MBNMS Business and Tourism Activity Panel (BTAP) Minutes June 7th, 2001

Meeting Date: June 7, 2001
Time: 9:00-11:00 AM
Location: Moss Landing Marine Laboratories

Attendance:

• Burke Pease, Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau, BTAP Co-Chair; SAC member
• Dave Ebert, US Abalone, BTAP Co-Chair; SAC member
• Art Seavey, Monterey Abalone Company
• Bryndie Beach, Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments
• Bill Douros, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Karen Grimmer, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Sean Morton, Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
• Maggie Ivy, Santa Cruz Visitor Center
• Stephanie Harlan, SAC Chair
• Steve Scheiblauer, City of Monterey
• Steve Abbott, Duke Energy
• Heidi Tiura, Sanctuary Cruises

Welcome and Introductions

Dave Ebert, BTAP Co-Chair gave welcoming comments. Individual introductions commenced. Dave briefed the group about the June 1st, 2001 SAC meeting motion to endorse the BTAP as an official working group of the SAC.

BTAP Status

Bill Douros, MBNMS Superintendent, gave an overview to BTAP members about the change in status of the BTAP per the motion by the Sanctuary Advisory Council at the June 1st, 2001 meeting. Bill summarized the SAC discussion and his expectations as follows: the BTAP would follow the same rules and expectations as the other three working groups (Research Activity Panel (RAP), Sanctuary Education Panel (SEP), and Conservation Working Group (CWG)), by working collaboratively with the Sanctuary in all efforts. This ranges from setting agendas, to larger projects like developing business-marketing tools. The Sanctuary’s mission for multiple uses is a huge focus for the Department of Commerce, and is an important part of our focus. We would like to expand that focus by working more closely with businesses. We need to make sure the BTAP is inclusive and reaches out to all parts of the Sanctuary. We can offer staff support for six meetings per year (same as SEP). At the October 5th SAC meeting, we are allotting time for each of the four working groups to present their own issues and concerns in regards to the upcoming management plan review (MPR).

Dave Ebert and Burke Pease concurred and affirmed. Dave also responded that in his experience many are unaware of the Sanctuary and the MPR process. He would like to broaden the BTAP membership, have meetings in other areas of the Sanctuary, and broaden the topics that the group can address. Many opportunities exist for expansion in each of these areas. Ron Massengill is interested in hosting a BTAP meeting in Cambria.

Steve Schieblauer – he would like to establish a community communication database of businesses.

Burke Pease – requests that equal status should be given to all working groups & recognition by Sanctuary to give support. In moving from reactive to proactive, we can work with the MPR to create balance.

Stephanie Harlan – Housing affordability is a huge issue - AMBAG has a conference on Friday in Salinas. There are four lawsuits in San Jose against Cisco regarding the heavy impact to the Gilroy-Hollister-Salinas areas.

Maggie Ivy – thanks Bill and SAC for recognizing the BTAP. Burke and she may come up with new ideas. The BTAP can challenge the SAC to look at the balance between multiple uses.

Fireworks

Bill Douros summarized the Sanctuary’s status on the issue. We are required to consult with National Marine Fisheries Service and US Fish & Wildlife for each permit. Since there may be a cumulative effect, we need a long-term answer, and so a program consultation is in progress. The agencies are slow to respond – NMFS has posed some questions back and need 3-4 months to reprocess. We requested a joint meeting and some clarity on this issue by the end of June. We need to see this process through to the end.

Burke Pease commented that the policy affects the whole geographic region. Can we have an interim report before next meeting and take a look at the changing policy? Bill relied - yes.

Dave Ebert commented that boats affect wildlife in harbors – the sea lions have different behaviors as they are acclimated.

Bill asked if Burke could send a prodding personal letter to the agencies to work swiftly with MBNMS? Karen will send the contact information.

Sanctuary Management Plan Review

Dave and Burke: We have two questions 1) Can we separate from the joint MPR process? There are issues with topics being diffused, travel time to meetings, favor organizations that have paid staff to go to meetings. 2) What is the appeal process?

Sean Morton gave an overview of the MBNMS’s MPR process that is scheduled to begin with release of the State of the Sanctuary Report (SSR), and with public scoping meetings planned for October & November of this year.

Steve Sheiblauer asked is we could add an historical perspective to the SSR, and highlight the collective comparison of people’s perspective from then and now. Sean said that that is possible, and would look into it.

Burke Pease commented that we could bring the joint MPR issue to the SAC and seek a stand-alone status.

Sean Morton said that as issues are brought up in scoping meetings – he would track if Monterey issues come up at the other NMS meetings.

Discussion by a number of people revolved around the importance of the fishing community in the initial designation process, and that other working groups such as the CWG are listing fishing as a potential issue for the MPR.

Burke Pease concluded that a flow chart would help to clarify the review process.

Motion by Steve Scheiblauer, seconded by Dave Ebert.

The BTAP goes on record as having concerns with the joint management plan review process. Staff should give due diligence to assure that the MBNMS has a full and complete airing of issues and not get diluted during the joint process.

Dave Ebert concluded with the focus for next BTAP meeting - identifying our issues. Steve Scheiblauer copied and handed out the CWG’s issue list as food for thought.

Santa Cruz Inter-Agency Task Force

Stephanie Harlan gave a brief presentation about the collaboration to promote and protect the Sanctuary. The group’s three main projects are: a Visitor Center; the Sanctuary Seal Program; the Sanctuary Scenic Trail. Stephanie handed out copied of the logo and the Scenic Trail design. She concluded that Sam Farr is promoting legislation for the coastal trail.

Dave Ebert announced that the June 1st, 2001 SAC meeting update will be deferred to next meeting.

New Agenda Items for future meetings.

Management Program Review
Tentative meeting date July 25th, 2001

Meeting adjourned at 11:20 AM
Notes submitted by Karen Grimmer, MBNMS Advisory Council Coordinator