Minutes

March 1, 2000 4 PM to 6:00 PM

Monroe Landing Fire Hall

Present: Mike Gallion (Chair); Jan Holmes, Matt Klope, George Lundgren, Don Meehan, Tom Shaughnessy, Dick Toft, Gary Wood; Julie Buktenia, Island County Public Works; Brian Giles, (Secretary); Keith Higman, Island County Environmental Health; Merle Segault, Beach Watchers. Absent, excused: Tom Campbell, Tom Roehl, Linda Sue Schoenharl.

Call to Order: 4:08.

Revision to Agenda: Chuck Crider's vacant position to be discussed before Reports.

Introductions/Comments From the Public: None.

Approval of Minutes: February 16th MRC Meeting: Under SRFBoard Applications change "capability studies" to "feasibility studies"; under MRC members strike first occurrence (present) of "Tom Shaughnessy". Move by Tom S. to approve 2/16/2000 Minutes as revised; Seconded by Gary, Carried. February 2nd MRC Meeting: Question was asked whether everyone had received Gary's revisions. Yes, revised editions have been sent Move by Don to approve 2/2/2000 Minutes as amended; Seconded by Tom S.; Request by Don that Brian send out revised versions of both sets of Minutes; Call for the Question. Carried.

We discussed whether the MRC wanted to have a presence at the May 13th Penn Cove Water Festival; put on Agenda for next meeting.

MRC Vacancy: Don has talked to Mac McDowell-Chuck was his appointee. Candidates are being solicited; Matt Nichols, suggested by Don and Mike, has declined participation due to time constraints. George asked if the appointee must represent a specific geographical area. Don explained that the geographical representation refers to the appointer, and that the need is for representation of commercial fishers (crabbers/shellfish farmers) Tom S. asks if Mac had appointed Chuck as a "district" representative or an "at large" representative representing a specific interest group. Our suggestions to Commissioner McDowell may identify underrepresented groups mandated or geographical area; ultimately it is his call.

Reports: NWSC Subcommittee on Management and Organization, 2/25/2000. Gary and Don in attendance. Gary reports that Year 2000 Workplan and Options for Organizational Structures were considered. Andrea Kopping, Professor from University of Washington, submitted several models: On one end of the spectrum was "Pass-Through", a hands-off conduit meeting once a year, doing nothing on its own. The other extreme was the "Command and Control" commission--meeting bi-monthly with a large staff with Administration, Education, Scientific Outreach, computers, stand-alone office, and servers for GIS and databases. It would become the NWS clearinghouse for data-including geographic-based data-and an extensive program of public information/public events, with a large publication program. "Pass Through" won't meet their own mandated requirements. In between these extremes are "Contract for Work" Commission and "Independent With Partners" Commission. The latter was best received and will be recommended at the NWSC Retreat. It would meet monthly with small administrative staff, developing partnerships to accomplish functions including scientific outreach/economic; sharing offices and hardware, sharing space (as they are now) with Padilla Bay. Advantages of this model would be to deliver a high level of technical assistance to MRCs, fulfill NWSC functions.

Dick Toft's suggestion for video/PowerPoint presentations was very well received.

With budget cuts, projected FY 2000 money is $660,000. Anticipating one model, with 1.85 employees, they would use $150,000 of this for overhead, leaving $510,000 divided between 7 different MRCs giving us ~$72,000. If they undertake regional projects, Kathleen (appointee from People for Puget Sound) suggests $160,000 for regional projects in addition to the $150,000 for overhead (the low end of overhead, upper end was $190,000) nets $50,000 per MRC in this year. In terms of budgeting for Continued Operational Funds, the Year 2000 Workplan has an additional $10,000 or repeat of the $10,000-first item is $70,000 for Administrative and Travel funds---or $10,000 per MRC. These figures are loose, but the sooner the Year 2000 Workplan is turned in the sooner we get our funding.

Gary reports language problems have been resolved to get our final grant unconditionally approved with Tom Cowen, but the money isn't expected until April. Tom and Gary strongly suggest we capitalize on the reception of funds ($25,000) with a "Big Check" photo op with Island County Commissioners.

At the next meeting, the Retreat on Orcas Island, the priority will be to adopt the model suggested by the subcommittee; set up Science Committee, Fund Raising Committee. There is some debate on how to/whether to submit to Packard/Ford/Microsoft. Should we submit individually as MRCs or pool resources?

TAG Meeting: Gary stated that the report is a must-read for all of us, a comprehensive view on area-by-area, watershed-by-watershed, estuary-by-estuary of what needs to be done in Island County--and a lot of it (finally) addresses the nearshore. Mike says it will be available on a CD ROM.

SRFBoard: Very positive reactions to varied projects. Project managers will make recommendations to SRFBoard at the Wenatchee March 16/17 meeting. This is a good opportunity to see the workings of the SRFBoard-what works and what doesn't.

Workplan: Working from and with Linda's draft, Don presented his (revised) version. Note change to be made "tide gate" replacement from "dike" replacement in third project. Don suggests need to submit RFP soon for Eelgrass so that July is a reasonable date for beginning. Jan states that videography can begin as soon as the money arrives. George reiterated his concern that we plug in more education; Mike assures us that it will be ongoing when opportunities present themselves. Don: this is an open document, we can write in what we want. Mike: we need to approve what we have to get going…Don: That's why we need to get moving on the RFP. Don agreed to oversee intra-MRC education component, has been working on Nichols Bros. Tour. Jan suggests we bump up forage fish habitat-- even over Nichols Bros. Gary suggests Nichols Bros. does speak to habitat. George suggests that a paper copy (like Don's workplan) carries more weight and Mike agreed, cautioning that even hard copies are in danger of being changed meeting-by-meeting without being finalized. Gary: Reason for specific date for Nichols tour? Don: Yes, March preferred because running water needed to show function of stormwater system. Don will confirm date as the tentative date 15th (next meeting) conflicts. March 22nd @ 2:00? When to plug in tour of Penn Cove Mussels?

Grant development, Don stated, will be an ongoing project. Jan will report on the Eelgrass Census at the next meeting. Matt's Crescent Harbor tour will take place in July. George requests data on economic loss due to lack of fish. Gary suggests monitor Eelgrass Monitoring results in August/September. Jan will report on this component at next meeting.

George: Potluck boat-in at his house? Other tours? Jan will get low tide dates in August that we can work from.

Outreach and Education: Don attended the Town Hall Meeting. Mike Sato presented People for Puget Sound whale video MRC Brochure: Gary is working on threefold brochure (based on San Juan's). We need to have it before Water Festival. Gary will have a brochure copy for next meeting, but meeting conflicts…cancel Trinity. Meeting will be 22nd. Scholarships: Mike reports success with Fishin' Club scholarships. While everyone likes the idea, the use of Federal funding may not be appropriate. George stated that our $ should go to measurable goals in our Mission Statement in next five years. Tom S. liked the idea of private money going toward scholarships. Jan: Marine Science Center has good programs for here and now education. Gary: Moot point until we have the money. When we have discretionary spending it is a good idea. Borderline Species: George requests info on their listing status; it was supposed to be imminent. Gary: The deadline was missed-as was the salmon listing before. Julie: Maybe we could get someone from NMFS…

Festival Gathering: Music as a draw, all seven MRCs could be present with education. Jan: Sounds like a good idea for 2001.

George wants to know if/when we are going to go for MPA designations. Don acknowledges that we'll have to move this up Jan notes that MPAs could be more restrictive than a Marine Sanctuary would have been. George: The "no-take" is the key to how the whole thing works. Gary: Electronic MPA Newsletter has a scoring system weighted for economics and biodiversity.

New Business: Don would like to bring a budget to the next business meeting. Mike: I'll put it on the agenda. Gary: Are we going to assume that $10,000? Don: We'll have to unless I hear something different. Jan: I'd like to request funding for Marine Biology Workshop in Bamfield, B.C. in June, limited to 15 participants; I've already been accepted. I want to request $600 CDN. I'll be asking Beach Watchers. Move by Don that we match anything up to $250 U.S. Seconded by George. Carried. Keith will provide shellfish presentation upon request in conjunction with Washington Department of Health Ambient Nearshore Water Quality Monitoring around the Island, which can or can't be associated with shellfish bed closures. Funding: Matt suggests that TAG look into "Coastal America" as they have the resources and fit. George: Ultimately we'll be growing eelgrass, right? Jan/Gary suggest we look to Ron Thom, Battelle Labs for our education on this subject.

Adjourned.