Commission Meeting Agenda Item No. 4
Presenter: Jonah Evans

Action
Bell and Coryell Counties Regional Habitat Conservation Plan
Citizens Advisory Committee and Biological Advisory Team
Appointment of Members and Delegation of Appointment Authority
to Executive Director
January 25, 2024

I.      Executive Summary: Staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) appoint members to the Biological Advisory Team (BAT) and the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Bell and Coryell Counties Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (BELCOR RHCP). Staff also recommends that the Commission delegate future appointment authority for the BAT and CAC to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Executive Director.

II.     Discussion: Bell County and other local governments within Bell and Coryell counties are leading an effort to develop a an RHCP, consistent with the provisions of Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 83. Pursuant to Texas Parks and Wildlife Code section 83.016, Bell and Coryell Counties plan to appoint a CAC to assist in preparing the RHCP, and the Commission must appoint a representative to the CAC, who is a voting member. Staff recommends that the Commission appoint Cullom Simpson, Wildlife Division Wildlife Biologist for Bell County, as the representative to the CAC.

Pursuant to Texas Parks and Wildlife Code section 83.015, Bell and Coryell Counties also plan to appoint a BAT to assist in the calculation of harm to endangered species and the sizing and configuring of the habitat preserves, and the Commission must appoint at least one representative to the BAT, who serves as its presiding officer. Staff recommends that the Commission appoint Dr. Darren Proppe, Wildlife Division Conservation Initiatives Specialist, as the presiding officer of the BAT.

Due to the immediate need to appoint members, staff also requests that the Commission delegate future appointment authority for the BELCOR RHCP CAC and BAT appointments to the Executive Director. The delegation of future appointment authority would simplify and shorten the appointment process in order to seat critically important committee members and avoid lengthy vacancy periods, which negatively impact the BELCOR RHCP.

III.   Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Commission adopt the following motion:

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A.”

Commission Agenda Item No. 4
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding Appointment of Members of the Citizens Advisory Committee and the Biological Advisory Team of the Bell and Coryell Counties Regional Habitat Conservation Plan and the Delegation of Appointment Authority to the Executive Director

Resolution

        Whereas, Bell and Coryell Counties have initiated development of the Bell and Coryell Counties Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (BELCOR RHCP) consistent with the provisions of Texas Parks and Wildlife Code (PWC) chapter 83, subchapter B, Habitat Protection by Political Subdivisions; and

        Whereas, pursuant to PWC chapter 83, a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and a Biological Advisory Team (BAT) must be formed in connection with the development of an amendment to the RHCP;

        Whereas, PWC section 83.015 requires the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) to appoint at least one member to the BAT;

        Whereas, PWC section 83.016 requires the Commission to appoint one representative as a member to the CAC; and

        Whereas, there is an immediate need to appoint members to those committees; and

        Whereas, delegating future appointment authority to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Executive Director to appoint members to the BAT and CAC for the BELCOR RHCP would simplify and shorten the appointment process to seat critically important members and avoid lengthy vacancy periods; and

        Whereas, TPWD staff maintain the requisite skills and qualifications to serve as qualified members to the CAC and BAT and can assist the Executive Director in the appointment process; and

        Whereas, pursuant to PWC section 11.011, TPWD is under the policy direction of the Commission; and

        Whereas, the Commission finds that delegating authority to the Executive Director to appoint future members to the BAT and CAC for the BELCOR RHCP is in the best interest of the Commission and TPWD; and,

        Now, therefore, the Commission appoints Conservation Initiatives Specialist Dr. Darren Proppe of the TPWD Wildlife Division to serve as the presiding officer of the BELCOR RHCP BAT and appoints Wildlife Biologist Cullom Simpson of the Wildlife Division to serve as the representative to the BELCOR RHCP CAC; and, further, authorizes the Executive Director to appoint future members to the BAT and CAC for the BELCOR RHCP.

In official recognition of the adoption of this resolution in a lawfully called public meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, we hereby affix our signatures this 25th day of January 2024.