June 7-8, 2013 Minutes

Meeting Minutes
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WASHINGTON FISH AND WILDLIFE
COMMISSION MEETING

June 7-8, 2013

Natural Resources Building, Room 172, Olympia, Washington

ATTENDANCE:
Commission
Department Staff
Public
Miranda Wecker, Chair
Phil Anderson, Director
Tom Burlingame
Larry Carpenter
Joe Stohr, Deputy Director
Gordon Ruh
David Jennings
William Frymire, AGO
Bruce Barnes
Jay Kehne
Craig Burley
Edward Barnes
Conrad Mahnken
Dan Budd
Marsha Dalan
Chuck Perry
Pat Pattillo
Shannon Dalan
Rollie Schmitten
Ted Clausing
Rob Garner
Brad Smith
Tricia Thompson
Brady Wojtowicz
 
Eric Gardner
Mark Smith
Commission Staff:
Rich Childers
Axel Swanson
Tami Lininger
Nate Pamplin
Robert E. Brown Jr,
Erin Gariépy
Bruce Bjork
Rory O'Connor
 
Jason Wettstein
Andy Mesojednik
 
Bruce Botka
Norman Reinhardt
 
Darren Friedel
John Pierce
 
Charmane Ashbrook
Bradley Palmer
 
 
Ed Owens
 
 
 

Friday, June 7, 2013

Chair Wecker called the meeting back to order at 7:59 a.m.

1. Call to Order

a. Commissioners’ Discussion

  • Commissioner Schmitten reported a truly positive experience at the Habitat Summit. Thanked Assistant Director Lisa Veneroso and her staff for inviting him to be a speaker and for their leadership.

  • Commissioner Kehne coordinated with Eyes in the Woods to do training on the importance of wildlife and to deter poaching.  He was impressed with the response from Jim Brown and WDFW staff.

  • Commissioner Perry has heard complaints that the Access Permit requirement is being not being enforced.

  • Commissioner Jennings discussed an article that reported the decline of the amphibian population across the US and the biological challenges that are coming up in the next few years

  • Chair Wecker shared compliments from Ron Garner and other stakeholders for Heather Reeds work with sportfishers.

b. Meeting Minutes Approval

  • Commissioner Perry moved, seconded by Commissioner Schmitten to approve the minutes from the May 3, 2013 conference call and the May 31, 2013 Special Conference Call as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Jennings and Commissioner Carpenter abstained from vote due to absence.

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

Gordon Ruh – Smelt Fishery
Bruce Barnes – Hoof Rot
Ron Garner – Rockfish descended device
Marsha Dalan – Raptor House rehab center

 

3. Director’s Report
The Director briefed the Commission on various items including:

  • Responded to some of the concerns presented during item 2 Open Public Input
  • Public Affairs/Outreach update
  • Columbia River update
  • Wolves - Federal delisting
  • Colockum/Whiskey Dick update
  • North of Falcon
  • Chelan PUD
  • Co-Management relationship with tribes
  • Chief Bruce Bjork retiring
  • Introduction of Clay Sprague
  • Jay Holzmiller - new commissioner appointed by Governor Inslee

4. Cabezon Sportfishing Regulations – Briefing, Public Hearing and Decision
Craig Burley, Fish Management Division Manager briefed the Commission and provided options for approval of the proposed Cabezon Sportfishing Regulations.

The following people signed up to provide public input during this item:

Tom Burlingame
Rory O’Connor
Andy Mesojednik
Ron Garner
Norman Reinhardt
John Pierce (spoke later, misplaced sign-up sheet)

Commissioner Mahnken moved, seconded by Commissioner Smith to retain the current Cabezon season of year-round in Marine Area 4 and May 1 through November 30 in Marine Areas 5-11 and 13. Motion passed unanimously.

5. Giant Pacific Octopus – Briefing and Public Hearing
Craig Burley, Fish Management Division Manager provided a briefing to the Commission on the draft recommendations and public comments received to date.

The following people signed up to provide public input during this item:

Ron Garner

6. Instream Flows – Briefing – Deferred

7. Proposed Land Transaction – 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 Conservation Easement on 487 acres in Okanogan County
  • Proposed Acquisition of 4 acres in Mason County
  • Proposed Renewal of Pipeline Right of Way in Grant County
  • Proposed Easement for a Hatchery in King County
  • Proposed Easement for a Fish Bypass Pipe in Yakima County
  • Proposed Correction to a Transaction in Okanogan County

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

Commissioner Perry moved, seconded by Commissioner Schmitten to approve the land transactions as presented. Motion passed. 7 yes, 1 no.

8. Status of Southern Resident Killer Whales and Effects of Salmon Fisheries – Briefing
Pat Pattillo, Special Assistant to the Director, Larry Rutter, Sr. Policy Assistant, Salmon Management Division, Northwest Region of NOAA Fisheries Service and Lynne Barre, Branch Chief, Protected Resources Division, Northwest Region of NOAA Fisheries Service provided the Commission with an overview of the key issues of concern regarding the status of Southern Resident Killer Whales and implications of the recently concluded scientific review of the effects of fisheries on prey availability.

9. Colockum Elk Herd Status and Management – Briefing
Ted Clausing, Region 3 Program Manager briefed the Commission on the Colockum Elk Herd.

10.  Wildlife Rehabilitation Regulations – Briefing and Public Hearing
Tricia Thompson, Wildlife Rehabilitation Coordinator and Joanna Eide, Administrative Regulations Analyst briefed the Commission on proposed rule amendments and new WAC sections to partition the wildlife rehabilitation rule and provide additional detail and direction for wildlife rehabilitators.

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

11. Commercial Sea Cucumbers/Sea Urchins Buy-Back Program - Briefing and Public Hearing
Rich Childers, Shellfish Policy Manager briefed the Commission on the commercial license buy-back program for the sea cucumber and sea urchin fishery and the recommendation to increase the maximum bid prices for permits.

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

12. New WILD System Overview and Project Timeline – Deferred
 
Chair Wecker recessed the meeting at 4:34 p.m.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

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

13. Hoof Disease in Southwest Washington Elk Populations - Briefing
Nate Pamplin, Assistant Director and Kristin Mansfield, Veterinarian, Wildlife Program briefed the Commission on the hoof rot problem in Southwest Washington.

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

Brady Wojtowicz – Hoof Rot
Mark Smith – Hoof Rot
Axel Swanson – Hoof Rot
Robert Brown – Hoof Rot
Bradley Palmer – Archery violations, ADA

15. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief (previously item 16 on the agenda)
The Commission discussed items that arose immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda was published.

 
  • Commission Budget

  • Vice-chair nominations
    Commissioner Schmitten moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken to elect Commissioner Brad Smith as interim Vice Chair. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Blue sheets
    Commissioner Kehne moved, seconded by Commissioner Jennings to request a briefing on establishing a Youth Advisory Board within WDFW. Motion passed unanimously.

    Commissioner Jennings moved, seconded by Commissioner Mahnken to request a briefing on population status, trend if known for Washington amphibians, focus on non-listed species and possible opportunities for citizen science. Motion passed unanimously.

  • Good bye and thank you to Commission Perry for  his work with the commission over the last 8 years
  • WAFWA

16. Executive Session (previously item 15 on the agenda)
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(g), the Commission met in executive session to review the performance of a public employee.  No action was taken in executive session, and the public was not permitted to listen to the executive session.

Open Session
Commissioner Schmitten moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry to approve the performance agreement for Director Phil Anderson for July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 as presented.  Motion passed unanimously.

Chair Wecker adjourned the meeting at 11:42 a.m.