Minutes
February 2, 2005
Members Present: Laura Arnold, Mike Bertrand, David Hoopes, David Loyd, Jim Slocomb, Dennis Willows
Absent: Brian Calvert, Terrie Klinger, Mary Masters, Kit Rawson
Guests: Steve Amsbaugh, Shannon Davis, Phil Green, Jody Kennedy, Madrona Murphy, Francine Shaw, Rowann Tallmon
Chair Jim Slocomb called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room at Islanders Bank Annex, Friday Harbor.
Citizens’ comments:
Madrona Murphy said that she is very interested to see how the MRC spends restoration funds and wants to learn more about the public involvement in that process. Madrona offered to help set up a public meeting on Lopez Island, noting that islands other than San Juan would also benefit from meetings being held on their home turf. Dennis suggested that the MRC do a boat tour of all the islands, as was done a year-and-a-half ago, using the UW boat at a subsidized rate; all agreed this is an excellent way to visit the other islands to show them what the MRC is doing and to discuss the Marine Stewardship Area proposal.
David Hoopes reported on the Shared Strategy Summit He has copies of letters of support from Whatcom County and Skagit County MRC’s, but none from the San Juan County Commissioners. Jim suggested further discussion on Shared Strategy at a future MRC meeting.
Steve Amsbaugh introduced himself as the new Director of the Community Development and Planning Department. Steve talked about his planning background in both public and private sectors. He said that his experience has been more in the mountains than the marine world but he’s open to being educated on shoreline issues. Steve invited all present to have talks with him. There was discussion on the importance of his presence and involvement at MRC meetings. Francine Shaw said that it is a priority for the Department to appoint a representative to attend the meetings regularly. “This is where to learn,” she added. Laura pointed out that the MRCs charter calls for the Department Director to be a sitting member.
Jim noted that the federal funding that supports the MRC (the Northwest Straits Commission) is in its final years; he said that NWSC is expected to be reauthorized and there will be a little more MRC money this year. Jim added that one of the artifacts of that will likely be a federal mandate to look across the beach to land sites and to be more involved in issues such as upper shoreline, marshes, and water quality. He summarized a goal that came out of the recent managers’ meeting here from regional, state, and federal regulatory authorities: to build strategic relationships and to get some continuity of management approach under the umbrella of the Marine Stewardship Area.
Minutes: The minutes of the 12/1/04 and 1/19/05 meetings were approved as read.
Jody discussed the emailed draft NWSC annual report and asked for members’ comments. Jim said that he’ll be presenting the annual report, the 2005 Workplan, the aquaculture protocol, and updates on the MSA (zone scheme) and derelict vessels program to the BOCC next Tuesday. There was discussion on interest in the derelict vessels program by the Port of Friday Harbor and the Town of Friday Harbor and which county department would be the lead agency.
Jim briefly described, for Steve Amsbaugh’s benefit, the MRCs relationship with the tribes, particularly with the Tulalip and their fish biologist, Kit Rawson, who has been an active MRC member. Dennis noted the valuable work of the Samish Nation and of Dr. Russel Barsh. David Loyd said that Russel offered boat time to the community groups from Waldron and Deer Harbor and there has been interest from the Lummi Nation in ROV surveying. Jim suggested that perhaps it was time to re-solicit interest from other tribes. David Hoopes suggested that formal invitations be made to the tribes about membership; there could also be informal visits to the tribes and hosted visits with them coming to the Islands.
Laura said there might be a way to use the product of the ROV surveying in the Master Shoreline guidelines process. Dennis said that new sonar equipment is available now that projects onboard images of the size and quantity of fish caught in the survey troll; density and frequency of species can be measured without bringing up more fish than necessary. The number of minutes it takes to register a given amount of fish can be recorded.
David Hoopes has draft minutes of the recent creosoted logs removal project. He said that other counties shared information from their projects. NWSC and DNR have budgeted $85,000 for this year (match?). Jim said he has an ad hoc inventory of derelicts to add to the list. David said that DNR is not interested in pulling pilings because of potential site contamination. Ken Brown is doing a funded inventory on Orcas and Shaw Islands as an education component of REED. It was suggested that creosoted logs on forage fish spawning beaches be prioritized for removal. Jody said that Lisa Kaufmann of DNR has proposed meetings on different islands. Required permits were discussed.
Jody returned discussion to the Workplan and draft budget (July ‘05 - July ‘07) to look at the prospect of hiring an intern to help with various projects; one of Dr. Terrie Klinger’s students could quantify social capital, for instance, and there is a Lummi student intern interested in capturing the oral history of the area. Jody reported that replacement of the BFRP signs is underway. There was discussion on the BFRP dive surveys (done at 3 BFRP sites and 3 reference sites) as a means to gauge whether the reserves are working; Jody said that since most of divers’ time is volunteered, the largest expense is for use of the boat. Jody will get copies of summaries of the dive research results to Francine.
Motion: Dennis moved, and Laura seconded, that the 2005 Workplan be adopted.
The motion passed unanimously.
Action grant:
Jody said that NWSC will allocate $65,000 the first year and $85,000 the second year; there is some flexibility in annual distribution of the money. The MRC’s letter of intent is due by March lst; the sub-committee will meet to fill in the blanks and Jody will draft the letter. She noted that contracts will be sought to assess fishing pressure.
Other aspects of the budget and Workplan were discussed. Jody explained that the Aquaculture Protocol is a tool to measure impacts of proposed marine reintroduction or commercial growing projects; it was suggested that the protocol could be a supplement to the permit application packet. The question was asked if it should be added to the docket to become part of the Comp Plan.
Motion: Laura moved, and David Hoopes seconded, that the Annual Report be adopted.
The motion passed unanimously.
Workplan:
Jody said the executive sub-committee reviewed and revised the last draft of the Workplan in terms of funding allocations. There was discussion on the voluntary nature of the MSA and public impression of the proposal.
Laura noted that the issue of the Westcott-Garrison Bay plan needs to be revived again so there should be designated funding for 2006-07 (grants?). She summarized the 1996-97 development of the Comp Plan and testimony on marine habitat management overlay designation for the Shoreline Master Program. A draft plan was developed, Laura said, but it needs to go through the public process again. She pointed out that the area serves as a primary research spot for UW Labs, that Westcott Bay Oyster Farm has a vested interest in good water quality, that the decline of eelgrass beds has led to a restoration project there. High fecal coliform counts in the pond has resulted in Roche Harbor’s project to raise the elevation of the creek to increase reservoir capacity (with Friends of the San Juans’ involvement).
Dennis said that the Dickinson Foundation is funding surveys of most of the marine areas here to fill in gaps in biological data; ROV and dredging surveys (not scuba) are to begin in the fall for 10 weeks.
The MSA map for the backpage ad of the Sportfishing guidelines will be improved over last year’s. The Port will cover half the cost of printing 5,000 laminated copies of the map for distribution; it was suggested that Kari Koski be contacted to distribute the laminants at the upcoming Roche Harbor fishing derby.
Francine Shaw gave a briefing on the critical areas ordinance update, noting that it will be based on best available, complete science. She said the process is behind schedule (regulations are to be adopted by December 1st of this year); she asked that comments be sent to her by February 9th. Francine said her Department is contracting with Laura Arnold to come up with a new work plan and to identify elements of the Comp Plan that need to be updated for consistency with the GMA. The grant with CTED will be revised and an RFQ will be issued for a consultant to design the public process element and develop policy and implementation. Francine said that an EIS will be done up front to assure that any proposed regulations will in fact be enforceable and will provide for mitigation.
Richard Civille and the future Jackson Cannery project were mentioned. Jim said there is disparate, inconsistent information circulating about it. Mike Bertrand said the chances of getting water to the ex-cannery site for single family dwellings there are zero under current regulations.
David Hoopes said that the MRC’s were recognized at the Shared Salmon Strategy Summit. As part of the recognition the MRC was gifted a print by Tony Angell that will be framed for the MRC office.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.
Submitted by Helen Venada
