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

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Department (cont.)
Will Roehl, Chair	Bill Frymire, AGO
Ron Ozment, Vice Chair	Marnie Tyler
Lisa Pelly	Pat Pattillo
Dawn Reynolds	Bill Tweit
Fred Shiosaki	Brad James
Bob Tuck	Brenda Kane
Van Van Gytenbeek
Kelly White	Public
	C. Clare Cranston, Richland Rod & Gun Club
Commission Staff:	Shawna Killman, WA State Auditor's Office
Susan Yeager	Rene Newkirk, WA State Auditor's Office
	Steve McKerney, WA State Auditor's Office
	Linda Byers
Department	Stephanie Hoffman
Jeff Koenings, Director	Bobbie Thorniley, WA Wildlife Cons. & WA Trappers
Larry Peck, Deputy Director	Andy Card
Jim Lux	Terry Wright, NW Indian Fisheries Commission
Mike Kuttel	Neil Warner, RFEG
Mik Mikitik	Bob Lake, RFEG
Lembit Ratassepp	Dale Sharp, Traditional Bowhunters of WA
Morris Barker	Kris Schoyen, Audubon Society
Greg Bargmann	Rick Liebel, WA State Bowhunters
Paul Seidel	Bill Vincent, Persons with Disabilities Committee
Marc Hayes	Clint Muns, Puget Sound Anglers
Dan Budd	Liz Hamilton, NSIA
Mark Quinn	Rory Calhoun, IAC/WDFW ADA Committee
David Heimer	Rob Kavanaugh
Dave Ware	John Evensen, Steelhead Trout Club
Donny Martorello	Walt Christensen, WA Muzzleloaders Association
Jerry Nelson	John Sewell, WA State Hound Council
Sara LaBorde
Brett Dumbauld

FRIDAY, MARCH 14:

Chair Roehl called the workshop to order at 8:33 a.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:
Jim Lux provided a status report on the Department's current biennial budget.

STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE REVIEW:
Steve McKerney and Renee Newkirk (State Auditor's Office) discussed the audit of the Department for FY2002.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Three individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting.

OUTDOOR RECREATION PARTNERSHIPS -- BRIEFING:
Mike Kuttel and Kyle Winton (Executive Director, Washington Wildlife Federation) updated the Commission on the Outdoor Recreation Partnerships Initiative "Go Play Outside."

ADVANCED HUNTER EDUCATION -- BRIEFING:
Mik Mikitik briefed the Commission on the status of Advanced Hunter Education program graudates who have been involved in violations.

At the request of Chair Roehl, Clare Cranston (Richland Rod and Gun Club) commented on the need for compensation and more funds for the Advanced Hunter Education program.

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE HUNTER EDUCATION AUDIT -- BRIEFING:
Lembit Ratassepp and Mik Mikitik briefed the Commission on the results of the recent audit of the Department's Hunter Education Program by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

COMMERCIAL GEODUCK AND HORSE CLAM HARVEST -- BRIEFING:
Morris Barker briefed the Commission on a proposed rule change to allow geoduck parts and horse clams to be brought aboard a commercial geoduck harvest vessel and landed. The Commission will consider adoption of proposed rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2003, meeting in Moses Lake.

PUGET SOUND COMMERCIAL SQUID FISHING RULES -- BRIEFING:
Greg Bargmann briefed the Commission on proposed rule amendments to eliminate the drag seine fishery for squid. The Commission will consider adoption of proposed rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2003, meeting in Moses Lake.

SHELLFISH DISEASE CONTROL -- DENMAN ISLAND DISEASE -- BRIEFING:
Morris Barker briefed the Commission on proposed rule amendments that provide for a greater degree of protection to the wild and culture oyster stocks in Washington's waters. The Commission will consider adoption of proposed rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2003, meeting in Moses Lake.

REGIONAL FISHERIES ENHANCEMENT GROUP ACTIVITIES -- BRIEFING:
Paul Seidel, along with Terry Wright, Jason Scott, and Bob Lake (RFEG Advisory Board members), briefed the Commission on current statewide RFEG activities.

AMPHIBIANS MORTALITY RATES AND DEFORMITIES -- BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Marc Hayes briefed the Commission on increasing levels of amphibian deformities and possible links between grazing and/or pesticides and herbicides.

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

Commissioner White moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Gytenbeek, to approve the following land transactions:

- Acquisition of the 30+-acre de La Chapelle property in Chelan County for $87,500;
- Acquisition of the 40+-acre Floathe property in Grays Harbor County for $125,000; and
- Approval of an easement to Benton Rural Electric Association in Benton County for $350.

The motion to approve the land transactions carried unanimously.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT -- BRIEFING:
Mark Quinn, David Heimer, and Brett Dumbauld briefed the Commission on the use of pesticides, including herbicides and insecticides, on Department lands, and the use of carbaryl on burrowing shrimp.

THREE-YEAR HUNTING PACKAGE -- BRIEFING:
Senator Bob Morton addressed the Commission regarding cougar safety issues in his district (northeastern Washington).

Dave Ware, Donny Martorello, and Jerry Nelson briefed the Commission on the status of major issues related to the three-year hunting season package. The Commission will consider adoption of the package at its April 11-12, 2003, meeting in Moses Lake.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
Two individuals provided oral testimony on issues of concern during this portion of the meeting.

The Commission went into Executive Session to discuss current and/or potential litigation.

Chair Roehl recessed the workshop at 6:05 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15:

The Commission went into Executive Session to discuss performance evaluation plans for two public employees.

Chair Roehl called the workshop back to order at 9:00 a.m.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
David Thiesfeld, at the request of Commissioner White, provided a presentation to the Commission on bow hunting opportunities in Washington state as compared to other surrounding states.

SALMON RECOVERY -- BRIEFING:
Sara LaBorde and Marnie Tyler provided the Commission with an overview of the salmon recovery planning efforts and the important data systems being developed to prioritize efforts and quantify results.

NORTH OF FALCON POLICY UPDATE -- BRIEFING:
Pat Pattillo briefed the Commission on the progress of the 2003 North of Falcon process.

COLUMBIA RIVER STURGEON MANAGEMENT -- UPDATE:
Bill Tweit and Brad James briefed the Commission on the status of the Lower Columbia Sturgeon Policy and the Columbia River Compact with Oregon.

HUNTING GAME BIRDS AND ANIMALS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES -- BRIEFING:
Brenda Kane and Rory Calhoun and Bill Vincent (Commission's Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities) briefed the Commission on proposed rule changes, including clarifying the definition of "accompany" with regard to a designated hunter companion. The Commission will consider adopting proposed rule amendments at its April 11-12, 2003, meeting in Moses Lake.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Van Gytenbeek moved, seconded by Commissioner Reynolds, to approve the minutes of the following:

- January 17, 2002 Commission workshop.

The motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously.

Commissioner Van Gytenbeek moved, seconded by Commissioner Ozment, to approve the minutes of the following:

- January 31, 2003, Commission conference call;
- February 6, 2003, Commission conference call;
- February 14, 2003, Commission conference call;
- February 20, 2003, Commission conference call; and
- February 21, 2003, Commission conference call.

The motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously.

ETHICS FOR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS -- BRIEFING:
Brian Malarky of the Attorney General's Office briefed the Commission on Executive Ethics Board rules for Commission members.

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

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:
Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Reynolds, to request the Department to develop rule language governing a process and criteria for selecting groups wishing to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Department. An option for Commission delegation of authority to the Director is to be included. The request is to be completed before the end of the "Go Play Outside" agreement pilot period (June 2004). The motion to request Department action carried unanimously.

Commissioner Reynolds moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to request Department staff and the Wildlife Committee to analyze the funding sources for hunter education and the allocation of the funds. The motion to request Department action carried unanimously. (Commissioner Pelly was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

Chair Roehl adjourned the workshop at 1:32 p.m.

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

Commissioners in Attendance:
Will Roehl, Chair
Ron Ozment, Vice Chair
Lisa Pelly
Dawn Reynolds
Fred Shiosaki
Bob Tuck
Van Van Gytenbeek
Kelly White

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