Minutes
October 4, 2006
Members Present: Mike Ahrenius, Laura Arnold, Michael Durland, Ron Henrickson, David Loyd, Mary Masters, Kit Rawson, Howie Rosenfeld, Ken Sebens, Tina Whitman
Absent: Terrie Klinger, Skeet Lowe, Joy Sevier, Jim Slocomb, Jonathan White
Staff: Jody Kennedy, Barbara Rosenkotter, Helen Venada
Guests: Richard Civille, Jennifer East, Don Gunderson and 11 UW Labs fish class students, Shireene Hale, Dustin Hinson, Steve Hussey, County Councilman Kevin Ranker
Presenters: Jim Kramer and Carol McElroy of Shared Strategy
Chair Kit Rawson called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. in the Community Room at Islanders Bank Annex, Friday Harbor.
Citizen comments:
Kevin distributed copies of the “West Coast Governors’ Agreement on Ocean Health” of 9/18/06. He noted that the op ed piece in yesterday’s Seattle P-I spotlights how the Agreement relates to San Juan County; he added that these same three Governors got together in 2002 on a global warming pact. Kevin said that there is also a Sounder article today on the Governors’ Agreement.
Minutes:
There was no objection to the 9/6/06 non-quorum meeting minutes being posted on the webpage as read. The revised minutes of 8/16/06 were adopted, as read, by unanimous vote.
Jody reported that she will be working as the Washington Policy Coordinator for Surfrider Foundation and hopes to continue her contribution to the MSA project. She’ll be working half-time as of November 1st and then full-time with Surfrider as of December 1st.
Shireene Hale introduced herself as the recently re-hired planner at the San Juan County Community Development and Planning Department (CDPD) and will fill in as quarter-time interim MRC coordinator until a full-time person is hired to replace Jody. One of her CDPD tasks is to work on the Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) update. Ron Hendrickson reported on the Council’s position on upgrading the MRC Coordinator position in the 2007 budget from contract to county staff; the job opening cannot be posted until he gets word from the County Administrator to move ahead. Ron reiterated the transition plan to staff Shireene with enough hours to keep the MRC afloat until a full-time MRC Coordinator is on board. Ron added that one possible consideration is to postpone the annual retreat until the full-time Coordinator is hired. He also suggested that the MRC put together a committee to deal with the annual report; the actual paperwork will likely be contracted out. Ron added the request that MRC members increase their volunteer time on projects to ease the situation, an action that would be very much appreciated.
Laura said that the Executive subcommittee at their 10/18 meeting plans to work on the retreat agenda; it could also act as the committee to work on the annual report, she offered. Laura added that a revised RFP for the MSA contract work needs to be publicized. Shireene suggested that the issue of how to approach the annual work plan be discussed and Kit said this will be part of the retreat agenda.
Kevin said that the Council supports the new full-time status of both the Lead Entity Coordinator and MRC Coordinator. He suggested that MRC members show up at the Council budget hearings to lend their support.
Mary reported that the CAO is being revised and that CDPD has hired Steward and Associates to do some of the work. A list of questions has been sent out to MRC members to assist the process. Mary proposed that the MRC be given time with county permitting staff to clarify what’s working and what is not, to review regulations as an education to all, and to foster more of an ongoing relationship with them. Shireene agreed that this would be helpful to everyone. Kit said the discussion would be continued later today.
SRFB Supplemental Request:
Barbara said that on October 18th, immediately after the regular MRC meeting, the remaining proposers will present their revised proposals to members; she mentioned that the acoustical project has been withdrawn by its proposers.
Barbara said that the Friends of the San Juans (FOSJs) are applying for supplemental funding for projected project cost overruns in the Assessment of Eelgrass Restoration project in Westcott Bay. Tina summarized the request. She said that after documentation of the dramatic decline of eelgrass in Westcott Bay, restoration seemed like a good recommendation. However, initial assessment results, as well as related research, indicate that environmental conditions in Westcott Bay are not likely to support eelgrass restoration at this time. Eelgrass stressors (like poorly-functioning septic systems, limited metals and nutrient analyses, lack of water quality assessments, genetics, disease) are part of the existing conditions that won’t support restoration. As well, soils are light and no natural regeneration is taking place. Tina said that more data and new lab analyses are needed to include other embayments throughout the county with serious eelgrass declines in the assessment.
Motion: Mary moved, and Laura seconded, that the letter of support for FOSJ’s supplemental funding be approved. The motion passed unanimously, with Tina Whitman not voting.
Presentation: Jim Kramer, Executive Director of Shared Strategy, introduced Carol McElroy who has been working on the San Juan Initiative, a “way to help people understand the salmon recovery plan.” The Initiative is in its formative stage and can be refined, Jim said, with public support from San Juan Islanders “so that it works for the community that cares deeply about its place.” He added that this is the “first ever species recovery plan that meets standards of high scientific rigor.” The Plan is getting lots of attention, Jim said. People are realizing the environmental challenges facing Puget Sound. The Plan examines how we govern ourselves and outlines actions to foster a healthy Puget Sound by 2020, Jim said.
There is a two-week public comment period to address funding support for the Plan. Jim said, there is strong interest in finding ways to assure that current regulations are being implemented and strongly enforced; incentives to property owners is another topic of interest. Jim thanked the MRC for its good work over the years. Kevin said that there is now a greater need for tribal, state, and federal managers to work together and that being launched. Kevin said that from a West coast perspective (California current), Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) models employ a bottoms-up management approach.
Carol presented a PowerPoint to explain the Initiative further. Its vision is to protect ecological health while also protecting human interests; the Initiative is a comprehensive, public/private partnership. Protection, Carol said, is the keystone for success; she added that all people are concerned. There is little certainty that existing functions will be protected as Puget Sound grows to 1.4 million more people by 2020; protection efforts are fragmented; people wonder if needed changes will be made (i.e. with the necessary political will and funding).
The San Juans were chosen because local and regional protection is critical; there are strong
commitments and efforts here; data already exists; there have been past successes; the County is ready to bring a regional piece to the table; and, highlighting the San Juans can serve regional and state interests. Expected results would be specific recommendations for voluntary protection with incentives and education programs, within the larger context of a regional package; policy and public support for programmatic changes; common measurable goals; and the funding and implementation of a plan. The community process will be done in phases with engagement of as much of the community as possible and its leadership council. The $500,000 budget will provide financial support to assimilate, compile, and analyze existing information; conduct assessment; and do GIS analysis and mapping.
Jim said the county’s willingness to do this is critical. The track record for regulatory assessments and follow-up is not good, he added. The success of the Initiative depends on local community ownership and will be viewed as objective outside of the community. Kevin said that local authority can create a citizens-driven model, with a “leadership council” that is proactive, participatory, and takes progressive action without giving all authority to one level of government. This model can be replicated throughout the state, he added.
There was discussion on the status of recruiting a project manager and how the County Council will appoint the leadership group. The MRC recommends 12-18 people. Kevin said the majority appointed will be locals, key people from the 4-6 regional tribes, policy directors from state agencies; he hopes for a draft slate within the next three weeks. The County Council requests that MRC members submit a letter recommending agencies and areas to be represented. Carol added that it would be useful to also get a brief rationale of why each recommendation is appropriate. Kevin said that the MSA is a guiding principle and the MRC recommendations in June are critical as a component of the Initiative. Carol said the Leadership group can figure out how best to leverage and where locals need more strength. She added that the need for technical support is recognized and that high priority research needs to be identified (e.g. what? how?/tools?)
Jim said that a community often learns about the need for protection by reading about new regulations; the Initiative would involve the community earlier and allows for building on existing work. There was discussion on MRC’s struggle with funding priorities--how to protect what we’ve got? / how does the ecosystem work (data collection, monitoring, ongoing research)? Kevin said the Initiative partnership will help move these priorities forward. Tina said the MSA and the Initiative are complementary programs, both with concerns to assure that they are locally-driven. Steve Hussey added that the primary goal is to develop local resources for the future.
SJC Fish and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Areas (FWHCAs): Jennifer East and Dustin Hinson, biologists with Steward and Associates, distributed copies of the anticipated schedule for their CAO work; the Ordinance is being drafted and public meetings on wetlands issues are being planned for Friday Harbor and Orcas and Lopez Islands, probably in early November. Shireene, CAO staff lead, said the first two sections are being reviewed by CDPD before going to the County Council and release for public comment. The money for the consultant needs to be spent before the end of 2006. Tina said that the MRC Policy subcommittee has studied the CAO update issue, which is part of the Work Plan. She distributed copies of a draft list of shoreline policy issues for review in the CAO update process and asked for member feedback for a future MRC meeting discussion.
I-933: Barbara distributed copies of a memo from Jim Kramer to the PS Salmon Recovery Council that provides a preliminary analysis of Initiative 933 as requested by the Council. The memo outlines concerns with potential impacts to salmon recovery and states that there would likely be detrimental impacts on programs and protections related to salmon recovery plan implementation. I-933 proposes to roll back environmental regulations to 1996 levels and this analysis concludes that it will significantly limit the ability of local, state and federal governments to protect existing habitat in Puget Sound. Laura pointed out that countywide development standards were adopted here in 1998 and
shoreline and upland densities were addressed in 2000. Tina said that FOSJ is co-sponsoring a bag lunch discussion on I-933, October 24th at the Mullis Street Center at noon; the community will be addressed by a land-use lawyer from British Columbia. Discussion of both sides of the issue is available on the Internet.
Scheduling of MSA Strategies Workshop: Kit said that two dates have been suggested for the day-long workshop, either October 24th or 31st. Members decided on the 24th and Jody will email the time and place. Because this project is a partnership of the MRC, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the North West Straits Commission (NWSC), TNC and NWSC will have observers present at the workshop. However, the draft strategies will be determined by the MRC.
MRC Annual Retreat: It was agreed that the retreat be held the evening of November 16th and full-day of November 17th.
NWSC is sponsoring the annual MRC training conference at Rosario Resort on November 3rd and 4th. Kit said the event includes a tour of the hatchery and suggested that good attendance from San Juan County MRC members would reflect well on us since we are the host county this year.
Citizens comments: Tom, a student from the UW Labs class, said that, although he learned a lot at today’s meeting, he suggests that, in future, acronyms commonly used by the MRC (e.g. CAO, TNC, NWSC) be spelled out for clarity.
Next meeting: The next regularly-scheduled MRC meeting will be Wednesday, October 18th from 8:30–10:30 AM at the Islanders Bank Community Room.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 a.m.
Submitted by Helen Venada
