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Meeting Minutes |
Trinity Lutheran Church, Freeland
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Revision I per Don Meehan 2/22/01
Revision II per Tom Roehl 2/23/01
Present: MRC Members—Acting Chair—Tom Roehl, Don Meehan, Marty Behr, Roger
Sherman, Matt Klope, El Sayed-Sayed, Mike Gallion, Dick Toft; Recording Secretary-Kate
Poss; Visitors Michael Kyte, Keith Wolf—Golder Associates, Redmond; Roger
Weber,
director, Puget Sound Angelers; Bill Attwater, member of Island County Water
Resources
Advisory Committee; J.C. May, visitor. Excused absences: Chair Tom Campbell,
Gary Wood,
Tom Shaughnessy, Hi Bronson, Jeff Tate
A quorum was established—Acting Chair Tom Roehl called the meeting to order at 4 p.m.
Adoption of agenda/2/7/01 minutes @ 4:05 p.m.
Today’s agenda was approved. The 2/7/01 minutes were adopted with this amendment:
deletion of Tom’s reference to MRC becoming a regulatory agency reference
under the
“Management of grant funds” headline on page 2 of the minutes
REPORTS @ 4:06 p.m.
Puget Sound Research 2001 with Roger Sherman
Passing around a summary handout—which we have on file—Roger said that nearly
800
attended the Bellevue conference last week. He added that there is inspiration
aplenty for
future programs and is impressed by the San Juan County MRC’s website and
Canada’s Race
Rocks website.
Eelgrass update with Don Meehan
· Don said he will be using Matt Klope’s Navy survey info. to fill
in what has not been
mapped with Beach Watchers and Jim Norris’ videography. Matt is presently
seeking
the information to share with Don. He said the MRC’s eelgrass map should be
completed with Norris’ work in mid May
· Don referred to Jan Holmes’s 2/19/01 email, which noted her discussion
about Norris’
work being done outside required timeframes when eelgrass grows, from
June-October. Tom Roehl asked to have Norris include a section in his written
report
discussing this issue of the WDFW time window and explaining why it is or
is
not relevant.
· Don replied that the issue is a controversial one and that he’ll
make a note asking Jim
to explain the next time he comes to MRC. Don said that Jim fully understands
this
issue and can address it.
· Michael Kyte and Keith Wolf of Golder Associates said DNR has done
a shoreline
assessment of Puget Sound that deals with 1,500-foot cells being characterized.
The
work was done via helicopter. The shoreline assessment includes 15 videos,
still
photos, a CD; Tom Roehl suggested we order the info. for the MRC files. DNR
also
has a great website and a CD of the shoreline assessment done during summertime
low-tide windows.
Unfinished Business
MRCs Work plan 2001—Don Meehan @ 4:17 p.m.
· Don handed out copies of the year’s work plan—what’s been approved;
what’s coming
up; educational presentations, etc. He mentioned the plan to discuss MPA
designations in May, including an educational presentation by Mark Packhenham
of
Canada to discuss successful MPAs (marine protected areas) or also known a
Marine
Reserves.
· Marty Behr said he has a copy of Snohomish County’ Power Point
presentation-which
could be used as basis to create one for Island County.
· Next meeting will work on fine-tuning the work plan. All members
need to review it
prior to then and Don will be sending a digital copy as an Excel spreadsheet
to all
members.
· Don read through the educational program ideas and pointed out
who had the lead for
each. The work plan needs to be reviewed as to the educational programs we
have
planned.
MRC Executive Director—request for qualifications @ 4:28 p.m.
· Marty Behr moved to approve the draft with the proviso that Dick
Toft and Don
Meehan, plus Island County’s attorney refine it as required. Roger Sherman
seconded
the motion. It was carried by all.
Discussion
· A draft prepared by Dick Toft and Don Meehan was handed out to
the MRC, describing
the duties required for a new Executive Director position. The director would
coordinate the $172,000 MRC has in grants this year, ensuring that the projects
comply with the grants’ guidelines, that contracts are fulfilled and that
the E.D. would
search for more grants.
· Dick asked if any points were lacking. Tom Roehl suggested the
candidate have a B.S.
degree or equivalent experience. Dick added that Island County’s attorney
is
screening the draft Request for Qualifications.
· Roger Sherman was concerned that Don is already the director of
the MRC; plus does
the MRC resolution allow the position before 5/24/01, when MRC is in operation
for 2
years.
· Tom Roehl explained that Don’s job will remain the same: as a comptroller,
financial
director of the MRC; whereas the executive director would be the manager for
projects
funded by grants; overseeing the process of hiring contractors, researching
new grant
markets, etc. He added that MRC can create an E.D. position to oversee projects.
· Don said he sees the Executive Director as a plus—someone to bird
dog projects. He
thinks the position, once approved by the BOCC, could start in June 2001.
· Roger Sherman asked that assuming Gary Wood gets the job (Gary
has done much of
the work to secure this year’s grant and has said he is interested in the
position),
would his being an MRC member be a conflict of interest.
· Don said he thought frankly it would be a conflict of interest.
· Dick Toft said if Gary is MRC’s choice for E.D., it would be prudent
to ask him to
resign as an MRC member.
· Some discussion ensued related to whether an Executive Director
could in fact e the
NWSC representative from the Island County MRC. Gary is Island County MRC’s
representative to the NWSC now; the jury seed out on that issue.
New Business—Presentation by Golder Associates regarding assessment techniques
for
nearshore habitat with Michael Kyte and Keith Wolf @ 4:55 p.m.
· Golder’s clients include SRFB, Pacific County, BPA—which administers
a $127
million/year contract in the Columbia basin
· Golder uses side scan sonar techniques, which they say is cost
effective, compatible
with GIS or CAD systems and covers what videography and aerial photography
miss.
· The cost to do all of Island County? $2,000 to $4,000/day using
two-men, 1 boat.
Would take 10-15 days, plus another $5,000 to $10,000 for post processing,
depending on the end product. This work could be dovetailed with Norris’ data.
Michael Kyte said costs can be reduced by $500 per day if MRC supplied its
own boat.
· Michael Wolf said the key is for MRC to prioritize what goals it would like to achieve.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
The next MRC meeting will be held at the Heller Road fire hall in west Oak
Harbor March 7
from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
