MBNMS Business and Tourism Activity Panel (BTAP) Minutes January 16, 2002

Meeting Date: January 16, 2002
Time: 9:30-11:30 AM
Location: Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Center
Attendance:

Dave Ebert, US Abalone, BTAP Chair; SAC member
Karen Grimmer, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Bryndie Beach, AMBAG
Jorge L. Corral Meza, West Marine
Maggie Ivy, Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Center
Stephanie Harlan, SAC Chair, AMBAG
Dan Haifley, SAC Recreation Rep, O’Neill Sea Odyssey
Kimbra Eldridge, Santa Cruz Port District

Draft Meeting Notes - a Summary of the Meeting’s Proceedings.

Welcome and Introductions (David Ebert)

Dave Ebert, BTAP Chair gave welcoming comments. Individual introductions commenced.
Dave added an item regarding a letter to Bill Douros, Sanctuary Superintendent from Art Seavey of Monterey Abalone, and gave a brief summary about the letter. The letter will be on our next meeting agenda.

December SAC Meeting Update (Karen Grimmer)

Karen gave a summary of the December SAC meeting proceedings in Half Moon Bay, including some background on public scoping and SAC member comments for the Joint Management Plan Review. Please see following web page for more detail:
http://montereybay.nos.noaa.gov/intro/advisory/sac_agendas/
2001SACagendas/120701sacagenda.html
BTAP members discussed the issue of personal water crafts in the Sanctuary, and how to potentially regulate the “activity” versus the craft itself. A general comment about expanding enforcement of the activity and following up with DFG on that issue. The panel decided to add Personal Watercraft Issues to the next BTAP meeting agenda.

MBNMS Joint Management Plan Review (JMPR) update: Scoping Meeting Update (K.Grimmer/D.Ebert)

Karen gave a brief summary of the public scoping meeting schedule, how the prior meetings had been conducted, and what meetings were still in progress. She also recapped the upcoming SAC process of reviewing and prioritizing the issues.

BTAP involvement in Joint Management Plan Review

This item was continued to the next meeting, as the SACs input will drive how the BTAP will be involved.

BTAP member information on MBNMS web page (K. Grimmer)

Karen asked the panel if they would be interested in having a webpage on the MBNMS website, similar to the other three working groups, that gives information on the BTAP, its mission, and its members. The group requested that Karen and Dave work on a page, and send it to the BTAP member listserv for review and input. Included should be active member contact list, BTAP meeting notes and meeting agendas, BTAP JMPR Recommendations, and background information.

Sanctuary Reflections Awards (D. Ebert)

Dave had requested nominations for the Business award, and had received one business, West Marine, nominated by Dan Haifley. Dan gave an overview as to why West Marine deserves the award, and the panel motioned to support the nomination.

MOTION: (Passed)
The BTAP nominates West Marine for the Sanctuary Reflections Business Award
Motion introduced by Dan Haifley, seconded by Maggie Ivy
(Vote: 7 in favor, 0 opposed (unanimous))

Maggie Ivy passed out a letter to AMBAG that nominates the Santa Cruz Harbor and Port District for an award. The BTAP decided to forward the letter as a general nomination for other categories such as the Organization category.

Member Announcements:

Dan gave an update on the Santa Cruz City Council JMPR comments and their interest in
altering the boundary in front of the Boardwalk, and their desire for a visitor center at Sea
Cliff State Beach.

Karen announced the SAC Recruitment period for four seats is closing this week for Conservation, Tourism, Diving & Education.

Stephanie announced the Task Force is reprinting the “50 Ways to Get Your Feet Wet Brochure”, and is looking for new sponsors for the piece. She also needs help distributing the rest of the current supply. Stephanie also suggested that the Sanctuary produce more newsletters, and maybe an e-newsletter. Lastly, she announced that we (Karen and Stephanie) will be attending a two day SAC Chair and Coordinator meeting in Florida the first week in February.

Jorge gave a presentation on the Sanctuary and the JMPR to 100 West Marine employees, and is creating a “Sanctuary Bulletin Board”. He will be looking at creating a “Friends of the Sanctuary” group in the near future.

The next meeting date March 20, 2001. Location TBA, possibly the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
May 15 – West Marine?
July 17 – Monterey, TBA

Meeting adjourned at 11:30 PM
Notes submitted by Karen Grimmer, MBNMS Advisory Council Coordinator