WRP Executive Committee Meeting
Minutes
Members Present: Tina Proctor, Jim Athearn, Scott Smith, Mike Stone, Mark Sytsma, Blaine Parker
Members Absent: Susan Ellis, Dwight Williamson, Nate Dechoretz, John Chapman, Ted Grosholz
Next call: Thursday, October 10, 2002, 9:00 Pacific Time
1. WRP meeting in Salt Lake City
The Committee discussed the draft agenda for the WRP meeting and made additions, deletions and changes. Tina will e-mail the draft agenda on Monday, August 12 to the reflector list.
Jim Athearn proposed sending a change in the Procedures as an e-mail to the members. It will change how we vote at the meetings, i.e. a vote will be valid if it is passed by a majority of the members present. Scott suggested that we add the representative from the Western Association for Fish and Wildlife Agencies to the Executive Committee. There are some other minor items that need to be changed and Jim will put together a ballot. Tina will serve as the Vote Recorder and will send out the ballot and instructions on Monday. (Ballot attached to these Minutes).
Mark mentioned that in many states the Department of Agricultures is the leader in Invasive Species and that we should contact the association of the departments to see if they might be interested in providing a member to the WRP. Mark will contact the association.
2. NAISA Reauthorization
The bill is called the National Aquatic Invasive Species Act. Allegra Cangelosi sent out a draft plus a summary on August 7 which Tina will send to the e-mail reflector. Sponsors are Representative Gilchrest and Senator Levin. Tina will set up a conference call for the WRP NAISA working group: Bob Piorkowski, Larry Riley, Susan Ellis, Tom Mosher, Lynn Schlueter, Jeff Shearer, Early Chilton and Gary Skiba.
3. WRP Funding
The committee discussed the administrative funds that come from the ANS Task Force to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and what these funds can be used for. Sharon Gross agreed that portion of the FY 2002 funds can be used for WRP projects but that will not be approved in the future. Tina will invite Sharon to have lunch with us at the WRP meeting in Salt Lake City so that she can clarify the use of the funds.
Tina and Scott will get a summary of expenditures to Jim Athearn so he can prepare a report at the meeting.
4. Ports of Entry
Tina and Gary Skiba met wit the Colorado Ports of Entry staff to see if they would be willing to check for zebra mussels on commercially hauled boats. The POE managers were supportive of Tina and Gary attending regular meetings to train the staff on how to look for zebra mussels. Pam Meacham in Washington has provided training to Highway Patrol members and has developed materials.
5. Updates on Projects
The website will be ready by the annual meeting. Tina has worked with FWS staff to secure an address: answest.fws.gov. There is no "www." in the address. They are transferring and updating information now.
August 9, 2002
WRP Working Group