Staff Report with attachments
PREPARED BY: Shelley Neis
Town Clerk
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 06/07/2022 ITEM NO: 4
DATE: May 26, 2022
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Ratify the Town Council Selection Committee’s Recommended Youth
Commissioner Appointments
RECOMMENDATION:
Ratify the Town Council Selection Committee’s recommended Youth Commissioner
appointments.
BACKGROUND:
Since June of 2004, Council has appointed students in Grades 8 through 12 as members of the
Youth Commission.
For this year’s recruitment, the Town used a variety of mechanisms to recruit for the Youth
Commission. The Town distributed a letter to the local schools requesting they help promote
the Youth Commission opportunities. The letter was sent to Los Gatos High School, Leigh High
School, Westmont High School, Fisher Middle School, Union Middle School, Rolling Hills Middle
School, and Hillbrook School. In addition, the Town placed advertisements in local publications
and posted the opportunity on the Town’s What’s New email blast, the Town’s website, the
Youth Commission Facebook page, and the Town’s social media accounts.
DISCUSSION:
By the application deadline on May 6, 2022, twenty (20) applications were received. On May
16, 2022, the Town Council Selection Committee, comprised of Mayor Rennie, Vice Mayor
Ristow, Chief Field, and Youth Commission Chair Sasha Balasingam, interviewed eighteen (18)
applicants for fifteen (15) available positions. Two of the applicants did not attend the
interview and therefore were not considered for appointment.
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Ratify the Town Council Selection Committee’s Recommended Youth Commissioner
Appointments DATE: May 26, 2022
DICUSSION (continued):
All the applicants demonstrated initiative and community spirit in applying for leadership
positions to serve the Los Gatos community and the Selection Committee’s recommended
appointments are listed in Attachment 1. Following the Youth Commission enabling resolution
(Attachment 2), appointments for the eight (8) newly appointed Commissioners and the one (1)
reappointed Commissioner entering the 12th grade are for one (1) year, and appointments for
the six (6) reappointed Commissioners are for two (2) years.
CONCLUSION:
The Town Council Selection Committee recommends that Council appoint members as shown
in Attachment 1. The recommendations for appointment are based on composite assessments
from the interviews and applications.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Town-wide Commission training budget is available to provide funds as needed.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachments:
1. Recommended Youth Commissioner Appointments
2. Youth Commission Enabling Resolution 2018-008
RECOMMENDED YOUTH COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS
NAME GRADE
IN FALL
NEW OR
REAPPOINTED TERM TERM
EXPIRATION
1. Maia Bernholz 11 Reappointed 2 years 6/30/2024
2. Prav Balasingham 9 New 1 year 6/30/2023
3. Cody Chen 9 New 1 year 6/30/2023
4. Taj Chunawala 11 Reappointed 2 years 6/30/2024
5. Kaedon Chung 10 New 1 year 6/30/2023
6. Colette (Coco) Dougher 11 Reappointed 2 years 6/30/2024
7. Mikaela Hammer-Longosz 11 New 1 year 6/30/2023
8. Ryan Idemoto 10 New 1 year 6/30/2023
9. Anjali Kalia 9 Reappointed 2 years 6/30/2024
10. Najman Mahbouba 11 Reappointed 2 years 6/30/2024
11. Megan McCurrie 12 Reappointed 1 year 6/30/2023
12. Eloise Moore 9 New 1 year 6/30/20223
13. Gwyneth Pang 10 New 1 year 6/30/2023
14. Aanya Singh 10 New 1 year 6/30/2023
15. Olivia Vinckier 11 Reappointed 2 years 6/30/2024
ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION 2018 -008
RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
RESCINDING RESOLUTION 2016 -059 AND
ESTABLISHING RULES FOR THE YOUTH COMMISSION
WHEREAS, it is recognized that a youth perspective on issues which pertain to the youth
in the community is an important part of decision making in Town; and
WHEREAS, there is value in increasing communication between adults and youth; and
WHEREAS, there is value in having a mechanism for youth to have a voice in Town
affairs and issues relating to youth; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos found and determined that 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.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS
GATOS THAT:
1. There is a need for a Youth Commission to function in the Town of Los Gatos, which
would establish a formal body by which the youth of Los Gatos would have a voice in
the community.
2. There is hereby established a Youth Commission which 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.
a. Membership /Organization
i. The Youth Commission shall consist of twenty (20) members. The
members shall be students who are entering grades 8 through 12.
Membership for the students requires residency in the incorporated
limits of the Town of Los Gatos or residency in the unincorporated areas
of the County of Santa Clara, which have a Los Gatos mailing address.
Members shall serve a term of two (2) years and until their successors are
appointed and qualified. Members who are entering grade 12 when
appointed and first time appointees shall serve a term of one (1) year.
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Resolution 201 8 -008 March 20, 2018
ATTACHMENT 2
iii. The Commission shall appoint one (1) primary member and one (1)
alternate to serve as one voting member on the following Town Boards
and Commissions:
1. Arts and Culture Commission
2. Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission
3. Community and Senior Services Commission
4. Library Board
5. Parks Commission
6. Transportation and Parking Commission
iv. In addition to all Youth Commission meetings, the primary member shall
attend all meetings of the Board or Commission they are appointed to. If
the primary member is not able to attend the meeting of the Board or
Commission they are assigned, it shall be the responsibility of the
alternate to attend the meeting. If the primary member misses three (3)
meetings of the Board or Commission the Youth Commission shall
appoint a new primary member, and if necessary, a new alternate.
v. Liaisons shall provide a monthly report to the Youth Commission and be
responsible for conveying the Youth Commission's input to the Board or
Commission.
vi. A majority of members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of
transacting business.
vii. Commission members shall serve without compensation, provided that,
with advance budgetary approval of the Town Council, the actual and
necessary expenses (if any) incurred by the members in the conduct of
Town business shall be reimbursable pursuant to the current Council
policy.
3. The Commission shall hold a regular meeting at least once each month between
September and June. The Commission shall establish a regular time and location
for its meetings and shall otherwise call and conduct its meetings in compliance
with the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Sections 54950
and following.)
4. The Commission shall elect a Chair and Vice - Chair, both of whom shall serve at the
pleasure of the Commission. Terms of office shall be for one (1) year and shall
begin on the first meeting in September and end the following June.
5. Minutes of the actions taken during its meetings shall be kept and filed with the
Town Clerk Administrator.
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Resolution 2018 -008 March 20, 2018
6. Meeting attendance requirements will conform with all current Town Resolutions
and Policies.
7. The duties of the Commission shall include the following:
a. Foster greater involvement of youth in municipal government affairs.
b. Study problems, activities, and concerns of youth, especially as they relate to
municipal programs or projects of the Town of Los Gatos.
c. Hold forums on problems, activities and concerns of youth, either alone or in
conjunction with other governmental agencies and community organizations,
as the Commission deems desirable.
d. Review municipal matters referred to the Commission by the Town Council
or other Town boards, committees, or commissions and, as appropriate,
make recommendations on those matters.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Resolution 2016 -059 is hereby rescinded.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los
Gatos, California, held on the 20`h day of March, 2018, by the following vote:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
AYES: Marcia Jensen, Steve Leonardis, Marico Sayoc, Barbara Spector, Mayor Rob Rennie
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
SIGNED:
MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
DATE: 5[.Z( fie
ATTEST:
CLERK ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
DATE:
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Resolution 2018 -008 March 20, 2018