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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 2023 NPC MRC First DRAFT Meeting Summary NPC MRC 9/19/2023 DRAFT Meeting Summary 1 September 19, 2023 NPC MRC Draft Meeting Summary The Tuesday, September 19, 2023 NPC MRC meeting took place at the Jefferson County Public Health Pacific Room, 615 Sheridan St., Port Townsend, WA and by Zoom connection from 4:00 PM to 5:55 PM ([00:00:01] to [01:55:23]). Appointed committee members present at the meeting were Eileen Cooney (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Community Economics), Wendy Feltham (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Scientific Community), Rod Fleck (City of Forks), Jennifer Hagen (Quileute Tribe Representative), John Hunter (Citizen Representative, Clallam County – Conservation / Environmental Groups), Julie Ann Koehlinger (Hoh Tribe Representative), Katie Krueger (Citizen Representative, Clallam County – Scientific Community), Rebecca Mahan (Clallam County Representative), Ian Miller (Washington SeaGrant, Ex Officio Representative), Tami Pokorny (Jefferson County Representative, Coordinator / Facilitator), Alice Ryan (Citizen Representative, Clallam County – Recreational Groups), Jill Silver (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Conservation/Environmental Groups), and Chris Waldbillig (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife [WDFW]). A quorum was present at the beginning of the meeting. Rebekah Brooks (Rebekah Brooks Contracting) was also in attendance. Introductions Public Comments Eileen Cooney commented that she was impressed with the project proposals for this grant round. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda Ian Miller added discussion on a possible 2024 Film Festival to the agenda. The amended agenda was approved by consensus. Approval of the August 2023 NPC MRC Meeting Summary Wendy Feltham moved to approve the August NPC MRC Summary; Rod Fleck seconded. The August NPC MRC Summary was approved by consensus. Announcements Tami Pokorny attended an Open Public Meetings Act training and learned that it is not a requirement that the meetings be recorded. However, if they are recorded, the recording must be posted publicly. Wendy Feltham announced that she watched an eye-opening presentation on marine heat waves from the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary; she highly recommended it. Rod Fleck announced the upcoming Marine Heritage Event in Forks on 10/14/23. Tami reminded the group about the MRC Summit, which was scheduled for 10/11/23-10/13/23; the group discussed the Summit agenda. Alice Ryan reported that the Quileute Tribal School was recognized as a Year One Ocean Guardian School and invited the group to attend their assembly. Jennifer Hagen said that the Quileute Tribe has a new phytoplankton sampling device. NPC MRC 9/19/2023 DRAFT Meeting Summary 2 Updates Coast MRC Update This update was moved up in the agenda. Chris Waldbillig said that he was excited to pursue a new opportunity to work with the Department of Ecology’s Coastal Resilience Unit. Old Business There was no old business. New Business Presentation of Composite Scores for Project Applications Tami Pokorny presented the scores for this round of project proposals. There were six original applications, one of which was withdrawn. Chris Waldbillig confirmed that there was $77,000 available for the NPC MRC, but additional funding might be possible if all the coastal MRCs do not spend all their funds. The Request for Proposals was advertised at $75,000. The projects scored in the following order: 1: University of Washington: Dead Bird Citizen Science for Youth Community Members: an internship program with COASST: Request to NPC MRC: $18,033; Score: 93.46 2: Na�onal Marine Science Founda�on: Olympic Coast Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Training and Marine Advanced Technology and Engineering (MATE) ROV Competition (OC-ROV): Request to NPC MRC: $20,347; Score: 92.82 3: Puget Sound Restora�on Fund: Building Capacity for Coastal Dungeness Crab Larval Monitoring and Inclusion in a Region-Wide Collaborative Effort: Request to NPC MRC: $25,472; Score: 88.18 4: Futurewise: Hoh Watershed Adventure: Request to NPC MRC: $14,556; Score: 86.67 5: Grays Harbor Historical Seaport: Seaport Landing Aluminum Hull Vessel: Request to NPC MRC: $4,676; Score: 60.27 Finalize Project Ranking The projects were discussed; it was decided to leave them in their ranked order. Recommenda�ons for Funding Rod Fleck moved to fully fund projects that ranked first through third as a starting point; Jennifer Hagen seconded. This would leave enough funding to par�ally fund the fourth ranked project, falling short by $3,408. Discussion followed on the possibility of fully funding the fourth project through turned back funds from the other coastal MRCs. Other ideas included removing the indirect expenses from the other projects, which are not eligible for NPC MRC funds. Chris Waldbillig would be able to determine which of the indirect expenses might be ineligible for NPC MRC funds; if there were no ineligible requests, Chris could request for any turned back funds from the other coastal MRCs to be used to fully the fourth ranked project. There was no interest in funding the fi�h ranked project. The motion was amended to fully fund the top four ranked projects, and to ask WDFW to fill any funding gaps and clarify any indirect ineligibility. The motion passed by consensus. Film Fes�val 2024 Ian Miller proposed considering hos�ng the Film Fes�val in person in 2024. Jill Silver suggested an outdoor, covered event. The group discussed the challenges of hos�ng it outdoors, and the possibility of holding it at the Rainforest Arts Center. The topic will be added to the NPC MRC October mee�ng agenda for more discussion. Updates Coast MRC Update Chris Waldbillig presented on this topic earlier in the meeting. NPC MRC 9/19/2023 DRAFT Meeting Summary 3 Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council (WCMAC) The last meeting was held on 9/13/23. The agenda included reports from the superintendent and Advisory Council members, a presentation from Washington Sea Grant on the Olympic Peninsula Economic Survey Results, and a presentation on marine debris cleanup. The agenda and other WCMAC meeting materials can be found at the Ecology website: Department of Ecology - Committees, Boards, and Workgroups (wa.gov). Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council The last meeting was held on 9/15/23 in La Push. Rod Fleck gave an update. Offshore wind and Washington’s role in renewable energy are ongoing topics for information and discussion. The Department of Ecology is applying for a grant for coastal zone mitigation; if funded, this will help to plan and lay out areas. There was also an update on carbon dioxide removal. The December meeting will be in person in Grays Harbor with a hybrid option. Wendy Feltham asked for presentations to the NPC MRC on carbon capture and offshore wind energy. *Rod will work with Tami Pokorny on scheduling some presentations. West Coast Ocean Alliance Jennifer Hagen gave an update. The Alliance received funding last year that is going toward developing a five- year strategic plan, building tribal capacity, and a fellowship program through Sea Grant that will work on ocean planning, and science data and management. Wind energy is an area of focus. A Tribal Summit is scheduled for 10/16/23-10/17/23, followed by the West Coast Ocean Alliance Annual Summit from 10/18/23-10/20/23; both summits will be held in Portland, Oregon. Next year, there will be a West Coast Ocean Alliance Offshore Wind Summit. There is an effort to bring more tribes into the Alliance coastwide. Invasive European Green Crab Jennifer Hagen reported that European green crab have still not been found in La Push. Chris Waldbillig helped to source funding for kayaks to retrieve traps in the estuary. Wendy Feltham said that the University of Washington citizen science program has ended; it runs from April through September. Tami Pokorny said that thousands of green crab were being trapped in Willapa and Grays Harbor. Marine Debris Jennifer Hagen mentioned a cleanup last weekend on Third Beach and was curious about who sponsored it. Julie Ann Koehlinger thought it was CoastSavers, who coordinated a cleanup at the Hoh as well. Climate/Fossil Fuels Related (All) Tami Pokorny reminded the group that it is Climate Week in New York City. Julie Ann said that a Sea Grant Hershman Fellow would be developing a climate plan for the Hoh Tribe. Administrative Update Tami Pokorny said that she and Rebecca Mahan have been working on getting the inter-county contract ready. Next Agenda (October 17, 2023): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held on 10/17/23 at the Peninsula College Forks campus and will include further discussion on a 2024 Film Festival. A Zoom option will also be available. Public Comments/General Wendy Feltham distributed paper copies of the West End Natural Resources Newsletter and said it was beautiful. Tami Pokorny added that Jefferson County has been discussing the relationship between community and environmental well-being; *she will send out a graphic that illustrates that. Adjourn at 6:00 PM NPC MRC 9/19/2023 DRAFT Meeting Summary 4 Action Items: *Rod Fleck will work with Tami Pokorny on scheduling some presentations. *Tami Pokorny will send out a graphic that illustrates the relationship between community and environmental well-being. Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks (Rebekah Brooks Contracting).