HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-08-minutes-wdfw-meeting-regarding-motor-toys-cup2020-09-08 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES
KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
WEBEX
SPECIAL MEETING
TUESDAY 11:00 A.M. SEPTEMBER 08, 2020
Board members present: Chairman, Brett Wachsmith; Vice-Chairman
Laura Osiadacz & Commissioner Cory Wright.
Others: Mandy Buchholz, Deputy Clerk of the Board II; Mike
Livingston, South Central Region Director-WDFW; Ross Huffman,
Regional Lands Operations Manager-WDFW and two members of the
public.
SPECIAL MEETING WDFW DISCUSSION – MOTOR TOYS COMMISSIONERS
At 11:00 a.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting for a
follow up discussion with WDFW regarding the request from Motor
Toys for a Commercial Use Permit. He stated that this was follow
up from before COVID-19 stay home stay health order and couldn’t
be discussed until recently.
Commissioner Osiadacz stated that after she briefed the Board in
late March on her follow up, the Board had additional
conversations that she felt could be best answered by WDFW. She
thanked Mike Livingston, South Central Region Director and Ross
Huffman, Regional Lands Operations Manager for agreeing to meet
and answer questions the Board may have.
Mike Livingston, South Central Region Director stated that not
approving the permit this year was very difficult. He stated
that WDFW spent a great deal of time considering the amount of
time the applicant has consumed from WDFW due to them never
working within their permit and always going outside of it, They
felt that there wasn’t the staff time available this year to
manage all that comes with this permit. He stated that there is
a long history of issues that the applicant is very aware of the
compliance issues over the years. He stated that they tried to
work with them, but as with all things this year this was not
something they had the staffing for.
Ross Huffman, Regional Lands Operations Manager stated that they
have been issuing a permit since 2010, and most years they
request additional use and that has been accommodated. This has
increased almost every year despite WDFW’s efforts and continued
issues with reporting and concerns with how ATV’s were being
2020-09-08 MINUTES 2
operated on the wildlife area. He stated that they have made
numerous good faith efforts to work with Motor Toys to address
these issues. And under the current rules the only method they
have to address the noncompliance documentation over the years
is to not issue a permit. He stated that this is not an issue of
motorized use, or the amount of use being requested, as they
support motorized public recreation on the wildlife area,
however, this is an issue of a business not complying with the
terms of the permit they sign each year.
Commissioner Wright asked for a review of incidents that led to
the permit withdrawal.
Commissioner Osiadacz asked if future permits would be
considered. Director Livingston stated that they will consider
future permits however, not at status quo.
The Board thanked WDFW for taking the time to meet and answer
the questions they had.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:24 a.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DEPUTY CLERK OF THE BOARD II KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mandy Buchholz Brett Wachsmith, Chairman