DCC sends comments to Alaska Board of Game for January Work Session, where it will consider whether to move to a 3 year meeting cycle

Although dubbed a Work Session and not open for oral public testimony, this one-day meeting in Juneau will address important topics, including whether the Board will move away from a two year cycle of regional meetings to a three year cycle. Written comments were due on December 26th, and DCC submitted a short comment letter. A change to one regional meeting every three years has been touted as a way to save time and money, but our comments to the Board indicated skepticism on how well the Board would be able to do its business under this new scenario. The next full Board of Game meeting on strictly Interior issues (Region III) will not be until Spring 2016. A cycle change would delay that meeting further.

Recently-elected Governor Bill Walker has ordered temporary appointments to ADF&G Commissioner and Director of the Division of Wildlife Conservation while he searches for permanent replacements. We’re hoping that Walker’s Board of Game appointments will reflect a more diverse cross-section of Alaska citizens and that the Board’s work will reflect a commitment to compromise and collaboration beyond what occurred under the former governor. Our comments also voiced that hope.

To look at the agenda for the meeting and our comments to the Board of Game members, click the links below.

agenda_work_session_bog
Comments to Alaska Board of Game January Work Session