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04 Staff Report - Youth CommissionMEETING DATE: 05-01-06 of ITEM NO. COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT !ps pt~S DATE: April 25, 2006 TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL FROM: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER SUBJECT: YOUTH COMMISSION ADOPT RESOLUTION RESCINDING RESOLUTION 2005-52 AND ESTABLISHING RULES FOR THE YOUTH COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Adopt resolution rescinding resolution 2005-52 and establishing rules for the Youth Commission. BACKGROUND: On June 6, 2005, the Town Council adopted a resolution regarding the rules for the Youth Commission, which was originally established in 2004. These rules incorporated staff s recommendations based on the experiences of the Youth Commission. during its first year of existence. One of those rules was to restrict Commissioners to 1 two-year term for Commissioners, or 1 one-year term as an alternate plus 1 two-year term as a Commissioner. DISCUSSION: In the upcoming year, ten of the fifteen Commissioners, along with all five of the alternates are due to be replaced, due to the expiration of their terms. At least two of the Commissioners, whose terms are expiring, have expressed an interest in re-applying for the Commission. These Commissioners would be prohibited from doing so under the current resolution regarding Youth Commission Rules. When the previous resolution was adopted, the reason for recommending term limits was to allow more youth the opportunity to participate on the Commission, and to maximize the youth perspectives weighing in on Town issues. Staff has observed a certain amount of synergy with the Commissioners - especially as they perform PREPARED BY: SCOTT R. SEAMAN CHIEF OF POLICE ~A4%~(~'.t/►r' Reviewed by:~ Assistant Town Manager Town Attorney Clerk Administrator Finance Community Development Revised: 4/27/06 9:20 am Reformatted: 5/30/02 PAGE 2 MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL, SUBJECT: YOUTH COMMISSION RESOLUTION AND RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENTS (April 25, 2006) into the second year of their term. They tend to get more involved in issues, and have a better understanding of the operations of Town Government. Staff acknowledges the desire to allow as many youths as possible to participate on the Commission. Balanced against this is the desire to provide continuity of leadership within the Commission. Removing term limits would bring the Youth Commission in line with the eligibility rules of all other Town commissions. As with the other commissions, Council retains the final ability to determine who gets appointed for service. The issue of term limits was discussed at the Council Retreat on April 22, 2006. Council was consistent on their feedback that the Town should not restrict the Commissioners from re-applying due to term limits, and gave staff direction to bring back a report to them at the earliest possible date to allow them to consider the issue of removing the term limits prohibition. The only changes to the previously adopted resolution would be the portion which eliminates the term limit language, while maintaining the rest of the language from the previous resolution. (Attachment 1) CONCLUSION: Staff is recommending that Council adopts the resolution with the changes noted above, a copy of which is attached to this report.. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: Is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required. FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for staff support to the Youth Commission are available within the Police Department operating budget and the Town-wide commission training budget. Attachments: 1. Resolution Rescinding Resolution 2005-52 and Establishing Rules for the Youth Commission. RESOLUTION 2006 - RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS RESCINDING RESOLUTION 2005 -52 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: 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. a. 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. b. Membership/Organization The Youth Commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members. The members shall be students who are entering grades 8 through 12. 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. ii. Up to five (5) Alternates may be appointed to the Youth Commission, with one representing each grade level appointed to the Commission. The alternates shall be students who are entering grades 8 through 12. 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 Gatos mailing address, and enrollment in a school located in the Town of Los Gatos. An Alternate shall serve on the Youth Commission in the event a member from that grade or the next higher or lower grade if more than one member from a particular grade is no longer able to serve the remainder of his/her term. iii. The terms of office of the members shall be two (2) years, unless such member is first appointed upon entering the 12`h grade whereby the term of office shall be one (1) year. Members will serve until their successors are appointed and qualified, except any appointments to fill an unexpired term shall be for such unexpired period. The terms of office of an alternate shall be one (1) year. iv. Eight (8) voting members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business. v. 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. vi. 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 of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Sections 54950 and following.) 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 September and end the following September. vii. Minutes of the actions taken during its meetings shall be kept and filed with the Town Clerk. viii. Meeting attendance requirements will conform with the current Town Resolution. The duties of the Commission shall include the following: i. Foster greater involvement of youth in municipal government affairs, ii. Study problems, activities, and concerns of youth, especially as they relate to municipal programs or projects of the Town of Los Gatos. iii. 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. iv. 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. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Los Gatos, California, held on the lst day of May, 2006 by the following vote: COUNCIL MEMBERS AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: SIGNED: MAYOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA ATTEST: CLERK ADMINISTRATOR OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA