Meeting Minutes-May 2, 2001
Monroe Landing Firehall
4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Revision I-May 16, 2001

MRC Members Present: Chair Tom Campbell, Roger Sherman, Hi Bronson, Dick Toft, Mike Gallion, Sayed El-Sayed, Don Meehan. Recording Secretary: Kate Poss. Visitors: Frank Robert, of Lagoon Point; Michael Kyte, Golder Associates. Excused: Gary Wood, Jeff Tate, Matt Klope, Marty Behr, Tom Roehl; Note MRC member Tom Shaughnessy resigned this month. His position is now open.

Call to Order: Chair Tom Campbell called the meeting to order at 4:20 p.m. A quorum was established.

Approval of 5/2 agenda and 4/18 MRC minutes @ 4:35 p.m.
· Today's agenda was approved.
· Minutes approved with clarification of Mike Gallion's comments in Unfinished/New business section.
· Discussion-Mike asked that Gary Wood bring a budget summary from Northwest Straits with regard to funding of the seven MRCs.

Northwest Straits Commission @ 4:36 p.m.
· Tom Campbell said all MRCs were represented at the 4/27 meeting of NWSC at the Greenbank Farm.

MRC Executive Director Search @ 4:45 pm by Tom Campbell
· Tom announced Gary Wood selected for the Executive Director position. The position was advertised in the paper of record-Whidbey News Times. Gary was the only applicant.

Celebration of Murray/Metcalf legislation by Tom Campbell at 4: 50 p.m.
· The NWSC is planning a picnic Aug. 18 to celebrate year 3 of the Murray-Metcalf bill which created the NWSC. Don asked for a show of hands a to who might come. It is pot luck. The show of hands indicates our MRC will support the picnic.
· Don said MRC might want to put together a display of its projects.

MRC Progress Report-4:55 p.m.
· Tom Campbell asked members to share their impressions on how Island County MRC is progressing so far. Here are the members' abbreviated comments:
· Hi Bronson: "I'm impressed. San Juan County listed things we should be doing. One was to get grants. We're on track."
· Dick Toft: "Our projects have worth and merit. Our committee owes a lot to the energies and presence of Gary. I enjoy the education (aspects) as we bring in outside experts or talent. I want to keep the speakers going."
· Sayed El-Sayed: "Gary's one of the pillars of this committee. Judging from the other MRCs, they're in awe of what we're doing. Our outreach is equally successful. I give the group a B+."
· Roger Sherman: "I'm impressed; still getting my feet wet. A wonderful committee. I don't see financial figures. It would help. Maybe a quarterly report." (Don said he keeps the figures on a spreadsheet program.).
[The conversation shifted to requesting more money from NWSC for administration costs.]
· Don Meehan: "I'm impressed by the comments by our new members. Gary's critical to our success. He has the energy and brainpower. Our projects are worthy. I'd like to see more press. That's the weakest part. I want us to be known as a leader. Our strength is the diversity of our group. I find it refreshing people feel our MRC is on track."
· Tom Campbell: "The (Island County Board of) Commissioners realize the importance of our work. They are totally behind where we're going. We have a core group of people who are willing to work."
· Later Roger added: "I find it hard to help. Gary's in charge and he does it himself. Some of us find it hard to find a niche." Sayed added: "I have offered my services to Gary. I haven't been fully exploited." Don replied: "I'm getting run ragged. Roger, tell Gary you'll dig into the MPAs. Mike Gallion added: "Don and Gary do 95% of the work."
· Michael Kyte (not a MRC member, but regular at the MRC meetings): "The synergy is obvious. Don and Gary are the heavy hitters. Gary's effective at what he does. You've got the best of both worlds."

Executive Director update by Don Meehan @ 5 p.m.
· Don said Gary in his new role of E.D. will apply for additional grants; ensure that our existing grant conditions are met and monitor our nearshore grants. He will also act as the regional coordinator regarding Salmon Recovery Funding Board's forage fish/nearshore grants for MRCs. Don expects it will be the end of May before the contract is signed and Gary officially takes the post.

June 5-6 Low Impact Development Conference by Don Meehan at 5:30 p.m.
· Don encouraged members to attend. The link is www.wa.gov/puget_sound. At first Hi Bronson and Don were going to go. Other members expressed an interest too. Don said members should pre-register by May 11 and the MRC can then determine who is going.
· The Committee voted to fund early registration for two members. Tom Campbell asked members who wish to have their registration paid to e-mail him by Monday May 7th.
MRC Web site
· Don asked for a show of hands to see who has viewed the new MRC web page. Mike Kyte and Kate said they have seen it.

Approval of Gary Wood as Executive Director @5:50 p.m.
· Don Meehan moved to approve Gary Wood as Executive Director. Dick Toft seconded the motion. The motion was carried by all
· Discussion: once Gary takes his new post he will resign as a member of the MRC. There will be two positions to fill: Tom Shaughnessy's and Gary Wood's.

Unfinished/New Business @ 5:55 p.m.
· Don met with the Dept. of Ecology and Planning, which is interested in our eelgrass survey, shoreline hardening and data collection.
· Sy Simonstead will talk at the June 20th meeting

The meeting was adjourned at 6 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for May 16 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Freeland. Dennis Paulson, author of Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest will be the speaker.