quan	Tony Wells, Eyes in the Woods
Steve Crown	Dale Sharp, WA Archery Coalition
Kirt Hughes	Ron Janoff
Ron Warren
Jim Scott
Heather Bartlett
Margaret Ainscough
Mike Grossman, AGO
Bill Frymire, AGO
Steve Pozzanghera
Darren Friedel
Klyle Guzlas
Michelle Stevie
Other Department staff

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to approve the minutes of the following:

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

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

OPERATIONS AND BUDGET UPDATE:
Deputy Director Stohr provided an update to the Commission on the Department’s budget and operational issues.

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

NORTH OF FALCON FISHERIES – POLICY DECISION:
Pat Pattillo presented the proposed North of Falcon Policy (C-3608) for 2009-2010. The Commission held a public hearing during its January 9, 2009, meeting via conference call at the Olympia and Vancouver offices on the proposed policy. Written comments received in the Commission office before January 30, 2009, were also accepted as public testimony.

Commissioner Mahnken moved, seconded by Commissioner Douvia, to approve the North of Falcon Policy (C-3608) for 2009-2010 as presented by staff and with floor amendments. The motion carried unanimously.

2009-2010 SPORTFISH RULE PROPOSALS – RULE ACTION:
Craig Burley and Heather Bartlett presented proposed permanent amendments to the following WAC rules:

The Commission held a public hearing on these rule proposals at its November 7-8, 2009, Commission meeting in Olympia.

Commissioner Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Orr, to adopt the permanent amendments to the following WAC rules as filed with the Code Reviser’s Office and amended by staff:

The motion carried unanimously.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTION – DECISION:
Dan Budd presented one proposed land transaction: right-of-way grant to Cowlitz County for highway improvements to SR 504 near Silver Lake in Cowlitz County.

Commissioner Perry moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to approve the right-of-way grant to Cowlitz County. The motion carried unanimously.

TIMBER SALVAGE AND THINNING PROJECT – BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Kyle Guzlas briefed the Commission on follow-up information to a land transaction for the Wishkah timber salvage sale operation (approved by the Commission at its October 3-4, 2008, meeting), including the current condition of the property and timber, as well as an overview of the Department’s forestry program.

PILOT GRAZING STATUS UPDATE AND WILD HORSE COORDINATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (CRM) PLAN – BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Jennifer Quan briefed the Commission on the current status of the pilot grazing program and the CRM, a collaborative process for managing and sustaining proper grazing practices that balance wildlife and livestock use to improve the condition of upland and riparian areas.

GRAYS HARBOR SALMON HATCHERY OVERVIEW – BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Kirt Hughes briefed the Commission on Grays Harbor salmon hatchery production, including escapement goals, actual escapement, and harvest over the past 10 years.

EYES IN THE WOODS – BRIEFING:
Chief Bruce Bjork, Kyle Winton (President, Eyes in the Woods Association [EITW]), and Tony Wells (EITW) briefed the Commission on volunteer efforts of EITW in providing Crime and Observation Reporting Training (CORT) to citizens of the state. CORT was recently added as a requirement of the Department’s Master Hunter Program.

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

At the suggestion of Commissioner Orr, Commissioner of Public Lands Goldmark will be invited to a luncheon with Commissioners during the April 3-4, 2009, meeting in Olympia.

SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS:
Commissioner Gutzwiler moved, second by Commissioner Perry, to request the Department invite the Washington Association of Conservation Districts (WACD) to brief the Commission at its April 3-4, 2009, meeting in Olympia concerning WDFW land acquisitions, land management, and wildlife conflicts. The motion carried unanimously.

Commissioner Gutzwiler moved, seconded by Commissioner Orr, to request the Department develop a plan to build alliances with constituent groups including, but not limited to, public groups and individuals, stakeholder groups, legislators, the Governor’s Office, and other public agencies. A briefing to the Commission should include a pro-active plan with public support and cooperation through outreach and pro-active solicitation of support is to occur no later than the December 4-5, 2009, Commission meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

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

Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 5:16 p.m.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7:

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

WORK SESSION
Tom Davis briefed the Commission on the current status of legislation related to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife resources in Washington State. The Commission will be briefed on the current status of legislation every Friday through session.

Commissioners and Department staff discussed various topics, including:

Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 11:25 a.m.

MEMOS AND AUTHORITIES FROM THE FEBRUARY 6-7, 2009
FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING, OLYMPIA

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

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