Minutes WASHINGTON FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION 600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Public (cont.)
Will Roehl, Chair	Jim Pearson
Ron Ozment, Vice Chair (via speakerphone)	Rick Liebel, WA State Bowhunters
Russ Cahill	Dale Sharp, WA State Bowhunters
John A. Hunter	Jeff Feagin, Puget Sound Anglers
Lisa Pelly	Corey Freeman, NSIA
Fred Shiosaki	Lee Studen, Cafe Pro
Bob Tuck	Brad Ack, PSAT
	Bill Vincent, Committee for Persons with Disabilities
Commission Staff:	Terry Turner, Trout Unlimited
Susan Yeager	Jeff Morton, NSIA
	Rich Kato, Farwest Sports/NSIA
Department	Randy Doucet, Three Rivers Marine
Jeff Koenings, Director	Hans M. Mak
Larry Peck, Deputy Director	Bob Schlecht, Bob's Sporting Goods
Lew Atkins	Clint Muns, Puget Sound Anglers
Jim Lux	Buzz Johnson
Bob Everitt	Troy Ellis
Brian Williams	Randy Prengel, Vision Hooks
Bruce Bjork	Andy Mesojednik
Dan Budd	Ryan Mesojednik
Harriet Allen	Josh Girniuli
Morris Barker	Ray Toso
Mary Lou Mills	John Price
Bill Tweit	Cindy Price
Cindy LeFleur	Pete Morris, CRRFAG
Other Department staff	Kelly Crowdes
	Cindy Knudsen
Public	Marsha Schaefer
LeeRoy Wisner, South Sound PSA	Steve Fransen
Kent Martin	Todd Ripley, Wild Steelhead Coalition
Steve Ng, Gig Harobr PSA	George Troff, Wahkiakum County
Terry Ostling	Steven-Eugene Clark
Steve Watrous, CPAA	C.T. Tolva, CT Seafood
Jim Howard, Puget Sound Anglers	Larry Swanson, SWWA
Mike Gilchrist, RFA	Gary Siegel
Les & Frances Clark, NW Gillnetters Assoc.	Andrew Brunetts
Ed Scherer	Martin Kule
Dan Doern	Larry W. Snyder, Vancouver wildlife
Phil Leshowitz, RFA	Jim Christiansen
Jim Tuggle, Trout Unlimited	Dennis Reynolds, NW Gillnetters
Oliver Waldman, Salmon for All	Dave Croonquist, Puget Sound Anglers
	Steve Fick, Salmon for All

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16:

Chair Roehl called the workshop to order at 1:09 p.m.

COMMISSIONERS' DISCUSSION:
Commissioners discussed recent activities and items of general interest and provided status reports on Commission committees.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Director Koenings reviewed significant Department issues and activities.

BUDGET UPDATE:
Deputy Director Peck provided a status report on the Department's current biennial budget.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
One individual provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the workshop.

COMMISSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES - UPDATE:
Albert (Bill) Vincent, Committee Chair, and Brenda Kane briefed the Commission on activities of the Commission Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities. The Advisory Committee was established by the 2001 Legislature as a pilot program through July 1, 2005.

WILEY SLOUGH RESTORATION PROJECT - UPDATE:
Dave Brittell, Bob Everitt, and Brian Williams provided an update on the status of the Wiley Slough Restoration Project in Skagit Valley.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS:
Dan Budd presented two proposed land transactions for the Commission's consideration and approval.

Commissioner Cahill moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to approve the following land transactions:

- Acquisition of the 103.46-acre Welts property, in Skagit County, for $106,000; and
- Acquisition of the 36.73-acre Cascade Land Conservancy-Nye property, in Grays Harbor County, for $150,000.

The motion to approve the land transactions carried unanimously.
(Commissioner Ozment was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

SPECIES OF CONCERN - FOLLOW UP:
At the request of the Commission, Harriet Allen, provided a follow-up briefing with information about when threatened and endangered species were listed and the status of and recovery plans for those species now listed in Washington state.

PUGET SOUND ACTION TEAM OVERVIEW:
At the request of the Commission, Brad Act, Chair, Puget Sound Action Team, briefed the Commission on the activities and functions of that organization.

DUTIES OF COMMERCIAL FISHERS - RULE BRIEFING:
Morris Barker and Captain Mike Cenci briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC 220-69-241, Duties of commercial fishers. These amendments would clarify transportation and storage documentation requirements for commercial fishers. The Commission will consider final adoption of the amendments at its February 6-7, 2004, Commission meeting in Olympia.

OCEAN SPOT SHRIMP PBY-CATCH - RULE BRIEFING:
Morris Barker briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC Chapter 220-88B, which would increase groundfish conservation actions in the ocean spot shrimp fishery. The Commission will consider final adoption of the amendments at its February 6-7, 2004, Commission meeting in Olympia.

PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL RECREATIONAL BOTTOMFISH - RULE BRIEFING:
Morris Barker briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to the Pacific Fisheries Management Council rules affecting the coastal recreational bottomfish fishery. Emergency rules took effect in the Fall of 2003. The Commission will consider final adoption of the amendments at its February 6-7, 2004, Commission meeting in Olympia.

Chair Roehl recessed the workshop at 4:40 p.m.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17:

The Commission met in Executive Session from 8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. to discuss the performance of and future expectations for a public employee.

Chair Roehl called the workshop back to order at 10:00 a.m.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
One individual provided oral testimony on issues of concern was received during this portion of the workshop.

MARINE PROTECTED AREAS ON SEATTLE SHORELINE PROPOSAL - RULE BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Mary Lou Mills briefed the Commission on proposed amendments to WAC Chapter 220-16, Definitions, and WAC 220-20-100, General provisions--marine protected areas, which would create marine preserves on Seattle-owned parks. The Commission will consider final adoption of the amendments at its February 6-7, 2004, Commission meeting in Olympia.

ADOPTION OF THE 2004-2005 COLUMBIA RIVER SPRING CHINOOK ALLOCATION POLICY (C-3613):
Bill Tweit and Cindy LeFleur presented to the Commission a proposed two-year (January 2004 through December 31, 2005) Columbia River Spring Chinook Allocation Policy (C-3613), which would provide guidance to the Department regarding harvest allocation between recreational and commercial sectors of state-managed fisheries.

Thirty individuals provided oral testimony on the proposed Policy during the workshop.

Commissioner Cahill moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to adopt Policy C-3613, Columbia River Spring Chinook Allocation, as presented by staff in Attachment 2, except that the second sentence under "Allocation of Upriver Spring Chinook Impacts" should read: "The recreational fishery allocation should be 60 percent of the allowable impact rate with the remainder to the commercial fishery; however, this Policy gives the Director a 5 percent flexibility level for in-season management."

Commissioner Ozment moved to amend the motion to read 60-40 sharing with 5 percent flexibility at the Director's discretion with a maximum cap of 60 percent for the recreational fishery, and a 40 percent minimum floor for the commercial fishery. The motion failed for lack of a second.

Because of concerns that the impact to ESA upriver steelhead impact rates could be changed from 2 percent to 7 percent, Commissioner Pelly moved, seconded by Commissioner Hunter, to amend the motion to include that the Director shall manage Columbia River non-treaty spring chinook fisheries that are covered by the 2 percent ESA upriver steelhead impact rates based on the following allocation guidance through 2004. The motion to amend the motion carried.

After discussion with Department staff that the Policy does not involve the ESA upriver steelhead impact rates, Commissioner Pelly moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to reconsider the amendment to the motion. The motion to reconsider the amendment carried unanimously.

Commissioner Pelly moved, seconded by Commissioner Hunter, to amend the motion to include that the Director shall manage Columbia River non-treaty spring chinook fisheries that are covered by the 2 percent ESA upriver steelhead impact rates based on the following allocation guidance through 2004. The motion to amend the motion failed.

The motion to adopt the Policy carried unanimously.

SUMMARY OF COMMISSION REQUESTS TO THE DEPARTMENT:
The Commission will review and update the Summary of Commission Requests to the Department at its March 12-13, 2004, workshop in Olympia.

MISCELLANEOUS AND WORKSHOP DEBRIEF:
The Commission discussed items that arose immediately before or during the workshop but after the preliminary agenda was published.

Commissioner Pelly moved, seconded by Commissioner Cahill, to request the Department update the present situation with swan populations, the management plan, and work being done with Canada. The motion to request Department action carried unanimously.
(Commissioner Shiosaki was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
One individual provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the workshop.

Chair Roehl adjourned the workshop at 2:13 p.m.

* Commissioner Ozment was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.
** Commissioner Shiosaki was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.

Commissioners in Attendance:
Will Roehl, Chair
Ron Ozment, Vice Chair
Russ Cahill
John A. Hunter
Lisa Pelly
Fred Shiosaki
Bob Tuck

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