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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20151215 FINAL NPC MRC MinutesNPC MRC 12/15/2015 FINAL Meeting Summary 1 December 15, 2015 NPC MRC 1st Draft Meeting Summary The December 15, 2015 NPC MRC meeting took place at the Hemlock Forest Room at 1455 Forks Avenue, Forks, WA on Tuesday the 15th from 4:03 to 6:25 PM (00:13:35 on the audio counter). A quorum of voting members was established. Appointed committee members present at the meeting were Steve Allison (Hoh Tribe Rep.), Rod Fleck (City of Forks), John Hunter (Citizen Rep., Clallam County), Katie Krueger (Quileute Tribe Rep.), Deborah Kucipeck (Clallam County Rep.), Roy Morris (Citizen Rep., Clallam County), Rich Osborne (Citizen Rep., Clallam County), Tami Pokorny (Jefferson County Rep./Coordinator), John Richmond (Citizen Rep., Jefferson County), Dana Sarff (Makah Tribe Rep.) and Jill Silver (Citizen Rep., Jefferson County). Rebekah Brooks (ONRC), Garrett Dalan (The Nature Conservancy), Victor Hanna (Roy Morris’ Intern) and Frank Hanson (ONRC) were also present. Introductions Public Comments Roy Morris informed the group that his intern, Victor Hanna, was also a graduate of the Natural Resources Intern Program that was funded by the NPC MRC. Additions to the Agenda There were no additions to the agenda. Approval of the September and October Meeting Summaries Rich Osborne moved to approve the September Meeting Summary; Jill Silver seconded; the motion passed by consensus. Jill Silver moved to approve the October Meeting Summary; Steve Allison seconded; the motion passed by consensus. Announcements Jill Silver announced that Surfrider and Resource Media are offering a series of workshops on communication skills; another session is scheduled for tomorrow if anyone is interested. The strategy is focused on making stories very real to specific audiences in order to reach people about what they care about. Tami Pokorny recommended the workshops as well. Jill Silver will forward the information from Casey Dennehey. Tami also announced a presentation that she and Jill made to the Board of Commissioners on Jill’s projects; it went very well. Old Business dEISs for Westway and Imperium: Comment Letter Update Tami Pokorny has not heard that the coastal MRC letter written by Doug Kess has gone out yet; members have had the opportunity to sign on as individuals, but the NPC MRC did not collectively sign the NPC MRC 12/15/2015 FINAL Meeting Summary 2 letter. The County commissioners, Quiletue Tribe and a number of individuals have written and sent their own letters on the issue. Discussion followed on oil export and related issues. Internal MRC Projects Ranking and Decision Internal projects were ranked in the following order: 1: The West End Natural Resources Newsletter; 2: Film Fest and RainFest Newspaper Ad; 3: Coastal MRC Summit – NPC MRC Contribution; 4: ICC Salmon Feed and Poetry Read; 5: Trashion Show and Newspaper Ad. The remaining funds available to internal and future RFP projects through June 2017 are $29,188. Funding has already been contracted for COASST and CoastSavers; the contract for Feiro Marine Life Center will go forward as soon as the tentative contract with the Makah Tribe is decided. Discussion followed on project costs. Jill Silver moved for one printing of the Newsletter per year with 300 copies, for a total cost of $8000 for the two year cycle; Roy Morris seconded. The motion passed by consensus. Tami Pokorny asked the committee whether to set aside any funds related to the Film Festival, RainFest, Trashion Show, and Salmon Feed & Poetry Read. Rich Osborne moved to fund all of those projects, setting aside $1250 for the two year cycle; Katie Krueger seconded. The motion passed by consensus. *Katie Krueger and Rod Fleck requested information on the meetings of the Trashion Show subcommittee, without a formal commitment to participate, since their involvement would be based on their availability. Katie also mentioned that she would like to establish some categories for the Trashion Show in order to allow more people to compete. She also would like at some point to discuss additional ways for the NPC MRC to make income to fund more small internal projects. Natural Resources Jobs Training Update Roy Morris updated the group on the idea of creating an internship opportunity that would hire one of the past Natural Resource intern graduates for tasks such as presenting at high school classes as an agent of the NPC MRC, targeting kids to talk about natural resources, writing an article from a young person’s perspective on natural resources and keeping a Facebook page on related issues. Roy would like to have a bank of natural resources job training people to be available to help with all kinds of projects in exchange for college credit, to create incentive, and to have low-bar entry level natural resource jobs available that would lead to higher positions. *Tami Pokorny will include this issue in her NPC MRC article for the local papers. NPC MRC Quarterly PDN Article Consensus was to send the article to the Forks Forum, Peninsula Daily News and the Sequim Gazette. Summit Thank You’s The NPC MRC approved the Summit thank you letter and card. Recreational Fishing Community Engagement Update Discussion followed among the group on challenges with steelhead management and possible roles for involvement of the NPC MRC. Consensus agreed with Deborah Kucipeck, who said that if the NPC MRC wants to increase its relevance in the community, the last thing the committee should do is to get involved in such a controversial battle. Transit Center Marine Art Project Update Tami Pokorny has been unsuccessful at securing funds from the Hollings Foundation for this project. She led a brief discussion on alternative funding sources for NPC MRC projects. *The committee should send any thoughts about how to fund future MRC Summits to Tami or Casey Dennehey. New Business Makah Revised Application and Decision NPC MRC 12/15/2015 FINAL Meeting Summary 3 Discussion followed on committee members’ opinions on whether or not to fund the Makah Project. Rod Fleck moved to fund the $6,000 to the Makah Project; Rich Osborne seconded. The motion passed with one abstention and one opposed. Next RFP Cycle Consensus was to wait on funding any further projects at this time and to reevaluate at a later date. NPC MRC Email Distribution Lists - Cleanup Consensus was to leave the email lists as they are for now. RainFest Planning Discussion followed over dates and ideas for participation in RainFest and the River & Ocean Film Festival. The group decided not to form a subcommittee yet, but to leave this as an agenda item for continued planning at NPC MRC meetings. Updates Marine Debris Rich Osborne said that the algal bloom in our area has finally died down, but crab and clams are still not safe for consumption because of high levels of domoic acid. He added that brain damage effects on sea lions from domoic acid has just been officially documented. Katie Krueger reminded the group that the toxin tests are not immediate, so keep in mind that reported levels are three to four days old. Washington Coast Marine Advisory Council/Marine Spatial Planning The last meeting was held on December 9th. Rod Fleck and Richard Osborne updated the group on the Marine Spatial Plan process, which is moving forward. The next meeting will be held on February 10th in at the Port of Grays Harbor. Additional information can be found at www.msp.wa.gov. Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council The last meeting was held on 11/6/15 in Olympia. Rich Osborne gave an overview of the meeting, which included a presentation from NOAA’s regional director, Nir Barnea, on tsunami debris and radiation; a harmful algal bloom presentation; and a presentation on ocean noise and marine mammals. Washington Marine Resources Advisory Council The last meeting was held on October 13th in Port Townsend. Garrett Dalan gave an overview on the Council and recommended their “Ocean Happenings” newsletter as a good resource for cutting edge information. They have strong funding and should be able to continue with their research and advisory capacity. *Tami Pokorny will send the link around to the NPC MRC. Fossil Fuels Related Tami Pokorny attended the Annual Northwest Area Committee Ten Regional Response Team Summit in Seattle and highly recommended it. The Summit decided the task force for the coming year and top oil spill related issues that needed to be addressed. More information can be found at www.rrt10nwac.com. Jill Silver brought up the issue of ecosystem valuation surveys and the importance of oil spill prevention, rather than response. Administration and Fiscal Agent Update Tami Pokorny covered this information earlier during discussion on project funding. Next Agenda NPC MRC 12/15/2015 FINAL Meeting Summary 4 The next NPC MRC meeting is scheduled for January 19th at ONRC in Forks and will include an item on RainFest planning, and one on people and stories that may be relevant to the NPC MRC. Public Comments/General Jill Silver distributed copies of the book Life Rules to committee members, which details next steps on how to handle environmental and economic changes. Garrett Dalan said that he is now the Coastal Conservation Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy and will be more available for participation in the NPC MRC and involvement in local issues. Adjourn The NPC MRC meeting adjourned at 6:25 pm (02:26:52 on the audio counter). Compiled by Rebekah Brooks. Action Items: *Katie Krueger and Rod Fleck requested information on the meetings of the Trashion Show subcommittee. *Tami Pokorny will include the issue of Natural Resource Jobs and Job Training in her NPC MRC article for the local papers. *The committee should send any thoughts about how to fund future MRC Summits to Tami Pokorny or Casey Dennehey.