Discuss, consider and take appropriate action on hierarchy of actions/protocol on Williamson County Conservation Foundation activities related to Commissioners Court.

In January 2012 Williamson County Commissioners Court (the"Court") acted to establish a heirarchy of actions and a protocol for various activities of the Williamson County Conservation Foundation (WCCF). This requested action is to restate and renew the protocol.

The 2012 agreement established a heirarchy for items needed for Court approval, items to come to Court for ratification/affirmation or acknowledgement, and items that are advisory or for reporting. The singular nature of the WCCF, as a County established 501(c)3 corporation to manage the County's Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (the "Plan") and administer the County's 10(a) Incidental Take Permit 

• Yearly tax benefit enrollment (as outlined in the Plan) for taxable properties participating under the Plan.
• Participation by the County (especially by the Road Bond Program) under the Plan.
• Participation agreements under the Plan by third parties requiring holding of real estate by the County; e.g., land in lieu of cash participation fees.
• Use of County funds for WCCF purposes; e.g., payments to third parties for conservation credits.
• Funding of directed research or formal response(s) to State or Federal regulatory proposals or conservation findings. May be directed action by the Court or a request for assistance or support from WCCF.
• Special activities; e.g., items not covered by this agreement or falling outside the general guidelines of this agreement.

Items for Court acceptance (affirmation):

• New appointments to the WCCF Board.
• Purchase of assets to be held by County in trust for and on behalf of the WCCF with such expenditures out of WCCF designated funds.
• Application for and acceptance of grants related to the mission of the WCCF with funding (e.g., matching funds) out of WCCF corpus.

Items for acknowledgement and, from time to time, reports on WCCF activities to the Court:

• Election of Board officers and minor changes to WCCF bylaws.
• Studies, research, outreach and similar activities for WCCF mission related activities.
• Expenditures out of WCCF funds on behalf of and benefiting the County related to listing or potential listing of a species or related to a change in conservation measures.
• General reports on WCCF activities.

In general, the WCCF follows the policies and procedures of County departments as related to budget, employees and Human Resources, travel policies, auditors and treasury, and interrelations with all other County departments and those activities are considered outside the purview of this agreement.