1. CALL TO ORDER

• Call to order
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• Approval of Meeting Minutes & Commissioners' Discussion
  - Minutes Summary - PDF format (53 KB)
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• Director's Report (Phil Anderson)
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• Operations and Budget Update (Joe Stohr) & Strategic Planning Update (Dave Geiger)
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  - Summary - PDF format (13 KB)
  
  

2. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT

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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:

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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

4. MASTER HUNTER PERMIT PROGRAM – RULE ACTION:

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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:

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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

6. PROPOSED LAND EXCHANGE WITH DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR), PHASE I of III – PUBLIC HEARING & COMMISSION DECISION:

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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:

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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.

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:

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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)

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:

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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

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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.)

RECESS

11. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT

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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:

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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

13. PROPOSED COMMISSION POLICY ON HATCHERY REFORM - DECISION:

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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)

15. DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SELECTION — UPDATE:

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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.

DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SELECTION – DECISION:

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The Commission will consider selection of a final candidate, who will be offered the position of Department Director.