We just received this meeting announcement and had to take a double take. Does the senior leadership at WDFW really think this is going to fool anyone?

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Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Meeting Announcement and Agenda - JULY 12, 2019

Natural Resource Building – 1111 Washington Street SE Olympia, WA 98501

First Floor – Room 172

1:00 PM
 
North of Falcon Rule Presentation and Approval - Briefing and Decision

Department staff will brief the Director on the proposed North of Falcon fishery rules noticed in prior CR 102 filings with the Code Reviser.  Those proposed rules open and regulate 2019-20 fisheries in four groupings:  Willapa Bay Commercial (WSR 19-11-075); Grays Harbor Commercial (WSR 19-11-076); Puget Sound Commercial (WSR 19-11-126); and Statewide Recreational (WSR 19-11-130).  After briefing the Director, staff will request his decision providing for final adoption of those proposed rules.

Staff Report: Kyle Adicks, Intergovernmental Salmon Manager

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Now, let's take a look at what just happened. For the first time that we can recall, WDFW posted a meeting announcement where WDFW staff will brief the Director on the "proposed" North of Falcon Fishery Rules  for adoption! Pay close attention to the date, 12 July 2019.  

WAIT A MINUTE!!!

The Regulations and the Pamphlet have already been published!  SO HOW CAN THE DIRECTOR BE MAKING A FINAL DECISION NOW?

Perhaps it's because the deals have already been done. They were done a long time ago, without you or me or anyone else who's not on the "inside" having any input at all. Unless you still believe that those dog and pony shows called "NOF public meetings" count.

WDFW is doing this as a purely CYA move, and as a direct result of the pressure they are feeling from the lawsuits and what they are starting to uncover.  It's another attempt by the leadership to try and fool the public (and perhaps the judge) that they are following the law.  

And where is the Commission on all this?  Has the Commission delegated ALL THEIR AUTHORITY to the Director? If so, then the Departments argument that they are not subject to the Open Public Meetings Act goes right out the window!  The Commission is supposed to have supervisory control over the Director, and as such are just as complicit with this charade and lawlessness as the Director.

The department is quickly learning that "the public" is not quite as dumb as they think we are. And the more the public becomes aware of the skullduggery that has been, and continues to go on, the more uncomfortable the questions are becoming.

The era of "Trust us" is coming to an end for this department.  They have violated the trust of their constituency for long enough, and now must reform, transform and end their culture of secrecy.