See Below for Meeting  
Location  
County of El Dorado  
Minutes - Draft  
Fish and Wildlife Commission  
Patrick W. Weddle, Chair, District IV  
Steven Schwarzbach, Vice Chair, Member at Large  
Larry Robinson, Treasurer, District II  
Dennis F. Byrne, District I  
James Davies, District III  
Leona Allen, District V  
Heather Gardner, Member at Large  
Wednesday, February 25, 2026  
3:00 PM  
https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/84985797382  
ADDENDUM  
Teleconference Location added: 3368 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Suite 102, South Lake Tahoe,  
CA 96150  
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION INSTRUCTIONS: The Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting room will  
be open to the public. The meeting will continue to be live-streamed via Zoom. By participating in  
this meeting, you acknowledge that you are being recorded.  
Members of the public may address the Commission in-person or via Zoom to make a public  
comment. The public should call into 530-621-7603 or 530-621-7610. The Meeting ID is 849  
8579 7382. Please note you will not be able to join the live-stream until the posted meeting start  
time.  
To observe the live stream of the Commission meeting go to  
https://edcgov-us.zoom.us/j/84985797382.  
If you are joining the meeting via Zoom and wish to make a comment on an item, press the "raise  
hand" button. If you are joining the meeting by phone, press *9 to indicate a desire to make a  
comment. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes.  
Although the County strives to offer remote participation, be advised that remote Zoom  
participation is provided for convenience only. In the event of a technological malfunction, the only  
assurance of live comments being received by the Commission is to attend in person. Except for  
a noticed teleconference meeting, the Commission reserves the right to conduct the meeting  
without remote access if there is a malfunction.  
If you choose not to observe the Commission meeting but wish to make a comment on a specific  
agenda item, please submit your comment in writing. You are encouraged to submit your  
comment in writing by 4:00 PM on the Tuesday before the meeting to ensure the Commission  
has adequate time to review. Please submit your comment to the Clerk of the Board at  
edc.cob@edcgov.us. Your comment will be placed into the record and forwarded to Commission  
members.  
PROTOCOLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT  
Public comment will be received at designated periods as called by the Commission Chair.  
Individuals will have three minutes to address the Commission. Except with the consent of the  
Commission, individuals shall be allowed to speak to an item only once.  
Individual Commission members may ask clarifying questions but will not engage in substantive  
dialogue with persons providing input to the Commission.  
If a person providing input to the Commission creates a disruption by refusing to follow  
Commission guidelines, the Commission Chair may take the following actions:  
Step 1. Request the person adhere to Commission guidelines. If the person refuses, the  
Commission Chair may turn off the speaker’s microphone.  
Step 2. If the disruption continues, the Commission Chair may order a recess of the Commission  
meeting.  
Step 3. If the disruption continues, the Commission Chair may order the removal of the person  
from the Commission meeting.  
CALLED TO ORDER AT 3:00 P.M.  
ROLL CALL  
6 - Weddle, Schwarzbach, Allen, Byrne, Davies and Gardner  
1 - Robinson  
Present:  
Absent:  
ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA AND APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR  
There was no public comment.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Gardner, seconded by Commissioner  
Schwarzbach to Adopt the Agenda and Approve the Consent Calendar.  
6 - Weddle, Schwarzbach, Allen, Byrne, Davies and Gardner  
1 - Robinson  
Yes:  
Absent:  
The Commission may make any necessary additions, deletions or corrections to the agenda  
including moving items to or from the Consent Calendar and adopt the agenda and the Consent  
Calendar with one single vote. A Commission member may request an item be removed from the  
Consent Calendar for discussion and separate Commission action. At the appropriate time as  
called by the Commission Chair, members of the public may make a comment on matters on the  
Consent Calendar prior to Commission action.  
CONSENT CALENDAR  
26-0305  
1.  
Approval of the Minutes from the regular meeting on January 28, 2026.  
Attachments: 1-28-26 Draft Minutes  
1-28-26 Final Minutes  
This matter was Approved on the Consent Calendar.  
6 - Weddle, Schwarzbach, Allen, Byrne, Davies and Gardner  
Yes:  
Absent:  
1 - Robinson  
26-0347  
2.  
Staff recommending the Commission receive and file the February 2026  
Monthly Finance Report dated 2/25/2026.  
Attachments: A - 2-25-2026 Finance Report  
This matter was Approved on the Consent Calendar.  
6 - Weddle, Schwarzbach, Allen, Byrne, Davies and Gardner  
1 - Robinson  
Yes:  
Absent:  
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR  
OPEN FORUM  
Public Comment: K. Jermstad  
Open Forum is an opportunity for members of the public to address the Commission on subject  
matter that is not on their meeting agenda and within their jurisdiction. Public comments during  
Open Forum are limited to three minutes per person. The Commission Chair may limit public  
comment during Open Forum.  
EL DORADO COUNTY AGRICULTURAL COMMISSIONER REPORT  
Ag Commissioner LeeAnne Mila reported on the following:  
Tahoe Toogee Facebook post.  
Mountain lion activity in Tahoe Basin.  
Bill from Senator Alvarado-Gil about mountain lion hazing.  
Senate Bill 1305 Grizzly Bear reintroduction in California.  
Bear activity update.  
COMMISSIONER REPORTS AND AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS  
Commissioner Davies reported on the following:  
Visit to Cameron Park Lake.  
Commissioner Allen reported on the following:  
Thanked Commissioners for West Slope bear coexistence information and  
dissemination.  
Mountain lion activity in Meyers area.  
Thanked Ag Commissioner LeeAnne Mila for assistance with mountain lion  
activity.  
Commissioner Schwarzbach reported on the following:  
Meeting with Supervisor Parlin and Sheriff Leikauf about mountain lion project.  
Elephant seal influenza outbreak.  
Commissioner Gardner reported on the following:  
Updated Annual Work Plan and Draft Guideline documents.  
Rasmussen Pond swans.  
Commissioner Byrne reported on the following:  
Rods and reels program update.  
Commissioner Weddle reported on the following:  
El Dorado Trout Unlimited chapter update.  
Meeting with Supervisor Parlin and Sheriff Leikauf about mountain lion project.  
State and local government staffing changes.  
Discussion with American River Conservancy about FAWN organization.  
Trout Creek Meadow Restoration project.  
Reviewed The Gaines report.  
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST AND WARDEN  
REPORTS  
Shelly Blair with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported on the  
following:  
Senate Bill 1305 Grizzly Bear reintroduction in California.  
Upcoming bear den checks.  
Youth hunter education course March 13th and 14th at Cold Springs Church.  
Helicopter deer survey.  
Sierra Nevada red fox sighting.  
CDFW deer plan update.  
Chronic Wasting Disease update.  
Law enforcement media training with Tahoe Interagency Bear Team in April.  
Bob Pera with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife reported on the  
following:  
Rasmussen Pond swan.  
Staff completing training and clearing out evidence.  
Preparing for upcoming Spring fishing activity.  
AGENDA ITEMS  
26-0088  
3.  
Clerk of the Board staff recommending the Commission:  
1) Elect the Chair of the Commission for 2026;  
2) Elect the Vice Chair of the Commission for 2026; and  
3) Elect the Treasurer of the Commission for 2026.  
(Continued item 3, January 28, 2026)  
There was no public comment.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Gardner, seconded by Commissioner  
Schwarzbach to appoint Commissioner Allen as Chair of the Commission for  
2026.  
6 - Weddle, Schwarzbach, Allen, Byrne, Davies and Gardner  
1 - Robinson  
Yes:  
Absent:  
After the main motion was made, a subsequent motion was made by  
Commissioner Byrne, seconded by Commissioner Davies to appoint  
Commissioner Weddle as Chair of the Commission for 2026.  
Motion failed due to Commissioner Weddle declining the nomination.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Byrne, seconded by Commissioner Davies  
to appoint Commissioner Schwarzbach as Vice Chair of the Commission for  
2026.  
Motion failed due to Commissioner Schwarzbach declining the nomination.  
After the main motion was made, a subsequent motion was made by  
Commissioner Allen, seconded by Commissioner Schwarzbach to appoint  
Commissioner Gardner as Vice Chair of the Commission for 2026.  
6 - Weddle, Schwarzbach, Allen, Byrne, Davies and Gardner  
1 - Robinson  
Yes:  
Absent:  
Election of the Treasurer of the Commission for 2026 was continued to the next  
regular meeting.  
25-2055  
4.  
Commissioner Allen recommending the Commission:  
1) Have a discussion regarding possible follow-up action concerning the  
October 29, 2025 presentation by Friends Aiding Wildlife in Nature;and  
2) Establish and appoint up to three commissioners to a FAWN  
Follow-Up Action Ad Hoc Committee (Continued item 6, January 28,  
2026)  
Attachments: FAWN Follow-up Email  
Public Comment: K. Jermstad  
No action taken.  
Commissioner Allen will reach out to Placer County to obtain information and  
provide an update at the next meeting.  
26-0306  
26-0335  
5.  
6.  
Commissioner Allen recommending the Commission discuss site visit  
options for the May meeting in South Lake Tahoe.  
Public Comment: K. Jermstad  
The Commission recommended the following site visit options:  
Aquatic invasive species inspection station.  
Campground lacking bear boxes.  
Commissioner Gardner recommending the Commission review, make  
recommended changes and finalize the Draft Guideline document for  
fishing derbies and fish stocking support.  
Attachments:  
A - El Dorado County Fish Wildlife Commission Draft Guideline  
Fishing Derby and Stocking  
Public Comment: K. Jermstad  
Commissioner Gardner will make updates based on the discussion and return  
with an updated draft for review and finalization at a future meeting.  
26-0345  
7.  
Clerk of the Board staff recommending the Commission:  
1) Review updates to the bylaws; and  
2) Consider approving the changes and submitting to the Board of  
Supervisors for approval.  
Attachments: A - Fish and Wildlife Commission Bylaws Clean  
B - Fish and Wildlife Commission Bylaws Redline  
There was no public comment.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Gardner, seconded by Commissioner  
Davies to approve the changes to the bylaws and submit them to the Board of  
Supervisors recommending approval.  
6 - Weddle, Schwarzbach, Allen, Byrne, Davies and Gardner  
1 - Robinson  
Yes:  
Absent:  
26-0396  
8.  
Commissioner Weddle recommending the Commission discuss the  
Wildlife Conservation Board Trout Creek Meadow restoration project.  
Attachments:  
A - CA Wildlife Conservation Board - Trout Creek Meadow Restoration  
Letter  
There was no public comment.  
The Commission discussed the Wildlife Conservation Board Trout Creek  
Meadow restoration project.  
LEGISLATIVE REPORTS  
There were no legislative reports.  
NEXT MEETING - March 25th (330 Fair Ln, Conference Room A)  
ADJOURNED AT 4:43 P.M.