November 13, 2015 meeting transcript

Fish and Wildlife Commission

Meeting Minutes & Agendas

Audio Transcripts

FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING
November 13-14, 2015

Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington St SE
Olympia WA 98501
First Floor, Room 172

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015

8:00 AM 1. Call to Order

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  1. Commissioners' Discussion
  2. Meeting Minute Approval
8:15 AM 2. Open Public Input

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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.

8:45 AM 3. Director's Report

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The Director will brief the Commission on various items.
9:05 AM 4. Combined Fish Guide License  - Briefing, Public Hearing and Decision

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The Department will brief the Commission and hold a public hearing on a proposed rule to allow for a combined food fish guide and game fish guide license at a reduced rate as required by the passage of Senate Bill 5824.

- Summary - PDF Format (252 Kb)

Staff Report: Frank Hawley, Budget and Policy Manager, Licensing Division

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

9:25 AM 5. Land Transactions - Briefing, Public Hearing and Decision

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The Commission will consider approval of various land transactions recommended by the Department for the protection of critical fish and wildlife habitat, enhancement of public recreation opportunities.

- Summary - PDF Format (3 Mb)
- Presentation - PDF Format (6 Mb)

Staff Report: Julie Sandberg, Real Estate Section Manager

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

9:55 AM 6. Forest Restoration Projects - Decision

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Department staff will brief the commission on two forest restoration projects.

- Summary - PDF Format (93 Kb)
- Presentation - PDF Format (5 Mb)

Staff Report: Richard Tveten, Forest Management Team Lead

10:30 AM 7. Wildlife Interactions - Decision

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Department staff will request approval of the proposed changes to the wildlife interaction rules.

- Summary - PDF Format (2 Mb)
- Presentation - PDF Format (667 Kb)

Staff Report: Stephanie Simek, Wildlife Conflicts Section Manager

11:30 AM 8. Citizen Science - Briefing

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Department staff will brief the commission on Wildlife Program's FY16-17 Citizen Science Conservation Initiative.

- Summary - PDF Format (78 Kb)
- Presentation - PDF Format (3 Mb)

Staff Report: Bill Tweit, Special Assistant to the Director and Wendy Connally, Citizen Science Coordinator, Wildlife Program

1:00 PM 9. Commercial Smelt Fishery Update - Briefing

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Department staff will brief the Commission on the commercial smelt fisheries status since regulation changes were implemented in June of 2014.

- Summary - PDF Format (25 Kb)
- Presentation - PDF Format (895 Kb)

Staff Report: Dayv Lowry, Ph.D., Research Scientist

1:30 PM 10. Aquatic Invasive Species - Briefing

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Department staff will brief the Commission on the response to the legislative directive to WDFW and the Washington Invasive Species Council to form a stakeholder consultation process to develop recommendations for future funding for the State aquatic invasive species program. Recommendations must be provided to the Governor and Legislature by June 1, 2016.

- Summary - PDF Format (17 Kb)
- Report to Legislature
- Presentation - PDF Format (7 Mb)

Staff Report: Bill Tweit, Special Assistant to the Director and Allen Pleus, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, Fish Program

2:15 PM 11. In Season Management - Briefing and Public Input

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Staff will report on the current status of Coho run sizes and actions taken to ensure conservation objectives and broodstock goals are achieved.  Staff will also review and discuss possibilities to re-open fisheries. Included will be actions taken in Grays Harbor this year in response to the status of coho runs.

- Summary - PDF Format (19 Kb)
- Presentation - PDF Format (492 Kb)

Staff Report: John Long, Intergovernmental Salmon Management and Steve Thiesfeld, Region 6 Fish Program Manager

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

3:15 PM 12. Executive Session
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) 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. No action will be taken in executive session, and the public is not permitted to listen to the executive session.
4:15 PM Recess

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2015

8:00 AM 13. Open Public Input

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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.

8:30 AM 14. 2016-17 Sportfishing Regulation Proposals - Briefing and Public Hearing

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Department staff will brief the Commission on proposals and summarize public comments received for the upcoming Sportfishing rules and regulations for the 2016-17 season.

- Summary - PDF Format (2 Mb)
- Presentation - PDF Format (5 Mb)

Staff Report: Craig Burley, Fish Management Division Manager, Chris Donley, Region 1 Fish Program Manager, Annette Hoffman, Region 4 Fish Program Manager and Steve Thiesfeld, Region 6 Fish Program Manager.

PUBLIC INPUT (This item only)

10:30 AM 15. WDFW Presence and Capability in Emergency Management and Homeland Security - Briefing

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Department staff will brief the Commission on the Enforcement Program's response to natural disasters and efforts in homeland and port security. The agency occupies an important Emergency Management Division role and receives funding from federal agencies in order to enhance our presence and capability. The focus will be on increasing awareness of the shared public safety mission and operational overlap.

- Summary - PDF Format (138 Kb)
- Presentation - PDF Format (3 Mb)

Staff Report:  Deputy Chief Mike Cenci and Sergeant Erik Olson

11:00 AM 16. Miscellaneous and Meeting Debrief

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The Commission will discuss items that arise immediately before or during the meeting and after the preliminary agenda is published.
  • 2016 Commission meeting schedule discussion (if needed)
11:30 AM Adjourn


Contact the Fish and Wildlife Commission Office for further information:
Phone 360-902-2267
Email: commission@dfw.wa.gov

Persons with disabilities who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the public meeting are invited to contact Dolores Noyes by phone (360-902-2349), TTY (360-902-2207), or email (dolores.noyes@dfw.wa.govl). Reasonable accommodation requests should be received at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting to ensure availability. Please provide two (2) weeks' notice for requests for ASL/ESL interpretation services. For more information, see the requests for accommodation page.