December 14-15, 2012 Minutes

MEETING MINUTES
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WASHINGTON FISH AND WILDLIFE
COMMISSION MEETING
December 14-15, 2012

Comfort Inn Suites and Conference Center, Tumwater, Washington

Friday, December 14, 2012

Chair Wecker called the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m.

1. Call to Order:

Vice Chair Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Schmitten, to approve the minutes from the December 7, 2012 conference call. Motion carried unanimously.

2. Open Public Input :
The following people signed up to provide public input during this item:

• Diane Gallegos, Wolf Haven: Wildlife Conflict Rules
• Tom Davis, Washington Farm Bureau: Wildlife Conflict Rules
• Robert Sudar: Columbia River – Kitzhaber plan

• Conservation initiative - leadership training
• Governor’s visit
• Fish Program workshop with costal interests - Coho mark selective fisheries
• Director, Jim Scott and Region 4 staff met with Muckelshoot Tribe regarding Hatchery Production Memorandum of Understanding.  Region 4 staff made great progress in developing and completing hatchery genetic management plan.
• Giant Pacific octopus – developing response, generous offers of help
• Albacore treaty with Canada
• International Halibut Commission
• Coastal crab fishery
• Wolf update – Director Anderson and Donny Martorello
• Effective performance management – Jair Reitsma

4. Hatchery and Fishery Reform Policy - Briefing
Heather Bartlett, Hatcheries Division Manager, provided an annual status update relative to Policy C-3619 and provided an update on the public process used to provide recommendations to staff for implementing hatchery reform in the Puget Sound region.

5. WAC 220-20-010 – Structural Improvements and Updates - Rule Briefing and Public Hearing
Joanna Eide, Administrative Regulations Analyst, Enforcement Program provided a briefing on the proposed amendments to WAC 220-20-010 to split this rule apart. The changes will clarify, reorganize, and restructure the content of the WAC.

No one signed up to provide public input for this item.

6. WAC Overhaul Technical Rule Changes Round 4 – Decision
Joanna Eide, Administrative Regulations Analyst, Enforcement Program requested the Commission adopt the proposed amendments and repealers in Round 4 of the WAC Overhaul Technical Rule Changes as presented during the November Commission Meeting.

The following rules are amended:

The following are proposed new rules:

The following rules are repealed:

Vice Chair Douvia moved, seconded by Commissioner Smith, to approve the changes as outlined by the department on page 3 of the rule batch 4 materials.  Motion carried unanimously.

7. Lands Conservation in the Teanaway Basin – Briefing (originally item 8 on agenda)
Jennifer Quan, Lands Division Manager briefed the Commission on the planned acquisition of 51,000 acres in the Teanaway Basin as part of the implementation for the Yakima Integrated Water Plan’s Lands Conservation element and described the role of the Department in achieving this element.

Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

11. Open Public Input

The following people signed up to provide public input:

12. Columbia River Fishery Management – Briefing
Guy Norman, Regional Director, Department staff and Workgroup members briefed the Commission on the results of meetings with the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Workgroup members.  Commissioners and Department staff discussed next steps including the development of a draft policy.

The following people provided public input for this item:

Commissioner Mahnken moved, seconded by Commissioner Smith, the Commission adopt the Director’s initial draft Columbia River Fishery Policy as the Commission’s draft policy for further review and public release.  Motion carried unanimously.

13. Review of Lower Columbia River Sturgeon Management Policy C-3001 – Briefing
Cindy Le Fleur, Region 5 Fish Program Manager provided the annual review to the Commission on the Columbia River white sturgeon.