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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM062802 Northwest Straits NORTHWEST STRAITS marine conservation Initiative Northwest Straits Commission Meeting Boeing Activity Center, Everett June 28, 2002 Decisions and Future Agenda Topics DRAFT Members attending: Paul Dinnel, Gary Wood, Kent Scudder, Terry Williams, Anne Murphy, Kathy Fletcher, Duane Fagergren, Amy Kraham (alt.), Joe Schmitt Kevin Ranker, Mike Stoner, Andrea Copping Kirby Johnson, Mike Sato Doug Dobyns Tom Cowan, Sasha Horst Members absent: Alternates attending: Support: Staff: Duane Fagergren opened the meeting at 10:10 am followed by introductions. Kirk Thomson, the Environmental Director at Boeing welcomed the group to the Boeing facility and gave an overview of company and employee actions to reduce environmental impact. The minutes of the May 23 meeting at the Tulalip Tribal Center were approved as written. Committee chairs provided their monthly reports. Administrative/Planning Committee, chair, Paul Dinnel noted that all topics from the committee would be covered on the Commission agenda, with the exception of the committee's approval to co~sponsor the San Juan MRC Bottomfish Recovery Program poster. Education Committee, chair, Kathy Fletcher handed out preliminary copies of the first Commission newsletter, distributed a questionnaire for the fall MRC Training Conference, noted that the Press Workshops offered by the Education Committee were a success and encouraged MRCs to use the updated Commission web site. Fundraising Committee, chair, Gary Wood mentioned thatthere is a meeting of all parties involved in the Forage Fish project on July 8. Technical Committee, chair, Andrea Copping provided a written report which included updates on the PSNERP project, the derelict gear project, action grants and benchmark tracking. There was no report of the Tribal Committee. Tom Cowan updated the Commission on the Derelict Gear Removal Project. The draft protocols are now ready, and the first meeting of the technical committee will take place in July. A kickoff event on June 20 was a great success, with agency and media coverage. Twenty thousand dollars from the regional project budget was requested for additional funding to the project coordinator, Natural Resources Consultants (NRC) for additional outreach and education tasks. It was moved and approved by consensus to designate $20,000 from the regional project budget to augment the NRC outreach and education task. Commissioners requested that a financial report be provided at the July meeting. Year Four Action Grants were discussed, and a handout provided with a list of example projects. MRCs are requested to provide any additional feedback and suggestions for the list in the next month in order to follow this process in the next grant cycle. The Commission Logo Policy was reviewed, with a discussion of the identity of MRCs and their connection to the Commission. It was moved and approved to adoPt the logo policy as written. Sasha Horst informed the Commission about the recent Press Workshops offered by the Education Committee. Especially helpful were Mary Getchell of the Puget Sound Action Team and Jeff Shaw of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, as well as local media representatives. Handouts are available to those who were unable to attend. During public comment, Mike Sato of Skagit MRC introduced Mary Masters, a newly appointed San Juan MRC member from Oreas Island. Paul Dinnel presented a draft letter to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recommending the adoption of the Preferred Alternative 1 of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Aquatic Reserve program. After discussion, it was agreed that additional language should be added to encourage DNR to review their leasing program; simplify the application process for Aquatic Reserves; standardize tenninology between state agencies; and specifically incorporate tribal participation in any designation process. Paul Dinnel agreed to incorporate these suggestions and forward an updated draft for review on Monday, July 1. Commissioners are requested to forward any comments by Wednesday, July 3 in order to incorporate them and send the letter to meet the July 8 comment deadline. The proposed Orca Pass Stewardship Area resolution was discussed, with each MRC representative describing the responses of their MRC to the proposed resolution. Concerns were raised regarding both tribal support of the proposal and future management issues. Terry Williams presented several issues critical to tribal support, and suggested continued dialog with tribes before moving forward with the resolution. It was noted that discussion of these issues is important to the Commission, and that further discussion is time well spent. No action was taken. Tim Smith of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) updated the Commission on several projects, including WDFW's participation in the Derelict Gear Removal Project and the state budget process including specific allocations to each program area. A compilation of Performance Benchmark progress was distributed to each Commissioner. With the Year Three report currently underway and a strategic plan for the Commission in progress, MRCs are requested to review these benchmarks and provide any additional information with any supporting documents. Tom Cowan will forward the Benchmark Reports to MRCs electronically, along with a description of the expectations for the MRCs. Doug Dobyns provided an update regarding his recent activities. Doug will be presenting information about tribal Usual & Accustomed fishing areas to the Whatcom MRC on July 11 at the Water Resources office in Bellingham. Although he will not be regularly attending MRC meetings, he is available to other MRCs at their request. Per Doug's request, an article is to be distributed to Commissioners regarding "History and Application of the Wilderness Concept". MRC representatives summarized their current MRC activities. Clallam MRC discussed shellfish issues in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and rising PSP levels (beaches have now been closed due to a rapid increase in PSP toxins); discussed vacancies on the MRC and a replacement alternate to the Commission; and discussed the proposed Orca Pass resolution. Island MRC is designing a new logo, has surveyed and mapped Camano Island shoreline hardening, is hiring a new administrative assistant and has completed a draft report of the forage fish survey. Jefferson MRC has a new county lead staff person, found one site suitable for Olympia Oyster seeding, had a presentation on "Limiting Factors Analysis for Jefferson County Salmon". San Juan MRC discussed the Year Four Action Grant process, wi11 begin Phase II of the Forage Fish inventory, continues to hold regular meetings for the Bottomfish Recovery Program. Skagit MRC discussed future restoration projects on March Point, reviewed MRC grants and budgets, completed an "outfalls of concern" inventory of March Point, is conducting a Rapid Shoreline Inventory on Samish Island beaches and gathered baseline data on the oysters planted in Fidalgo Bay. Snohomish MRC held a workshop for MRC members and County staff, held the first of three summer Beach Expos, hired an intern for their Dungeness Crab Stewardship Program and discussed the proposed Orca Pass Resolution. Whatcom MRC had a presentation on the Orca Pass proposal, is evaluating a proposed resolution to the County Council to ban net pens, is exploring connections with the Drayton Harbor Shellfish District and has partnered with the City of Bellingham for a creosote removal project. The Commission meeting was adjourned at 3:30pm. The next meeting will be on July 26 at the Lopez Islander in San Juan County. Meeting topics should be suggested to Commission staff by July 15.