Meeting Information May 2012

AGENDA

May 18, 2012

12:00PM - Until complete

5275 Leesburg Pike

Falls Church, VA 22041

MEETING MINUTES - MAY 18, 2012

SFBPC members participating: James Adams, Thom Dammrich, Roy Elicker, Fred Harris, Betty Huskins, Scott Kovarovics, Ryck Lydecker, Geoff Ratté, John Sprague, Noreen Clough, Chris Edmonston, Michael Grayum, Ted Venker

Other participants: Doug Hobbs (FWS), Christie Vigfusson (FWS)

Boating Issues Committee – John Sprague, Chair

Consider possible comments on the FWS proposed rule for the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (Fed. Reg., Vol. 77, No. 60; March 28, 2012)

John Sprague, Boating Issues Committee Chair

• Sprague gave a brief recap of the BIG Program for new Council members.
• Sprague also recapped the SFBPC’s involvement with the program, including the Council’s assessment of the program, and the annual review of BIG project funding proposals and submission of project funding recommendations to the FWS Director.
• Hobbs highlighted the timeframe and process the FWS undertook to draft and publish the draft regulation.
• Sprague shared initial list of major concerns with Council members.
  • Maintenance: The sections of the proposed regulation that deal with “maintenance” are a concern because they will reduce the funds available to construct and renovate key boating infrastructure.
  • “Services” v. Infrastructure: As stated in 86.2, the purpose of BIG is to, “construct, renovate, and maintain boating infrastructure facilities for transient recreational vessels at least 26 feet long.” The proposed regulation will allow the funding of boating related services.
  • Diffusion of Program: The proposed regulation diffuses the focus of the BIG program away from constructing and renovating boating infrastructure.
  • Land acquisition: As proposed, it is unclear whether land acquisition is eligible or ineligible.
  • Scoring criteria: Proposed rule moves program away from a focus on creating boating infrastructure
    • Sprague identified other concerns.
    • Sprague and the members of the Boating Issues Committee urged the Council to take action to communicate, via letter, the many major concerns with the proposed rule and urge the FWS to extend the period for public review and comment.

Motion: To submit comment letter from the SFBPC to FWS highlighting major concerns with proposed rule and asking for a 90 day extension on the comment period: Geoff Ratté

Second: Scott Kovarovics Motion approved unanimously

Fisheries Issues Committee – Mike Nussman, Chair

Update on the Council effort to assist the FWS Fisheries Program revise and update its program “Vision” and Strategic Plan

Doug Hobbs, SFBPC Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Hobbs updated Council members of the status of the strategic planning process.
• Professional services contractor DJ Case & Associates (with Whitney Tilt as lead staff for D.J. Case) are on board to assist the SFBPC in coordinating and conducting the Fisheries Program Vision/Strategic Plan Revision.
• The project involves 3 groups of fisheries expertise and experience:
  • FWS Team consisting of 9 Assistant Regional Directors and/or their designees, and representatives from other FWS programs.
  • SFBPC Strategic Plan Steering Committee (Steering Committee) consisting of SFBPC Fisheries Issues Committee, the FWS Team, and representatives from the larger fisheries community.
  • FWS Fisheries Stakeholders and Partners (Partners) comprising the broad fisheries conservation community including states, tribes, other federal agencies, conservation organizations, research and academia, and private interests.
• The project is to conduct this project in three phases:
  • Phase 1: Revise FWS Fisheries Vision and develop Strategic Plan framework linked to vision (April - July 2012).
    • Assemble SFBPC Strategic Planning Steering Committee.
    • The SFBPC and DJ Case assemble vision elements, drawing from previous visions/strategic plans, programmatic evaluations, and other published reports. The elements of a Strategic Plan Framework will also be assembled outlining how the Vision’s broad constructs will be accomplished.
    • First meeting of Steering Committee to assemble preliminary vision draft and strategic plan framework.
  • Phase 2: Ensuring Buy-in and Ownership of Vision and associated Strategic Plan Framework by partners (July - October 2012).
    • Review of draft Vision/Framework by FWS Staff, Stakeholders and Partners.
    • Revise Vision and Strategic Plan framework as required based on comments.
  • Phase 3: Development of Final Vision and Draft Strategic Plan (November 2012 - February 2013).
    • SFBPC Coordinator and Fisheries Issues Committee, and DJ Case develop draft Strategic Plan based on Vision/Framework.
    • Second meeting of Steering Committee to finalize Vision and Strategic Plan Framework, and develop Strategic Plan.
      • Present final work products to SFBPC. SFBPC transmits to FWS Director.
• Hobbs stated that plans were being made for the first Steering Committee meeting. The meeting will be held in association with the June 5 & 6, 2012 SFBPC meeting in Washington, DC.

Discuss possible strategic issues for the Council to consider over the new 2-year term

Doug Hobbs, SFBPC Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Hobbs shared the final status of the strategic issues list from the 2010-2012 SFBPC term.
• Hobbs indicated that the Council members would consider these issues, along with possible new issues, as a part of the strategic issues planning session at the June 5 & 6, 2012 Council meeting.
• Hobbs asked that Council members come prepared to add new issues and to review the 2012-2014 strategic issues so that a new list can be assembled.

Motion to adjourn: Multiple

Second: Geoff Ratté

Motion approved unanimously: Meeting adjourned