ATTENDANCE:
Commission	Public
Ron Ozment, Chair	Jim Sizemore, WA Cattlemen's Assoc.
Fred Shiosaki, Vice Chair	Jack Fields, WA Cattlemen's Assoc.
Ken Chew	John McGlenn, WA Wildlife & Recreation Coalition
Jerry Gutzwiler	Bill Robinson, Wa Wildlife & Recreation Coalition
Conrad Mahnken	Erica Baker, PEI Foundation
Chuck Perry	James Kramer, Hunter Ed. Instructor
Will Roehl	R.W. Brown, Tacoma Rifle & Revolver Club
Shirley Solomon	Jack Havens
	Curt Garigan, WA State Senate Committee
Commission Staff:	Walt Christensen, WA State Muzzleloaders Assoc.
Nancy Burkhart	Carl Burke, NSIA
	Lee Fouts, WA Wildlife & Recreation Coalition
Department	Ramie Pierce
Jeff Koenings, Director	Tim Ernst
Larry Peck, Deputy Director	Anna Stoerch
Phil Anderson	Darl Asmussen, WA Cattlemen's Assoc.
Lew Atkins	Seth Cool, Conservation Northwest
Bruce Bjork	Ray Toste, WA Dungeness Crab Fishers' Assoc.
Dave Brittell	Don Overby
Greg Hueckel	M.D. "Red" Nierstheimer
Ron McQueen	Ron Willerscheidt, Bedrock Prospecting Club
Dan Ayres	Andrea Nierstheimer
Annette Hoffman	Claude Buffaloe
Morris Barker	Matthew J. Buffaloe
Dan Budd	Gary A. Wood
Mark Quinn	Bruce Beatty
Paul Dahmer	Betty Beatty
Kelly Craig	Ron Wilson
Edd Bracken	Sue Wilson
Bob Dice, Jr.	Doug Woollen
Mark Teske	Norm Strang
Donny Martorello	Bob Winslow, WA Dept. of Natural Resources
Margaret Tudor	Seward Ettenhofer
Heather Reed
Bob Gibbons
Lorna Wargo
Mik Mikitik
Perry Harvester
Justin Secrist
Greg Bargmann
Christy Vassar
Kristi Walsh
Bill Frymire, AGO
Jo Wadsworth
Dan Brinson
Dora Austin
Heather Bartlett
Josh Nicholas
Don Bartlett
Julie Howard
Other Department staff

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6:

Chair Ozment called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Commissioner Chew moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to approve the minutes of the September 1, 2006, Commission conference call. The motion carried unanimously.

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

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

BUDGET UPDATE:
Ron McQueen provided a status report on the Department's budget.

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

RAZOR CLAM NATURAL MORTALITY STUDY -- UPDATE:
Dan Ayres and Annette Hoffman updated the Commission on the coordinated efforts between the Department and the Quinault Indian Nation on the implementation of the survival and growth studies of razor clams.

CRAB CATCH RECORD CARD AREA EXCLUSION -- RULE ACTION:
Morris Barker presented proposed permanent rule amendments to WAC 220-56-175, Catch record cards, and WAC 220-69-236, Description of catch record cards and required information, which would eliminate the statewide requirement for a catch record card (CRC) for Dungeness crab, and require the CRC within Puget Sound waters only.

No oral testimony on the proposed amendments was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to adopt the permanent rule amendments to WAC 220-56-175, Catch record cards, and WAC 220-69-236, Description of catch record cards and required information, as filed with the Code Reviser's Office and amended by staff. The motion carried unanimously.

INCREASE HAGFISH POT LIMITS IN EMERGING COMMERCIAL FISHERY -- RULE ACTION:
Morris Barker presented permanent rule amendments to WAC 220-88E-030, Hagfish pot trial fishery--Season and gear that would increase the pot limit for hagfish from 50 to 100 pots in this emerging fishery.

No oral testimony on the proposed amendments was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Roehl moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to adopt the permanent rule amendments to WAC 220-88E-030, Hagfish pot trial fishery--Season and gear, as proposed. The motion carried unanimously.

Since this is an emerging fishery, the Department is to come back to the Commission at a later date with an update and analysis of this fishery.

DOWNTOWN PROPERTY -- BRIEFING:
Ron McQueen briefed the Commission on development of a plan addressing the consolidation of services, relocation of users, and long-term use of the downtown Olympia properties. A report to the Legislature and Office of Financial Management is due December 1, 2006.

PROPOSED LAND TRANSACTION -- DECISION:
Dan Budd presented for approval various proposed land transactions.

No oral testimony on the proposed amendments was received during the meeting.

Commissioner Gutzwiler moved, seconded by Commissioner Solomon, to:

- Approve the exchange of 120 acres for an 80-acre inholding in the Wenas Wildlife Area in Kittitas County and accept the $54,800 value difference in catch;
- Approve the acquisition of the 4.83-acre Quattlebaum-Miller property at the Union River estuary on Hood Canal in Mason County for $24,500; and
- Approve the acquisition of the 6,357-acre Natural Conservancy property in the Oak Creek Wildlife Area in Yakima County for $5,345,000.

WILDLIFE AREA PLANS -- BRIEFING:
Mark Quinn, Paul Dahmer, and Kelly Craig briefed the Commission on the draft comprehensive wildlife area plans.

PILOT GRAZING PROGRAM -- BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Mark Quinn, Edd Bracken, Bob Dice, Jr., Jim Sizemore (President, Washington Cattlemen's Association) and Jack Fields (Executive Vice President, Washington Cattlemen's Association) briefed the Commission on the pilot grazing program. The purpose of this program is to demonstrate how carefully controlled grazing techniques can be utilized on Department lands to maintain and enhance desirable habitat conditions for wildlife, while also providing new grazing opportunities for livestock operators.

WASHINGTON WILDLIFE AND RECREATION
Mark Quinn, Mark Teske, and John McGlenn and Bill Robinson (Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition) briefed the Commission on the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. The Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition has provided the Department with $87 million for land acquisition projects over the last 15 years allowing the Department to build new partnerships and leverage additional funds from other grant sources.

Commissioner Perry moved, seconded by Commissioner Solomon, to have the Department send letters to Governor Gregoire and the Washington State Legislature supporting funding of $100 million to the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program. The motion carried unanimously.

PILOT SPRING BLACK BEAR DAMAGE HUNT AND PROJECT BLACK BEAR -- BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Donny Martorello, Margaret Tudor, and Erica Baker (Pacific Education Institute) briefed the Commission on the pilot spring black bear damage hunt and Project Black Bear. Project Black Bear combines bear population information and management with public education and forest management. Cooperators include the Department, Department of Natural Resources, Washington Forest Protection Association, and Tumwater School District.

COASTAL DUNGENESS CRAB FISHERY -- BRIEFING:
Phil Anderson and Heather Reed briefed the Commission on the coastal Dungeness crab fishery.

2007-2008 SPORTFISH RULE PROPOSALS -- BRIEFING:
Morris Barker and Bob Gibbons briefed the Commission on the sportfish rule proposals for the 2007-2008 season. Public testimony will be taken at the November 3-4, 2006, meeting in Vancouver. Adoption of the 2007-2008 sport regulation proposals will occur at the February 2-3, 2007, meeting in Olympia.

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

Chair Ozment recessed the meeting at 6:42 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7:

Chair Ozment called the meeting back to order at 8:31 a.m.

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
No oral testimony on issues of concern was received during this portion of the meeting.

COASTAL SPOT SHRIMP SEASONS -- RULE ACTION:
Morris Barker and Lorna Wargo presented proposed permanent rule amendments to WAC 220-88B-040, Coastal spot shrimp pot experimental fishery--Season and gear--Species restriction, which would protect coastal spot shrimp by providing closures during the fall and winter months when most of the females are bearing eggs.

One individual provided oral testimony on the proposed amendments during the meeting.

Commissioner Solomon moved, seconded by Commissioner Shiosaki, to adopt the permanent rule amendments to WAC 220-88B-040, Coastal spot shrimp pot experimental fishery--Season and gear--Species restriction, as proposed.

Commissioner Perry moved, seconded by Commissioner Chew, to amend the motion to have the open season March 15-September 15. The motion to amend the motion carried. (Commissioner Roehl was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

The motion, as amended, carried unanimously. (Commissioner Roehl was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

Because of the lack of samples, the Department will notify industry that cooperation is needed especially the first two weeks and last two weeks of the season.

HUNTER EDUCATION RECOGNITION -- BRIEFING:
Mik Mikitik briefed the Commission on the 2006 Legislature's directive to develop non-monetary incentives for hunter education instructions, relevant legislation, current instructor recognition program, and results of instructor surveys regarding potential Commission action items.

James Kramer of Kirkland, Washington, was presented an award for 50 years of continuous service as an instructor in the Hunter Education Program.

ADVANCED HUNTER EDUCATION -- OVERVIEW:
Mik Mikitik provided an overview of the components of the Advanced Hunter Education Program by identifying enrollments, success rates, and currents strengths and weaknesses.

MINERAL PROSPECTING AND FISH -- BRIEFING:
At the request of the Commission, Perry Harvester briefed the Commission on technical information on the types of impacts that mineral prospecting and mining may have on fish and fish habitat, ways impacts may be avoided or minimized, and complexities associated with drafting provisions in the Gold and Fish pamphlet when dealing with a variety of fish species and life histories.

MISCELLANEOUS AND MEETING DEBRIEF:
The meeting location for the November 3-4, 2007, Commission meeting was changed from Winthrop to Chelan.

Commissioner Shiosaki moved, seconded by Commissioner Perry, to request the Department brief the Commission at its December 8-9, 2006, meeting on Pittman-Robertson funding for the Hunter Education Program, sources of the funding, and how the funds are used. The motion carried unanimously. (Commissioner Roehl was absent during discussion and vote on the motion.)

OPEN PUBLIC INPUT:
No oral testimony on issues of concern was received during this portion of the meeting.

Chair Ozment adjourned the meeting at 12:25 p.m.

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

Commissioners in Attendance:
Ron Ozment, Chair
Fred Shiosaki, Vice Chair
Ken Chew
Jerry Gutzwiler
Conrad Mahnken
Chuck Perry
Will Roehl
Shirley Solomon

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