SRC nominating committee proposes membership and quorum clarifications; seeks tribal consultation
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Summary
A nominating committee proposed updates to the Salmon Recovery Council’s operating procedures to clarify caucus membership, voting seats, vacancy and new‑seat rules, and quorum for tallied votes; staff will seek tribal consultation before returning a revised draft in late spring.
The Salmon Recovery Council’s nominating committee presented a draft update to the SRC operating procedures to clarify membership groups, voting seats and quorum rules.
The proposal documents a baseline roster (51 possible voting seats: 14 watershed seats, treaty tribe seats, federal and state agency seats, and caucus seats) and groups previously unallocated members into new membership caucuses (for example, an "implementing entities" group including regional fisheries enhancement groups and conservation districts, plus a local government caucus for cities and counties). The goal is to reduce ambiguity about representation and make the process for filling vacancies or adding new seats explicit.
Evan (nominating committee) explained that under the draft, filling a vacant seat follows designation by the member constituency (for tribes, watersheds and agencies) or nomination by the caucus with SRC confirmation. The committee also proposed a clarified quorum definition for tallied votes: a majority of voting members, with a "two‑meeting" rule that gives notice and an opportunity to convene a fuller vote when a formal roll‑call tally is required.
Jacques and other members raised an alternative: letting caucuses directly designate representatives without additional nominating‑committee vetting. The group agreed to a modest change for the consultation draft: use the term "designated" (not "nominated") when describing how caucus representatives occupy existing seats, while preserving the nominating committee's role for officer selection and other functions.
Wendy said the committee will undertake tribal consultation on the draft before bringing a revised version to the council; the committee aims to share an updated draft at the May meeting and seek final action in July.
Next steps: staff will circulate a revised draft, run tribal consultation and post materials for public review. The nominating committee will also call for nominees to fill two vacant co‑chair positions and expects candidate submissions from interested members.