Minutes

February 2, 2000 4 PM to 6:00 PM

Monroe Landing Fire Station, Oak Harbor

Present: Mike Gallion (Chair); Tom Campbell, Jan Holmes, Matt Klope, George Lundgren, Don Meehan, Tom Roehl, Tom Shaughnessy, Gary Wood; Brian Giles, (Secretary); Julie Buktenia, Island County Public Works; Paul Dinnel, Skagit MRC; Kathy Haven, Beach Watchers; Rich Johnson, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Wayne Pallsen, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Merle Segault, Beach Watchers; Paul Stannert, Skagit MRC; Bill White, Beach Watchers. Absent, excused: Linda Sue Schoenharl, Dick Toft. Chuck Crider has asked, via email, to be replaced on the Committee.

Call to Order: 4:06. Mike reminds Members that the second meeting of the month during June, July and August may be routinely cancelled unless business must take place. These second meetings are to take place on the South End.

Introductions: Guests introduced were Paul Dinnel, Paul Stannert from the Skagit MRC; Rich Johnson from WDFW. Wayne Pallsen, also of the WDFW, was our guest speaker.

Comments from the public: Skagit MRC members report that their proposal concerns possible candidate sites for Marine Protected Areas, MPAs. They are now at the public outreach stage of the process. They joined us to hear our guest speaker. George suggested that we communicate with other MRCs. Mike said that he would be willing to handle the matter Chair-to-Chair.

Move by Tom R. to adopt final Mission Statement incorporating last bulleted item. Seconded by Gary Wood; Carried. None Opposed.

The MRC thanks Tom R. for his work on our Mission Statement

Review of last meeting's Minutes: Move by Gary to adopt Minutes; Seconded by Tom R.; Carried. None opposed.

Move by Tom R. to elect Don M. as Treasurer for 3 year term; Seconded by Tom S.; Carried. None opposed.

We discussed meeting places and the need to schedule them well in advance. When meeting in Freeland we might avail ourselves of a tour of Nichols Bros.--Julie B. says they have a new stormwater system in place. Don reminds us our focus is delineated at the shoreline.

Move by Tom R. to elect Brian G. as Secretary; Seconded by Gary W.; Carried. None opposed.

We discussed at length the creation of an Executive Committee. Please see the Addendum Summary for viewpoints.

Move by George L. to create Executive Committee with the proviso that everyone wanting to be kept abreast is informed by email. Seconded by Don M. Carried.

Don stated that we should note our absences. So noted. Tom R. suggested that noting absentees as excused/unexcused is a function of the chair, as absentees are to report to him.

Update, NWSC Meeting: Gary reports that Don and Mike were also in attendance. The Commission adopted a Resolution stating that salmon are not the only issue, that the focus has been unbalanced toward the freshwater end of recovery and that we can't afford to forget about the marine environment. As to funding, Gary reports approval was granted for all 6 of 7 counties submitting, with Clallam submitting 2. Snohomish, late in the creation of an MRC, lost out. Significantly, the grants were graded, and our lowest grade reflected a concern that our "Budget seems too low…" We were also adjured to investigate aerial photography. (Our consensus to this last was that aerial photography is valuable but not feasible as a tool to map maximum extent of eelgrass due to depth limitations.)

Update, SRFBoard: Gary said that Dr. Willows made the case that our mission isn't being taken seriously enough; that he wants us to submit to the Packard and Ford Foundations.

Update, Eelgrass: Jan, with Gary already onboard, solicited additional help with administration. Julie, and Tom R. volunteered; Kelly was drafted.

Guest Speaker: Wayne Pallsen from WDFW spoke on the status of Bottomfish/Rockfish in local waters, sharing informative slides and excellent underwater video. We learned more about the various species, including (s l o w ) growth rate; adaptation to predation (poisonous spines), vulnerability due to territorial nature, reluctance to adopt new (artificial) habitat, problems attendant to hatcheries in general and possible rockfish hatcheries in particular. The decline in numbers of rockfish has also met with a decline in the maximum size of rockfish. He reported on the status and success of voluntary protected areas in San Juan Co., and of the Underwater Park at Edmonds. The conclusion by many was that rockfish decline was largely a function of overharvest. We discussed various methods to allow a sustainable rockfish fishery, including bag/size limits and "pulse" fishing. The decline of True Cod and Hake may be a function of weather-related forces in addition to the commercial harvest. Algal blooms will need to be studied more for their effects upon nutrition/toxicity. Some Bottomfish are in decline while some are doing well.

Addendum Summary:

On the creation of an Executive Committee: Mike sees this as an advisory committee, primarily via email, a group readily convened in summertime as well. Jan questioned why we would need a smaller group, that it had the potential for exclusion. Don suggested that it would become necessary at some time in the future to get projects underway or dismiss them. Tom R. stated that the function would be to implement (the mechanics) of the MRC's will. George noted that we have done well without it. Mike cautioned that the workload would increase and that everyone might not want to receive all the email generated; we need a mechanism in place before it is needed. Gary added that it would be necessary for the micromanagement of details that we don't want to flood everyone with. George requested reception of copies of all possible Exec. Comm. traffic. Tom stated that it would include contract administration detail. Don asked how decisions could be made between MRC meetings-we'll be waiting on decisions from the Board of Island County Commissioners, and they'll be waiting for us. George asked again: why not email everyone? Mike noted that we must meet formally to vote. Gary said that no day-to-day business would get done if 13 people have to convene…. Don said that the time line would trap us. Tom R. noted that we must have open public meetings. George questioned the openness of an Executive Committee. Tom R. stated that some business needs to be delegated. Wayne P. suggested that we look into our by-laws, Tom S. has them at the ready and reads "No executive or standing committee can make decisions but to the MRC.

Adjourned 6 PM