Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 2024 NPC MRC First Draft Meeting Summary NPC MRC 11/19/2024 DRAFT Meeting Summary 1 November 19, 2024 NPC MRC Draft Meeting Summary The Tuesday, November 19, 2024 NPC MRC meeting took place at the Peninsula College in Forks, WA and by Zoom connection from 4:00 PM to 5:22 PM ([00:02:25] to [01:24:13]). Appointed committee members present at the meeting were Chris Butler-Minor (Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, ex officio), Eileen Cooney (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County - Economic Groups), Wendy Feltham (Citizen Representative, Jefferson County – Scientific Community), Rod Fleck (City of Forks), John Hunter (Citizen Representative – Conservation / Environmental Groups), Katie Krueger (Citizen Representative, Clallam County – Scientific Community), Rebecca Mahan (Clallam County Representative), Ian Miller (Washington Sea Grant, ex officio), Tami Pokorny (NPC MRC Coordinator and Jefferson County Representative), and Alice Ryan (Citizen Representative, Clallam County – Recreational Groups. A quorum was present at the beginning of the meeting. Maggie Bockart (Hoh Tribe), Rebekah Brooks (Rebekah Brooks Contracting), Cathy Lear (Clallam County), Megan Tuttle (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife [WDFW]), Chris Waldbillig (WDFW), and Katie Wrubel (OCNMS) were also in attendance. Introductions Public Comments Katie Krueger commented on the current storm, and noted that if trees came down during the meeting, people might be cut off from the Zoom connection. Wendy Feltham said that it was great to hear the good news from Chris Butler-Minor about the tons of marine debris that were removed from Neah Bay. Additions to and Approval of the Agenda Katie Wrubel’s offer to update the group about the Neah Bay debris removal was added to the agenda in place of the Hoh River Watershed Adventure update. The updated agenda was approved by consensus. Approval of the September 2024 NPC MRC Meeting Summary The September 2024 NPC MRC Summary was approved by consensus as written. Announcements Ian Miller announced that the Olympic National Park preemptively closed some of its coastal sections in preparation for the storm. He requested any news from coastal residents about storm impacts, especially around Kalaloch. Alice Ryan added that the Quileute Tribe closed its school and offices at noon today for the storm. Old Business Coast MRC Summit and Film Festival 2024 Follow Up NPC MRC 11/19/2024 DRAFT Meeting Summary 2 The Coast MRC Summit was held from 10/16/24 – 10/19/24 in Forks and La Push. Tami Pokorny said the most common comment she heard was that attendees wished for more time to chat with one another. The agenda was quite full. Eileen Cooney, Alice Ryan, and others agreed that all the presentations were very valuable and worthwhile, and that the only way to add more time would be to add more days. Other feedback received included gratitude to the Quileute Tribe for their welcome, and about the food being very good. Everyone was disappointed that the Film Festival was not able to take place. Chris Waldbillig thanked Tami for all her efforts coordinating the event. Tami added her appreciation to each of the NPC MRC members for their involvement and contributions. *Tami asked the group to sign a Thank You card to the Quileute Tribe. Tami asked about how to keep the momentum going that was inspired by the Coast MRC Summit. Chris Waldbillig noted that there was some uncertainty about the next funding cycle budget due to lower tax revenues, increasing demand for public services, and rising costs, resulting in a ten-to-twelve-billion-dollar shortfall over the next four years. He shared an article for more information: https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/11/14/with-10b-deficit-looming-wa-governor-calls-on-state- agencies-to-make-cuts/. However, the work that the MRCs are doing now will be good groundwork for future requests, even if this funding round request to legislature does not come through. Developing an approach for presenting the budget request to the legislature is also important. Film Festival Planning Ian Miller asked about whether the group wanted to try again to host a Film Festival, and what that timing might look like. Suggestions included holding it during the weekend of Spring Equinox in March, the Coast Cleanup in April, the weekend of the Remotely Operated Vehicle Competition in May, or to coincide with the May Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary Council meeting. New Business Project Update: Neah Bay Debris Removal Katie Wrubel gave an update on the large marine debris removal effort in Neah Bay. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation was awarded a fifteen million dollar grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with about eight million dollars focused locally. Part of the funding was used to remove the MV Unwind off La Push. The other big area of focus was Neah Bay, with the removal of the I-90 bridge pontoon, the old wooden commercial fishing dock, the high tide barge, and a number of vessels. Rebecca Mahan shared some photos of a coinciding effort to remove a beached sailboat from Waadah Island with the 2022 Northwest Straits Commission congressionally directed spending funds. 2025-2027 Funding Cycle Timeline Tami Pokorny asked for feedback from the group about when to release the next request for proposals. She suggested launching things a little earlier than usual to give sponsors more time, maybe in February or March of next year. Chris Waldbillig explained that the legislature should have a budget together by April, so awards could not go out until then. Chair and Host Needs for December and January Meetings Tami Pokorny raised the possibility of there not being a county representative present for some future NPC MRC meetings. The December NPC MRC Meeting will be hosted by the Olympic Natural Resources Center in Forks without a county representative. Rebecca Mahan offered to facilitate the NPC MRC in-person meeting in January. Tami suggested celebrating Katie Krueger’s years of involvement with the NPC MRC in January at an in- person gathering; *let Tami know if you are interested in attending. Updates Coast MRC Update NPC MRC 11/19/2024 DRAFT Meeting Summary 3 Chris Waldbillig gave an update on the next funding cycle earlier in the agenda. He wants to strategize building momentum for the coastal MRCS with the energy that came out of the Coast MRC Summit. *He will send the 2025-2027 Biennium one-pager to Tami Pokorny for distribution to the group and for consideration on how to introduce it to the legislature and of who might be able to champion it. Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council (WCMAC) Rod Fleck gave an update. The next meeting is scheduled for 12/3/24 and will be virtual. It has an administrative component for electing the new Chair and Vice Chair. They are also hoping for insight on how to interact with the Governor’s Office during the transition. As part of the WCMAC, Rod also attends the Marine Resources Advisory Council, where the Seattle Aquarium has been trying to highlight the role of kelp. The University of Washington will be presenting on this at the WCMAC in December. 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 11/8/24 and was virtual. Chris Butler-Minor gave an update. The meeting included insight into how the State of Washington is looking at the offshore wind energy issue, and a presentation on Dungeness Crab. The next meeting is scheduled for 1/24/25 and will be virtual. West Coast Ocean Alliance Jennifer Hagen was not present for an update. Invasive European Green Crab There was nothing new to report. Marine Debris This item was addressed earlier in the meeting. Climate/Fossil Fuels Related (All) There was nothing new to report. Administrative Update Tami Pokorny said she would be getting final project billings from sponsors. Next Agenda (December 17, 2024): The next NPC MRC Meeting will be held on 12/17/24 with an in-person option hosted by the Olympic Natural Resources Center. It will include a conversation about priorities and ideas for the next funding cycle, and an update on the Futurewise Hoh Adventure project. Public Comments/General Rod Fleck led others in thanking Tami Pokorny for the wonderful Coastal MRC Summit. Adjourn at 5:24 PM Action Items *Tami Pokorny asked the group to sign a Thank You card to the Quileute Tribe. *Let Tami know if you are interested in attending a celebration of Katie Krueger’s years of involvement with the NPC MRC at an in-person gathering in January. NPC MRC 11/19/2024 DRAFT Meeting Summary 4 *Chris Waldbillig will send the 2025-2027 Biennium one-pager to Tami for distribution to the group and consideration about how to introduce it to the legislature. Draft summary compiled by Rebekah Brooks.