Revised* AGENDA

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
September 11-12, 2009
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington St. SE
Olympia, Washington 98501

*Revised 09/09/2009;
Item 9 is postponed and Item 14 moved to Friday.
The agenda is subject to change.   

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

8:30 AM	1. CALL TO ORDER Approval of Meeting Minutes - Minutes Summary - PDF format (53 KB) Commissioners' Discussion Director's Report (Phil Anderson) Operations and Budget Update (Joe Stohr) Includes Strategic Planning Update, by Dave Geiger - Summary - PDF format (13 KB) 2. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: The public is encouraged to comment on those issues not on this agenda for action.) 3. 2010 SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET PROPOSAL – DECISION: The Commission will consider approval of the proposed Department’s 2010 supplemental budget request. Department staff briefed the Commission on the proposal during its August 7-8, 2009, meeting in Colville. - Summary - PDF format (9 KB) Staff Report: Joe Stohr, Deputy Director
	BREAK
	4. MASTER HUNTER PERMIT PROGRAM – RULE ACTION: The Commission will consider adoption of amendments to WAC 232-12-073, Master hunter permit program, to implement two new statutes as passed by the 2009 Legislature (SHB 1778). The Commission held a public hearing on the proposals at its August 7-8, 2009, meeting in Colville. - Summary - PDF format (288 KB) Staff Report: Chief Bruce Bjork, Assistant Director, Enforcement Program 5. BAITING OF WATERFOWL- BRIEFING: At the request of the Commission, Department staff – along with representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – will brief the Commission on regulations related to the practice of flooding corn ponds for waterfowl hunting. - Summary - PDF format (515 KB) Staff Report: Chief Bruce Bjork, Assistant Director, Enforcement Program
11:40 P.M.	LUNCH BREAK:
1:00 P.M.	6. PROPOSED LAND EXCHANGE WITH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR), PHASE I of III – PUBLIC HEARING & COMMISSION DECISION: Department staff will brief the Commission on results of a nearly 3-year evaluation of exchanging properties with DNR to eliminate checkerboard ownership and allow each agency to better address its specific management goals. Following the public input opportunity, the Commission will consider approval of the exchange of approximately 5,100 acres in WDFW lands for roughly 9,000 acres of DNR lands, which is the first phase of a three-phase land exchange project. - Summary - PDF format (1 MB) Staff Report: Jennifer Quan, Lands Division Manager, Wildlife Program Dan Budd, Real Estate Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) 7. PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS – DECISION: The Commission will consider approval of various proposed land transactions to protect critical fish and wildlife habitat and provide public recreational opportunity: Proposed conservation easement on 106 acres in Okanogan County; Proposed acquisition of a 2,340-acre property in Yakima County; Proposed acquisition of 1729.25-acre property in Pend Oreille County; and Proposed acceptance of mitigation parcels totaling 120 acres in Kittitas County. - Summary - PDF format (1.6 MB) Staff Report: Dan Budd, Real Estate Manager, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (This item only) 8. JOHNSON DEBAY’S SLOUGH GAME RESERVE BOUNDARY – RULE BRIEFING, PUBLIC HEARING & RULE ACTION: Department staff will brief the Commission on negotiations to resolve boundary issues at the Johnson Debay’s Slough Game Reserve and on proposed rule amendments to clarify property lines. Following the public input opportunity, the Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments to WAC 232-16-800, Johnson/Debay’s Slough Game Reserve. - Summary - PDF format (766 KB) Staff Report: Steve Pozzanghera, Deputy Assistant Director, Wildlife Program PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)
	BREAK
	9.** TRIBAL TRADITIONAL HUNTING AREAS – BRIEFING: At the request of the Commission, Department staff will brief the Commission on the development of draft procedural guidelines for responding to assertions of Tribal traditional hunting areas. Staff Report: Nathan Pamplin, Intergovernmental Resource Management (IRM) ** Item 9 has been postponed to the November 5-6, 2009, Commission meeting in Olympia. 14. COASTAL GROUNDFISH FISHERIES STATUS – BRIEFING: ITEM 14 has been moved to here from Saturday: As a follow-up to a staff briefing on Puget Sound rockfish presented at the June 5-6, 2009, Commission meeting in Olympia, Department staff will brief the Commission on the status of coastal groundfish key stocks, fisheries management and the Pacific Fishery Management Council. - Summary - PDF format (16 KB) Staff Report: Phil Anderson, Interim Director 10. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: The public is encouraged to comment on those issues not on this agenda for action.)
4:35 P.M.	RECESS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

8:30 AM	11. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. (NOTE: The public is encouraged to comment on those issues not on this agenda for action.) 12. COWLITZ RIVER FISHERIES MANAGEMENT – BRIEFING: As a follow-up to public comments received by the Commission at its July 11-12, 2009, meeting in Olympia, Department staff will brief the Commission on the history, status and future of fisheries management on the Cowlitz River. - Summary - PDF format (528 KB) Staff Report: Pat Frazier, Region 5 Manager, Fish Program
	BREAK
	13. PROPOSED COMMISSION POLICY ON HATCHERY REFORM - DECISION: At the request of the Commission, Department staff will brief the Commission on updates to a draft proposed Commission Policy on Hatchery Reform (C-3619). The Commission held a public hearing on the proposal at its June 5-6, 2009, meeting in Olympia and postponed action to this meeting to allow additional time for gathering additional comments. - Summary - PDF format (1.8 MB) Staff Report: Andy Appleby, Hatchery Reform Coordinator, Fish Program; Sara LaBorde, Special Assistant to the Director; and Heather Bartlett, Hatchery Division Manager, Fish Program 14. COASTAL GROUNDFISH FISHERIES STATUS – BRIEFING: (ITEM 14 was moved from here to Friday before item #10)
12:15 P.M.	LUNCH BREAK
12:45 P.M.	15. DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SELECTION — UPDATE: The Commission – along with Audrey Ely and Anthony Cesario from the Dept. of Personnel Executive Careers – will discuss the current status of the Director search. EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(g), the Commission will go into executive session to review employment applications for the Department Director position and to discuss the qualifications of specific applicants. The public is not permitted to attend the executive session. No final hiring decisions will be made during the executive session. DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SELECTION – DECISION: The Commission will consider selection of a final candidate, who will be offered the position of Department Director. 16. PROPOSED 2010 COMMISSION MEETING CALENDAR- DISCUSSION: The Commission will discuss and accept public testimony on proposals for its 2010 Commission meeting calendar. The Commission may adopt a final 2010 meeting calendar during its September 18, 2009, or October 16, 2009, conference call meeting. - DRAFT - 2010 Commission Meeting Calendar - PDF format (64 KB) PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)
	BREAK
	17. COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS: The Commissioners will discuss activities of the various Commission committees. 18. SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS: Commissioners will review the current list of Commission requests to the Department and may consider new requests. - Summary - PDF format (24 KB) 19. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT The Commission is a direct link between citizens of Washington and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Comments on Department programs and topics of concern are welcome during this portion of the meeting. 20. MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF: The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
5:10 PM	ADJOURN

*Agenda is subject to change.

Directions and Access to the Natural Resources Building: From I-5, take State Capitol exit (105). The exit puts you on 14th Avenue. Go through the tunnel and turn right onto Capitol Way. Turn right onto 11th Avenue. Turn right onto Washington and into the visitor parking lot. Parking costs 50 cents per hour, payable at the meters. There is no charge for parking in the NRB visitor lot on weekends.

Public access to the Natural Resources Building after 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday will be available only through the rotunda doors located on the west end of the building. Contact Susan Yeager at (360) 902-2267 if assistance for persons with disabilities is needed.

Contact the Fish and Wildlife Commission Office for further information:
Phone (360) 902-2267
Email: commission@dfw.wa.gov