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

ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Department
Russ Cahill, Chair	Jeff Koenings, Director
Will Roehl, Vice Chair	Larry Peck, Deputy Director
Don Heinicke	Joy Johnson
Lisa Pelly	Scott Loerts
Dawn Reynolds	Jim Lux
Fred Shiosaki	Morris Barker
Bob Tuck	Annette Hoffman
Van Van Gytenbeek	Lee Blankenship
Kelly White	Dan Budd
	Dave Ware
Commission Staff:	Harriet Allen
Debbie Nelson	Bruce Crawford
	Steve Pozzanghera
Public	Tim Smith
Bobbie Thorniley, WA St. Trappers Assn.	Josh Weiss
Greg Mueller, WA Trollers Assn.	Other Department Staff
Lanny Carpenter
Rob Lauson, PSGNC
Bob Lake, PSVOA
Walt Christensen, Wa St. Muzzleloaders Assn.
Steve McKerney, WA State Auditor's Office
Joanne McInelly, WA State Auditor's Office

FRIDAY, MARCH 16:

Chair Cahill called the workshop to order at 12:35 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.

Debbie Nelson will order copies of "Wildlife Habitat Relationships in Oregon and Washington" for Commissioners.

To assure that Minutes of Commission conference calls, meetings, and workshops are available to the public as soon as possible, Commissioners agreed that once Minutes have been prepared, they will be added to the next Commission conference call for consideration of approval. Approved Minutes will then be added to the Commission's web page.

Commissioner Pelly suggested that constituent correspondence addressed to the Commission should be responded to by the Commission rather than forwarded for response by the Department.

Scott Loerts and Joy Johnson provided an update on the Department's earthquake recovery activities.

BUDGET UPDATE:

Jim Lux provided a status report on the Department's current biennial budget.

FY2000 STATE AUDITOR'S OFFICE REVIEW:

Steve McKerney and Joanne McInelly from the State Auditor's Office presented the results of the audit of the Department for the period July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2000. In most areas, the Department complied with state laws and regulations, federal regulations, and its own policies and procedures. However, the State Auditor's Office identified one condition significant enough to report as a finding. The Department's internal controls over cash receipting at the Vancouver regional office were not adequate and resulted in a misappropriation of state funds.

MASS MARKING AND SELECTIVE FISHERIES -- STATUS REVIEW:

Annette Hoffman and Lee Blankenship briefed the Commission regarding concerns about mass marking and the viability of the coded-wire tag program.

STRAIT OF GEORGIA TRAWL SEASON HOUSEKEEPING RULE CHANGE -- BRIEFING:

Morris Barker briefed the Commission on a proposal to clarify the season language/structure of the trawl fishery in the northern area of Puget Sound based on Pacific cod quotas.

Public input on and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the April 6-7, 2001 Commission meeting in Spokane.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTIONS AND LAND INVENTORY REVIEW:

Dan Budd presented the Department's request for Commission approval of numerous proposed land transactions.

Commissioner Tuck moved, seconded by Commissioner Van Gytenbeek, to approve the following:

- Acquisition of the 120.94-acre Chermak Partnership property in Pacific County for $210,000;
- Acquisition of the 0.07-acre Department of Natural Resources property in Pacific County for $2,500;
- Acquisition of the 30-acre Cummings Estate property in Clallam County for $247,500;
- Acquisition of the 191.22-acre Bronstein property in Whatcom County for $205,522;
- Acquisition of the 5-acre Fredrick and Eloise Just (II) property in Kitsap County for $30,500;
- Acquisition of the 172-acre Pope Resources property in Kitsap County for $249,000;
- Acquisition of the 54.7-acre Roderick Campbell property in Okanogan County for $110,000;
- Sale of the 0.10-acre Boren Lake access site in King County to the City of Newcastle for $27,000; and
- Sale of the 0.21-acre right-of-way in Jefferson County to Jefferson County Public Works for $9,752.

The motion to approve the proposed land transactions carried unanimously.

Steve Pozzanghera briefed the Commission on the status of the Department's land inventory review.

SEA OTTER AND LYNX RECOVERY PLANS--BALD EAGLE AND PEREGRINE FALCON STATUS REVIEW -- BRIEFING:

Harriet Allen briefed the Commission on sea otter and lynx recovery plans and bald eagle and peregrine falcon status reviews.

ALLOCATION OF ANTLERLESS DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES:

The Commission provided the following policy direction to the Department regarding allocation of antlerless mule deer hunting opportunities for the 2001-2002 season:

- expand antlerless mule deer opportunity for youth, persons of disability, and hunters 65 and older; general season opportunity for archers; and modern firearm/muzzleloader permit holders; and
- expand antlerless whitetail deer special permits in several Region 1 units.

MANDATORY REPORT OF HUNTING ACTIVITY -- BRIEFING:

Dave Ware briefed the Commission on a proposal to require deer, elk, black bear, and turkey hunters to report their hunting activity each year.

Public input and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the April 6-7, 2001 Commission meeting in Spokane.

Tim Smith and Josh Weiss briefed the Commission on current legislative issues and activities.

Chair Cahill recessed the workshop at 5:15 p.m.

SATURDAY, MARCH 17:

The Commission met in Executive Session to discuss current and/or potential litigation.

Chair Cahill called the workshop back to order at 8:30 a.m.

PROPOSED RULES FOR PURCHASING PUGET SOUND SALMON LICENSES AFFECTED BY THE PACIFIC SALMON TREATY -- BRIEFING:

Bruce Crawford briefed the Commission on the 2001 Economic Adjustment Assistance Program and those rules requiring modification for implementation of the Program.

Public input and Commission consideration of adoption of the final rule proposal will occur at the April 6-7, 2001 Commission meeting in Spokane.

The Department will schedule an additional public meeting in Port Townsend on March 28 to discuss implementation of the Program.

WASHINGTON INTERACTIVE LICENSING DATABASE (WILD) SYSTEM -- UPDATE:

Bruce Crawford provided the Commission with a status report on the WILD system.

INVITED INFORMAL DISCUSSION:

Jim Walls, from the Columbia-Pacific Resource Conservation and Development District, met with the Commission for an informal discussion on new forestry management for wildlife.

COMMISSION REQUESTS TO THE DEPARTMENT:

The Commission reviewed the Summary of Commission Requests to the Department and considered future requests.

Chairman White suggested the Department consider holding a symposium concerning the elk EIS and the Wildlife Committee be more involved with the EIS.

Commissioner Tuck moved, seconded by Commissioner Reynolds, to request that the Department brief the Commission on drought impacts on fish, wildlife, instream flows, hatchery water supplies, fires, etc., at the June 8-9, 2001 workshop. The motion to request Department action carried unanimously.

Commissioner Pelly moved, seconded by Commissioner Reynolds, to request that the Department determine the impacts of requiring by 2002 that recreational crabbers report annually on crab caught and provide information on possibility of penalties if reports are not provided. The Department is to brief the Commission at the June 8-9, 2001 workshop. The motion to request Department action carried unanimously.

Commissioner Van Gytenbeek moved, seconded by Commissioner Heinicke, to request that the Department include the following in the 2002-2003 fishing season proposals for public comment: "Shall wild steelhead release be adopted statewide?" The motion to request Department action carried unanimously.

Commissioner Van Gytenbeek moved, seconded by Commissioner Tuck, that the Commission consider taking a public position against the recent Canada goose removal and additional action, if any, to be taken. The motion failed. Commissioner Van Gytenbeek moved, seconded by Commissioner Tuck, to request that the Department provide a memo explaining the federal process on steps needed for regulating waterfowl species euthanasia. The motion to request Department action carried unanimously.

Commissioner Tuck moved, seconded by Commissioner White, that the Commission meet with brant hunters to discuss brant hunting issues. The motion failed. The Department will draft a letter for Commissioner Tuck's signature to Gene Gilden explaining that the Commission will not meet with brant hunters to discuss brant hunting issues.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to approve the Minutes of the following:

- January 29, 2001 Commission Meeting with Governor
- January 30, 2001 Commission Joint Meeting with the Washington State Conservation Commission
- February 1, 2001 Commission conference call
- February 2, 2001 Commission conference call
- February 9-10, 2001 Commission meeting
- February 15, 2001 Commission conference call
- February 16, 2001 Commission conference call.

The motion to approve the Minutes carried unanimously.

Chair Cahill adjourned the workshop at 1:50 p.m.

Commissioners in Attendance:
Russ Cahill, Chair
Will Roehl, Vice Chair
Don Heinicke
Lisa Pelly
Dawn Reynolds
Fred Shiosaki
Bob Tuck
Van Van Gytenbeek
Kelly White

Return to Commission Minutes Index