Minutes from October 4,  2000 meeting

Monroe Landing Fire Hall—Oak Harbor, WA

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Present: Mike Gallion (chair), Jeff Tate, Dick Toft, Tom Campbell, Gary Wood, Don Meehan, Tom Shaughnessy, Hi Bronson and Tom Roehl (at 5:20 pm); Tech. Member: Julie Buktenica.  Excused from this meeting is Matt Klope and Jan Holmes

 A quorum having been established by the Chair, the meeting was called to order at 4 p.m.

 Chair Mike Gallion announced that Linda Sue Schoenharl, who represents agricultural interests on the MRC resigned earlier this afternoon.  He also mentioned that Mike Crotty from Nichols Brothers—and representing the commercial marine sector—resigned effective Sept. 6, 2000.  Discussion was to make recommendations to Island County Commissioners for appointing two new members. Linda Sue served as an “at large” representative; Crotty was appointed by Commissioner Mac McDowell.

 Approval of 9/6/00 meeting minutes:

• Dick Toft moved for approval of the minutes. Hi Bronson seconded. Carried with the suggestion by Tom Campbell to correct the term “forage fishing” to “forage fish.”

Announcements @ 4:25 pm

• Julie Buktenica discussed SRFB grants.  She said Commissioner Bill Thorn wanted the MRC to be aware of Island County’s upcoming creek inventory.  That sparked off a spirited discussion of getting MRC’s upcoming proposals on the priority list for commissioner consideration.
• Gary Wood attended the 9/29 Northwest Straits Commission meeting.  He said primary discussion was the upcoming training session, planned for Oak Harbor Oct. 27 and Oct 28 was MPAs—Marine Protected Areas—which are a “hot button” topic. The NWSC’s training session will focus on alternatives to the term MPA.

 Reports--Grants status—information—grant availability overview—the Big Picture—by Gary Wood at 4:35

• Gary Wood became lively when talking about making sure the Commissioners know the priority of getting a request by MRC for SRFB grants.  Gary wants MRC’s to be TOP priority and is working like mad to get the grant application completed by Oct. 16.
• Tom Campbell moved that due to the time constraints we need to act without delay in order to meet the application deadline. Gary Wood , Don Meehan and any other committee member interested will write our grant
  proposal covering the following three (3) projects: (1) eel grass
  survey, (2) completion of the inventory of shoreline hardening
  started by the Beachwatcher, and (3) forage fish inventory.
  Gary Wood seconded the motion. It was carried. Tom Roehl was not here in time to vote on this matter.
• Discussion—Gary said mapping of the shoreline hardening (bulkheads) was 95% done on Whidbey; still needed work for Camano Island. Tom Shaughnesy wondered why we don’t use the DNR’s existing shoreline hardening report. Julie Buktenica told him it doesn’t list where the bulkheads are.  Gary said it is important to have an updated mapping of the bulkheads that is more recent and authoritative than the DNR report—at no cost to taxpayers. Tom S. asked how much was spent on the shoreline hardening study.  Don Meehan said $10,000; with an additional $8,000 to $10,000 required for completion of the study—mostly on Camano Island. Gary is asking for more than $200,000.  Then Tom Roehl arrived and said he wants to map all we can and suggested the maps be put on CAD-level files for Island County staff.

• NWSC Training Session in Oak Harbor—folks who plan to attend the Oct. 27 and 28 training session need to Contact Cathy Angell at NWSC to RSVP

 Beach Watchers $2,000 cost overrun @ 5:20 pm

·        Don said costs exceeded his original proposal in printing, mailing, printing special business reply cards, use of staff time

·        Tom Campbell moved approval of the additional $2,000 cost overrun. Gary Wood seconded the motion; it was carried.

·        Discussion—Gary said “we could lose the good offices of Don and it would have to come from the good offices of Tom Roehl to get all the work done,” if Don and his staff weren’t paid for their time.

 Authorization of NWSC providing $10,000 administrative grant @ 5:35 p.m.

• Moved by Tom Roehl and seconded by Hi Bronson to authorize Don’s submitting the request to NWSC for the $10,000 administrative grant effective March, 2000 to June 30, 2001.  Carried.
• Discussion—Don addressed the commissioners wanting the
  administrative grant to cover ONLY administrative type costs and that our budget would need to be revised to reflect that.
• Tom Roehl suggested MRC consider having a workshop with the board of commissioners well in advance of MRC’s evolution into a group that could be managing upwards of $2 million in potential grants.  Tom’s feeling was to get the commissioners to consider an executive director if that time comes.  Don said that the nearshore mapping is a lot of work and the MRC could use someone to manage it.

New/Old Business @ 6 p.m.

• Gary said the grant deadlines were: UC Davis—Oct. 15; SRFBRD—Oct. 16; and NWSCI next year
   Julie B. will invite the guests to the Nov. 15 discussion by Elliott Menasche.
• Jeff Tate announced a 10/20/2000 coastal planning meeting to discuss MPAs in Mt. Vernon.  Tom C. moved and Hi Bronson seconded Don’s authorization for mileage reimbursement to Mt. Vernon.  Carried.
• Letterhead—the group suggests using the NWSI logo.

 Adjourn @ 6:10 p.m.

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