August 1-3, 2013 Minutes

MEETING MINUTES
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WASHINGTON FISH AND WILDLIFE
COMMISSION MEETING
August 1-3, 2013

Natural Resources Building, Room 172, Olympia, Washington

ATTENDANCE:
Commission
Department Staff
Public
Miranda Wecker, Chair
Phil Anderson, Director
Frank Urabeck
Brad Smith, Vice Chair
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director
Spencer Ewing
Larry Carpenter
Joseph Shorin, AGO
Russell Carver
Jay Holzmiller
William Frymire, AGO
Molly Dufault
Jay Kehne
Mike Grossman, AGO
Kenneth Van Cleave
Robert Kehoe
Neil Wise, AGO
Jeff Holmes
Conrad Mahnken
Michael Young, AGO
David Jennings
Chuck Perry
Jessica Fogel, AGO
Robert Brockhoff
 
Philip Paine
Lorna Smith
Commission Staff:
Nate Pamplin
Linda Saunders
Tami Lininger
Jim Scott
Scott Lundy
 
Owen Rowe
Bob Lake
 
Tim Burns
Jack Hollingsworth
 
Kendall Henry
Andy Mitby
 
Ann Larson
James Gitchel
 
Eric Gardner
Danny Reeves
 
Donny Martorello
Bruce Barnes
 
Dave Ware
Jesse Sheif
 
Pat Pattillo
Jacqueline Conquest
 
Craig Burley
Jeff Hamm
 
Dan Budd
Bob McCoy
 
Tricia Thompson
TJ Scharlair
 
Don Kraege
Marcus Reaves
 
Aaron Dufault
Amaroq Weiss
 
Hal Beecher
Diane Gallegos
 
Bruce Bjork
Ruth Musgrave
 
Bruce Botka
Story Warren
 
Scott Pearson
Steve Carver
 
Barbara McClellan
Carl Carver
 
 
John Caluo
 
 
Doug Williams
 
 
Joan Thomas
 
 
Martha Jordan
 
 
Rhoda Greer
 
 
Jack Field
 
 
Norm Reinhardt
 
 
Larry Rutter
 
 
Lynne Borne
 
 
 

Thursday, August 1, 2013 - Special Meeting

Chair Wecker called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m.

1. Executive Session
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i), the Commission met in executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency is, or is likely to become, a party.  No action was taken in executive session, and the public was not permitted to attend the executive session.

Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 4:15 p.m.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Chair Wecker called the meeting back to order at 7:58 a.m.

2. Call to Order
a. Commissioners’ Discussion:

  • Commissioner Smith – Marine Patrol ride along
  • Commissioner Carpenter – Skagit County meeting
  • Commissioner Schmitten – Colockum Fire impacts
  • Commissioner Kehne – Telemetry for range riders
  • Chair Wecker – Meeting with JT Austin, Governor’s Office and the Youth Advisory Council
b. Meeting Minute Approval
  • June 21, 2013 conference call

3. Open Public Input

Scott Lundy - GPO
Bob Lake – Grays Harbor (GH) Gillnet season
Jack Hollingsworth – GH Gillnet season
Martha Jordan- Mute Swans
Andy Mitby – GH Gillnet season
David Hollingsworth - GH Gillnet season
David Jennings – GPO – Option D
James Gitchel - GH Gillnet season
Danny Reeves - GH Gillnet season
Bruce Barnes – Elk Hoof Disease

4. Director’s Report
Deputy Director Joe Stohr provided the Commission with an update on the 2013-15 Operating Budget.  The Director then briefed the Commission on the following items:

  • Collaring activities
  • Depredation permit update
  • Cooperative agreements
  • Wolf Advisory Group status
  • Staff changes
  • Puyallup River Fisheries Agreement
  • Skokomish River Fisheries Agreement
  • Grays Harbor and Willapa Fishery
  • Fires
  • Properties
  • Wolves
  • Upcoming events

5. 2014 Supplemental Operating Budget Request - Briefing
Owen Rowe, Budget Officer, briefed the Commission on the agency’s operating budget proposals.

6. Enacted 2013-2015 Capital Budget Request- Briefing
Tim Burns, Assistant Director, Capital and Asset Management briefed the Commission on the agency’s 2013-2015 Capital Budget.

7. 2014 Legislative Proposals – Briefing
Ann Larson, Legislative Liaison provided a briefing to the Commission on the draft 2014 legislative proposals.

8. Giant Pacific Octopus – Decision
Craig Burley, Fish Management Division Manager requested approval of the sportfishing regulations to implement management options for giant pacific octopuses and other species in Puget Sound.

Commissioner Mahnken moved, seconded by Commissioner Carpenter to adopt amendments to WAC 220-56-310 Shellfish – Daily limits, and WAC 220-56-390 Squid, octopus, to close recreational harvest of giant Pacific octopus in areas of Puget sound as presented in Option C:
• Redondo Beach
• Three Tree Point North
• Seacrest Park Coves 1, 2 and 3 (excluding fishing pier)
• Les Davis
• Alki Beach Junk Yard
• Days Island
• Deception Pass

Motion passed unanimously

9.  Proposed Land Transactions – Decision
The Commission considered approval of various land transactions presented by Dan Budd, Real Estate Section Manager, Wildlife Program, for the protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat, enhancement of public recreation opportunities, and responsible property management.

  • Proposed acquisition of 119 acres in Pacific County
  • Proposed acquisition of 191.36 acres in Pacific County
  • Proposed acquisition of 116.15 acres in Okanogan County
  • Proposed acquisition of 1.13 acres in Okanogan County
  • Proposed conservation easement on 66.39 acres in Okanogan County
  • Proposed conservation easement on 29.3 acres in Okanogan County
  • Proposed acquisition of 100 acres in Okanogan County
  • Proposed right of way on 7.4 acres in Grant County

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

Vice Chair Smith, seconded by Commissioner Kehne to approve the proposed land transactions as presented. Motion passed.

10. Wildlife Rehabilitation Structural Improvements and updates - Decision
Tricia Thompson, Wildlife Rehabilitation Coordinator briefed the Commission and requested approval on proposed rule amendments and new WAC sections to split apart the wildlife rehabilitation rule and provide additional detail and direction for wildlife rehabilitators.

The following person signed up to provide public input during this item:
Martha Jordan

Vice Chair Smith moved, seconded by Commissioner Carpenter to adopt the amendments to WAC 232-12-275 and new sections 232-12-841, 232-12-843, 232-12-845, 232-12-847, 232-12-849, 232-12-851, 232-12-853, 232-12-855, 232-12-857, 232-12-859, 232-12-861, 232-12-863, 232-12-865, 232-12-867, 232-12-869, and 232-12-871, as proposed by the department. Motion passed unanimously.

11. 2013 – 2014 Waterfowl Season – Briefing, Public Hearing and Decision
Don Kraege, Waterfowl Section Manager, Wildlife Program briefed the Commission on Migratory Waterfowl Seasons and Regulations and took public comments on the proposed changes to amend WAC 232-28-436.

The following person signed up to provide public input during this item:
Martha Jordan

Vice Chair Smith moved, seconded by Commissioner Kehne to amend WAC 232-28-436, 2013-14 Migratory waterfowl seasons and regulations as proposed.  Motion passed unanimously.

12. Wildlife Interaction Rules – Briefing and Public Hearing
Dave Ware, Game Division Manager, Wildlife Program briefed the Commission and held a public hearing on proposed rule amendments to Wildlife Interaction Rules as identified below.

Amend:
WAC 232-36-030 Definitions
WAC 232-36-040 Wildlife/human interaction and conflict resolution for private property damage
WAC 232-36-051 Killing wildlife causing private property damage
WAC 232-36-060 Director or his/her designee is empowered to grant wildlife control operator certifications
WAC 232-36-110 Application for cash compensation for commercial crop damage—Procedure
WAC 232-36-200 Payment for commercial livestock damage or other domestic animals—Limitations
WAC 232-36-210 Application for cash compensation for livestock damage or other domestic animal—Procedure
WAC 232-36-400 Commercial crop or livestock damage claim‑-Dispute resolution
Adopt:
WAC 232-36-052 Killing wolves attacking domestic animals  

The following people signed up to provide public input during this item:
Linda Saunders
Amaroq Weiss
Ruth Musgrave
Story Warren
Jaqueline Conquest
Jack Field
Bob McCoy
Jeff Hamm

Commissioner Carpenter  moved to extend the written public comment period until September 20, 2013 to allow additional time for comments, Commissioner Schmitten seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 4:25 p.m.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Chair Wecker called the meeting back to order at 8:31 a.m.

13. Open Public Input
Frank Urabeck – Sockeye Salmon
David Jennings – Thanks

14. Status of Washington Sockeye Salmon – Briefing and Public Hearing
Aaron Dufault, Fish Program biologist briefed the Commission on the status and trends, obstacles for recovery, including environmental factors that control abundance and survival of Washington Sockeye Salmon in response to a blue sheet request.

The following people signed up to provide public input during this item:
Spencer Ewing
Carl Carver
Steve Carver
Russell Carver
Frank Urabeck
Jon Calou
Doug Williams

15. Instream Flows - Briefing
Hal Beecher, Water Team Section Manager, Habitat Program briefed the Commission on instream flows and the work being done by the Water Science Team.

16. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief

  • 2014 proposed meeting dates
  • Co-management meeting planning

Chair Wecker adjourned the meeting at 11:07 a.m.