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Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee
Minutes
Wednesday, September 19, 2001
Present:
Dave Christensen, Jefferson County Natural Resources
Larry Crockett, ex-officio, Port of Port Townsend
Judy Damore, District 1
Jeff Gallant, District 1 (Vice Chair)
Spike Hall, Citizen
Larry Lawson, Commercial Fishing
Anne Murphy, District 2
Judy Surber, City of Port Townsend
Richard Wojt, Jefferson County Commissioner
Guests:
Barbara Bowen, Jefferson County Natural Resources
Absent:
Barbara Nightingale, Citizen
Bill Kalina, ex-officio, U.S, Navy, Indian Island
Linda Newberry, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe
Andrew Palmer, District 3 (Chair) Excused
Rex Rice, Environment Excused
OPENING BUSINESS
Vice Chair Jeff Gallant called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the 1st Floor Conference Room of the Jefferson
County Courthouse Port Townsend, Washington. A sign~in sheet was circulated. Minutes of the August meeting
were approved. The Agenda was approved with the addition of New Business items NWSC Visit, and Toxics
Coalition (discussed under Year 3 Action Grant Pre-proposal).
OLD BUSINESS
YEAR TWO ACTION GRANT: Barbara Bowen circulated the Year Two Action Grant semi-annual report with
attached deliverables, including a list and map of survey sites on the forage fish project. She offered to provide
MRC members a copy upon request. There was some discussion about how property owners were selected and
how beaches would be accessed.
OBSERVER COMMENT - None
NEW BUSINESS & REPORTS
MPA COMMIITEE REPORT: Spike Hall provided an overview of focus groups scheduled for October and
November with non~governmental organizations; sports fishers, divers and boaters; shoreline landowners;
commercial fisherman; tribes; and youth. He mentioned the focus group process will employ the same roster of
questions for each group. Judy Damore noted that a final group meeting may be held with delegates from each
focus group to gather their perspectives. Several questions from members followed regarding how the focus group
attendees were selected, the types of questions to be asked, and whether individual MRC members could be given
an opportunity to visit one or more groups. It was thought that the decision about MRC member attendance should
rest with the facilitator.
NORTHWEST STRAITS COMMISSION: Minutes of the last Commission Meeting were distributed. Anne
Murphy reported that the Straits Commission has received preliminary approval on a NOAA grant for a derelict
gear removal project (Misery Point, Hood Canal Bridge areas). MRC involvement might include ongoing
monitoring, hosting project staff and providing use of dumps for gear. The Bullet Foundation may be the source of
matching funds. Communication is the theme of this year's MRC training. On Friday October 26, there will be a
celebration of the Murray~Metcalf Initiative. MRCs were asked to create visual displays on their current activities.
The Public Outreach Committee will schedule a meeting to discuss ideas. It does not appear that trial liaison
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Page: 2
Chad Beauchop will continue with the Commission. In a tribal report, Terry Williams talked about U&A area
maps. A Shannon Point Lab representative talked about MP As and noted that 80% are not restricted to fishing.
LIBRARY COMMITTEE REPORT: Larry Lawson said this subcommittee needs a chairperson. It was
suggested that this could be a discussion item at the Long-Range planning retreat. Deh Siefert, although no longer
an MRC member, has agreed to continue working with the subcommittee. Members were asked to look at the
MRC web site in the next few days and send suggestions for improvements to the list serve. The searchable
database is still being developed.
FORAGE FISH REPORT: Larry Lawson noted that deliverables for the interim report were discussed earlier. Of
the 93 responses to the mailer, 88 were positive, 37 volunteered to participate, and five were negative. MRC
members were encouraged to attend the next training session with Dan Pentilla in early November. There was a
suggestion that an article soliciting responses be printed. The Forage Fish subcommittee agreed to discuss the
possibility of an article and photo. The Public Outreach committee will follow up on a possible press release.
TRAINING/PUBLIC OUTREACH: Anne Murphy said this committee will schedule a meeting to discuss a
November training session.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The long-range planning retreat is to be held Saturday, October 20 from 9:00 AM
to 1:00 PM at Fort Worden. The agenda was outlined and suggestions and recommendations were solicited. Jeff
Gallant will forward an electronic version of the agenda to the list serve. Comments on the first two agenda
items were as follows: Under "background," there was support that this be done in advance of the retreat. Under
"individual comments," there was support for Barbara Bowen preparing a summary of comments, priorities
and emerging themes that resulted from her discussions with members. She agreed to provide the summary
via the list serve within two weeks so that MRC members could comment on the long. range planning retreat
agenda. A comment was that the retreat should at least focus on goals if not specific projects. There was also
support for hiring Susan Latham as a facilitator.
YEAR 3 ACTION GRANT PREPROPOSAL: Notes from the August 29 MRC meeting were provided.
Additional projects discussed included 1) $3-$5,000 for public education and coalition building to assess the
affects of toxic chemicals on water quality, including possibly a literature review and data search component; 2) 1-
1 V2 year speaker series -- opportunities to engage public in dialogue on water quality, MP AS, forage fish, shellfish,
taxies; and 3) work with a university to set up a data system/standard protocol so that annotated bibliographies as
completed are forwarded to appropriate agencies and service groups.
Discussion then moved to the project ideas from the Grant meeting. NOSC/Forage Fish: Continuation of the
project with NOSe. There was interest in integrating the forage fish data and beginning to use it in the MP A
process. There was a question whether the forage fish project would require another grant to finish. MPA project:
Direct subcommittee to come up with an innovative proposal for continuation of this project. GIS/Data
Coordination: This project also crosses over into habitat assessment and forage fish projects. It was noted that this
may be a process the Northwest Straits Commission is addressing. Larry Lawson agreed to contact NOSC for
ideas on GIS coordination. Cooperative Project with Tribes: Area of concern may be Discovery Bay or the
Salmon and Snow Creek estuary. Include funds for tribal staff time. Consider holding a Joint Clallam/Jefferson
MRC meeting at Jamestown S'Klallam tribal center. Anne Murphy agreed to contact Tom Cowan and set up
the process to define our relationship and goal with the tribes.
It was noted that the letter of intent is due September 28. Dave Christensen agreed to post a compilation of
project ideas submitted to him by Monday on the list serve for comment. He will distribute a rough outline
of the letter on Wednesday and finalize the pre-proposal letter for forwarding to the Northwest Straits
Commission on Thursday.
MRC STAFF UPDATE: Barbara Bowen provided Administrative Grant and Year 2 Action Grant budget updates.
She noted that a total of $1,000 is available for training in the Administrative Grant, over half of which is used for
the Northwest Straits MRC training. There was support for using the remaining training budget for travel expenses
Marine Resources Committee - September 19, 2001
Page: 3
associated with sending two MRC members to the September 23-27 Submerged Lands Management Conference.
There was interest in discussing at a future meeting the development of protocols and eligibility for training. A
concern is that the training budget is insufficient.
NWSC VISIT: Barbara Bowen mentioned that Stephanie Lund of Anchor Environmental would like to brief the
MRC on shoreline and habitat mapping efforts. Barbara will contact MRC members to schedule a special
meeting for this presentation.
OTHER/ADMINISTRATIVE
In response to a request that Anne Murphy submit an MEHP letter of support for the People for Puget Sound
forage fish work, she suggested the MRC discuss at a future meeting standard procedures for these requests.
Anne Murphy agreed to forward to the MRC MEHP feedback on why the MRCs project was not selected.
Anne Murphy reported that People for Puget Sound is contracting with MRCs on the rapid shoreline inventory
pr~ject. Information forwarded will be placed in the MRC library in the event Jefferson County wants to
participate. People for Puget Sound will also hold its 10th birthday celebration on October 6 in Port Townsend. A
concern expressed was that while this project is a good way to involve other community groups, the usefulness of
the data is questionable.
PREPARE AGENDA / ADJOURN
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 at 7:00 PM in the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1st
Floor Conference Room, Port Townsend, Washington. The meeting adjourned at 10:00 PM.
MARINE RESOURCES COMMITIEE
Jeff Gallant, Vice Chair