December 12-14, 2024 Meeting agenda - WDFW Fish and Wildlife Commission

Minutes and audio/video recordings

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Meeting location

The Suncadia Lodge
3600 Suncadia Trail
Cle Elum, WA 98922

- Committee Meetings

8:00am - 10:00am – Big Tent Committee - Commissioners Lehmkuhl, Baker, Parker, & Smith

To listen, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID# 852 8591 7981

Agenda Topics:

  • Policy Updates
  • Lessons for Collaboration: Yakima Basin
  • Public Trust Doctrine II: Professor Michael Blumm
  • Future Meeting Planning & General Discussion

10:00am - 12:00pm – Fish Committee - Commissioners Anderson, Linville, Ragen, Parker

To listen, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID# 854 8908 9823

Agenda Topics:

1:00pm - 3:00pm – Wildlife Committee - Commissioners Smith, Anderson, Rowland, & Myers

To listen, dial 253-215-8782 and enter Webinar ID# 845 9953 0361

Agenda Topics:

**Cancelled** – Habitat Committee - Commissioners Linville, Lehmkuhl, Ragen, & Myers

Meeting cancelled and agenda topics will be carried over to a future meeting.

- Regular Meeting Hybrid/Cle Elum

If you are interested in providing public comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online.

Virtual Participation:

The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect:

  • Registration for those wishing to provide virtual comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins.
  • Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda.
  • Registrants will be called upon and typically have three (3) minutes to speak.
  • If you are unable to participate, you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page.

In-Person Participation:

The following in-person deadlines are in effect:

  • If you haven't pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony Form, available at the registration table.
  • The form must be submitted at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on.

To listen to the meeting, please access it using the Zoom Link, TVW AM Session Link, or the TVW PM Session Link

or by phone by dialing 1-253-205-0468 and entering Webinar ID# 845 4589 7205

8:00am - 8:30am – 1. Call to Order

Commissioner's Discussion

Meeting Minutes Approval

Committee Reports

8:30am - 10:00am – 2. Open Public Input

The Commission is a direct link between the 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: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda. 

Public Comment - This Item Only

10:00am - 10:15am – Break

10:15am - 11:00am – 3. Director's Report

The Regional Director will welcome the Commission and give an update on happenings in the area, and the Department of Fish & Wildlife Director will brief the Commission on various items.

11:00am - 11:15am – 4. 2025 Commission Meeting Schedule - Decision

Staff will ask the Commission for a decision on the proposed 2025 Commission Meeting Schedule.

Staff Report: Jamie Caldwell - Executive Assistant

11:15am - 12:00pm – 5. Pygmy Rabbit Periodic Status Review - Briefing, Public Comment, Decision

Staff will brief the Commission and request a decision on the status of Pygmy Rabbits.

Staff Report: Gerry hayes - Wildlife Biologist and Taylor Cotten - Conservation Assessment Section Manager

Public Comment - This Item Only

12:00pm - 1:00pm – Lunch

1:00pm - 1:30pm – 6. Land Transaction - Briefing, Public Comment, Decision

The Commission will consider approval of two Lands Transactions, an acquisition in Skagit County, and a property management-land use agreement in Okanogan County, as recommended by the department. 

Staff Contact: Matthew Trenda - Real Estate Manager and Lisa Coffman - Lands 20/20 & Acquisition Funding Coordinator

Public Comment - This Item Only

1:30pm - 1:50pm – Break

1:50pm - 2:20pm – 7. Lands 20/20 Update - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on 20 proposed land acquisitions under consideration as part of the Department's Lands 20/20 process. The proposed acquisitions cover about 13,749 acres across 10 counties. 

Staff Report: Matthew Trenda - Real Estate Manager, Lisa Coffman - Lands 20/20 & Acquisition Funding Manager, and Cynthia Wilkerson - Wildlife Program Lands Division Manager. 

2:20pm - 3:20pm – 8. Spotted Owl Resilience - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on approaches to recover the Spotted Owl including maintenance of habitat, population augmentation, and Barred Owl management. 

Staff Report: Julia Smith - Endangered Species Recovery Section Manager and Emilie Kohler - Northern Spotted Owl Species Lead

3:20pm - 4:20pm – 9. Black Bear and Cougar Hunting Framework Update - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission and provide an update on the black bear and cougar hunting framework. 

Staff Report: Stephanie Landry - Carnivore, Small Game, and Furbearer Section Manger and Anis Aoude - Game Division Manager

4:20pm - 4:45pm – 10. 2024 Rulemaking Delegation to the Director - Discussion, Decision

The Commission will discuss and decide whether to delegate some or all of the rules anticipated to be brought forward around Chronic Wasting Disease, Bullfrog, Waterfowl, Ungulate, and Carnivore Hunting to the Director.

Staff Report: Anis Aoude - Game Division Manager and Mick Cope - Wildlife Program Manager

4:45pm – Recess

- Regular Meeting Hybrid/Cle Elum

If you are interested in providing public comments online during a hybrid meeting, please register online.

Virtual Participation:

The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect:

  • Registration for those wishing to provide virtual comments closes at 5pm the day before the meeting begins.
  • Open Public Input is intended for comments on matters not found elsewhere on the agenda.
  • Registrants will be called upon and typically have three (3) minutes to speak.
  • If you are unable to participate, you can submit your comments on the Commission contact page.

In-Person Participation:

The following in-person deadlines are in effect:

  • If you haven't pre-registered, complete a Public Testimony Form, available at the registration table.
  • The form must be submitted at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the agenda item you wish to testify on.

To listen to the meeting, please access it using the Zoom Link. TVW is doing system maintenance, and a link to the meeting recording will be available the following week. 

or by phone by dialing 1-253-205-0468 and entering Webinar ID# 868 0762 7300

8:00am - 9:30am – 11. Open Public Input

The Commission is a direct link between the 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: During this portion of the meeting, the public is encouraged to comment on issues that do not already have public input time on the agenda. 

Public Comment - This Item Only

9:30am - 9:45am – Break

9:45am - 10:45am – 12. Meeting Debrief and Future Meeting Planning

The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before, during, or after the meeting and will consider future agenda planning. 

10:45am - 11:00am – Break

11:00am - 1:00pm – 13. Executive Session & Working Lunch

Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(i) and RCW 42.30.110(1)(g), the Commission will meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency, matters relating to agency enforcement actions, or to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency litigation or potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency and to evaluate the qualifications of an applicant for public employment or to review the performance of a public employee. No action will be taken during the executive session and the public is not permitted to attend.