SEPT 21, 1999
7PM
Monroe Landing Firehall - by Airport

Present: Don Meehan, Ted Hofstad, Gary Wood, Jan Holmes, Tom Campbell, George Lundgren, Linda Sue Schoenharl, Mike Gallion......Absent with prior notification: Dick Toft, Matt Klope, and Tom Shaughnessy.......No shows...Tom Roehl, Chuck Crider

Technical Advisory members present: Susan Berta (WSU Beach Watchers) and Janet Kearsley (IC Public Works)

Guests: Mike Sato (People for Puget Sound), WSU Beach Watchers (Kathy Havens, Penny Bowen, Rowena Williamson, Mary Chapman, Lyla Snover, Bill White), Howie Garret (San Juan County)

Introductions

A brief introduction was made of all parties present.

How much do you know?

A 15 question quiz prepared by Don Meehan was taken as a way of learning more about the role(s) and responsibilities of the local MRC and its relationship to the Northwest Straits Commission. The group did very well on the quiz indicating that members had read the materials sent to them prior to the meeting.

Getting to know each other.

Each member and Technical Advisory member was asked to share (briefly) the marine issues of greatest concern to them. A summary of their concerns is attached.

Terms of office

Don explained that terms needed to be set and that it was something the group could do at the next meeting, but that each member was to contact Don with the desired term they would like to have to see if a jump start on the assigning of terms could be achieved.

Future meeting dates

The group looked at several options for meeting times, days, and locations. It was decided that meetings would be held the first (1st) and third (3rd) Wednesdays of the month till the end of the year. Meetings would begin at 4pm and terminate 2 hours later. The location would be the Monroe Landing for the North end and Mike Gallion was looking at Fire District #3 for a Southend location. The group will evaluate switching back and forth between North and South at the next meeting.

A meeting schedule is attached.

Communications

It was encouraged that all parties communicate via email between meetings and that Don would provide the email address for the entire group to everyone. Large informational documents could be shared with Don who would then have them copied for inclusion in the notebooks all parties received.

Nov 5 & 6 meeting/training

Don encouraged all members of the MRC to attend the Regional MRC Training Confernece to be held at the Oak Harbor Best Western beginning Friday Evening of November 5th and all day on Nov 6th. Those wanting to stay overnight at the motel needed to discuss it with Don. Travel to the training conference would be covered.

Review the Ops and Procedures
Chair election
Don encouraged the group to hold off on this till the next meeting, if not later. The group agreed.
Fiscal matters
Funds in support of the MRC are all handled through the WSU Extension County Budget under Don's direction---a review of the fiscal picture will be shared at the next meeting
Budget - update
A grant with the NWSC/DOE is being processed and should be signed off in a month or so. $10,000 has been allocated to the MRC off and running.

NWSC rep.
Don encouraged the group to select a member of the group to representative them on the NWSC, but that they should wait to make that selection when they knew each other a bit better. Don has been sitting on the "kitchen" Commission for several months and will continue to do that until a member is selected. Once that decision has been made Don will likely continue to attend NWSC meetings for a few months and then plans to drop out of it. The group agreed.
Decisions
All decisions are by simple majority rule. (Editors note here: It would be advised to have a recorder of decisions made by the group)

Grant programs through NWSC

Don shared the Early Action grant program with the group. George Lundgren felt strongly that the group needed to take advantage of that opportunity, even though there was little time. Lots of discussion ensued about what project(s) might be good ones to seek funding for. Some members wanted to be sure the group was asking the "right" questions and will work on a proposal on the process the group should use for getting at what is important (Mike Gallion and Gary Wood); Eel grass and Kelp beds surveys and baseline data collection was the project that most people felt was badly needed. (Jan Holmes and Geo. Lundgren).
Other proposals that people felt could be helpful in moving the efforts of the group along were encouraged. Teams working on proposals need to have them roughed out by Oct 6th.

Other items not on the agenda:

Mike Gallion suggested that the group have one of its members tackle the media end of things by making sure the media knows what the group is doing and getting regular articles in the paper about the groups meetings and activities. No one jumped forth to take on this task, but is something the group should revisit in future meetings.

Next meeting - OCT 6TH - 4pm - 6pm - Monroe Landing Firehall
Plans are to have Tom Cowan (NWSC) executive director presenting the NWSCommission Story
Also would like all members of the Technical Subcommittee to give a 10-minute talk about their work and how it relates to the Marine Resources of Island County.

Decide Terms of Office

Decide when to elect Chair of the Committee

(Don has asked Linda Schoenharl to stand in his place as facilitator should he be absent at a conference on Salmon in the Tacoma area)

Prior to next meeting each member will send their "desired" term of office (1year, 2 year or 3 year)

Future meeting ideas - Dan Pentilla - WS Fisheries - Forage Fish
- Ian Jefferds - Mussel production in Penn Cove
- WSU Beach Watchers monitoring program
- Feeder Bluffs of Island County
- Mike Gallion? - Sports Fisheries of Island County Waters
added - Eel Grass Ecology
added - Kelp bed Ecology

minutes$92199.doc

FUTURE MEETING DATES - 1st & 3rd Wed of month

Date Time Location

Oct 6 Wed 4pm Monroe Landing Firehall

Oct 20 Wed 4pm ????

Nov 3 Wed 4pm ????

Nov 17 Wed 4pm ????

Dec 1 Wed 4pm ????

Dec 15 4pm ????