June 20-22, 2024 Meeting agenda - WDFW Fish and Wildlife Commission

Minutes and audio/video recordings

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

The Heathman Lodge
7801 NE Greenwood Dr.
Vancouver, WA 98662

- Committee Meetings

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

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 839 1550 0189

Agenda Topics:

10:00am - 12:00pm – Habitat Committee - Commissioners Linville, Lehmkuhl, Ragen, & Myers

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 872 9364 2408

Agenda Topics:

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

Meeting will begin at 1:15pm due to the Habitat Committee meeting running slightly late

To listen, dial: 253-215-8782 and enter ID# 847 4004 2603

Agenda Topics:

3:00pm - 5:00pm – Fish Committee - Commissioners Anderson, Linville, Ragen, & Parker

Meeting was held on June 14, 2024 at 10am.

- Regular Meeting Hybrid/Vancouver

If you are interested in providing 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 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 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 or the TVW Link

Or by phone, by dialing: 1-253-205-0468 and entering Webinar ID# 817 1180 1335

8:00am - 8:30am – 1. Call to Order

Commissioners' 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 - 10:10am – Break

10:10am - 10:55am – 3. Director's Report

The Regional Director will welcome the Commission and the Department of Fish & Wildlife Director will brief the Commission on various items.

10:55am - 11:40am – 4. Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement - Briefing

Staff and Tribal partners will brief the Commission on the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement.

Staff Report: Michael Garrity - Special Assistant for the Columbia River Policy, Jeremiah Bonifer - Umatilla Tribe Fisheries Manager, Tom Iverson - Yakima Nation Regional Coordinator, & Brent Hall - Warm Springs Attorney

11:40am - 12:05pm – 5. 2025 Agency Request Legislation - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on the agency's requests for the 2025 legislative session. 

Staff Report: Tom McBride - Legislative Director

12:05pm – Lunch

1:05pm - 1:30pm – 6. 2025 Operating & Capital Budget Request - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on the maintenance and performance level portions of the 2024-2026 budget for the 2025 legislative session.

Staff Report: Morgan Stinson - Chief Financial Officer & Kristin Kuykendall - CAMP Program Director

1:30pm - 2:00pm – 7. Land Transactions

The Commission will consider approval of land transactions for the Hunter Mountain North Project, the Chesaw Inholding Addition, and the North Willapa Bay Estuaries & Shoreline Project as recommended by the department.

Staff Report: Lisa Coffman - Lands 20/20 & Acquisition Funding Coordinator, Julie Watson - Real Estate Manager, & Cynthia Wilkerson - Wildlife Program Lands Division Manager

Public Comment - This Item Only

2:00pm - 2:45pm – 8. Recreation Strategy for WDFW Managed Lands: Implementation Update - Briefing

Staff will brief the Commission on the implementation of the recreation strategy for WDFW managed lands.

Staff Report: Cynthia Wilkerson - Wildlife Program Lands Division Manager & Joel Sisolak - Lands Planning & Recreation Manager

2:45pm – Break

2:55pm-3:20pm – 9. State Wildlife Action Plan Update - Briefing - Item struck from agenda and moved to August meeting

Staff will brief the Commission on the status of the State Wildlife Action Plan.

Staff Report: Amy Windrope - Deputy Director & Wendy Connally - State Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator

3:20pm - 4:00pm – 10. Bald Eagle & Peregrine Falcon Periodic Status Review - Briefing, Public Comment, Decision

Staff will brief the Commission and request a decision on the status of the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon.

Staff Report: Hannah Anderson - Wildlife Diversity Division Manager

Public Comment - This Item Only

4:00pm - 5:30pm – 11. Cougar Rule - Briefing, Public Hearing, Discussion

Staff will brief the Commission and hold a public hearing on the proposed CR-102 Cougar Rule.

Staff Report: Eric Gardner - Wildlife Program Director, Anis Aoude - Game Division Manager, & Stephanie Landry - Carnivore, Small Game, & Furbearer Section Manager

15min Briefing, 45min Public Comment, 30min Commissioner Comment/Discussion

Public Hearing - This Item Only

5:30pm – Recess

- Regular Meeting Hybrid/Vancouver

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

Virtual Participation:

The following virtual registration deadlines are in effect:

  • Registration for those wishing to provider 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 from 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 or TVW Link

Or by phone by dialing 1-253-205-0468 and enter Webinar ID# 838 9252 9132

8:00am - 9:30am – 12. 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 – 13. Gray Wolf Periodic Status Review - Discussion

Staff will brief the Commission on the status of the Gray Wolf.

Staff Report: Julia Smith - Endangered Species Recovery Section Manager

10:45am - 11:45am – 14. Meeting Debriefing and Future Meeting Planning - Item was struck from the agenda due to time constraints

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

11:45am - 12:00pm – Break

12:00pm - 1:00pm – 15. Executive Session & Working Lunch

Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(i), 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. 

1:00pm – Adjourn