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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-10-19 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes—October 19, 2015 Game Management Advisory Commission County of Hawaii Minutes Meeting Date: Monday, October 19, 2016 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Hawaii County Building — Council Chambers and via Video Conferencing to West Hawaii Civic Center, Mayor's Conference Room I. CALL TO ORDER: Meeting was called to order at 6:34pm. 11. ROLL CALL: Per B. Kossow: Willie-Joe Camara, District 1 - here Dwayne "Ike" Yoshina, District 2 — here Ryan Kohatsu, District 3 —absent and excused Naniloa Pogline District 4- here Thomas H. Lodge, District 5 - here Kenneth "Kalani" DeCoito, District 6 — absent and excused District 7, Vacant Mark C. Bartell — District 8 — here Jonathan Bertsch — District 9 —absent and excused Quorum established ALSO PRESENT: Belinda Castillo-Hall, Corporation Counsel Bobby Command, Deputy Planning Director Barbara Kossow, Admin. Spec., Mayor's Office Ill. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INRODUCTIONS: No guest giving presentations. IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Action: D. Yoshina moved to approve the minutes; seconded by W. Camara. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. V. BUDGET Report: Action: D. Yoshina moved to approve the budget; seconded by W. Camara. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. V11. TESTIMONY: My name is Steven Araujo; I'd like to testify on two, maybe three, things. We are a bit confused, us constituents of the makeup of this body. Is this body the body set forth by the Charter or is this body like the Mayor's advisory board? We need some clarification, OK, number one— Mark Bartell on the Pros and Cons of the Air Land Water Advisory Committee, Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes—October 19, 2015 OK, this is looking at a statewide organization. I believe that in the August meeting this body voted not to pursue looking into that statewide organization. I believe there was a vote on it, I suggest that you folks go back, relook at that section and I don't know how you would do it— make an amendment to re-do the vote or something to that effect so that this can actually be legally on the books. Because if you're voting on something and it was done away with, I don't think you can talk about 'em at the next meeting because you already voted on it. So it's just a clarification thing. B. Castillo-Hall. Past actions may be reconsidered by any person who was part of the majority who voted on the action in the first place. S. Araujo shared that he received a letter from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, addressed to the Hawaii Hunting Advisory Council and he believes they still acknowledge it to be alive. The letter was pertaining to the EA that they are doing in the Laupahoehoe forest regarding fencing and eradication, Chair Lodge stated that the organization voted out of existence. The state has so much stuff on the books that they don't erase. D. Yoshina stated that if it was legislatively created body, the legislature would be the one to take it off the books. Perhaps people who were on the committee on this island, maybe they disbanded, if it's still on the books you may be able to resurrect it. Not sure where the discussion will go but it wasn't sunseted it's still alive. Chair Lodge stated that Steven Araujo was the president of the Hawaii Hunting Advisory Council. They had minutes and by-laws and whatever that was drafted by the group itself, but when the money expired the group lasted one year and then it was voted to disband and they did. But now it's brought up again by the Governor's Office, so we're actually looking into seeing if that's even a possibility, and being funded through the Wildlife Revolving Fund. Action: GMACs Government Affairs Committee will research whether the Hawaii Hunter Advisory Council is a legislative or an administrative creation. VII. DISCUSSION 1. Mark Bartell on the Pros and Cons of the Air Land Water Advisory Committee in place of a dedicated Game Management Advisory Committee Statewide and whether now is the time to pursue it? 2 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes—October 19, 2015 §197-4 Aquatic Life and Wildlife Advisory Committees (ALAWAC). (a) There is established in each of the counties of the State an aquatic life and wildlife advisory committee. Each committee shall be composed of members of the board representing the county, who shall serve ex officio and shall be nonvoting members, and five members appointed by the governor in accordance with section 26-34, who shall be knowledgeable in the taking and conservation of aquatic life and wildlife. The members shall serve for four-year terms. Each committee shall select its own chairperson from its voting members, and three voting members shall constitute a quorum. Members of the committees shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed by the board for all necessary expenses, including stenographic services. b) A committee shall meet at the call of its chairperson or of any three of its members for the consideration of any matter affecting the taking and conservation of aquatic life and wildlife within the county, including proposed rules and the enforcement thereof. Each committee may hear such persons and acquire such information as it desires and shall communicate its findings and recommendations to the department. [L 1985, c 74, pt of§1] M. Bartell's goal was to come up with a recommendation for GMAC as to whether or not we should — in place of a statewide Game Management Advisory Commission — is to go with ALAWAC. It's already on the books. It's in the rules, And all we got to do is get state reps to get DLNR to re-start it. Pros: It is on the books. It is at the county level. Cons: If by re-instating the ALAWAC —the 197-4 the county committees —you have to re-instate the larger commission made up of DLNR folks, county chairman of the ALAWACs as well as six scientists —with the primary goal about managing introduced both aquatic and terrestrial species. Downside: A glob of bureaucracy and we will become unfocused and not get much accomplished. However, more research needs to be done. Is it possible to re-instate 197-4 and just create county level ALAWAC groups like Kauai — Kauai continues to have their ALAWAC meeting. Recommend we don't table this one yet. Seek additional information from the Kauai group and see how it's affecting them in a little more detail as well as speak with a couple representatives on the island, specifically Rep. Onishi, to understand whether or not we can create county level groups, that might meet the need. Action: D. Yoshina motioned to table ALAWAC until M. Bartell is able to talk with the Kauai folks as well as local state representatives and 3 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes-October 19, 2015 report back to this board; Seconded by W Camara and motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 2. Dwayne D. "Ike" Yoshina to bring to the table a Draft of Rules for discussion of GMAC and how meetings will be conducted and public testimony received. Ike met with Belinda Castillo Hall of Corporation Counsel and she reviewed the draft rules from POMC and than reviewed again the document that she prepared for GMAC which is in the brown binder that each GMAC member received. Ike's feeling is that what is in that binder is good enough. But, he would like to table this until the next meeting to allow everyone an opportunity to review it. Action: W Camara motioned to table draft rules to the next meeting; Seconded by: M. Bartell. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 3. Draft of a Constitutional Amendment to validate Hawaii's Game Animals as a "natural resource." An alternative Concurrent Resolution to be introduced in the House and Senate recognizing and protecting our Game Animals as a Natural Resource with the need to be managed in place of arbitrary eradication. A copy of the Draft House and Senate Concurrent Resolution and A Bill for an Act proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the conservation, control, and development of Resources was circulated to board and attendees. Do we approach legislature again? Discussion followed. D. Yoshina extended an invitation to Glenn Hisashima and Steven Araujo as well as anyone else in the audience to work with GIVIAC's Government Affairs Committee on the amendment and resolution. Both men agreed to meet with the committee. Action: D. Yoshina motioned to move forward on the Draft of a Constitutional Amendment to validate Hawaii's Game Animals as a "natural resource."An alternative Concurrent Resolution to be introduced in the House and Senate recognizing and protecting our Game Animals as a Natural Resource with the need to be managed in place of arbitrary eradication; Seconded by N. Pogline. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 4. There are 49 now species being listed for Hawaii by the US Fish and Wildlife Services. They are also proposing an Ecosystem Approach for the recovery management of these species. Discussion on Council Resolutions and asking the Mayor for a Positon or 4 Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes-October 19, 2015 proclamation against such a management approach. The comment period of 60-days began on September 30, 2015. All agreed that more information is needed. It was suggested that members read Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended through the 100th Congress - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Interior Washington, D. C. 20240 1988. Review the Federal Register for findings, purposes, policies, and definitions. Also, the Hawaii State Plan and look under the section regarding natural Resources. Action: N. Pogline motioned to allow her to send a request in to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requesting for a public hearing regarding the proposed 49 new species; Seconded by D. Yoshina. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Discussion followed. Where is the state on this issue? Action: W. Camara motioned that GMAC draft a letter to Governor Ige and Chair Suzanne Case on what is their position on this matter (proposed 49 new species); Seconded by M. Bartell. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. VIII: New Business: 1. Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) to present the North Kona (Puuwaawaa and Puuanahulu) Habitat Conservation Plan to the Commission at the November 16, 2015 Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting. IX. Committee Reports: None X. Commissioners Report by District: None X1. Next Meeting Date: November 16, 2015 X11. Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 8:20pm. Respectfully submitted by, Barbara Kossow Secretary ATTEST Thomas H. Lodge 5