08 Staff Report - Youth Commission
"'I DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: MEETING DATE: 06-07-04 ITEM NO. 8 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ruNE 2, 2004 DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER ·YOUTH COMMISSION
A. RESCIND RESOLUTION NO. 2004-042 ESTABLISHINGA YOUTH COMMISSION B. ADOPT RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A YOUTH COMMISSION ALLOWING UP TO 15 MEMBERS AND UP TO FIVE ALTERNATES C. RATIFY APPOINTMENTS
OF MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES TO THE LOS GATOS YOUTH COMMISSION AS RECOMMENDED BY THE AD HOC SUB-COMMITTEE .:' RECOMMENDATION: 1. Rescind resolution No. 2004 -042 establishing
a Youth Commission. 2. Adopt resolution estaNishing a Youth Commission allowing up to 15 members and up to five·· alternates·. 3. Ratify appointments ofmembers and alternates to the
Youth Commission as recommended by the Ad Hoc Council Sub-Committee. BACKGROUND: At its April 5, 2004 meeting, the Town Council adopted a resolution establishing a youth commission.
Staffrecruited candidates for the Commission, distributing flyers at all local schools .. and non-local schools which Los Gatos youth attend. In addition, press releases were sent to
the local . media and Mayor Glickman made presentations to youth at Los Gatos High..School and Fisher Middle School about the opportunity to apply for the Commission. The Town received
over 100 applications from interested youth. The applicants represented a large cross section ofstudents from all ofthe eligible grades.' .. /IJ /. PREPARED
BY: Scott R. Seaman Chief ofPolice Reviewed by: P'S.....) Assistant Town Manager OlU Town Attorney __Clerk'---_.Finance __Community Development Revised: 6/2/04 1:56 pm Refonnatted: 5/30/02
AnAdHoc Council Sub-committee comprised ofMayor Glickman, Council memberMcNutt, Chief Scott Seaman, Assistant Town Manager Pamela Jacobs, and Mike Loya, Youth Coordinator at Los Gatos-Saratoga
Recreation screened the applications The· sub-committee selected 30 yOllth for interviews, with approximately six from. each of five class grades. The interviews included both individual
and group interviews, resulting in the recomtnended appointments to the Commission. DISCUSSION: The resolution adopted in April establishe<.l the with 12 members.
Due to the overwhelming interest shown for participating in the Commission, the sub-committee is recommending that the number of Comtnission members be iilcreased to 15 . An odd number
of members is preferable for voting purposes, and by increasing the number ofCommission members to 15, there is a greater chance of having an equal representation from each of the five
grades of students who are eligible to participate. In addition, the sub-committee is recommendingthat the enabling resolution allow for ;the appointment ofup to five alternates to.
the YouthCommission. Allowing for a ofalternate.ihembers will keep mote eligible youth members interested iIi the Commissio'n', as well as havingreplacements
ready to step in shoulda commission memberneed to leave the Comini.ssion due to other commitments with family or school; which is not uncommon for active students. The Commission can
also look to the alternates as a resource for additional input and outreach in Commission matters. Ifthe Council adopts the newresolution allowing for the appointment of 15 members and
alternates t6 the Youih Commission;.the sub-committee recommeridsthat the Council ratIfY the appointments ofthe youth listed on Attachment 1. The list includes 15 youth to be appointed
as members ofthe Youth Commission, and five youth to be appointed as alternates (one from each grade). Following the appointments to theYouthComtnission, staffwill organize orie or tWo
tWo orie'IlfaiJ6H sessions to occur during the summer. The purposeoftbe sessions is to orient the youth to theTown government and the services provided to the community. The first official
meeting of the Youth Commission will occur after the fall school session begins. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: Is not a project defined under CEQA, arid no further action isrequired.
PAGE 3 SUBJECT: ADOPT A NEW RESOLUTION REGARDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A YOUTH COMMISSION, AND APPOINTMENT MEMBERS TO THE COMMISSION. June 2,2004
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for staffsupport to the Youth Commission are available with the Police Department operating budget. Attachments: 1. Resolution Establishing a Youth Commission in
the Town of Los Gatos. 2. Recommended Member and Alternate Appointments to the Youth Commis$ion.
RESOLUTION NO. 2004-_ RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS ESTABLISmNG A 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 andyouth; and WHEREAS, there is
value in having a mechanism for youth to have a voice in Town affairs and .. issues relating t9 youth; and WHEREAS;the Town Council ofthe TownofLos Gatos found and determinedthat the
purpose ofthe Youth Commission is to foster and encourage civic and neighborhood pride and a sense ofidentity through the knowledge, understanding, and increased involvement ofthe 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: 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 would have a voice in the community. a. There is
a: .Youth' Commission whtch- responsible for studying various problems, activities and other issues ofconcern to the youth-in general, and for advising
Council on matters pertaining to Issues involving the youth of Los Gatos. b. Membership/Organization 1. The Youth Commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members; The members shall
be students who are entering grades 8 through 12 during the establishment of the initial Commission, and of students who. are entering grades 8 through 11 thereafter. Membership for
the students requires either residency in the incorporated limits of the Town of Los Gatos and enrollment in any accredited school, or residency in the unincorporated areas of the County
of Santa Clara, which have a Los Gatos mailing address, and enrollment in a school located in the Town of Los Gatos. 11. Up to five (5) Alternates may be appointed to the Youth Commission,
Page Page 1 of 3 ATTACHMENT 1
with one· representing each grade 'level appointed to the Commission. The alternates shall be students who are entering grades 8 through 12 during the establishment ofthe initial Commission,
and ofstudents who' are entering grades 8 through 11 thereafter. Membership as an Alternate requires either residency in the incorporated limits of the Town of Los Gatos and enrollment
'in any accredited school, or residency in the unincorporated areas of the County of Santa Clara, which have a Los <:;ratos lTIailing adclre.ss,and enrollmynt inaschoollocated in t4e
Town ()f Los Gatos. An Alternate shall serve on the Youth Commission in the event a member from that grade is no longer able to serve the remainder ofhis/her term. 111. ' Members and
Alternates first appointed to the Commission shall so classify themselves so that the terms of the first members shall end as follows: the term of seven (7) of the student members shall
expire on June 1,2005, which group shall include any members who are grade 12 at the time ofappointment. The terms the oi4er six (8) student members shall expire on June
'1, 2006. Succeeding members shall serve a term of two (2) years and until their successors are appointed and qualified, except any appointments to fill an unexpired term shall be for
such unexpired period. iv. At its first meeting, or as soon as possible thereafter, the Commission shall elect officers and adopt bylaws for the conduct ..ofbusiness. The Commission
shall appoint and prescribe the term of the office for its Chair and Vice-Chair. v. Eight (8) voting members ofthe Comrriission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose oftransacting
business. VI. 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. VIL 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 provision
s ofthe Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Sections 54950 and following.) viii. Minutes of the actions taken during its meetings shall be kept and filed with the Town Clerk. Page 2
of 3
IX. Meeting attendance requirements will conform with the current Town Resolution. c. The duties of the Commission shall include the following: 1. Foster greater involvement of youth
in municipal government affairs. 11. Study problems, activities, and concerns of youth, especially as they relate to municipal programs or projects of the Town of Los Gatos. 111. Hold
forums on problems, activities and concerns ofyouth, either alone or in conjunction with othergovemmental agencies and community organizations, as the Commission deems desira.ble. IV.
. Review municipal matters referred to the Commission by the Town Councilor other Town boards,. committees, or commissions and, as appropriate, make recommendations on those matters.
PASSED ANDADOPTED at a regular meeting ofthe Town Council ofthe Town ofLos Gatos, California, held onthe day of . ,2004 by the following vote: . COUNCIL MEMBERS AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN:
ABSENT: SIGNED: MAYOR OF THE TO\VN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA ATTEST: CLERK OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA C:\Documents and
Settings\TEl\1P\YC resolution.wpd Page 3 of 3
LOS GATOS YOUTH COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPOINTMENTS ;.. Members Camille Hack David Frazer Lissa Zimmer Jordan Kahler Liz Mellema Matea Couris .Jourdan Risoen Stuart
Reeta Banerjee Sofie Lynn Forest Gallien Jacqueline Kemp Christine Coleman Richard Sears Sunoz Soroosh Alternates Julia RQberts Olivia Colliver Emily Thomas Melody Fizgerald Kimberly
Smi:th Grade 88899910 10 . 10 10 11 11 12 12 12 8910 11 12 N:\MGR\AdminWorkFilesWouth CommissionWouthCommission.dat ATTACHMENT 2