13 Staff Report.Youth Commission Work Plan 23-24
PREPARED BY: Jamie Field
Chief of Police
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, and Town Attorney
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 10/17/2023 ITEM NO: 13
DATE: October 11, 2023
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Receive and Provide Direction for the Youth Commission Work Plan for
School Year 2023/24.
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and provide direction for the Youth Commission work plan for school year 2023/24.
BACKGROUND:
The purpose of the Youth Commission is to foster and encourage civic and neighborhood pride
and a sense of identity through the knowledge, understanding, and increased involvement of
the Town’s youth in the Town’s present and future municipal affairs. The Los Gatos Youth
Commission operates under the provisions of Town Resolution 2018-008 adopted by Council in
March 2018. This Commission establishes a formal body by which the youth of Los Gatos have
a voice in the community. The Youth Commission shall generally be responsible for studying
various problems, activities, and other issues of concern to the youth in general, and for
advising Council on matters pertaining to issues involving the youth of Los Gatos.
The Youth Commission consists of twenty students that are entering grades 8 through 12.
Members serve a two-year term unless entering grade 12, in which case they would serve a
term of one year. A Chair and Vice-Chair were appointed at the September meeting.
Commission also appointed one primary Town Board and Commission liaison and at least one
alternate for the following.
1. Arts and Culture Commission
2. Complete Streets and Transportation Commission
3. Community and Senior Services Commission
PAGE 2 OF 3 SUBJECT: Review the Youth Commission Work Plan for School Year 2023/24 DATE: October 11, 2023
BACKGROUND (continued):
4. Library Board
5. Parks Commission
The Commission liaisons provide a monthly report to the Youth Commission and represent a
youth voice at these Board and Commission meetings.
The Youth Commission meetings are on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. from
September through June, with August being a Special Meeting. The Police Chief serves as the
staff liaison to the Commission with support by Executive Assistant Claudia Martinez.
DISCUSSION:
The Youth Commission had a Special Meeting in August and a regular meeting in September
with emphasis on assigning roles and discussions on school year priorities for the Commission.
The Commission again hosted a successful and well attended Canine Companion event at the
Los Gatos High School (LGHS) in August, shortly after the start of 2023/24 school year.
Periodically, the Youth Commission has focused considerable effort on ordinances, including
the Social Host Ordinance, Smoking Ordinance, and amending the Bike Ordinance to address E-
bikes. Given the high volume of work and required staff support, the Youth Commission will
not be addressing ordinances in 2023/24. Instead, the Commission will continue to promote
the ordinances they have worked on and other youth outreach opportunities.
Four Ad Hoc Committees were established to address work items outlined in the Youth
Commission Work Plan shown in Table 1. The Ad Hoc Committees consist of the following.
1. Traffic Safety
2. Environmental
3. Community Outreach
4. Teen Wellness
PAGE 3 OF 3 SUBJECT: Review the Youth Commission Work Plan for School Year 2023/24 DATE: October 11, 2023
DISCUSSION (continued):
Table 1. Youth Commission (YC) Work Plan for School Year 2023/24
Work Item Proposed Commission Approach
Canine
Companion
Bring Therapy Canines to the front lawn of LGHS to provide support at
lunch at beginning of school year.
E-Bike Safety
Awareness
Collaborate and partner with local bike businesses and schools for
greater safety awareness.
SNAP Outreach
& Event
Promote the Special Needs Awareness Program and annual spring
event with local special needs children for egg hunt and cookie
decorating.
Christmas
Parade Flat
Participate in the Los Gatos Children’s Holiday Parade by decorating
and riding in a float.
Senior
Community
Activity
Initiate efforts to determine an event date and venue where presence
and support will be provided by the YC to seniors within Los Gatos (LG).
Fentanyl
Education &
Prevention
Identify education, training, and prevention program and materials for
locals LG schools to be funded by Fentanyl prevention and training
program monies received by the Town.
Spring into
Green
Provide outreach materials on recent YC supported Ordinances and
other work plan items, and staff a table for youth to make their own
succulent plant display.
Traffic Safety
near LGHS
To be determined
CONCLUSION:
The Youth Commission will provide a year-end concluding presentation in June 2024 that will
outline the accomplishments from the work plan, identifying an Environmentally Friendly
Business and a Youth Friendly Business.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this work plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Slide Presentation