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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.6 YouthAdvisoryCommittee ... CITY CLERK File # D[2]l1J[Q]-[8]~ . AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: October 21,1997 SUBJECT: Proposed Youth Advisory Committee Report by: Diane Lowart, Parks & Community Services Director ExmBITSATTACHED: None RECOMMENDATION: ~consider FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Estimated cost for Fiscal Year 1997-98 is $10,000 and would require an additional appropriation from the City's budgeted Contingent Reserve. DESCRIPTION: The Parks and Community Services Commission is recommending the formation of a Youth Advisory Committee for the purpose of providing input on youth services and programming to the Parks and Community Services Commission, the City Council and to City Staff. Background In June of 1995 the City Council appointed thirteen teens representing 9th through 12th grades to the . newly formed Teen Task Force. The representatives were appointed for a period of one year, through the end of the 1995-96 school year. At mid-year, a review of the Task Force was to be done and include a recommendation as to whether the Task Force should be established as a permanent advisory body to the City Council, the Parks and Community Services Commission and Staff. Belatedly, in February of 1997, Staff presented the Parks and Community Services Commission with a report on the status of the Teen Task Force. The report indicated that participation in the Task Force had diminished and the remaining Task Force members had suggested that a more formal body be implemented such as a Youth Commission or Committee. The perceived advantage was that a formal body with established goals and objectives would provide more structure and permanency to the group. At the direction of the Parks and Community Services Commission, Staff surveyed other cities in the East Bay Area and found that nine cities did have active youth advisory bodies. Most youth advisory bodies had been in existence for 1 to 6 years, with the exception of the cities of Walnut Creek and Concord, whose youth councils had been in operation for 23 and 30 years respectively. The Commission then asked Staff to invite area teens to attend the August, 1997 Commission meeting to provide input on teen programming and the formation of a youth advisory body. Based on the positive input and enthusiasm shown by the over 25 teens who were in attendance at the meeting, the Commission directed Staff to come back at the next meeting with a proposed framework for the formation of a Youth Advisory Committee. .------------------------------------------------------------------- COPIES TO: Parks & Community Services Commission . ITEM@. eJ5 F:\citycoun\ccmtgs\1021yac.doc .. Proposed Youth Advisory Committee At the September 22, 1997 meeting of the Parks and Community Services Commission, the Commission approved the following framework for the proposed Youth Advisory Committee and directed Staff to present the concept to the City Council for consideration. . Committee Composition . 7 to 11 Youth Members: Middle School to High School (no pre-determined number from anyone grade or school) Dublin Police Services (1) Dublin Unified School District Representative (1) Business or Community Member (1) . 3 Adult Members: Method of A,ppointment · Appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. (As is done with the student representative to the Parks and Community Services Commission, the Commission has recommended that they serve as the initial review body for the applicants and make recommendations on the appointments to the City Council.) Term of Office and Removal · One year term, September through August. (Committeemembers may be reappointed to the Committee with no limit to the number of terms served, provided that they are still a middle or high school student.) · Office of members who miss three consecutive meetings or four meetings during the term shall be declared vacant. Vacancies . · Shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner as the original appointment. Meetin~s · Regular meetings shall be held at least once per month at a designated time and place which shall be determined by the Committee. General Res,ponsibilities of the Committee · Provide input on youth services and programming to the Parks and Community Services Commission, the City Council and to City Staff. · Address issues that affect youth in the community. · Assist with the promotion and implementation of youth activities. · Generate an annual report on the status of youth in the community. General Responsibilities of the Members · Attend two-thirds of the teen functions during term. · Attend all general meetings and sub-committee meetings as assigned. · Promote teen activities and provide support for successful implementation of teen activities and programs. Discussion . It is anticipated that the proposed Youth Advisory Committee would function much like the Senior Center Advisory Committee and the Heritage Center Advisory Committee. If approved by the City . Council, Bylaws and Rules of Procedure for the Youth Advisory Committee would be brought back . before the Council at a later date for adoption. -,;J,.- , . . . . ".Staff would like to point out that there is currently insufficient Staff time to provide support to the proposed Youth Advisory Committee nor are there funds in the budget for the proposed Committee. In order to adequately supervise the Committee and allow for the potential increase in teen activities that may result from the Committee, it is recommended that a 20 hour per week teen specialist position be added. The estimated cost for Fiscal Year 1997-98 is $7,000 (based on six months of service on a part- time, temporary basis). In addition, the Parks and Community Services Commission has requested that $3,000 in additional funds be budgeted to cover unanticipated costs associated with the Committee (i.e. start-up costs, new and expanded programs). Thus, the total estimated cost for Fiscal Year 1997-98 is $10,000. It should also be noted that one of the initial tasks of the Youth Advisory Committee will be to evaluate and recommend services for Fiscal 1998-99 which could potentially lead to increased staff and operating expenses. Staff recommends that the City Council consider the recommendation of the Parks and Community Services Commission regarding the formation of the proposed Youth Advisory Committee and provide Staffwith direction as appropriate. .--'3-