FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
March 12-13, 2010

Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington Street SE, Room 172
Olympia, Washington

FRIDAY, March 12, 2010

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

1a. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
No minutes were ready for approval; this item was postponed to the next meeting.

1b.  COMMISSIONERS’ DISCUSSION:
Commissioners discussed recent activities and items of general interest.

1c.  DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
Director Phil Anderson briefed the Commission on recent items of interest, including:

• Sea lion removal update
• Columbia River spring Chinook and Sturgeon fisheries status
• Pacific Fisheries Management Council
• Department staff changes and reorganization
• Region and headquarters all-staff meetings
• Budget/accountability improvements

1d. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE:
Tom Davis reviewed the status of legislation related to fish and wildlife management.

1e.  OPERATIONS/BUDGET REPORT:
Dep. Director Joe Stohr briefed the Commission on the status of the Department’s budget and operations.

2. PACIFIC COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – INVITED DISCUSSION:
Jon Kaino, Chair of the Pacific County Board of Commissioners, discussed with the Commission issues of concern related to Columbia River fisheries as outlined in his January 5, 2010, letter to the Governor.

3. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:  
    The following individuals testified on various topics during this portion of the meeting:

• Andy Mesojednik (McCleary) – Commission member ethics

4. DERELICT FISHING GEAR REMOVAL PROJECT – BRIEFING:
Craig Burley; along with Ginny Broadhurst and Jeff June of the Northwest Straits Foundation; briefed the Commission on cooperative efforts to remove derelict fishing nets in Puget Sound.   

5. FIREARM SAFETY AWARDS:
Mik Mikitik announced Tani Iwashia as the winner of this year’s Terry Hoffer Memorial Firearm Safety Award. The Department also recognized Fred Burr for his five decades of dedicated service with hunter education instructor associations.

6. PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS – DECISION:
Dan Budd presented various proposed land transactions for the Commission's consideration and approval.

Commissioner Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to approve the following land transactions as proposed:

• relinquishment of conservation easement in Pierce County;
• return of property in Kitsap County;
• conservation easement in Okanogan County; and
• acquisition of two parcels of property in Okanogan County. 

The motion carried unanimously.

7. LANDS 20/20 ACQUISITION PROCESS UPDATE – BRIEFING:
Jennifer Quan briefed the Commission on the current status of the Lands 20/20 process, which was established in 2006 to help protect critical habitats and recreational access sites. The briefing included a review of a list of projects under consideration for grant submittal and a report on the Annual State Land Acquisition Coordinating Forum.

8. WILDLIFE INTERACTION RULES – RULE BRIEFING:
Dave Ware briefed the Commission on proposed new regulations, Chapter 232-36 Wildlife interaction rules, which would help address wildlife property damage and other human/wildlife conflicts as authorized by 2009 legislation (SHB 1778). A public hearing on the proposed rules is scheduled to occur at the April 9-10, 2010, Commission meeting in Leavenworth.

No one signed up to provide oral testimony during this portion of the meeting.

9. SALMON FORECASTS, CONSERVATION NEEDS AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES – BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, John Long and Kyle Adicks briefed the Commission on 2010 salmon abundance forecasts and discussed implications for addressing conservation of stocks and fisheries planning through the North of Falcon process.

10.  OPEN PUBLIC INPUT
No one signed up to provide oral testimony during this portion of the meeting.
     
25. COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS [taken out of order]:
Commissioners discussed recent topics discussed by the freshwater fish, lands, and wildlife committees.

Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 4:50 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010:

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

11.  OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
The following individuals testified during this portion of the meeting:

• Blandon Dillon (Tacoma) – wolf plan peer review
• Tony Wells (Tenino), “Eyes in the Woods” – game unit closures, volunteerism
• Lowell Whittum (Kent) – game hunt permit drawings

12.  COLUMBIA RIVER SUMMER CHINOOK FISHERIES POLICY C-3618 – DECISION:
Cindy LeFleur and Bill Tweit presented staff proposed updates to Commission Policy C-3618 for consideration. 

Commissioner Mahnken moved, seconded by Commissioner Smith, to adopt updates to Commission Policy C-3618, Summer Chinook Allocation for Non-Indian Fisheries below Priest Rapids Dam, effective through December 31, 2010, as presented.  The motion carried unanimously.

13.  SPECIAL HUNTING SEASON PERMITS AND DEALER FEES – RULE BRIEFING AND PUBLIC HEARING:
Dave Ware briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-291 Special Hunting Season Permits and WAC 220-55-115 Recreational License Dealer Fees, which would accommodate changes to special permit drawings.  The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.

The following individuals testified during this portion of the meeting:

• Burt Dezihan (Puyallup), member, Advisory Committee to the Commission for Persons with Disabilities
• Tony Wells (Tenino)    

14. ELK GENERAL SEASONS AND SPECIAL PERMIT REGULATIONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Jerry Nelson briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-352, 2009-2011 Elk General Seasons and Definitions;  WAC 232-28-356, 2010 Elk Special Permits; and repeal of WAC 232-28-354 2009 Elk Special Permits.  The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.

The following individuals testified during this portion of the meeting:

• Jack Nyman (Marysville)
• Bruce Barnes (Vancouver), Mt. Saint Helens Rescue        
• Burt Dezihan (Puyallup)

PETITION FOR RULE CHANGE – DECISION:
Pursuant to RCW 34.05.330, the Commission considered a petition for rule change submitted by Stevens County Commissioners regarding deer hunting regulations specific to white-tailed point restrictions in Game Management Units 117 and 121 (WAC 232-28-351, Deer General seasons). In order to allow more time for public input, Director Anderson suggested an alternative process for outreach to occur during the next rule making cycle for hunting regulations.

Commissioner Orr moved, seconded by Commissioner Smith, to deny the petition and approve the alternative process as presented by staff.  The motion carried.  (Commissioner Chew was absent for the discussion and vote on this item.)

15.  DEER GENERAL SEASONS AND SPECIAL PERMIT REGULATIONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Jerry Nelson briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-351 2009-2011 Deer General Seasons and Definitions;  WAC 232-28-355 2010 Deer Special Permits; and  Repeal WAC 232-28-353 2009 Deer Special Permits.  The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.
     
One individual provided oral testimony during this portion of the meeting:

• Burt Dezihan (Puyallup)

16.  DEER AND ELK AREA DESCRIPTIONS, SPECIAL CLOSURES AND FIREARM RESTRICTIONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Jerry Nelson briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-337 Deer and Elk Area Descriptions and WAC 232-28-248 Special Closures and Firearm Restriction Areas.  The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.

No one signed up to provide oral testimony during this portion of the meeting.

27.  MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF [taken out of order]:
The Commission and Department staff discussed topics from the previous day’s special meeting, including proposal options for potential amendments to Policy C-3601, Puget Sound Crab.

17.  HUNTING EQUIPMENT RULES – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Dave Ware briefed the Commission on proposed rule amendments to WAC 232-12-047 Unlawful Methods for Hunting, WAC 232-12-051 Muzzleloading Firearms, and  WAC 232-12-054 Archery Requirements–Archery Special Use Permits that would allow hunters to possess a handgun for personal protection during archery and muzzleloader seasons.  The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.

The following individual provided oral testimony during this portion of the meeting:

• Burt Dezihan (Puyallup)

18.  MOOSE, BIGHORN SHEEP AND MOUNTAIN GOAT REGULATIONS - HUNTING REGULATIONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Donny Martorello briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-273 2009-2011 Moose, Bighorn Sheep, and Mountain Goat Seasons and Permit Quotas; and WAC 232-12-284 Bighorn Sheep – Marking Requirements. The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.

No one signed up to provide oral testimony during this portion of the meeting.

19.  BLACK BEAR SEASONS AND REGULATIONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Donny Martorello briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-286 2010, 2011, and 2012 Spring Black Bear Seasons and Regulations; and WAC 232-28-288 2010-2011 Fall Black Bear Hunting Seasons and Regulations. The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.

No one signed up to provide oral testimony during this portion of the meeting.

20.  COUGAR PERMIT SEASONS AND REGULATIONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Donny Martorello briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-285 2010-2011 Pilot Cougar Hunting Seasons with the Aid of Dogs and WAC 232-28-287 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 Cougar Permit Seasons and Regulations. The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.

The following individuals provided oral testimony on item #20 during this portion of the meeting:

• Dan Pingley (Kalama), Lower Columbia Sportsman Alliance
• Buddy Woodberry (Yacolt), Big Game Houndsmen USA
• Chester O’Brien (Longview), WA State Hound Council

21.  RAFFLE AND AUCTION HUNTS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Donny Martorello briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-290 Washington Raffle Hunts and WAC 232-28-292 Washington Auction Hunts. The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.

No one signed up to provide oral testimony during this portion of the meeting.

22.  DAMAGE PREVENTION AND LANDOWNER PERMIT HUNTS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Mick Cope briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-266 Damage   Prevention Permit Hunts; and WAC 232-28-295 Landowner Hunting Permits, which would  allow greater flexibility for the use of turkey and elk damage prevention permits and public    hunting access to private lands for addressing damage concerns. The Commission will  consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in    Leavenworth.

No one signed up to provide oral testimony during this portion of the meeting.

23.  SMALL GAME HUNTING SEASON REGULATIONS – RULE BRIEFING & PUBLIC HEARING:
Mick Cope briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 232-28-342, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 Small game seasons, which would allow greater opportunity for turkey hunters while moderating the harvest. The Commission will consider adoption of permanent amendments at its April 9-10, 2010, meeting in Leavenworth.

No one signed up to provide oral testimony during this portion of the meeting.

24. OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
One individual provided oral testimony during this portion of the meeting:

• Jim Hull (Port Orchard), Puget Sound Shrimp Association – shrimp fishery emergency regulations.

[25. COMMISSION COMMITTEE REPORTS – taken out of order; after item #10]

26. SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS:
      The Commission postponed this item to its March 19, 2010, conference call meeting.

[27.  MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF - taken out of order; before item #17]

Chair Wecker adjourned the meeting at 5:35 p.m.